Thanks Greg,
That second link for the HOODMAN Loupe is
what I had been considering for some years. However, reaching for any Keypad
button, while being that close with the eyes locked onto the hooded screen,
might end up with serious “nasal interference” ;-)
Also, at $90 for the Loupe, the price of
(something like) a $40 OLED replacement module for the present Keypad’s
VFU, looks good.
Something like:
Back on the thread (14/01/2017),
Chris provided a link for the original VFU.
But I can’t find the link for the actual
OLED he successfully replaced, in three of his Keypads.
Great description, however, back then.
Hopefully those OLED modules were “Pin
& Plug Compatible”, not requiring any soldered mods to the Keypad
itself (unfortunately, Keypad model numbers were unspecified – but maybe they
would all be fine).
It may even be that the OLED isn’t as
easily visible in daylight, as the existing VFU module’s display,
but with its red filter removed.
I was thinking that since I have to take
the Keypad apart anyway, to get at removing the filter, then that OLED modules
lower cost, it might be worth plugging one in, just on speculation as a
comparison, and choose between either of Chris two suggested methods. Probably a
good time to change the Keypad Battery anyway, while I am in the rat’s nest of
delicate plastic optic-fibres.
Another COVID idle-item home project
?
Joe Z.
Sent: Thursday, July 8, 2021 11:22 PM
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Software Update to V5.XXX for Existing
Keypads
Hi Joe,
I generally use my AP mounts without computer and only with
the keypad when I do solar imaging. I can do that because I
use a DSLR to take photos – generally with either an external or built in
interval timer (depending on the camera).
What I find works well for both examination of, and focusing
with, the magnified Live View image on the camera LCD AND viewing the menus/text
on the keypad is a magnified HOODMAN HoodLoupe that I purchased for the 2017
Great American Eclipse. George had suggested putting a towel over my
head to read the keypad, but I found this pretty cumbersome and never got
proficient at it.
On Amazon, a quick Google search turned up the following: https://www.amazon.com/Hoodman-H32MB-HoodLoupe-Outdoor-Screens/dp/B074N4Z4J1/ref=asc_df_B074N4Z4J1/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309770125437&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6255938973769466240&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008185&hvtargid=pla-568855316281&th=1
The above link is for a 3.2 in LCD screen.
There are also a number of accessories that you can purchase,
some bundled in kits, that I found at B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Hoodman%20Hoodloupe&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&ap=Y&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxJqHBhC4ARIsAChq4atcuubNgdkbWYsQKnciWSrS2EACTVP7E5gay8qc3Xg7Pty94ATbLwkaApxKEALw_wcB
Some accessories allow you to leave the loupe on the back of
a DSLR, but that doesn’t give me the freedom I desire. If you use an
articulated screen (very common now), like on the Canon Ra (so you’re not on
your hands and knees to look out the scope), you have to use two hands to view
with the loupe, just as you would need to do with the keypad if you are holding
it. (One hand holds the articulating screen still and the other
holds the loupe over it. Once settled and the loupe focused, I can hold
the loupe still on the LCD screen with pressure from my face and eye socket
while I manually focus the scope.)
When I’m solar observing, I have the loupe lanyard (comes
with it) around my neck and it allows ready access to the loupe so I can use it
for either the camera/focusing or the keypad. The loupe is
also useful before dark as well on the keypad - when checking altitude
adjustment from Park 5 for example – although I have the necessary keystrokes
memorized at this point.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Greg
p.s. It’s important to first focus the loupe itself
with the its own diopter adjustment. I focus on the lettering
projected on the screen and I found it quite easy and quite quick to get the
loupe in good focus. That focus generally holds for then moving it to the
keypad.
Greg Vaughn
Alexandria, VA
