Hi Ihoujin

Thank you for your reply. I was able to create the log file with all details including driver debugging, and emulate the problem... PFA and let me know what do you think.

PS: my camera firmware is 1.0.2

thank you
Mohamed

I recommend you switch to the GPhoto driver.
Edit: Also Camera needs to be in Bulb mode for longer exposures.

Thanks, but how I can switch the driver? I choose Canon DSLR from the drop-down list as my CCD camera in ekos configuration.

Bulb mode: I always use bulb mode


Thank you
Mohamed

Instead of Canon DSLR, Choose GPhoto for your 'CCD' in the Profile Editor.

Hello Ihoujin

Thank you for your reply. I did try the GPhoto driver. It worked well for the 1st 300-sec picture but it gave the same error on the 2nd capture.

Attached is the log file for the GPhoto and screenshot for my configuration.

Any idea what went wrong here?

I couldn't reproduce your experience on my end. And your log doesn't contain much information. Have you set it to verbose logging?

I just tested on 600D with > 300s exposures and they worked fine without any issues on the latest sources.

GM Jassem, which driver did you use? The Canon DSLR or GPhoto?

Also how I can check if I have the latest ekos/indi versions?


Thank you
Mohamed

Canon driver. I don't think it has to do with driver changes though.. there is another factor here.

Last year I had similar issues with a Canon 1Dx. I systematically tried changing settings, and my final settings are below. This was an earlier version of SM, but it is worth a try. Note that for the capture target I had SD card, the had Delete SD image checked. I still had the imaging sequence set to save to StellarMate, so no images were actually lost.

I used these settings successfully for several months until I switched to a Cooled CMOS camera.

Main Control:
Mirror Lockup = 0 (It I set the mirror lockup on it would fail, and I would need to reboot the system and restart KStars on the Mac)

Options:
Force Bulb = OFF (Camera was set to Bulb mode, if I used Force Bulb it would fail)

Image Settings:
Capture Format = RAW
Transfer Format - Native
Capture Target = SD Card (I think this one was the key in the Image Settings tab)
SD Image = Delete

I checked, and the verbose was checked. I did another try with the canon driver as Jassem did, but again the same results. Also, I attached a picture of my camera configuration screen that I currently use. Maybe it is one of the camera settings.

Do you know what event the ekos driver was waiting for before it shows "failed to expose"?

<code>DEBUG 1098.756064 sec : Setting new configuration OK.
DEBUG 1098.756253 sec : Exposure complete.
DEBUG 1102.227454 sec : Event timed out #1, retrying...
DEBUG 1103.229937 sec : Event timed out #2, retrying...
DEBUG 1104.234158 sec : Event timed out #3, retrying...
DEBUG 1105.236747 sec : Event timed out #4, retrying...
DEBUG 1106.239718 sec : Event timed out #5, retrying...
DEBUG 1107.243640 sec : Event timed out #6, retrying...
DEBUG 1108.276378 sec : Event timed out #7, retrying...
DEBUG 1109.279210 sec : Event timed out #8, retrying...
DEBUG 1110.282752 sec : Event timed out #9, retrying...
DEBUG 1111.286127 sec : Event timed out #10, retrying...
ERROR 1111.286266 sec : Failed to expose.</code>

Thank you rdricks. I think the driver configuration was the issue. I was able to take 30 shots 300 seconds each in one session without a single error. Here is what I've done and configured (for future reference of similar problems)

1. Upgraded my camera firmware from 1.0.2 to 1.0.3 from Canon website
2. Used the Canon DSLR driver
3. Main control -> Mirror lock = 1 sec
4. Options -> Force bulb = OFF
5. Image settings:
- Image format = RAW
- Transfer format = NATIVE
- Capture target = SD CARD
- SD Image = DELETE


As I changed many parameters, I really don't know which one was essential to fix the problem, but I'm glad it worked.

One last thing, when I configure the driver and press save for the configuration, it gives me a message that it saved, but when I reopen ekos/indi again, I only see the defaults. Is there is a way to keep my settings?


Thank you
Mohamed