C2 USER’S GUIDE June 10, 2025

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 © 2021 FANOTEC ® 2 Contents WARNINGS ............................................................................................... 8 Regulatory Information ......................................................................... 9 Simple Mode ............................................................................... 9 Introduction ............................................................................. 10 MECHA Controller C2 Features ........................................................... 12 Before First Use ....................................................................... 13 Get Your Equipment Ready ................................................................. 13 Related Videos ......................................................................................................16 C2’s Buttons ........................................................................................... 17 Power On and Test ............................................................................... 18 Checking the Battery Level .................................................................. 20 Simple Rotations ................................................................................... 21 Parked, Level, and Raised Positions ................................................... 23 Firmware Update Using a Hotspot ..................................................... 24 C2’s Menu Mode ...................................................................... 26 Using C2’s Menus .................................................................................. 26 Creating a Preset in C2’s Menu Mode ................................................ 28 Panorama with Automatic Shooting Pattern Using C2’s Menu ...... 35 Panorama Using C2’s Menu ................................................... 38 Setting the Rotators Using C2’s Menu ............................................... 38 Test Panoramas .................................................................................... 39

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 © 2021 FANOTEC ® 3 Test without Camera – Parked Position.............................................................39 Test without Camera – Level Position ................................................................40 Test without Camera – Raised Position .............................................................41 Panorama with Camera Mounted ......................................................................41 Basic Information About Shooting.....................................................................42 Shooting in Step-by-Step Mode ..........................................................................43 Custom Partial Panorama Using Two Corners .................................................44 C2’s Menu Options................................................................... 46 (P) Preset Menu ..................................................................................... 47 (C) Config Menu..................................................................................... 48 How to Access the UI ............................................................... 60 About the User Interface ..................................................................... 60 Set MECHA in AP, STA, or AP+STA Mode at -+≡ on Display ............................61 Access the User Interface (UI) on a Smartphone ............................. 62 Access the User Interface (UI) on Your Computer Connected to a Wireless Network .................................................................................. 63 Test Using the UI ..................................................................... 64 UI Test ‒ Parked, Level, Raised ........................................................... 65 Advanced Mode ....................................................................... 66 User Interface (UI) ................................................................... 67 UI Controls ............................................................................................. 67 Translate MECHA’s UI Into Your Own Language .............................. 89 Configuration Page ................................................................. 91 Default Mode ........................................................................................................91 STA Mode ..............................................................................................................94

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 © 2021 FANOTEC ® 4 Fixed Settings .......................................................................................................94 Rotator Settings ...................................................................................................95 Buzzer PWM and Start Page ...............................................................................97 IR Settings and more ...........................................................................................97 Reverse Direction of Rotation .......................................................................... 100 Camera Settings ................................................................................................ 101 Arrow Buttons ................................................................................................... 102 Favorite Codes ................................................................................................... 104 Battery Voltage .................................................................................................. 105 More from Server, zLM, Firmware, OLED, BETA ............................................ 108 Technical Details ‒ IP Addresses, FW .............................................................. 110 Backup and Restore Data ................................................................................. 110 Other Updating Methods ..................................................... 111 Firmware Update Using a Smartphone: Method 2 ........................ 111 Working with Presets ............................................................ 113 Programming a Preset Using Parameters ...................................... 113 Assigning a Preset to a Controller Button Using URL Parameters .............. 114 Preset with Power Code Using URL Parameters ........................................... 115 Single-row Panorama Using URL Parameters ............................................... 116 Multi-row Panorama Using URL Parameters ................................................. 117 Partial Panorama Using URL Parameters ...................................................... 118 Bracketed Shots Using URL Parameters ........................................................ 118 Other Url Parameters ....................................................................................... 120 How to Create Your Own Presets Using the UI .............................. 121 Default Presets .................................................................................................. 122 Loading a Preset ............................................................................................... 124 Modifying a Preset ............................................................................................ 127

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 © 2021 FANOTEC ® 5 Saving a Preset .................................................................................................. 127 Show Your Own Presets in C2’s (P) Preset Menu ............................ 129 Using a Preset Name as a Base Name............................................................ 131 Directional preset name ................................................................................... 132 MECHA’s Simple Scripting (MSS) ....................................................... 133 Three-row Panorama + Nadir + Zenith (MSS) ................................................ 133 Shooting Panorama Made Easy for Dual Axis ............................................... 135 MSS Script Explained ........................................................................................ 137 What Needs to be Changed sometimes in Real Situations .......................... 139 Focus and Extra Shot Positions ....................................................................... 140 Using Pause in MSS Script ................................................................................ 142 Let's Take a More Dense Approach with More Photos toward Gigapixel Imagery .............................................................................................................. 144 Rewind After Each Row..................................................................................... 145 Shooting in a Horizontal Zigzag Pattern ........................................................ 145 Script for Two Focal Lengths ‒ MECHA Dual Axis .......................................... 146 Absolute Positions in Pitch and Yaw Conventions ........................................ 147 Downloading Presets from the Server............................................. 150 Pause in the Execution of a Preset that Has a py Script ................ 151 Launching a Preset by Scanning a QR Code ................................... 154 How to Set Up Both MECHA and Smartphone for Internet Access...................................................................................... 155 Panorama Using MECHA’s Buttons ..................................... 157 Panorama with Automatic Shooting Pattern Using Only the MECHA’s Buttons................................................................................. 157 MECHA’s Current Codes ........................................................ 159

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 © 2021 FANOTEC ® 6 Current Codes List .............................................................................. 160 Appendix ................................................................................. 169 MECHA’s S (Shots) Language ................................................ 169 Three-row Panorama + Nadir + Zenith ‒ EXAMPLE 1 (SL) ............................ 172 Three-row Panorama + Nadir + Zenith ‒ EXAMPLE 2 (SL) ............................ 172 Panorama Using Loop in Script ‒ EXAMPLE 3 (SL) ........................................ 175 Panorama with Extra Shots and Pause ‒ EXAMPLE 4 (SL) ............................ 176 C2 – C1 Differences and Similarities .................................... 178 MECHA C2 OLED Images ...................................................... 181 (C) Config Menu................................................................................... 181 (P) Preset Menu ................................................................................... 183 Raw Interface ......................................................................... 184 Commands for Displaying Text and Symbols on C2’s OLED ......... 186 Rotator Specific Commands .............................................................. 189 Rotation Commands ........................................................................... 190 Commands Related to Signals .......................................................... 192 Other Commands ............................................................................... 192 Chain of Cloned MECHAs ...................................................... 195 C2 Interface ............................................................................ 198 What is New............................................................................ 199 Useful Links ............................................................................ 200

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 © 2021 FANOTEC ® 7 MECHA C2 User’s Guide N For firmware version (1)2434 or newer. NOTE. Images shown in this guide may not be an exact representation of the current firmware version. Download the latest version of this guide from https://www.nodalninja.com/Manuals/c2-guide.pdf Web: www.nodalninja.com Support email address: mecha@nodalninja.com Copyright © 2021 Fanotec International Limited All rights reserved. No part of this guide may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. For information on getting permission for reprints and excerpts, contact nick@fanotec.com How to use this User’s Guide Welcome to the MECHA C2 User’s Guide! C2 is our second generation of controllers, with an OLED display, external battery, and support for two MECHA rotators. Before you start reading page-by-page, skim section-by-section, looking at titles, tables, highlighted paragraphs, images, etc. Although there is a lot of information you haven’t read yet, this will give you an idea of what you are about to read. After that, go back to the beginning and read the Introduction and Before First Use chapters. Please move on only after you become familiar with the basic operations we present here. You can then leave aside the more complex chapters and delve deeper into the parts that interest you most. Even if you are an experienced user, please pay attention to the warnings.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 © 2021 FANOTEC ® 8 If you find the firmware updates and other operations difficult, you can receive support and guidance at mecha@nodalninja.com. Let’s get started! WARNINGS WARNINGS to Dual Axis MECHA Users • Test MECHA WITHOUT a camera mounted first! • Test any preset supplied or adjusted WITHOUT a camera mounted FIRST, especially when the clearance is not enough. • CHECK for clearance with the shutter cable attached! • Use a short cable with extreme caution. • The power button, 0 , can always be used as an emergency stop, except during the speed calibration procedure. • If the movement is not as expected or there is any danger of moving parts hitting something, please press 0 , the MECHA’s power button, to stop the movement immediately. ! In this user guide, we assume that some settings on the Configuration page – such as the rotation intervals for the 4567 buttons – have their default values. So, when we say ”Press 6 then quickly press + for a rotation of 90°...”, this statement is valid if the Arrow buttons Interval 2 setting is indeed 90°.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 © 2021 FANOTEC ® 9 Regulatory Information Declaration of Conformity Trade Name: Nodal Ninja Mecha Controller C2 FCC ID: 2AYQJ-C2 Responsible Party: Fanotec International Limited Address: Room B27, Floor 8, Yau Tak Indl. Bldg., 21 San On Street, Tuen Mun, N.T., Hong Kong. This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Simple Mode Before practicing what you read in this section, please ensure that C2 operates in C10 SIMPLE MODE. Power on MECHA by pressing the 0 button for 3 to 5 seconds (long press). It may take approximately 35-45 seconds to start; then MECHA reaches the idle status, and the display will show (1) either the (P) Preset Menu or (2) the rotators in use and the dynamic IP address. Case 1. The display shows the (P) Preset Menu:

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 10 • Press the 8 button to switch to the (C) Config Menu. • If the first option in this menu is C10 SIMPLE MODE is ON, leave it unchanged. Otherwise, press the S button to change it to C10 SIMPLE MODE is ON. Case 2. The display shows the rotators in use and the IP address: • Long-press the 8 button to enter menu mode. • Press the 8 button to switch to the (C) Config Menu. • Press the S button to change the first option to C10 SIMPLE MODE is ON. V https://youtu.be/94oIpK7xwJQ Using IR Remote Commander and Receiver to Launch Presets ‒ MECHA DAC and Single Axis Introduction You may already know, from the documentation available at this time, that MECHA consists of a rotator (E1, E2, or P1) and a controller (C1), and is generally used to automate the movement of various devices, such as a panoramic head

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 11 mounted on a tripod or a turntable holding an object for filming or photography. Two such paired MECHA units – the MECHA Dual Axis Combo (DAC) – can be used for dual-axis applications, for example, in panoramic photography. V https://youtu.be/wY-HxTqcswk MECHA Overview The controller is the part of MECHA where the buttons are located and allows you to send various commands to the rotators or update the firmware, for example, when you do not want to use the User Interface (UI). Dual Axis MECHA Controller C2 The new controller – C2 – which we present in this user guide, is a dedicated dual-axis controller with an OLED display and external battery. It is similar to C1 and can control the same rotators – E1, E2, and P1 – so now you can choose the controller that best suits your needs and preferences.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 12 MECHA Controller C1 With Rotator E1 Please see C2 – C1 Differences and Similarities for more details. The OLED display guides you through all the major operations and settings, making C2 much more intuitive than the single-axis C1 Controller with LED indicators only. The use of an external battery means you can carry spare batteries and quickly refuel MECHA before or during a shooting session. An optional power cable splitter is available for using two sets of batteries simultaneously for extended operation and/or changing batteries without pausing. V https://youtu.be/7JsSQ22bLHU First Meeting with MECHA C2 MECHA Controller C2 Features • Control of two MECHA rotators. • Compact design with an OLED display. • Nine buttons for controls and inputs, including a button to trigger camera shutter release.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 13 • Shortcut keys to run presets stored in memory, which can be configured via the OLED display and web page interface. • Wi-Fi remote control from smartphones, tablets, PCs using a simple web page interface. • Connection via a Wi-Fi access point and remote control over the internet. • Over-the-air firmware updates. • Linking and controlling multiple controllers via Wi-Fi (future firmware development). • External power input (DC 9-19V, 2A rated, plug 1.7x4.0x9.5mm) for use with different battery packs, or regulated power supplies for continuous operation. • CAM port to trigger camera focus and shutter release. • Support for any camera with a wired remote release port. • Multipurpose AUX port for: o Commanding MECHA Start/Stop and other functions with a wired or wireless RF remote. o Commanding MECHA various functions with NN IR remote. o Triggering a camera with an IR remote emitter. o Camera shutter release confirmation. Before First Use Get Your Equipment Ready Note the numbers 1 and 2 printed on the back of the controller, and then

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 14 connect the controller to the rotators as follows: • The end of cable 1 to the lower rotator. • The end of cable 2 to the upper rotator. 1 — Controller to lower rotator built-in cable 2 — Controller to upper rotator built-in cable 3 — Aux Port 4 — Camera Trigger Port 5 — DC Power Input Port 6 — USB Port (mainly for programming and troubleshooting) In the image below, the lower rotator ‒ or Rotator 1 ‒ is the rotator mounted under the lower rail of the device, and the upper rotator ‒ or Rotator 2 ‒ is the vertical rotator mounted on the upper rail.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 15 Although the controller can be mounted in several ways, we recommend mounting it on the upper rotator using its attachment strap, as shown in the image below. 1 — Controller to upper rotator built-in cable 2 — C2 Controller 3 — Controller to lower rotator built-in cable

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 16 4 — Upper rail 5 — Upper rotator 6 — Attachment strap 7 — External battery 8 — Lower rail 9 — Nadir adapter 10 — Lower rotator Related Videos V https://youtu.be/94oIpK7xwJQ Using IR Remote Commander and Receiver to Launch Presets ‒ MECHA DAC and Single Axis V https://youtu.be/X3AZjPZ-re4 Installation Instruction for Dual-Axis MECHA C2-E2 With NN6 (F9922) V https://youtu.be/iEyR3Jq9j34 Installation Instruction for Dual-Axis MECHA C2-E1 With NN3 MK2 (F9920) First Batch V https://youtu.be/VKEyS24MNgY Installation Instruction for Dual-Axis MECHA C2-E1 With NN3 MK3 (F9921) First Batch

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 17 V https://youtu.be/foEr50L0dZU Power On and Test ‒ MECHA C2 C2’s Buttons Here are some of the functions of the buttons to give you a quick overview. We will provide more details later when we use the buttons. 9 Minus button — Use it to adjust values in edit mode and delete editable presets; hold it down to speed up the adjustment. It is also needed for simple rotations. + Plus button — Use it to adjust values in edit mode, create presets and enter edit mode; hold it down to speed up the adjustment. It is also needed for simple rotations. 8 Menu button — Use it to switch between menus and to show information about parameters in edit mode.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 18 45 Left and right buttons — These are menu navigation buttons. In edit mode, they increase/decrease 10 times the current value of some parameters in the (C) Config Menu. Use them to rotate the system manually to the left and right, respectively, and also to specify the direction when launching a preset. 67 Up and down buttons — These are menu navigation buttons and control the up and down movement of the upper rotator. S Center button — This has a camera trigger function, confirms the execution of a preset selected from the (P) Preset Menu, or confirms the adjustment of values in edit mode. It can also be used to switch between pair options (ON/OFF) and show details about the current option. 0 Power button — Use it to power on/off MECHA (long press), confirm or cancel some operations, and show the battery percentage. NOTE. A long press of the power button is only necessary for powering on/off. In all other cases, use a normal press. Power On and Test Position the upper rail as shown in the image below (parked position), then power on MECHA and perform the test below without mounting a camera.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 19 Power on MECHA by pressing the 0 button for 3 to 5 seconds (long press). It may take about 35-45 seconds to start, then MECHA reaches the idle status, and the display will show the (P) Preset Menu: TEST Without Camera Mounted Use the 76 buttons to find the P12 PANORAMA TEST PARKED option, which tells the MECHA C2 to execute a panorama to the right as follows: 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/- 45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir, starting from the parked position. Press the S button to launch the test and wait until the test is performed and P12 PANORAMA TEST PARKED is shown on the display again. NOTE. The 0 button can always be used as an emergency stop.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 20 Power off MECHA by pressing its power button for 3 to 5 seconds. ! If the above test is not successful and you need assistance, please contact us at mecha@nodalninja.com Checking the Battery Level Power on MECHA as shown above. After that, press the 0 button to view the battery percentage displayed on the screen. The battery symbol is located in the upper left corner of the screen and alternates with the rotators in use. The dynamic IP address is also displayed at the bottom of the screen. If necessary, replace the battery. Always use a 9-19V battery, as specified in the technical specifications. ! If the display shows nothing, the battery may be completely discharged and needs to be replaced. NOTE. When the BATTERY warning appears on C2’s display, it can be canceled by pressing the 9 button. V https://youtu.be/7X6QS__4KYk Check the Battery Level and Set Low Battery Warnings ‒ MECHA C2

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 21 Simple Rotations Power on MECHA as shown above. In the (P) Preset Menu, select – or navigate to – the first option, which is P10 SIMPLE ROTATIONS, then press the S button to confirm. The display will show: Set POSITION, as in the image below. For the lower rotator • For 45° rotations: o Press 4 , then quickly press 9 . o Press 5 , then quickly press 9 for the opposite direction. • For 90° rotations: o Press 4 , then quickly press + . o Press 5 , then quickly press + for the opposite direction. • For 180° rotations: o Press 4 , then quickly press 8 . o Press 5 , then quickly press 8 for the opposite direction. For the upper rotator, do the same, but use the up and down buttons instead of the left and right buttons: • For 45° rotations: o Press 7 , then quickly press 9 .

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 22 o Press 6 , then quickly press 9 for the opposite direction. • For 90° rotations: o Press 7 , then quickly press + . o Press 6 , then quickly press + for the opposite direction. • For 180° rotations: o Press 7 , then quickly press 8 . o Press 6 , then quickly press 8 for the opposite direction. Note that the rotation angle for the above button combinations can be set in the (C) Config Menu or on the Configuration page. For continuous rotation, press and hold the arrow buttons one at a time. For example, for continuous left rotation, press and hold 4 . N When you press the 0 button and the battery percentage is shown on the display, you can also perform simple rotations. Use the 0 button to exit. V https://youtu.be/0YVjtnbwnFM Simple Rotations ‒ MECHA C2 ! If the above simple rotations do not work as expected, the rotators in use may not be set correctly (see Setting the Rotators Using C2’s Menu), or the INTERVALS 1 9 , 2 + , and 3 8 are not the default ones in the (C) Config Menu or on the Configuration page.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 23 Parked, Level, and Raised Positions The Simple Rotations mentioned above are very helpful when the upper rail needs to be in a certain position. The basic positions required for presets are shown in the image below: Parked (1) — The most compact position; the upper rail is oriented vertically downward. Level (2) — The upper rail is in the horizontal position. Raised (3) — The opposite of parked, the upper rail is oriented vertically upward. The naming conventions for starting and ending positions for dual-axis presets available via More from Server... Adjust the position by using the 6 and 7 buttons to match the preset before starting the preset.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 24 For example, if the current position is parked and the preset requires raised, you can achieve this with one of the following Simple Rotations: • Press 6 then quickly press + , and do this twice (90°x2=180°). • Press 6 then quickly press 8 . • Press and hold 6 until the upper rail reaches the desired position. Firmware Update Using a Hotspot MECHA's firmware acts as the device's complete operating system, performing all control, monitoring, and data manipulation functions. It is important to have the latest version installed to benefit from all the features implemented in MECHA. However, if you prefer not to update it at this time or are not comfortable with the firmware update procedure, you can skip it for now and read the next section. Use this update method for version (1)2201 or newer. For this simple method of updating the firmware, we assume that you know how to set up a hotspot on your 3G, 4G, or 5G smartphone – a smartphone with mobile data enabled and internet access. In other words, you can navigate the internet using that smartphone alone, without it being connected to Wi-Fi. • First, set up a hotspot named MECHA-UPDATE with the password 87654321 (default) in the 2.4 GHz band. • Press the 0 button for about 3 to 5 seconds to power on MECHA, and wait until MECHA reaches the idle status (and the (P) Preset Menu is shown on C2’s display). • If MECHA doesn’t reach this status, please power it off by pressing the 0 button for 3 seconds and contact us at mecha@nodalninja.com.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 25 • Press the 8 button to switch to the (C) Config Menu. • Press the 4 button to select page 8. • Press the 7 button several times until C83 UPDATE USING H-SPOT appears on the display, as shown in the image below. Press the S button to launch the update. Now MECHA starts scanning for existing networks, and when it connects to the previously created hotspot, two beeps are heard. The C83 UPDATE USING H-SPOT option will update the firmware using the MECHA-UPDATE hotspot you set up. • Now, deactivate the hotspot, power off MECHA, then power it on again. ! The response shown on the display will be ”No update found!” if the update cannot be done at that time. If you use the above option without creating the hotspot, the firmware will be updated later, when internet access is available. The update may take up to 5 minutes but could take longer in case of a slow internet connection.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 26 For more details on using C2’s menus, please read C2’s Menu Mode. ! Please do not turn off MECHA while updating the firmware! V https://youtu.be/rZu4EI5AbIw Firmware Update Using a Hotspot ‒ MECHA C2 C2’s Menu Mode Using C2’s Menus C2’s current menus are the (P) Preset Menu and the (C) Config Menu. A preset is a set of instructions and configuration settings, that can be saved and used when needed to perform specific operations much faster. For example, some presets contain all the information MECHA needs to execute a whole panorama. (P) Preset Menu contains: • Default presets – displayed on page 1: o Test presets: P11 PANORAMA TEST SINGLE 6, P12 PANORAMA TEST PARKED, P13 PANORAMA TEST LEVEL, P14 PANORAMA TEST RAISED. o Factory presets: P15 KIT LENS 18(29) LEVEL, P16 FE 12mm NZ Level, P16 FE 16mm NZ Level, P16 FE 20mm NZ Level, P16 FE 24mm NZ Level. One of the differences between a Test and Factory preset is that the Test preset does not require position confirmations when executing it.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 27 • EMPTY options where you can display or create your own presets on pages 2- 8. • Other options: o P10 SIMPLE ROTATIONS (C) Config Menu consists of various options, such as C10 SIMPLE/ADVANCED MODE, C12 MECHA ID, C13 MAC ADDRESS, C14 IP ADDRESS, C15 BATTERY PERCENTAGE, C16 BATT. WARNING, C20 STEP by STEP ..., C61 IR REMOTE TEST, C82 FIRMWARE VERSION, C70 ROTATOR 1, C71 ROTATOR 2, and C83 UPDATE USING H-SPOT that can be used to update the firmware, as shown in Firmware Update Using a Hotspot. N After powering on MECHA, the (P) Preset Menu is shown on the display. Each menu consists of 8 pages, and a page can contain 10 presets or other options. Press the 7 button to display the next option. Press the 6 button to display the previous option. Press the 5 button to go to the next page, and the 4 button to go to the previous page. Blank page numbers will be displayed in smaller fonts. S Press the center button of C2 to confirm, execute, or show details about the current option. 9+ Use these buttons to adjust values in edit mode. Press the 9 button to delete an editable preset, and + button to enter edit mode.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 28 Press the 8 button to switch to another menu. The first option in the (C) Config Menu is C10 SIMPLE MODE is ON. Press the S button when you need to change it (switch) to C10 ADVANCED MODE is ON. To execute a preset, press the S button when the preset name is shown on the display, then press either the 5 or 4 button to specify the direction of rotation, or provide the information required by the preset. As we will see in the next section, if the preset name contains direction information, there is no need to press the left or right buttons; the preset is executed automatically when you press the S button. N After 10 seconds of inactivity, in some cases, the display shows contextual information that will help you use MECHA even without knowing too much about it. The C40 SHOW HINTS... option in the (C) Config Menu allows you to enable / disable contextual information using the S button. Creating a Preset in C2’s Menu Mode Creating a preset in C2’s menu mode is very simple, fast, and preferable when you do not want to access the User Interface for various reasons. The preset can be used immediately to shoot a panorama and can also be edited later or deleted if no longer needed. • In the (P) Preset Menu, use the 7 button to find an empty option, for example, 024 EMPTY.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 29 • Press the + button to enter edit mode and adjust the preset parameters, which are: o Focal length (50mm – in the first image above) alternates with Number of shots (12sh – in the second image above) and AUTO; press the 6 button to toggle between the three parameters. Press the 8 button to find out information about a flashing parameter – explained show (see the third image above) – and press it again to return to the concise show. Use the 9+ buttons to adjust the current value. Use the 5 button to go to the next parameter. o Number of camera trigger signals per position. T1 means one camera trigger signal. For example, if you increase the value to 3 (T3) using the + button, there will be three camera trigger signals per position. o Exposure (in seconds). E1/2 means an exposure of half a second. If you try to decrease the value below zero, notice that shutter/button confirmation options are displayed instead – E:SHT C., E:SHT C1, E:BTN > C, E:BTN > C1 – which are explained in the User Interface chapter. Image overlap and coverage area can be set only when AUTO or focal length is specified (see the first image above). o Image overlap (percent). Values in the range of 5-80% are allowed, or go to the next parameter if you do not want to change the current value. o Coverage area: ▪ 360° 180° for a full panorama ▪ or less for a partial panorama vertically centered.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 30 Up to three rows and their corresponding tilts can be set only when the number of shots is specified (see the second image above). o Rows and tilts examples (see the note above): ▪ 12sh 0° 0° 0° — one row of 12 shots at a tilt of 0° ▪ 6sh 7.5° 0° 0° — one row of 6 shots at a tilt of 7.5° ▪ 8sh 30° -30° 0° — two rows of 8 shots: one at a tilt of 30° and the other at -30° ▪ 12sh 0° 45° -45° — three rows of 12 shots, one at a tilt of 0°, one at 45°, and the other at -45°. o Position of the upper rail (when running this preset, the upper rail must be in this position): ▪ parked (P), ▪ level (L), ▪ or raised (R). o Direction of rotation: ▪ right, ▪ left, ▪ or unspecified (?), in which case the direction of rotation must be provided when the preset is executed. The following parameters are displayed on the second and third OLED screens and explained in the User Interface chapter. For now, you can simply leave them as they are in the template. o Modifier of exposure (M) — Modifier of the duration of the shutter button signal. o Auto-Focus (AF) — Duration of the AF signal time.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 31 o Wake (W) — Delay for camera wake-up. o Before (B) — Delay before each triggering sequence. o After (A) — Delay after each triggering sequence or individual triggering. o Row order. Possible values for row order are: MDU, MUD, UMD, UDM, DMU, DUM, MD, MU, UM, UD, DM, DU, M, D, U, where M means middle row, D ‒ down, U ‒ up. Let’s look at some examples: ▪ MDU — The middle row will be photographed first, then the down row(s), then the up row(s). ▪ MD — The middle row first, then the down row(s). The preset will not contain the up row(s). ▪ UD and DU are special values — Although the preset will not contain the middle row, the area corresponding to it will not be missing from the panorama, as there will be an overlap in the middle, meaning that the top row closest to the middle and the bottom row closest to the middle will overlap. UD means the up row(s) first, then the down row(s), while DU is the reverse. ▪ M — The preset will only contain the middle row. ▪ D — The preset will only contain the down row(s). ▪ U — The preset will only contain the up row(s). o Zenith and Nadir shots: ▪ --- — No shots. ▪ Z — One zenith shot. ▪ N — One nadir shot. ▪ Z,N — One zenith + one nadir shot. ▪ N,Z — One nadir + one zenith shot. ▪ ZZ — Two zenith shots 90° apart. ▪ NN — Two nadir shots 90° apart. ▪ ZZ,N — Two zenith shots 90° apart + one nadir shot. ▪ NN,Z — Two nadir shots 90° apart + one zenith shot.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 32 ▪ Z,NN — One zenith shot + two nadir shots 90° apart. ▪ N,ZZ — One nadir shot + two zenith shots 90° apart. ▪ ZZ,NN — Two zenith + two nadir shots 90° apart. ▪ NN,ZZ — Two nadir + two zenith shots 90° apart. ▪ Zx2 — Two zenith shots 180° apart. ▪ Nx2 — Two nadir shots 180° apart. ▪ Zx2,N — Two zenith shots 180° apart + one nadir shot. ▪ Nx2,Z — Two nadir shots 180° apart + one zenith shot. ▪ Zx2,Nx2 — Two zenith + two nadir shots 180° apart. ▪ Nx2,Zx2 — Two nadir + two zenith shots 180° apart. ▪ N,PN — One nadir shot + a pause for preparations* for the extra nadir shot. ▪ Z,N,PN — One zenith + one nadir shot + a pause for preparations* for the extra nadir shot. ▪ ZZ,N,PN — Two zenith shots + one nadir shot + a pause for preparations* for the extra nadir shot. ▪ ZZNN,PN — Two zenith + two nadir shots + a pause for preparations* for the extra nadir shot. ▪ * For example, rotating the nadir adapter and moving the tripod. o Normal / Zigzag — Horizontally, how to take photos in rows, row by row: ▪ Normal: after the last position of the first row, move to the first position of the second row, and so on. ▪ Zigzag: after the last position of the first row, move to the last position of the second row, then the first position of the third row, and so on. o Sphere / Grid — Mapping type. The number of positions will be the same on every row when Grid is specified. Grid mapping is sometimes required when stitching photos for high-resolution or multi-resolution panoramas. o Portrait / Landscape — Camera orientation when taking photos.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 33 o Overlap W (percent) — Custom overlap on width. Values in the range 5- 80% are allowed. When the main overlap (Image overlap) is adjusted, Overlap W will also be set to the same value. Edit the main overlap first, then edit Overlap W if needed. o Corners — The Corners setting is available only if a focal length is specified. It allows you to set corners for a partial panorama, similar to the corners set with the two-axis slider. UL defines the upper-left corner (or image), and RD defines the lower-right corner (or image). Example: L: -70, U: 55, R: 75, D: -35. The values can also be obtained from the PTGui/Hugin project. Press either the + or 9 button when the Corners option flashes to remove all corners. o Load profile — Light, Medium, and Heavy. o Speed in revolutions per minute. o Micro-stepping value, simple or combined. o Wait / Rewind — These options tell MECHA to wait after the last shot or to rewind to the initial position. o Crop factor — Values: 0.64x, 0.79x, FF (full frame), 1.3x, 1.5x, 1.6x, 1.7x, 2.0x, 2.7x, 3.9x, 4.5x, 4.8x, 5.6x, 6.0x. o Repeat — Values: NO Repeat (if no repeat is needed), or times*minutes (to specify how many times MECHA should repeat the shooting sequence and with what delay). See the User Interface chapter for more information about Repeat. V https://youtu.be/_u6-kxD4_uE Preset Repeat with MECHA C2 Controller

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 34 Press the 0 button to cancel and exit edit mode, if necessary. • A flashing parameter means the value can be adjusted using the 9 and + buttons (hold down the desired button to speed up the adjustment). • Use any of the four 5467 buttons to quickly navigate to another parameter. • The preset is automatically saved when you confirm the adjustments by pressing the S button. As soon as a preset is saved, you can start shooting or use it anytime later. Press the S button to execute the preset. • After launching the preset, the display will show Set POSITION, meaning you can set the initial view and position the upper rail before continuing, as shown in Simple Rotations. Press the S button to skip this step if no change is needed. • Note the + (plus) sign at the beginning of the preset name. This preset is editable and it can be: o deleted with the 9 button, o edited with the + button. ! The most recently selected preset serves as a template for the next one. Thus, if it is deleted by mistake, you only need to create a new preset to have the deleted one back.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 35 What happens if the direction of rotation is not specified? If the direction of rotation is not specified when a preset is created, then when launching the preset from the (P) Preset Menu it will ask for direction (ROT. SENSE), as shown in the second image below. • First, optionally, use the 4567 buttons to set the initial view and level the upper rail, if necessary, as shown in Simple Rotations, then press the S button to confirm. Use the S button to skip this step if the position of the upper rail is correct (level, in our example) and no other adjustments are needed. • Use the 4 or 5 button to execute the preset to the left or right. • When launched by mistake, use the 0 button to cancel. Panorama with Automatic Shooting Pattern Using C2’s Menu This method requires firmware version (1)2272 or newer and works for any lens from 4mm to 1000mm, including fisheye lenses.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 36 MECHA will compute a preset for your lens based on the data it receives when performing the following procedure: • Power on MECHA as usual. • Make sure the upper rail is in the level position. • Place a small object in front of MECHA so that it is right in the center of the frame. The distance to the target object is not important. • The camera and lens must be set the same as for shooting the actual panorama. The above three settings can be made either now or later when the display shows Set POSITION. • Now, in the (P) Preset Menu, use the 7 button to find an empty option or editable preset. • Press the + button to enter edit mode. • The first parameter is already selected and flashes, which means you can adjust it. Use the 6 button to find the AUTO value. You can adjust the other

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 37 parameters if necessary. We assume that you have read the chapter on editing presets and therefore know how to work with parameters. • Press the S button to confirm. • Press the S button again to launch the preset. • When the preset asks you to Set POSITION, you just have to press the S button to confirm, assuming that the upper rail is in the level position and the target object is already in the center of the frame. • The following message appears on the display to remind you what to do next, and you have 10 seconds to read it: • After 10 seconds, MECHA starts to rotate slowly to the right, and you have to press the 0 button when the target object is out of the camera's frame, as stated in the message. • Then MECHA goes back to the initial position and starts to slowly tilt down, and you have to press the 0 button again when the target object is out of the camera's frame. • Then MECHA goes back to the initial position, and the computed preset is ready for use. Press the S button to launch it immediately, or use it later like any other preset. V https://youtu.be/zYqLbYMZjJs Creating a Panorama Preset Without UI ‒ MECHA C2

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 38 Panorama Using C2’s Menu Power on MECHA and wait until it reaches the idle status. Setting the Rotators Using C2’s Menu The following options available in the (C) Config Menu can be used to tell MECHA what type of rotators are connected to it. Use these options if you purchased them separately, changed the rotator type, or want to ensure MECHA has the correct one set. • C70 ROTATOR 1 is ... – Use this option to set the lower rotator. • C71 ROTATOR 2 is ... – Use this option to set the upper rotator. First, find the option you need and enter edit mode using the + button. Then use the 9 and + buttons to find the right type of rotator, and confirm by pressing the S button. V https://youtu.be/R0OIwuGq9lE Setting the Rotators Using C2’s Menu

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 39 Test Panoramas Now let's continue with some tests without mounting a camera. Position the upper rail in the parked, level, or raised position as required for each of the following tests, as shown in the Simple Rotations section. If the upper rail of your device is already in one of these three positions, you can only perform the corresponding test. In the (P) Preset Menu page 1, use the 76 buttons to find the option specified in each test below. Confirm by pressing the S button. Test without Camera – Parked Position With the upper rail in the parked position, as shown in the image below, select the P12 PANORAMA TEST PARKED option:

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 40 Press the S button to confirm. This option tells the MECHA C2 to execute a panorama to the left or right, as follows: 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/- 45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir, starting from the parked position. Test without Camera – Level Position With the upper rail in the level position, as shown in the image below, select the P13 PANORAMA TEST LEVEL option: Press the S button to confirm. This option tells the MECHA C2 to execute a panorama to the left or right, as follows: 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/- 45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir, starting from the level position.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 41 Test without Camera – Raised Position With the upper rail in the raised position, as shown in the image below, select the P14 PANORAMA TEST RAISED option: Press the S button to confirm. This option tells the MECHA C2 to execute a panorama to the left or right, as follows: 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/- 45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir, starting from the raised position. Panorama with Camera Mounted If the above tests are successful, repeat at least one of them with a camera mounted.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 42 Mount the camera on the upper rail using the camera mounting knob shown in the image below. Plug the right shutter cable for the camera in use into the Camera Port (CAM). This allows the shutter to be triggered automatically. Use the test panoramas mentioned above whenever you want to quickly shoot this type of panorama without using the User Interface. As we have already mentioned, a test preset does not require position confirmation when executing it. Therefore, make sure the initial view and the position of the upper rail are correct before selecting the preset you need and pressing the S button to confirm, just as you would for tests without a camera. Basic Information About Shooting • If none of the available presets are suitable for the type of panorama you want to shoot, select any EMPTY option in the (P) Preset Menu and create a new preset as we have already shown in the Creating a preset in C2’s Menu Mode section.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 43 • Before executing any test preset with the camera mounted, make sure the initial view and the position of the upper rail are correctly set, as test presets are executed without asking about positions. • Use the 4567 buttons to find the preset you want to use and press the S button to confirm. • All presets, except test presets, prompt you to set some positions – Set POSITION – meaning you can set the initial view and position the upper rail before continuing, as shown in Simple Rotations. You can also set two corners to define a partial panorama if needed. Press the S button to confirm or skip this step. • You may also need to set the sense of rotation – ROT. SENSE – which can only be left or right, so press either the 4 or 5 button to start shooting. • Press the 0 button to cancel shooting. Shooting in Step-by-Step Mode • In the (C) Config Menu, find the C20 STEP by STEP is OFF option and activate it by pressing the S button. • In the (P) Preset Menu, find the preset you want to use and, depending on the preset type, launch it as shown above. • With STEP by STEP being ON, MECHA pauses before each position and waits for you to press the 5 button to take the photo and go to the next position, resulting in step-by-step movement.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 44 • Press the 4 button to exit step-by-step mode and continue automatically. • There is no need to change C20 STEP by STEP from ON to OFF, as this change is done automatically. Custom Partial Panorama Using Two Corners When creating a preset using the C2’s (P) Preset Menu, one can set a Coverage area less than 360°x180° if a partial panorama is needed. But this partial panorama is vertically centered. To be able to shoot a custom partial panorama, MECHA needs to know the upper left corner and (lower) down right corner of the area to be photographed. Let’s see how this can be done. • Launch any preset created using C2's (P) Preset Menu by pressing the S button when the preset name is shown on the display (remember that this type of preset has the plus sign at the beginning of its name). The display will show Set POSITION, as in the image below. • If necessary, position the upper rail as required in the preset by using the arrow buttons. In our example, notice that the position is level. • Press the 8 button and note that the display shows Up Left, as in the image below, which means that now the upper left corner should be set. o Use the arrow buttons to rotate the panoramic head to point to the upper left corner of the desired area, then press the S button to confirm.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 45 • Now the display shows Down Right, as in the image below, and you should set the lower right corner. o Use the arrow buttons to rotate the panoramic head to point to the lower right corner of the desired area, then press the S button to confirm (Set POSITION is shown again on the display). Once the second corner is confirmed, both corners are saved in the preset. • By pressing the 8 button again, MECHA walks through the two corners, which can be further adjusted. This step is not required, but allows you to make sure the corners are correctly set. N The rotational speed when a button is held down can be adjusted using the C32 ARROWS speed ... RPM option in the (C) Config Menu. • If necessary, after you finish setting the corners and Set POSITION is shown again on the display, you can set the initial view by using the arrow buttons. Also, notice the corner symbols next to the battery symbol. • Then press the S button to execute the preset. V https://youtu.be/bleU7YEFZSc Partial Panorama Using Two Corners ‒ MECHA C2

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 46 N To ignore the set corners when launching a preset, press the 9 button when the display shows Set POSITION. To delete the set corners and save the preset without corners: First, ignore the corners (by pressing the 9 button when the display shows Set POSITION). Then adjust the corners (by pressing the 8 button) and press the S button twice, once when the display shows Up Left, and once when it shows Down Right. This is equivalent to setting null corners and, after confirming the second corner, the preset is saved as such. C2’s Menu Options This chapter briefly describes C2's menu options to give you an idea of what you can do using the menu. First, to use a certain option, find or navigate to that option using the navigational buttons – 4567 – then follow the instructions below and access the links provided for more details. Usually, you can use the S button to confirm or switch between ON/OFF options and the 0 button to exit or cancel.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 47 (P) Preset Menu • P10 SIMPLE ROTATIONS — Press the S button to confirm you want to perform Simple Rotations. o Use a button in the 4567 set in combination with one in the 9+8 set for a rotation with the angle specified in INTERVAL 1, 2 or 3, o or press and hold a button in the first set if you need a continuous rotation. • P11 PANORAMA TEST SINGLE 6 — A test preset for a single-row panorama: 6 shots around. For dual-axis applications, make sure the upper rail is in the level position, then press the S button to launch the preset. • P12 PANORAMA TEST PARKED — A test preset for a multi-row panorama: 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/-45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir. Make sure the upper rail is in the parked position, then press the S button to launch the preset. • P13 PANORAMA TEST LEVEL — A test preset for a multi-row panorama: 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/-45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir. Make sure the upper rail is in the level position, then press the S button to launch the preset. • P14 PANORAMA TEST RAISED — A test preset for a multi-row panorama: 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/-45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir. Make sure the upper rail is in the raised position, then press the S button to launch the preset. • P15 KIT LENS 18(29) LEVEL — A preset for a multi-row panorama: 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/-45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 48 • P16 FE 12mm NZ Level — A preset for 12mm fisheye lenses, 4 shots around, plus nadir and zenith. • P16 FE 16mm NZ Level — A preset for 16mm fisheye lenses, 6 shots around, plus nadir and zenith. • P16 FE 24mm NZ Level — A preset for 24mm fisheye lenses, 8 shots around, 2 rows ‒ at -30° and +30° ‒ plus zenith and nadir. After pressing the S button to launch the preset, the four presets above will require confirmation of position and direction of rotation: o Set POSITION: position the upper rail in the level position as shown in Simple Rotations. Press the S button to confirm. o ROT. SENSE: press either the 5 or 4 button to start shooting. (C) Config Menu • C10 SIMPLE / ADVANCED MODE is ON — Press the S button to switch between the two options. The main difference between the two modes is that in C10 SIMPLE MODE you are always in one of C2's menus and some operations are therefore easier to perform. • C11 USER’S GUIDE QR CODE — Press the S button to show the QR code. By pressing the 0 button, or after a few seconds of inactivity, the QR code will be displayed on a white background. With a second press of the button, or after another few seconds of inactivity, the display will show the web address the code links to. Press the 0 button again to exit immediately. • C12 MECHA ID — Press the S button to show the MECHA’s ID, which is an identifier comprised of letters and numbers and is part of the MAC ADDRESS.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 49 • C13 MAC ADDRESS — Press the S button to show the entire MAC address (media access control address), which uniquely identifies your MECHA. • C14 IP ADDRESS — Press the S button to show the full (dynamic) IP address; you will need it to access the MECHA’s User Interface on your computer. • C15 BATTERY PERCENTAGE — Press the S button to show the battery percentage. You can also use the 0 button whenever you want to show the battery percentage, but not in edit mode or when a preset is executed, because in these cases the 0 button has a cancel/exit function. • C16 BATT. WARNING AT ... — Press either S or + button to enter edit mode and set the Battery min. For a voltage close to Battery min, you will see the BATTERY warning shown on the display (see Checking the Battery Level). • C17 ALWAYS ON NO POWER OFF — Press either S or + button to enter edit mode and set MECHA to shut down automatically after a certain number of minutes of inactivity, or vice versa, to keep it always on. • C18 FCC ID — Press the S button to show the C2 FCC ID. • C19 +ASSISTANT… — This option allows you to specify the IP address of a second MECHA, such as a C1 mounted on a hot-shoe, which can be used for triggering purposes without any cable between the moving parts of the gear. This particular MECHA +ASSISTANT can be either a C1 or a C2 connected directly to the AP of the main C2 unit, or in the same local network. o If the +ASSISTANT is connected to the AP of main C2, +ASSISTANT needs to be in STA mode. o If the +ASSISTANT is on the same local network as C2, +ASSISTANT can be in both AP+STA and STA modes. +ASSISTANT will receive and echo any camera trigger signal sent by C2. You can set a fixed IP address for the +ASSISTANT unit in its Configuration page, like IP:192.168.8.110 SN:255.255.255.0 GW&DNS:192.168.8.1.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 50 A C2 using a +ASSISTANT will be referred to as C2+ in the supporting materials. A C2+ commands itself and the +ASSISTANT at the same time. Press the S button to enter edit mode, then use the 9 and + buttons to change the last part of the IP address, which is 192.168.8.XXX, or choose OFF to disable the assistant unit. Confirm by pressing the S button, as usual. • C20 STEP by STEP is ON / OFF — Press the S button to switch between the two options (see Shooting in Step-by-Step Mode). • C21 MOTOR 1 is ENABLED / DISABLED — Press the S button to switch between the two options. The lower motor will be enabled/disabled. • C22 MOTOR 2 is ENABLED / DISABLED — Press the S button to switch between the two options. The upper motor will be enabled/disabled. MECHA can execute presets for dual-axis applications even if it is only connected to the lower rotator (Rotator 1) – assuming there is no upper rotator (Rotator 2) – but you need to tilt the second axis manually. If MOTOR 2 is ENABLED, MECHA pauses when sending commands to the Rotator 2 and displays the target position in degrees on the OLED, then waits for you to tilt the second axis manually, and will not continue until you press the 5 button to confirm it is tilted. • C23 DISABLE / ENABLE MOTOR 1 & 2 — Press the S button to switch between the two options. Both the lower and upper motors will be disabled/enabled. • C24 DEGREES / REAL MOVE is ON — Press the S button to switch between the two options. Note that this is only possible if the Allow DEGREES - REAL MOVE Switching is enabled on the Configuration page. The C24 REAL MOVE option allows the use of MECHA C2 to control real world devices, such as linear rails – including macro, focus and so on – but also rotational devices, say a MECHA P1 rotator is driving a large turntable using a gearbox with ratio unknown or using a belt.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 51 To use the C24 REAL MOVE option: o Mark a reference point for a REAL device driven by Rotator 1 (or lower rotator), say, on a rail. o Switch to C24 DEGREES MOVE if it is not already ON. o Set 1.0 TUR (1 turn or 360°) for C37 INTERVAL 3. You can use other values if 1 TUR is not appropriate for the device used, for example, it is too small or too large. o Press either 5 or 4 then 8 for one full rotation (or according to your setting), and wait until the movement is complete. Now measure or calculate the distance the REAL device has moved from the reference point. o Press the 0 button to exit, then navigate to C74 i3 REAL MOVE 1 option and enter the value calculated or measured before. Say 100.0 for 100.0mm. o Switch to C24 REAL MOVE. Now MECHA creates a conversion factor and will interpret all the numeric values as real values. 100.0 will be 100mm on the REAL device wherever these numeric values are used, in button intervals, presets, or scripts. To go back to values interpreted as degrees, switch to C24 DEGREES MOVE. Do the same for the Rotator 2 (or upper rotator), if needed, with C75 i3 REAL MOVE 2 as final adjustment. There is no need to repeat this process unless you have changed the REAL device type used. When C24 DEGREES MOVE is ON, you can set the desired value for C37 INTERVAL 3, and the conversion factor already created will not change. • C30 CHANGE SENSE RIGHT-LEFT — Press the S button to change the sense of right/left rotation when it is done manually using the 4 and 5 buttons.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 52 • C31 CHANGE SENSE UP-DOWN — Press the S button to change the sense of up/down rotation when it is done manually using the 7 and 6 buttons. • C32 ARROWS speed ... RPM — Press either S or + button to enter edit mode and adjust the rotational speed when a button is held down (see Arrow Buttons). • C33 INTERVAL 1, C35 INTERVAL 2, C37 INTERVAL 3, and C34 Interval 1 speed, C36 Interval 2 speed, C38 Interval 3 speed are the angles of rotation and corresponding speeds for Simple Rotations. Press either S or + button to enter edit mode and adjust their value. Confirm by pressing the S button, or cancel by pressing the 0 button. When confirming new values, the display shows SET Position, allowing you to test them using the arrow buttons. Then, press the S button one more time. • C39 LEVEL AMOUNT — This setting determines the angle at which the upper rail is rotated after powering on MECHA if you press the 6 button when the display shows -+≡. The upper rail should be in the parked position at power-on. After leveling, the C39 LEVEL AMOUNT option is displayed for easy access in case adjustments are needed. Press the + button to enter edit mode, then adjust the value as usual. You can set a value specifically for the current work session by pressing the 0 button to confirm the change instead of the S button. The C39 LEVEL AMOUNT adjustment can be made at any time, but after the initial setup, the 0 button will function as usual (exiting editing mode). o If the upper rotator is either E2 or P1 and equipped with a position sensor, MECHA will use it for more accurate rotation.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 53 ! The sensor search covers a 360° range. To avoid potential issues during this process, ensure no lens is attached that could hit the lower rail and disconnect any cables from the camera. Perform this test in the following situations: 1. The first time you use MECHA after purchase. 2. After disassembling and reassembling the upper rail (for example, after using it in turntable applications). When adjusting C39 LEVEL AMOUNT with C78 ROT. 2 SENSOR enabled, the display may show: ▪ ...[-][+]X – The upper rail is within the level range, and the rail assembly and sensor detection are functioning correctly for safe use. ▪ Rot.2 SENSOR NOT DETECTED – The sensor is not detected. Disable it at C78 ROT. SENSOR... ▪ UPPER RAIL INVERTED ! – The upper rail appears to be approximately 180° from level. Disassemble and reassemble the upper rail, rotating it by 180°. o If the upper rotator is E1 (which does not have a position sensor) or E2/P1 with the sensor disabled in the (C) Config Menu (C78 ROT. 2 SENSOR is DISABLED), the sensor cannot be detected, and the display shows an exclamation mark: !. V https://youtu.be/BaS6pLJzw5g Leveling the Upper Rail when Powering On MECHA – C2 Controller

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 54 • C40 SHOW HINTS is ON / OFF — Press the S button to switch between the two options. When enabled, contextual information appears on the display to assist with using C2's menus. • C41 Default Wi-Fi is AP / STA / AP+STA / OFF — Press either the S or + button to enter edit mode and select the desired option. • C42 CONNECT TO Wi-Fi — Pressing the S button when this option is displayed instructs MECHA to attempt connection to the last known Wi-Fi network. • C43 Wi-Fi Test — Selecting this option displays the quality of the Wi-Fi connection on a scale from 0 to 9 on the OLED display of the virtual controller, accessible at MECHA-IP/c2 • C44 KEEP PAGE is ON / OFF — Press the S button to switch between the two options. When enabled, the 6 and 7 buttons will not change pages, preventing cycling through all options across multiple pages. • C60 USE NN IR or SW is ON / OFF — Press the S button to switch between the two options. Choose ON to enable the use of the Nodal Ninja IR Remote. • C61 IR REMOTE TEST — This option allows you to test the IR Remote. Pressing the S button initiates the test. During the test, MECHA will not execute commands from the IR Commander’s buttons but will beep and display the code of the pressed button (after release) on its display. V https://youtu.be/agfwRVSfII8 IR Remote Test – C1 and C2 MECHA Controllers • C62 at SHOOT, OLED is ON / OFF — Press the S button to switch between the two options. ON keeps the display active during exposure, while OFF turns it off.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 55 • C63 OLED TEST — This option allows you to verify if the OLED is functioning correctly. • C64 OLED Brightness — Press the + button to enter edit mode, then use either the + or 9 button to adjust the brightness of the OLED display (values range from 1 to 255). Lower brightness settings extend the OLED's lifespan and slightly conserve battery power. • C65 OLED Offset X — Use this option to correct horizontal offset issues. Press the + button to enter edit mode, then use either + or 9 for adjustments. • C66 OLED Offset Y — Use this option to correct vertical offset issues. Press the + button to enter edit mode, then use either + or 9 for adjustments. This can also be used creatively, for example, to display page numbers on the middle row of the OLED screen. Note that these adjustments are not reflected on the virtual OLED on the /c2 page, but on the physical OLED. • C67 Shutter CONF. TEST — Before launching the test, connect a camera to the MECHA’s CAM port using a PC sync cable, then do the following: o Find the C67 Shutter CONF. TEST option on page 6 of the (C) Config Menu and press the S button to launch the test. o Trigger the camera a few times manually by pressing the camera’s trigger button or using a camera remote. Note that if no action is detected, the test ends automatically after 10 seconds. o MECHA will now count the shutter detections from camera via the AUX port and display the number of detections on C2’s display after 10 seconds of idling. For example, if you trigger the camera four times, the display should show 4 if the test is successful.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 56 N Use New Shutter Confirmation checkbox is enabled by default on the Configuration page. If the above Shutter CONF. TEST fails, please perform the test again with the Use New Shutter Confirmation disabled. • C68 RAW Interface is ENABLED / DISABLED — Press the S button to enable/disable the RAW Interface. • C69 BETA feat. is ENABLED / DISABLED — Press the S button to enable/disable the current beta features. • C70 ROTATOR 1 is ... — Press either S or + button to enter edit mode and set the desired rotator as the lower rotator. • C71 ROTATOR 2 is ... — Press either S or + button to enter edit mode and set the desired rotator as the upper rotator. Backlash compensation options • C72 BACKLASH 1 COMPENSATION — Compensation of backlash for the lower rotator. • C73 BACKLASH 2 COMPENSATION — Compensation of backlash for the upper rotator. The purpose of backlash compensation is to improve the precision of left-right and up-down movements. It can be performed after a long period of use. Press the S button to start the backlash compensation procedure and wait until the power button symbol starts flashing on the display. Then, press the 0 button when you notice that MECHA starts moving very slightly to the left.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 57 • C74 i3 REAL MOVE 1 / C75 i3 REAL MOVE 2 — This is the length of a path traveled by a REAL device controlled by Rotator 1/2 for a certain amount of rotation performed by MECHA. See the C24 REAL MOVE option for more details. Press either S or + button to enter edit mode and adjust its value. • C76 ZENITH POS. / C77 NADIR POS. — Press either S or + button to enter edit mode if you need to change the default values, which are 90° and -90°. Other values may be useful for backlash reasons or to have a certain overlap. MECHA will use these values in scripts that contain Z and N. • C78 ROT. 2 SENSOR is ENABLED / DISABLED — Press the S button to switch between the two options. If E2 or P1 have no sensor (like some prototypes), or you do not want it to be used, then it can be disabled with this option. Therefore, the leveling at powering on will be done without a sensor, assuming the upper rail is in the parked position. o If E2 or P1 is used as the upper rotator with ROT.2 SENSOR ENABLED, at Set POSITION in C10 SIMPLE MODE (or out of Menu in C10 ADVANCED MODE), by pressing 6 then quickly S , MECHA will level the upper rail if the camera is above and near the level position, or below the level position, down to parked. o If Rotator 2 sensor is DISABLED (or not supported), by pressing 6 then quickly S , MECHA will perform a 90º rotation up, and by pressing 7 then quickly S , it will perform a 90º rotation down. So now you can set button intervals freely, as there is 6S and 7S for 90º rotations. • C79 ROT. 2 is UP, ROT. 1 is DOWN — Press the S button to switch to C79 ROT. 1 is UP, ROT. 2 is DOWN if necessary. In turntable applications, when using the lower cable to connect the controller to the rotator mounted under the turntable, the setting must be ROT. 1 is DOWN, meaning the Rotator 1 and C2 Controller are connected via the lower cable. When using the upper cable for

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 58 this purpose, change the setting to ROT. 1 is UP, which means the Rotator 1 and C2 Controller are connected via the upper cable. V https://youtu.be/IPgU8A7iexc Rotating a Turntable Using the MECHA C2 Controller • C80 UPDATE — Press the S button to re-update the current firmware. MECHA will use the latest available connection data to connect to the internet. • C81 REBOOT — Press the S button to reboot MECHA without power cycling it. • C82 FIRMWARE VERSION — Press the S button to show the current firmware version for all MCUs (microcontroller units) and connected rotators. The first ‒ MECHA's firmware ‒ is the one you update over the internet using the UPDATE options. The others cannot be updated in the same way, but it is good to know where to find them in case you need assistance. • C83 UPDATE USING H-SPOT — Press the S button to update the firmware using a hotspot named MECHA-UPDATE with the password 87654321 (default), which needs to be created and active before using this option (see Firmware Update Using a Hotspot). Reset options • C84 RESET CONFIG. TO DEFAULT ! — Resets the configuration settings to their default values, for example: SSID password → 12345678, Password for Configuration page → Mecha, Hotspot password for firmware update → 87654321, Default Mode → AP. • C85 FACTORY RESET ! — Will restore your MECHA to its original factory settings.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 59 V https://youtu.be/_-GvflnkwCY FACTORY RESET – Restoring MECHA C2 to Factory Settings • Press the S button to start the reset procedure and follow the instructions on the display: o After a few seconds, you are asked to repeat the step above, so press again the S button when the reset option appears on the display. o Then the power button symbol starts flashing on the display, which means you have to press the 0 button and wait until the reset procedure is completed. • C86 LESS NOISE E is ENABLED / DISABLED — Press the S button to enable/disable the equivalent option on the /config page (Less Noise for E rotator(s)). • C87 QUIET ‒ LOUD BEEP — Press the S button to switch between the two options. V https://youtu.be/1Nps7du7kCQ Settings You May Want to Change – C2 Controller

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 60 How to Access the UI About the User Interface To access the MECHA’s User Interface, you need a device with an internet browser. This could be a smartphone, tablet, or computer. MECHA uses a wireless connection, abbreviated as Wi-Fi. It can be set in AP (Access Point), STA (Station), AP+STA, or no Wi-Fi at all. If no Wi-Fi is selected, control is only possible using buttons. You can set the desired mode as the default in MECHA's Configuration page or by pressing a button during startup. This is indicated by -+≡ on the display during the starting sequence (see image below).

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 61 Set MECHA in AP, STA, or AP+STA Mode at -+≡ on Display First, power on MECHA by pressing the 0 button for 3 to 5 seconds. When -+≡ is shown on C2’s display: • Press 9 to set MECHA in AP mode. • Press + to set MECHA in STA mode. • Press 8 to set MECHA in AP+STA mode. If you miss the setting time, power MECHA off and on again, making sure to act faster this time. Also, if the desired option is already selected, you don’t need to select it again. When MECHA is in AP or AP+STA mode, it broadcasts an SSID with a specific name containing "MECHA". Your smartphone can connect to this network using a password, which is 12345678 by default. Once connected to the MECHA’s SSID, access the User Interface in your browser at 192.168.8.1. When MECHA is in STA or AP+STA mode, it can also connect to a different network's SSID (other than its own). In this case, access the User Interface at the address provided by that network, for example: 192.168.1.100. You can manage the particular network using your smartphone if you enable a hotspot and MECHA connects to it.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 62 Access the User Interface (UI) on a Smartphone • Press the power button, 0 , for about 3 to 5 seconds to power on MECHA, and wait until -+≡ is shown on the display. • To connect your smartphone to MECHA’s network, MECHA must be in AP mode. So, press either 9 to set MECHA in AP mode, or 8 to set MECHA in AP+STA mode. • Tap the Settings icon on your device. Under Wireless and Networks, make sure Wi-Fi is turned on, then tap Wi-Fi. Tap the network name that contains MECHA in its name to connect the smartphone to MECHA. The default password for MECHA’s network is 12345678. • Now MECHA’s User Interface (UI) can be accessed on the smartphone’s browser at: 192.168.8.1 (which is a static IP address).

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 63 Access the User Interface (UI) on Your Computer Connected to a Wireless Network • The first step is to access the User Interface (UI) on your smartphone, as shown above, and preferably set the AP+STA mode. After that: o Press the [Connect to Wi-Fi] button on the Configuration page (there is a similar button on the Row page). o Select the name of the Wi-Fi network you want to connect to and enter the password. Please see User Interface – Connect to Wi-Fi for more details. In this way, MECHA has the connection data to a Wi-Fi network and is able to connect to this network when needed. The above step is required only once for a certain network. If the network changes or you have deleted the connection data, then you need to repeat this step because MECHA saves only the last accessed network. • To see MECHA’s UI on your PC, MECHA must be in STA or AP+STA mode. o If you set the AP + STA mode, as requested in the previous step, you can proceed to the last step. o If, for some reasons, the set mode is AP, power off MECHA, then power it on by pressing the 0 button for about 3 to 5 seconds and wait until -+≡ is shown on the display. Now press either + , to set MECHA in STA mode, or 8 , to set MECHA in AP+STA mode. (You can also change this setting on the Configuration page.)

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 64 • Now you can access the MECHA’s UI on your computer’s browser by entering the IP address shown on the controller display, like 192.168.2.104, in the browser address bar at the top of the window. Test Using the UI Some tests performed before using the C2’s Menu are now performed using the User Interface. Please access the User Interface on your smartphone, for example, then access the Row page. Tap the [info] button at the top of the Row page whenever you want to find out more details about the functions of the controls available on the User Interface. At the same time, three links to some useful pages are displayed at the top of the page: a quick help page, the configuration page, and the new page. When using the User Interface, you can display all or only some of the controls. To see them all, select A3 from the select list next to the [info] button, which is the highest level of complexity for the interface. The other options are: S1, S2, S3, A1, and A2, where S means Simple, and A – Advanced. Although C2 is designed to work for dual-axis applications, you may also use it for single-axis applications. Therefore, with C2, you can use both dual-axis (DAC) and single-axis presets.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 65 UI Test ‒ Parked, Level, Raised To perform the same tests that you did before using the C2’s (P) Preset Menu, proceed as follows using the UI buttons: • On the Row page, tap Presets and select TEST 1312 Parked from the Presets list. This is the panorama executed before in the chapter Panorama Using C2’s Menu (12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/- 45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir). If necessary, use the left/right buttons to position the upper rail in the parked position. To load the preset, tap the [Load] button if visible under Presets list. Otherwise, it means the UI complexity is S (Simple), and some buttons and options are not visible. The selected preset is already loaded, so you can proceed to the next step.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Simple Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 66 • Tap the [LEFT] button to execute the preset to the left or the [RIGHT] button to execute the preset to the right. Do the same with the presets TEST 1313 Level and TEST 1321 Raised. Use the 67 buttons to position the upper rail in the level or raised position. Advanced Mode ! Note that some operations are only possible in Advanced Mode. Therefore, we recommend that you first ensure Advanced Mode is ON. If the C2’s OLED display shows the rotators in use and IP address immediately after MECHA is powered on, it indicates that Advanced Mode is ON. See the Simple Mode section for details. V https://youtu.be/dJ0_XltWV6w A tour of MECHA's Simplified User Interface

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 67 User Interface (UI) UI Controls V https://youtu.be/Bb5XPds3SxU MECHA User Interface Tips In this chapter, we will explain the functions of the buttons and options available on the Row page. The Ring and Turn pages are similar to the Row page. To access the User Interface, follow the instructions in the chapter How to Access the UI, and then tap/click the [Row] button to access the Row page. • Tap/click the [info] button at the top of the Row page to show descriptions for all the controls. At the same time, three more buttons are displayed at the top of the page – [HELP], [Config], and [NEW] – for accessing the following pages: o Help — Useful information and codes. See the Current Codes List at the end of this guide. o Configuration page — User: admin, and default password: Mecha. o What’s new? — The page where you can find information about the current firmware version and the versions published so far. • Level of complexity — Next to the [info] button is a list of options to set the level of complexity for the User Interface, from the simplest (S1) to the most complex (A3). Select A3 to show all the controls.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 68 • Firmware version — Under the Row label, note the current firmware version (for example, (1)2250 in our example). Images shown in this guide may not be an exact representation of the current firmware version. Click this tag to access the What's new? page. • Battery voltage — On the right side of the page, you can see the battery voltage. To display percentages instead of voltage, set the minimum and maximum voltage values on the Configuration page. • Hand symbol — Toggles gesture mode. Tap the screen and drag to see how it works. Always ensure there are no objects near the robot, especially when using gesture mode. • Status Feedback — In the next area, the MECHA’s ID, Motor/controller status refresh rate, Current lower rotator, Current angle position for both rotators, and Current status (shots remaining, position, repeat set) are displayed. The Status Feedback (SF) also reflects the tilt angle for the second axis. When scripting is used, yaw is shown on Status Feedback as well. • At the right side of this area, note the Current time, Current date or time remaining, Current rotation degree interval, and Seconds remaining in the current delay. • Two-axis slider — Only available in complexity levels A3 and S3 of the User Interface. It is a tool that allows you to perform common rotations and specify the extent of partial panoramas by setting the upper-left and lower-

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 69 right corners. The slider step can be changed using the precision button at the top of the slider. Click/tap the slider’s plus button to expand the slider. The upper-left and lower-right corners, as well as the slider edges, are draggable and allow you to specify the size of a partial panorama. V https://youtu.be/-nNGeY25Zlw Partial Panorama Using MECHA's Two-Axis Slider – C1 and C2 Controllers Below is a link to a newer video where you can see that a preset created using the OLED menu can be launched from the User Interface. Additionally, a preset created using the two-axis slider can be launched from the OLED menu. MECHA executes a certain preset in the same way, whether it is launched from the User Interface or from the OLED menu. V https://youtu.be/NJqz2dR2FTU OLED vs UI Partial Panorma Preset – MECHA C2 Controller • [SET/GO] button — Before using the two-axis slider, specify the position of the upper rail of your panoramic head. Ensure the label of this button is SET,

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 70 then click [P] if the position is Parked, [L] for Level, and [R] for Raised. MECHA does not know what position the rail is in, so it is necessary to specify it. Normally, you only need to specify this setting once per work session. However, note that this setting is lost when you press the P button on the controller, so you must specify the position again afterward. Specifying the position of your upper rail and positioning it in a certain position are two different things. Click the [SET] button and ensure its label becomes GO, then use the [P], [L], or [R] button to position the upper rail as needed. • [1] [2] [3] — These buttons allow you to set three positions when the label on the first button below the slider reads SET, and go to those positions when the label reads GO. To ensure the [SET/GO] button works as expected, it is necessary to synchronize the two-axis slider and the upper rail of your panoramic head first, by specifying the position of the upper rail (see [SET/GO] button). • [Corner 1] button — Depending on the label of the [SET/GO] button, the [Corner 1] button allows you to set the upper-left corner of a partial panorama to the current position of the slider handle or rotate the panoramic head to this position. • [Corner 2] button — Depending on the label of the [SET/GO] button, the [Corner 2] button allows you to set the lower-right corner of a partial panorama to the current position of the slider handle or rotate the panoramic head to this position. The controls shown in the image below are directly related to the current preset and settings. The current preset is sa_7shots in our example.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 71 • [LEFT] button — Shoots a 360° panorama counter-clockwise. In our example, the panorama consists of seven photos, with the first photo taken in the current position, followed by the second, 51.43° from the first, and so on. • Shots — Number of shots around for a 360° row. Select the number of shots from the list, or select Custom and enter the desired number of shots or the focal length of the lens used followed by mm. The mm2 notation is also accepted. For example, 28mm2 will compute the full spherical panorama for a 28mm lens, using Repeat. If the number of shots is 1, using the [LEFT] button, only one photo is taken followed by a rotation of 360° (return to the initial position) if the Wait option is selected. Useful when shooting (filming) 360°. If the Rewind option is selected, the rotation is 0° (no rotation).

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 72 • [RIGHT] button — Shoots a 360° panorama clockwise. It functions similarly to the [LEFT] button, but the rotation is to the right. • [NPP Shots] button — Takes two shots for NPP (No-Parallax Point) check. • [Live NPP] button — Displays instructions for determining the NPP along the lens axis using camera live view, as follows: o Use two vertical reference points with one far behind the other. Turn on live view mode and position the tripod to line them up at the image center. Use the grid and magnified view for greater accuracy. o Scroll left to see the reference points. Slide the lens back or forth to line them up, being careful not to move the tripod! o Scroll right to see the reference points. Carefully slide the lens back or forth to line them up, if needed. o Check if the reference points are still perfectly lined up at the image center. Nudge the tripod to line them up, if needed. o Check if the reference points are lined up to the same extent as in the previous step. Carefully adjust to achieve similar alignment. o End of Live NPP procedure. Repeat the process to confirm alignment, if needed. • TRG — Number of camera trigger signals per position. Select zero if no camera trigger signal is needed. When using automatic exposure bracketing in continuous shooting or self-timer mode, MECHA treats it as one camera trigger signal. In our example: one camera trigger signal is generated. Negative values can be used for simulation purposes, meaning that there will be no AF or E signals, but only the delays and durations set.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 73 V https://youtu.be/dPz3iTjweJY Using MECHA Only for Rotation V https://youtu.be/rDNxe3lykf0 Settings for Bracketed Photos – MECHA C1 and C2 Controllers • AF (Auto-Focus) — Duration of the AF signal time; for example, 0.05 seconds. If the value is negative, the AF signal will be ON during the entire image sequence. In order to trigger the camera, for some Sony cameras, you have to select the MF option or set a non-zero AF value, even if the camera focus is set to manual. • W (Wake) — Duration of the signal for camera wake-up. If the value is negative, the delay will be forced even when the camera is ON, before each sequence begins. This will also force a B (Before) delay in case of B: not zero. A small negative value, under 1 second – for example, W:-0.9 s or W:-0.1 s – will trigger the Wake signal, which is a focus signal, before every position instead of only at the beginning of a session. This is useful for moving out of the camera's view. o When W delay is negative, B delay is referenced to the MCU's clock rather than an added delay. For example, in time-lapse sessions, with W:-0.001 s and B:5 s, the result will be a shot at every 5 seconds. If movements are executed, the value of B needs to be large enough to cover the time taken by the move. o Also, when W delay is negative, a log file – /intervals.txt – will be produced, with all the intervals, in milliseconds (ms) between shutter triggerings done by MECHA. • B (Before) — The delay before each triggering sequence. If the value is negative, up to 2 seconds will be used for Mirror Lock Up. • M (Modifier of Exposure) — The Exposure Modifier is a multiplier for the Duration of the shutter button signal. It can be entered as a list of multipliers (for example, 1,0.5,2 for normal, half, and double exposure time in case of 3

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 74 TRG) or as EV values (for example, -0.7EV for under, normal, over or 0.7EV for normal, under, over). In the latter case, it will automatically extend to the number of TRG. If the modifier starts with B, such as B-2EV, or B1, or 1,0.5,2, “Bulb” mode will be assumed. • E (Exposure) — Exposure options. o Custom, E:0 sec, E:0.25 sec... — Duration of the shutter button signal. For example: 3 or 0.5*3 for progressive half Exposure, or 2*3 for progressive double Exposure in a set. These can be entered as custom values. Values can also be entered as fractions (for example, 1/100). o E:SHT C., E:SHT C1 — Shutter release confirmation options. ! Working principle Many cameras will output a flash trigger signal for each shutter release. This signal can be fed back to MECHA via the AUX port as a shutter release confirmation. However, there are some cases where flash output is disabled, and hence no shutter release confirmation is available. For example: – Some camera manufacturers have decided that flash should not be used in certain scene modes. – Some cameras will output a flash signal at the PC Sync port but not at their flash shoe in some modes. – Flash is disabled in electronic shutter mode for cameras with slow sensor readout. This includes the Silent Mode. – Even if flash is available in electronic shutter mode, it may be disabled for certain shutter speeds. It is recommended to use mechanical shutter mode for maximum compatibility with the shutter release confirmation feature.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 75 N What are the advantages of using this feature? With this feature enabled, MECHA ensures that the specified number of trigger signals are sent before moving to the next position. This prevents missing shots that can ruin the final panorama. It also greatly simplifies the time delay settings. MECHA automatically uses the shortest delay time. This is critical when light is changing quickly. ▪ E:SHT C. — If the E:SHT C. option is specified in a preset, set your camera to simple shooting mode before launching the preset. Also, set your camera to take pictures keeping in mind that, for each trigger signal sent to your camera, MECHA will wait until one shutter confirmation is received through its AUX port via a PC Sync cable. ▪ E:SHT C1 — Unlike the E:SHT C. option, if the E:SHT C1 option is specified in a preset, set your camera to continuous shooting mode. MECHA will send only one trigger signal, regardless of the TRG value, and wait for a number of shutter confirmations equal to the TRG value before continuing with the next position in the preset. This is useful when you set your camera for bracketing in continuous shooting mode. As a result, the shutter button only needs to be pressed once, and the camera will automatically capture the entire bracketing set as quickly as possible. Please note that some cameras may revert to single shooting mode when the exposure times are long. N MECHA uses two types of shutter release confirmation. By default, it uses the new type, as the Use New Shutter Confirmation option is enabled on the /config page. Depending on the camera used, the shutter release confirmation may not work with this option enabled. We recommend disabling it in this case. If this option is disabled, MECHA will use the old shutter confirmation type (Fast Shutter Confirmation). For MECHA Dual Axis Combo, if your camera is connected to the vertical MECHA (or MECHA-V), and the confirmation is via the AUX Port of MECHA V, the Shutter

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 76 Confirmation via other MECHA needs to be enabled on the /config page of horizontal MECHA (or MECHA-H). V https://youtu.be/X25c13rsBYE Shutter Release Confirmation Basics – MECHA C1 and C2 Controllers To use the shutter release confirmation feature, use the Mecha 3.5mm to Male PC Sync Cable (for shutter release confirmation, F9981) to connect the Aux Port of the MECHA C1 or C2 Controller to the PC Sync Port of your camera. If your camera does not have a PC Sync Port, then you need a Flash Shoe to PC Sync Adapter (such as F9982, F9983, or F9984). Shutter release confirmation and IR remote control are possible simultaneously by using the IR Remote Commander and Receiver for MECHA (F9988). In this case, connect the receiver to the Aux Port of the C1 or C2 Controller used, and connect the shutter release confirmation cable (F9981) to the female jack of the receiver. N Use the E:SHT C1 or E:SHT C. option only if the shutter release confirmation test is successful (see code 32313< in the Current Codes List); otherwise, use the Button Confirmation instead: E:BTN > C. or E:BTN > CT.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 77 1 — Mecha 3.5mm to Male PC Sync Cable 2 — Flash Shoe to PC Sync Adapter 3 — Receiver 4 — MECHA C1 Controller 5 — MECHA C2 Controller

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 78 o E:BTN > C., E:BTN > CT — Button confirmation options. ▪ E:BTN > C. — MECHA will wait, after any triggering, for confirmation with the 5 button on the controller or NN IR Remote to continue. ▪ E:BTN > CT — MECHA will only wait for TRG confirmations with the 5 button on the controller or NN IR Remote, then it will use the learned delay(s) to finish the preset. V https://youtu.be/RMhjo9BurLo Button Confirmation Options – MECHA C1 and C2 Controllers • A (After) — The delay after each triggering sequence or individual triggering, in milliseconds. If the value is negative, there will be a delay after each shutter actuation. • Degrees of rotation — The rotation angle between two consecutive positions in a sequence, specified for [N x LEFT] or [N x RIGHT] buttons. The rotation angle is updated automatically, simultaneously with the number of Shots. However, if the rotation angle is changed, the number of Shots does not change. Use this feature when you want to take a certain number of shots rather than an entire panorama. Specify this number in the next field (x N), and execute the sequence using the [N x LEFT] or [N x RIGHT] button. The value for the Demo option is 3600°. • x N — The number of moves (N) for the [N x LEFT] or [N x RIGHT] button. • Wait/Rewind — These options tell MECHA to wait after the last shot or to rewind to the initial position. Rewind is useful if there are cables attached or when shooting partial panoramas and time-lapse photography. • Repeat — Delay in seconds until the shooting sequence will be repeated automatically. For example, 300 will delay the repeat of the sequence for 5 minutes. A number followed by an asterisk before the delay specifies how many times MECHA should repeat the shooting sequence. If it is omitted, the

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 79 sequence is repeated only once. 4*300 means that the sequence will be repeated 4 times with a delay of 300 seconds (5 minutes). You can press the 5 button to bypass the delay. You can also set a very short delay ‒ such as 1 ‒ but not zero. Specify 0 (zero) or No Repeat if no repeat is needed. If the delay is negative, for example -300, the seconds are counted from the moment when the preset execution starts, not from the end. And if the absolute value of the delay is shorter than the preset execution time, the repeat will occur as soon as the preset execution ends. • Single / Dual / Scripted / Cloned / Mirrored — Select Single for single-axis applications. However, you can select Dual even if there are no instructions for the second axis. Scripted is valid for both types of applications. See MECHA’s Simple Scripting (MSS) for details about the Scripted option. Cloned and Mirrored are options that allow the execution of a certain preset by multiple MECHAs. See the chapter Chain of Cloned MECHAs for more details. • Speed — Speed is denoted by Revolutions Per Minute (RPM). Select an option from the list or enter a value via the Custom option. N If the Speed value is too high, the device may stop or move too fast. In this case, be prepared to stop it by clicking/tapping the [Stop] button. • uStep — Micro-stepping value, simple or combined; for example, different values for acceleration and constant-speed regions. • Load — The options for Load are: Custom, Light, Medium, Heavy, and Ring. These are optimized motion profiles for a rated load. We encourage you to try them all to see which one is best for the camera and lens you are using or for what you want to do. You may prefer the Heavy option even if you use a light camera. • Sensor — Depending on the option selected from the list, the movement will stop or cancel when the sensor is triggered, or there will be no action if the No Sensor option is selected. The Sensor options are only available for E2 and P1 rotators.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 80 • Script field — The Script field becomes visible if you select the Scripted option from the Single / Dual / Scripted list. MECHA automatically generates a script if you provide a focal length instead of a number of shots. The focal length provided should be up to 100mm. When generating the script, MECHA takes into account the preset settings located below the Script field and the corners of the panorama (specified using the two-axis slider). For a focal length of 28mm, MECHA generates the script shown in the image above. The script controls the movements and has priority over equivalent preset settings. The script updates automatically when the preset settings are changed, but the preset settings do not update if the script is changed manually. Overridden Preset Settings • py / TxN — Script type. MECHA generates a script with pitch and yaw conventions (py, as in the image above) if you specify corners using the two- axis slider. You can also manually enter a py script in the Script field. The script type can be changed to TxN, which stands for tilt and number of positions for each tilt. A dialog box will appear asking you to remove the corners. V https://youtu.be/1CtoUffncGE Tilt and Number of Positions vs. Pitch and Yaw – MECHA C1 and C2 Control- lers • SL / SP / SR — Starting position: Level, Parked, Raised. The upper rail should be in the selected position before launching the preset.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 81 • <?> / > / < — Direction of rotation: unspecified (<?>), to the right (>), to the left (<). In the User Interface, the direction of rotation is determined by the button used to launch the preset ‒ [RIGHT] or [LEFT] ‒ regardless of this setting. Instead, this setting is important when launching the preset from C2’s OLED (P) Preset Menu. • MDU / MUD / UMD ... — Row order, where M stands for Middle, D for Down, and U for Up. When one of these letters is missing, the corresponding rows will not be included in the script. • ,ZZ,NN ... — Zenith and nadir shots can be selected from the list or specified manually in the script. • Normal / Zigzag — This setting represents the order of positions on a row, from left to right (Normal) or in a zigzag pattern (Zigzag). • Sphere / Grid — Mapping type. o Grid: The same number of positions on every row. o Sphere: A larger number of positions on the middle row. • Portrait / Landscape — Camera orientation. • OV — Vertical overlap. Select the vertical overlap first, then select the horizontal overlap if it differs from the vertical overlap. • OH — Horizontal overlap. • FF / 1.5x ... — Crop factor. Values: 0.64x, 0.79x, FF (full frame), 1.3x, 1.5x, 1.6x, 1.7x, 2.0x, 2.7x, 3.9x, 4.5x, 4.8x, 5.6x, 6.0x. • [N x LEFT] button — Shoots and rotates counterclockwise for N positions, using the degree interval specified above, regardless of the number of shots specified in the Shots field.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 82 For example, if you want to take three shots 45° apart to the left, set the degrees of rotation to 45°, and the number of positions to 3 (as shown in the image below), and click the [3 x LEFT] button. • [Shoot] button — Shoots the number of photos in a set for a single position. In our example, one photo (1 TRG) is taken. Use this feature when you want to take some photos in a certain position without any rotation. • [N x RIGHT] button — The same as the [N x LEFT] button, but shooting and rotation are done clockwise. • [Cancel] button — Executes a smooth stop and rewind to the initial position, where the preset started. • [PAUSE] button — Pauses the current running preset. Click/tap again this button to continue. o The code 21< toggles MECHA’s pause mode, just as clicking the [Pause] button on the UI or IR remote does. It can be used before launching a preset, for example. o While MECHA is in pause mode, the text “PAUSE” is shown on C2’s display. o If a preset is started while MECHA is in pause mode, MECHA will pause before each position, resulting in step-by-step movement. The text “STEP BY STEP” will be shown on the C2’s display.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 83 o If MECHA is paused while running a preset, you can press 5 on the controller, or 5 or : on the IR remote, or [PAUSE/NEXT] on the UI to continue to the next position. o If, instead, 4 is pressed on the controller or the IR Remote, MECHA will proceed to the next position and toggle step-by-step mode on/off. This allows both: ▪ 1. Starting a preset in step-by-step mode, then switching off step-by- step mode when it is no longer needed, thus allowing the preset to continue automatically. ▪ 2. If a preset is paused by the remote, UI, or a script, pressing 4 will advance it and switch step-by-step mode on/off. A possible application is a spherical panorama where certain areas need to be done step by step, and which areas depend on events in the field. During a pause, by pressing S button on the IR Remote or [SHOOT] on the UI, MECHA will trigger the number of shots specified by [TRG] in presets. This can be used for extra shots at a particular position. N Beginning with firmware version (1)2361, in scripts you can specify a number of seconds from 1 to 254 before the pause, after which the preset will continue automatically. • [STOP] — Emergency stop.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 84 • Presets list — This list contains all presets, both created and downloaded from the server. o The names of presets downloaded from the server start with (s), indicating they are not saved yet. You can load and save the presets you want to keep. o The option More from Server... allows you to download presets from the server. • Notes field — Use this field to make some notes about the current preset; they will also be saved when you save the preset. • [Load] button — Loads the selected preset from the Presets list. In our example, the current preset is sa_7shots. • [Save] button — Allows you to save the current preset with the same name (overwriting it) or with a different name. • [Rename] button — Allows you to rename the selected preset. • [Delete] button — Deletes the selected preset. • [Import] button — Imports a preset and displays it in the Presets list. It can also import multiple presets at once if an all_presets(..).mps file is provided during import. Additionally, on the /row and /turn pages, shooting patterns can be imported from the following programs: (1) PTGui, if the project is exported as a PTGui 10 project (.pts), (2) Hugin (.pto, .txt), (3) Autopano (.xml file with Papywizard conventions). • [Export] button — Exports the selected preset, or exports all presets if the Presets option is selected. • [Empty] button — Empties the Presets list without deleting the presets. • [>] — Button to set the rotation type, allowing you to switch between clockwise and counterclockwise rotations, regardless of the direction of rotation set in a preset. The [MAP], [Probe], and [Template] buttons will produce files according to the rotation type specified with this button. • [MAP] button — Downloads the map PTGui/Hugin file for a full preview of the panorama with the current preset as the shooting pattern. Use this button after all the settings are set as desired.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 85 MECHA will also offer to download a map.zip file containing three small .png images required for preview in PTGui/Hugin. The images are the same for any map, so you only need to download the archive once. A high-resolution set is also available here, with Mecha as the zip password: https://www.nodalninja.com/MECHA-MAP/map-png.zip Download the archive in the same folder as the map.pts file, then copy the images and paste them next to the map.pts file. You can use your own images if you prefer. Double-click the downloaded map.pts file to open it with PTGui/Hugin and preview the panorama. • [Probe] button — Downloads the probe PTGui/Hugin file for a partial preview of the panorama with the current preset as the shooting pattern. This allows you to study and refine the overlap. Save it in the same folder as the map.pts file. It uses the same set of images, so you don't need to download the image archive again. Open the probe PTGui/Hugin file and check if the image overlap is correct. These checks are especially helpful when working with a large number of images to ensure that the preset settings are correct. • [Template] button — Downloads the template PTGui/Hugin file for the current preset, which can be applied to a real set of images. This template also contains the focal length. V https://youtu.be/5e0RxEIFlB8 MECHA's Map-Probe-Template Files for PTGui ‒ Basics • [goVM] button — Downloads a script (a goVM.py file) for the upcoming Virtual MECHA. Until Virtual MECHA is available, this file can also be used for support and demo purposes. • [Load 0] button — Loads the default preset, which was saved using the [Save 0] button.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 86 • [Load 1] button — Loads the preset assigned to the 9 button using the [Save 1] button. • [Load 2] button — Loads the preset assigned to the + button using the [Save 2] button. • [Load 3] button — Loads the preset assigned to the 8 button using the [Save 3] button. • [Save 0] button — Saves the current preset as the default preset, which can be loaded using the [Load 0] button. • [Save 1] button — Saves the current preset and assigns it to the 9 button, and can also be loaded using the [Load 1] button on the User Interface. • [Save 2] button — Saves the current preset and assigns it to the + button, and can also be loaded using the [Load 2] button on the User Interface. • [Save 3] button — Saves the current preset and assigns it to the 8 button, and can also be loaded using the [Load 3] button on the User Interface. • [Reboot] button — Restarts MECHA, similar to restarting a computer. • Default page at start — MECHA's home page, or start page, can be one of the following pages: Row, Ring, or New (like in our example). Select the desired option from the list.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 87 • Beep Volume — A value from 0 to 250 can be entered directly via Custom or selected from the list. If a BEEP value is set on the Configuration page, it takes priority over this setting on the Row page, as indicated by a gray background. The equivalent OLED setting is C87 QUIET - LOUD BEEP, but this is not reflected on the Row page. • Power Saving Mode — This setting allows you to configure MECHA to shut down automatically after a specified period of inactivity, or to remain always on. The first Power Off After field on the Configuration page is equivalent to Power Saving Mode on the Row page. If a Power Off After value (in seconds) is set, it takes priority over the Power Saving Mode setting, which is indicated by a gray background on the Row page. • [Go to Ring] button — Accesses the Ring page and alternates with [Go to Row]. • [Shut Down] button — Shuts down MECHA in 20 seconds. Press [Cancel] or [Stop] to cancel. • [Connect to Wi-Fi] button — Initiates the process of connecting to a Wi-Fi network to use MECHA in STA (Station) mode or for firmware updates. Available networks are displayed as shown in the image below.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 88 If you have successfully connected to one of the networks in the list, it is displayed on a gray background. You can then connect to it using the stored password instead of typing it. MECHA will show the connection status on the display when trying to connect to Wi-Fi in STA or AP+STA mode. The process can be stopped by pressing the 0 button if you know that the targeted Wi-Fi is out of range. N Wi-Fi Test The /wifitest page, accessed from a device connected to MECHA, shows the Wi-Fi connection quality on a scale of 0 to 9, as shown in the image below. The dots represent the quality as follows: Lowest, Recent Low (when available), and High. The scale can be reset by double-clicking it. For better accuracy, it is recommended to open only this page in your browser. • [Wi-Fi Off] button — Turns Wi-Fi off. The device requires a power cycle to turn Wi-Fi back on. • [More or Less...] button — Toggles the display of additional settings.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 89 Translate MECHA’s UI Into Your Own Language Although this feature is designed to allow users to translate the User Interface into their own language, it can also be used to add notes to the existing descriptions of the UI controls. • To enter UI control edit mode: o Click the UI [info] button: o Then click the [EDIT] button corresponding to the control whose description you want to edit: • A window will be displayed with fields in which you can enter your own translation or notes.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 90 If the UI control is a button type, enter a button caption in the first field. For example, the French description of the [RIGHT] button could be: The translation window has its own controls: o [OK] button — Allows you to preview the changes made without saving them. o [Save] button — Saves all the changes made to the User Interface. o [Export] button — Allows you to download the lang.txt file, which contains the descriptions of all the UI controls (for bulk editing in a text editor or for sharing with other users). o [Import] button — Allows you to upload to MECHA a file named lang.txt to be used for translating the User Interface. o [Close] — Use this button to close the translation window. Troubleshooting By default, the translated version of the User Interface is displayed. If, for some reasons, you need to switch to the original version, add ?en to the page URL, for example: 192.168.8.1/row?en The translated version of the User Interface (the lang.txt file) can be deleted by accessing this page:

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 91 192.168.8.1/delang After deleting the lang.txt file, the original version of the User Interface will be displayed. In STA mode, you need to replace the static IP address above (192.168.8.1) with the dynamic IP address corresponding to the computer or device you are using. Configuration Page The Configuration page can be accessed at 192.168.8.1/config, using the following username and password: User: admin Password: Mecha At the top of the Configuration page, there are links to access the Ring page (for single-axis applications), the Row page (for dual-axis applications), and the Turn page (for turntable applications – work in progress). These pages are quite similar and, as a result, are not presented separately in this user guide. For single-axis applications, you can access either the Ring or Row page. Default Mode Default Mode — The possible values for Default Mode are: AP, STA, AP+STA, or No Wi-Fi. The Default Mode set here will be the current mode for MECHA after powering on. However, the Default Mode can be changed by pressing the menu

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 92 button, 8 , at the beginning of the starting sequence when -+≡ is shown on the display. Wi-Fi Reset Press and hold the menu button, 8 , for 3 seconds at -+≡ on the display to reset the following settings to their default values: • AP Mode SSID → MECHA-ID • SSID password → 12345678 • Configuration page password → Mecha • Firmware update hotspot password → 87654321 • UI Password → none • Trusted IP → none • Wi-Fi Power → 100 • Default Mode → AP • STA Mode → no settings (auto) This is very useful if you have forgotten your set passwords and cannot access, for example, the Configuration page or the User Interface. Also, if a hotspot named M-XXXXXX (where XXXXXX is the MECHA ID) and password 12345678 is found, the firmware will be updated using that hotspot. If MECHA fails to boot, please activate the hotspot.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 93 [Set Wi-Fi Power] button — Sets the value for Wi-Fi power. The maximum value for Wi-Fi power is 100. In our example (see the image below), it is set to 100. AP Mode SSID — The name of MECHA’s network. This is how it is displayed in the list of available networks on your device. SSID password — The default SSID password is 12345678. MECHA-UPDATE Hotspot Password — It is 87654321 by default. [admin] Password — The default password for the Configuration page is Mecha. UI Password — Allows you to prevent someone from changing the settings on the Configuration page. You may want to allow someone to access your interface but not change the settings. Trusted IP(s) — The IPs added to this field will not be restricted in any way when accessing MECHA. Add the IPs of your personal devices that you use to connect to MECHA. Using — The IP address of the current device connected to MECHA. In our example, it is 192.168.2.187.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 94 STA Mode Static IP — Remember that the IP address to access the MECHA’s User Interface on your computer is dynamic and changes from time to time. Enter a dynamic, available IP address in the Static IP field to make it static. You can ignore the Subnet, Gateway, and DNS fields if you do not know what information to provide. Fixed Settings Fixed Settings — Settings that override the corresponding settings on the Row/Ring/Turn page. For example, if the fixed Motor Speed is set to 7, the value provided via the preset will be ignored, and MECHA will use 7 RPM as the speed.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 95 Power OFF after — If this field is not empty, the value specified here tells MECHA to power off after a period of inactivity equal to the number of seconds specified. Power OFF after field (second field) — Refers to the period of time immediately after powering on MECHA, when no presets are executed. Value 1 means No Power OFF. Rotator Settings If you use only one rotator, fill in the fields for Rotator 2 with the data for Rotator 1. The rotator connected to the C2 Controller via the lower cable is Rotator 1 (normally, this is the lower rotator). The rotator connected to the C2 Controller via the upper cable is Rotator 2 (normally, this is the upper rotator).

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 96 Rotator 1 — Set the lower rotator in use by selecting an option from the list, or using the C70 ROTATOR 1... option in the OLED (C) Config Menu, or using the following codes: 13131< for E1, 13132< for E2, and 13121< for P1. The AUTO option enables the automatic detection of the rotator type for the lower rotator. Inverted — Check this checkbox if, for a particular reason, the rotator needs to have all its movements in the opposite sense of rotation (for example, when mounted under a turntable). Backlash 1 — If the value needs to be entered manually instead of using the automatic procedure, for E1 and E2 rotators it is around 21, and for P1 rotator the value is 0 (zero). It is recommended to use the automatic procedure for better results if the conditions to detect the small movements are met. Please see the code 12321< (Backlash compensation calibration) for more details. Alternatively, you can use the C72 BACKLASH 1 COMPENSATION option in the OLED (C) Config Menu. Rotator 2 — Set the upper rotator in use by selecting an option from the list, or using the C71 ROTATOR 2... option in the OLED (C) Config Menu, or using the following codes: 23131< for E1, 23132< for E2, and 23121< for P1. The AUTO option enables the automatic detection of the rotator type for the upper rotator. Inverted for upper rotator — Same as Inverted for lower rotator. Backlash 2 (for upper rotator) — Same as Backlash 1 for lower rotator. The backlash compensation calibration code is 123212<. Alternatively, you can use the C73 BACKLASH 2 COMPENSATION option in the OLED (C) Config Menu. Less Noise for E rotator(s) — Check this checkbox to reduce the noise from the E rotators. By eliminating the accelerated part of the motion profile, the gear will produce less noise in some cases. The motion profile is constant at the speed set for the arrow buttons (Arrow buttons Speed [RPM]). We recommend setting various values for the speed of the arrow buttons and testing to determine the required value for an acceptable noise level. The corresponding code is 2121<, and the option in the OLED Menu of C2 is C86 (that is, the (C) Config Menu, page 8, option 6). Disabled by default.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 97 Set Low Current if using E2 rotator(s) — This affects rotator power, and you do not need to check this checkbox unless the support team recommends it. Disabled by default. Buzzer PWM and Start Page Buzzer PWM values — Range from 1 to 255 and do not necessarily refer to sound loudness. We recommend trying a few values to find your preferred setting. Start Page — Can be New, Row, or Ring, and can also be set on these pages. IR Settings and more Enable i2c on Aux Port — Upcoming feature. Use New Shutter Confirmation — It will be used in both shutter confirmation and the test of shutter confirmation (see the C67 Shutter CONF. TEST option in the (C) Config Menu). If the test fails, please perform the test again with this option disabled.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 98 Shutter Confirmation Time Out (sec) — This is the maximum time MECHA waits for the shutter confirmation to occur (30 seconds by default). Shutter Confirmation via other MECHA — If enabled, the shutter confirmation will work via other MECHA for C2+ as well if a camera and PC-Sync cable are connected to another C1/C2 mounted on a hot shoe. Enable Fast Mode — Leave this checkbox checked. Enable RAW Interface — Check this checkbox to be able to access the RAW Interface (at http://mecha-IP/i, where mecha-IP is either the static IP address or the dynamic IP address, depending on how you connect to the MECHA’s Wi-Fi network). It is disabled by default. Hide some controls in web UI when a motor is running — You will notice that some controls are automatically hidden so you can more easily find the important ones – such as [STOP] and [PAUSE] – while the motor is running. This feature is enabled by default. Use cache for UI translation — Enable this option to make the UI pages load faster. Disable it if the /row, /ring, or /turn UI web pages do not load at all. It is disabled by default, which means slower loading of pages.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 99 Use Nodal Ninja IR Remote — Check this checkbox to enable the use of the NN IR remote control. You must also connect the receiver to the MECHA’s AUX port. Double press the Nodal Ninja IR Remote Power button for power OFF — Check this checkbox to enable powering off MECHA by double-pressing the power button on the remote control. Use Aux Pulse, if exists — Check this checkbox if your application requires the Aux Pulse file. The default setting is unchecked and can be ignored. Custom Protocol on AUX Port — Allows the use of the auxiliary port for equipment that uses a specific protocol. With common remotes, a half-press is detected as 1A, and a full press is detected as 1A1S. These are the possibilities for a half- press: • 045=1A executes a preset whose name starts with 045 followed by a blank space. • -045=1A executes a preset whose name starts with 045 followed by a blank space, but in the opposite sense of rotation. • HS=1A – Home Set. A Home Set can also be done by pressing the power button. • The following uses the inverted rotation for buttons if it is set: o 45.0=1A rotates MECHA 45.0° from the Home position, absolute. o -45.0=1A rotates MECHA -45.0° from the Home position, absolute. o ^45.0=1A rotates MECHA 45.0° from the previous position, incremental. o ^-45.0=1A rotates MECHA -45.0° from the previous position, incremental.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 100 • H=1A returns MECHA to the Home position set by HS or by the power button. V https://youtu.be/hYja_XtzRcA Using Your Own Remote Control to Command MECHA – Part I V https://youtu.be/5b6Ynstz77o Using Your Own Remote Control to Command MECHA – Part II Reverse Direction of Rotation Switch the 1 - 2 motor cables — Check this checkbox if, for some reasons, you want to connect the top cable of the controller to the lower rotator and the lower cable of the controller to the upper rotator. Switch the Up-Down rotation when done by MECHA’s buttons — Check this checkbox if you want to change the sense of up/down rotation when it is done manually using the 7 , 6 buttons. This is equivalent to code 2323<. Switch the Left-Right rotation when done by MECHA’s buttons — Check this checkbox if you want to change the sense of left/right rotation when it is done manually using the 4 , 5 buttons. This is equivalent to code 2313<.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 101 Camera Settings Camera is in Portrait Orientation — This checkbox is checked by default. Uncheck it if you want to specify that the camera is in landscape orientation. For example, if the number of shots around is 35mm or 35mm2, via Custom, the shooting pattern will be computed considering the camera orientation. Preferred MSS Pattern — This setting determines how the MSS scripts are generated automatically. By default it is SL,MDU,ZZ,NN. Any MSS script consists of three parts: the first part refers to the starting position (SL – Start Level, in our case), and the third part indicates the number of images for zenith and nadir (ZZ, NN – 2 zeniths, 2 nadirs). MECHA will replace the middle part (MDU) with the computed script. For example, if you want Start Parked instead of Start Level, a single zenith photo instead of two, and a pause before the first row, the Preferred MSS Pattern should be: SP,PMDU,Z,NN. Typically, the following settings do not need to be changed. However, if these values are modified, regenerate the script on the Row page by entering the focal length in the Shots field via Custom (for example, 56mm).

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 102 • Default Focal Length — 50.00 (used unless otherwise specified). MECHA supports a focal length from 10 to 1500mm (FF equivalent), with the camera in Portrait or Landscape orientation. • Fisheye FOV — 0.00 • Fisheye MAX Width — 0 • Fisheye Crop L, R, T, B — • Fisheye Parameters a, b, c — • Sensor Height (portrait) — 36.00 • Sensor Width (portrait) — 24.00 • Overlap on Height — 0.25 • Overlap on Width — 0.25 Arrow Buttons Arrow buttons Speed [RPM] — Rotational speed when a button is held down. If the RPM is zero, pressing MECHA's directional buttons will start the rotator slowly and accelerate it if the button is kept pressed. This is useful for precise alignment using the controller or IR remote buttons.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 103 Arrow buttons Interval 1 [deg] — Rotation angle for 49 , 59 , 79 , 69 . Arrow buttons Interval 1 Speed [RPM] — Rotational speed corresponding to Interval 1. Arrow buttons Interval 2 [deg] — Rotation angle for 4+ , 5+ , 7+ , 6+ . Arrow buttons Interval 2 Speed [RPM] — Rotational speed corresponding to Interval 2. Arrow buttons Interval 3 [deg] — Rotation angle for 48 , 58 , 78 , 68 . Arrow buttons Interval 3 Speed [RPM] — Rotational speed corresponding to Interval 3. Please see the Simple Rotations section for more details. Interval 3 REAL Move ROT 1 — This is equivalent to the C74 i3 REAL MOVE 1 option in the (C) Config Menu. Interval 3 REAL Move ROT 2 — This is equivalent to the C75 i3 REAL MOVE 2 option in the (C) Config Menu.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 104 Leveling Amount [deg] — The angle at which the upper rail is rotated after powering on if you press the 6 button when the display shows -+≡. Right after the rotation, this angle can be edited in the C2’s menu, with the possibility to omit the confirmation of the change. This means that you can press the 0 button instead of pressing the S button as usual. The new value is only available during the current work session until MECHA is powered off. Zenith / Nadir Position [deg] — The default values are 90° and -90°. Other values may be useful for backlash reasons or to have a certain overlap. MECHA will use these values in scripts that contain Z and N. Favorite Codes The above settings allow you to assign two of your favorite codes to the 9 and + buttons, respectively, as follows: • FavCode 1 to the 9 button • FavCode 2 to the + button These are shortcuts that allow a quick use of codes by long-pressing the corresponding button. See the Current Codes List at the end of this guide.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 105 Battery Voltage Battery min and Battery MAX — The minimum and maximum values for the battery voltage according to the technical specifications for the batteries you use. For voltage values greater than zero, the battery level will be expressed as a percentage on the User Interface. For voltage values lower than Battery min, you will see "BATTERY" shown on the controller display, after which MECHA will enter Pause mode if it is running a preset. N In Pause mode, you can use the 7 button to go to the parked position and the 6 button to go back to the previous position. ! In C2 configurations, you cannot power the rotators directly via a power bank. If C2’s batteries need to be changed during a shooting session, use the 7 button to go to the parked position, then use a power bank to power the controller. Change the batteries, then remove the power bank. To continue shooting where you left off, use the 6 button if necessary. Set Battery min in the (C) Config Menu Battery min can also be set in C2’s (C) Config Menu. In this case, it is recommended to fully charge the battery before powering on MECHA, then

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 106 access this menu and adjust the value using the 9 and + buttons. Hold down the desired button to speed up the adjustment. Why fully charge the battery before this adjustment? This is because when you set Battery min as shown above, MECHA detects the current battery voltage and automatically sets it as Battery MAX to be able to compute the percentage. Battery Voltage–Capacity Points: optional, 10 voltage values for 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%...90% (empty by default) — This allows for fine-tuning the displayed battery capacity as a percentage. If left empty, the percentage will reflect the relationship between the voltage and the Battery min and Battery MAX values. Loud Beep at Warning (checked by default) — If this checkbox is checked, MECHA will emit a loud beep when the battery percentage falls below the value specified in the Battery Extra Warning if Under Percent field. ! The warning beep will be loud regardless of other beep settings.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 107 When the BATTERY warning appears on C2’s display, it can be canceled using the 9 button. A new warning will be displayed when the battery reaches 0%. N If the 0% battery warning is canceled with the 9 button, there will be no more warnings, and the battery level will be shown as voltage. ! If you continue to use MECHA despite these warnings, be aware that the battery will turn off automatically when it reaches a certain voltage. [4-Cell Li-ion > 2500 mAh], [4-Cell Li-ion ~ 2000 mAh] — Depending on the batteries used, click one of these buttons for common battery profiles to automatically fill in the fields mentioned above. Then you can edit the entered values if necessary. Click the [Apply] button to save the new settings. How to test the BATTERY warning? First, check the battery level on C2’s display or find and select the C15 BATTERY PERCENTAGE option in the (C) Config Menu, page 1: Then, enter any value greater then this in the field below: Scroll to the bottom of the Configuration page and click the [Apply] button to save the new settings. Now, the warning should be shown on C2’s display:

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 108 Note that the warning will be displayed again when you click the [Apply] button as long as the above conditions are true. More from Server, zLM, Firmware, OLED, BETA The settings above have fairly self-explanatory descriptions: Show Factory (F) Presets in the Presets list, Enable “More from Server”..., Enable the beta features, Use “zLM” ‒ “zero Learning MECHA”..., Check if there is any FW update available..., Show FW number and the last part of IP on screen after boot. Use ”zLM”... refers to a custom preset tailored to your specifications.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 109 Start with the Latest Preset Used selected on OLED Menu (checked by default) — If enabled, MECHA C2 will start quickly and show the latest preset used, selected, and ready to be executed. Another preset can be selected instead by pressing the arrow buttons on the C2 Controller. Or one can exit from C2’s (P) Preset Menu with the 0 button, or switch to the (C) Config Menu with the 8 button. If not enabled, it is possible to go directly to the latest preset used by pressing the S button at -+≡ on the display. Likewise, pressing one of the buttons 9 , + , or 8 will go to the regular start instead of the quicker access to the latest preset used. See Show your own presets in C2’s (P) Preset Menu for how to add the wanted presets to C2's (P) Preset Menu. Keep the same menu page on OLED at up-down buttons (OFF by default) — If enabled, the 6 and 7 buttons will not change the page, thus will not cycle through all options from all pages. Allow DEGREES – REAL MOVE Switching — If enabled, switching from C24 DEGREE MOVE to REAL MOVE is allowed via the (C) Config Menu. REAL MOVE — The equivalent of the C24 REAL MOVE is ON option in the (C) Config Menu. If enabled, REAL MOVE will be ON. Simple Mode — Leave this option checked to benefit from the features of the simplified mode when working with the C2 Controller.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 110 Show Hints on OLED — If enabled, the display will show contextual information to help you use C2’s Menus, as shown in the second image above. Technical Details ‒ IP Addresses, FW Finally, several technical details are displayed, including the firmware version and the IP addresses used to access the User Interface: • The first is the static address for access from smartphones: 192.168.8.1 • The second, which is displayed only when MECHA is in STA mode, is the dynamic IP address for accessing the User Interface on your computer. Backup and Restore Data

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 111 [Backup Data] button — Creates a downloadable archive containing all of MECHA’s settings and files except the firmware. [Restore Data] button — Uploads the archive downloaded using the [Backup Data] button. [Connect to Wi-Fi] button — Initiates the process of connecting to a Wi-Fi network to use MECHA in STA (Station) mode or for firmware updates. See User Interface – Connect to Wi-Fi for more details. [Reboot] button — Restarts MECHA, similar to restarting a computer. [Apply] button — Applies and saves the current settings. Other Updating Methods If MECHA is not connected to a Wi-Fi network with internet access, it will prompt for an SSID name and password. This is similar to a guest asking if Wi-Fi is available in your home so they can check something on the internet. MECHA will use this Wi-Fi connection to download the new firmware and perform the update. Firmware Update Using a Smartphone: Method 2 • Press the power button, 0 , for about 3 to 5 seconds to power on MECHA and wait until -+≡ is shown on the display. • Then press the 9 button to set MECHA in AP mode.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 112 • Tap the Settings icon on your device. Under Wireless and Networks, make sure Wi-Fi is turned on, then tap Wi-Fi. Tap the network name that contains MECHA in its name to connect the smartphone to MECHA. The default password for MECHA’s network is 12345678. • Now MECHA’s User Interface (UI) can be accessed on the smartphone’s browser at: 192.168.8.1 (which is a static IP address). • This is the New page. At the top of the page, the current firmware version is displayed. Tap the [Update] button and follow the instructions to update the firmware: o Connect to Wi-Fi for internet access. Enter the Wi-Fi network name that you want to connect to. It can be your home or work Wi-Fi. The name and password are case-sensitive, like MyWiFi and myPassword! It’s not about MECHA’s passwords here, but the Wi-Fi name and password MECHA needs to connect to Wi-Fi. • When the update is complete, a few beeps are heard, and the new firmware version is displayed at the top of the page. If it is not displayed in 1-2 minutes, refresh the page or reconnect the smartphone to MECHA if necessary. ! Please do not turn off MECHA while updating the firmware!

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 113 Working with Presets Programming a Preset Using Parameters A programming method available starting with firmware version (1)2134. This method of programming, or creating, a preset requires connecting to the MECHA's Wi-Fi network and passing parameters in a URL (see How to Access the UI). MECHA adds the new preset to the list of presets and also assigns it to some controller buttons (depending on the values passed), allowing you to launch the preset easily and quickly. ! By creating a preset using parameters, the preset Button 1, Button 2, or Button 3 will be overwritten if the value passed through the b parameter is 1, 2, or 3. Let’s take a look at some examples first. Being connected to the MECHA’s SSID (MECHA’s Wi-Fi) with your smartphone or computer, enter one of the following URLs in the browser address bar and tap Access or press the Enter key: 192.168.8.1/preset?b=1&s=12&p=2 192.168.8.1/preset?b=1&f=30&p=2 The page will ask for credentials, which are: admin, Mecha (by default). Then MECHA will create a preset and assign it to the 9 button, since b=1 (overwriting the preset Button 1):

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 114 • 192.168.8.1/preset?b=1&s=12&p=2 will create a preset for 12 shots around (s=12). • 192.168.8.1/preset?b=1&f=30&p=2 will create a 360° multi-row panorama for a 30mm lens (FF equivalent) (f=30). In both cases, there will be a pause of 2 seconds (p=2) after each position. Now check that the position of the upper rail is level (or as specified on the Configuration page of your MECHA, at Preferred MSS Pattern). Then launch the preset by pressing either 95 or 94 (in C10 ADVANCED MODE). Let's now explain all the parameters in more detail and see how to modify the URL to create your own preset. The parameters passed in the URL are as follows. b — button (required) The b parameter tells MECHA either to assign the preset to a certain controller button (for values 1, 2, or 3), or to turn the value of the b parameter into a power code and add it to the beginning of the preset name (for any value other than 1, 2, or 3). This allows you to launch the preset in different ways (in addition to the usual method available on the Row page in the User Interface). Assigning a Preset to a Controller Button Using URL Parameters If the value of the b parameter is 1, 2, or 3, MECHA will assign the preset to either the 9 , + , or 8 button. You will launch the preset by pressing this button and either the 4 or 5 button to specify the direction of rotation. There are no numbers on the buttons of the C2 Controller, but you may

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 115 remember that 9 , + , and 8 can also be used to enter the numbers 1, 2, and 3, respectively. If a preset can be launched by using the controller buttons, we will specify only the 5 button in all the examples below for simplicity. Examples: 192.168.8.1/preset?b=1&s=6 95 192.168.8.1/preset?b=2&s=6 +5 192.168.8.1/preset?b=3&s=6 85 Preset with Power Code Using URL Parameters Any value of the b parameter except 1, 2, and 3, will be transformed into a power code and added to the beginning of the preset name. • For values from 020 to 089, the preset is also displayed in the C2’s OLED (P) Preset Menu if the corresponding menu option is empty. Otherwise, the new preset can be found in the Presets list in the User Interface, and the existing preset in the C2's (P) Preset Menu will not be overwritten. In other words, the first preset created takes priority over other presets that share the same initial code in their name. Example: 192.168.8.1/preset?b=020&s=6 b=20 will also work, as MECHA automatically adds the digit zero before the number 20 to convert the parameter value into a power code (a code which starts with zero).

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 116 • Some power codes can be used to launch presets by using the controller buttons if the code starts with zero, as usual, and the next sequence of a maximum of six digits is a combination of 1, 2, or 3 so that two identical digits are not in consecutive positions. To easily remember the rule above, you should know that MECHA has only three numerical buttons, and we do not press the same button twice in a row to avoid errors. Note that on MECHA C2, the buttons used as numerical buttons are 9 , + , and 8 . Example: 023, 0123, 02123, 0123123, etc. 192.168.8.1/preset?b=0123&s=6 0 9+85 Launch the preset by using the 0 button to enter the digit zero, wait 1 second, then enter the rest of the power code and specify the direction of rotation by pressing either the 5 or 4 button. • Any power code can be used as a value for the b parameter. Example: 192.168.8.1/preset?b=0123456&s=6 Then use the URL below to launch the preset by passing the code in the URL, as follows: 192.168.8.1/do?p=0123456 Notice that the URL to launch the preset – 192.168.8.1/do?... – is different from the URL to create the preset – 192.168.8.1/preset?... . Single-row Panorama Using URL Parameters s — shots

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 117 The f parameter can be used instead of s. The s parameter specifies the number of shots around for a single-row panorama. For example, this URL with two parameters will create a preset for 12 shots around: 192.168.8.1/preset?b=1&s=12 95 Now, simply replace the values in this example with your desired values. For 6 shots around: 192.168.8.1/preset?b=1&s=6 95 Multi-row Panorama Using URL Parameters f — focal length – values from 0 to 1000. The f parameter is required for a multi-row panorama. With this parameter, the panorama will be spherical. Otherwise, you need to specify the number of shots around (s), and it will be a single-row (cylindrical) panorama. For example, this URL will create a preset for a 360° multi-row panorama for a 30mm lens (FF equivalent): 192.168.8.1/preset?b=1&f=30 95 And this will create a preset for a 360° multi-row panorama for a 50mm lens (FF equivalent): 192.168.8.1/preset?b=1&f=50 95

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 118 If both s and f are specified, s will be ignored. Partial Panorama Using URL Parameters h — horizontal angle (width) of panorama – values from 0 to 360. v — vertical angle of panorama (height) – values from 0 to 180. Starting with firmware version (1)2134, you can use the h and v parameters to specify the width and height of a partial panorama, in degrees. For example, this URL tells MECHA to create a preset for a partial panorama 100° horizontally and 75° vertically, for an 80mm lens: 192.168.8.1/preset?b=1&f=80&h=100&v=75 95 Bracketed Shots Using URL Parameters t — number of camera trigger signals per position – by default, 1. e — duration of the shutter button signal (exposure) – by default, 0.25s. The default values can be omitted. With newer firmware versions, use the trigger parameter – t – to specify the number of camera trigger signals per position and the exposure parameter – e – to specify the duration of the shutter button signal. For example, this URL tells MECHA to create a preset for a 360° multi-row panorama, 85mm lens (f=85), three camera trigger signals per position (t=3), a shutter button signal duration of 1s (e=1), and a 2-second pause after each position (p=2): 192.168.8.1/preset?b=1&f=85&t=3&e=1&p=2 95

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 119 5 seconds for each position: (3*1)+2. A negative value should be used (for example, p=-2) if the pause needs to be after each triggering: 192.168.8.1/preset?b=1&f=85&t=3&e=1&p=-2 95 9 seconds for each position: (3*1)+(3*2). The predefined values of the e parameter for Fast Shutter Confirmation and Button Confirmation are as follows: • -0.11 → E:SHT C. • -0.12 → E:SHT C1 • -0.13 → E:BTN > C. • -0.14 → E:BTN > CT p — pause – by default, 1s. The default value can be omitted, as in some examples above. The p parameter is the pause after each position. It's more accurate to say "the pause after each position" rather than "the pause after each shot" when there are multiple shots (or trigger signals) per position. p=2 means a pause of 2 seconds after each position: 192.168.8.1/preset?b=1&s=12&p=2 95 A negative value should be used (for example, p=-1) if the pause needs to be after each triggering (see the t parameter above).

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 120 V https://youtu.be/bfvpnpS1-AM Single-row, Multi-row, Partial Panorama Preset ‒ MECHA's URL Parameters Other Url Parameters More parameters are now available for creating a preset via URL. Parameters such as sp, gr, zg, mdu, ov, ovw, bf, and pf are also preset settings. We recommend reading the User Interface and Creating a Preset in C2’s Menu Mode sections for more details. sp — starting position – values: SP, SL, SR (parked, level, raised). gr — grid – no value. zg — zigzag – no value. mdu — row order – values: MDU, MUD, UMD, UDM, DMU, DUM, MD, MU, UM, UD, DM, DU, M, D, U. u — up limit – values from -90 to 90. d — down limit – values from -90 to 90. hf — horizontal field of lens – values from 0 to 180. vf — vertical field of lens – values from 0 to 180. mmp or py — script in pitch-yaw conventions – If present in the URL, this parameter tells MECHA to generate the script using pitch and yaw conventions (in case a script needs to be generated). ov — vertical overlap – values from 0 to 99. In fact, this is the normal overlap, both horizontally and vertically. But if the ovw parameter is also present, then this is just the vertical overlap. ovw or oh — horizontal overlap – values from 0 to 99. The ovw parameter has priority over the ov parameter. bf — before – values: positive and negative as well. pf — profile – values: medium (default), ring, light, heavy, constant.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 121 Example of using bf and pf: 192.168.8.1/preset?b=1&s=12&p=2&bf=5&pf=heavy lb — label – the value can be a simple text to identify the preset in the OLED (P) Preset Menu or in the Presets list in the User Interface. Without passing this parameter, MECHA will use the default label, which is MECHAuto. Example of using lb parameter: 192.168.8.1/preset?b=031&lb=my_preset&s=12&p=2&bf=5&p f=heavy If parameters are passed in the following URL: 192.168.8.1/script (or IP/script, where IP is the dynamic IP address), the generated script will be displayed on the screen of your device. Example: 192.168.8.1/script?focal=35&gr&sp=SP&mdu=UMD&v=110&h= 120&mmp&ov=50&ovw=35 The above URL will return the script below: SP p50.71 y0 24..96 p25.36 y0 24..96 p0 y0 24..96 p- 25.36 y0 24..96 p-50.71 y0 24..96 RT How to Create Your Own Presets Using the UI Besides the very simple method using buttons only (see Panorama with Automatic Shooting Pattern), and the URL with parameters method (see

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 122 Programming a Preset Using Parameters), the following describes the method using the UI. Access the User Interface (UI) using a device or computer (see How to Access the UI) and tap/click the [Row] button to access the Row page. N An easy way to create a preset is to load one from the Presets list, modify it as needed, and then save it with a different name. First, let's analyze some default presets. Default Presets N Factory (F) presets cannot be overwritten. • FE 12mm NZ Level — for 12mm fisheye lenses, 4 shots around, plus nadir and zenith, starting from the level position. • FE 16mm NZ Level — for 16mm fisheye lenses, 6 shots around, plus nadir and zenith, starting from the level position. • FE 20mm ZN Level — for 20mm fisheye lenses, 6 shots around, 2 rows ‒ at - 30° and +30° ‒ plus zenith and nadir, starting from the level position. • FE 24mm ZN Level — for 24mm fisheye lenses, 8 shots around, 2 rows ‒ at - 30° and +30° ‒ plus zenith and nadir, starting from the level position. • TEST 1312 Parked — 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/-45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir, starting from the parked position. • TEST 1313 Level — 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/-45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir, starting from the level position. • TEST 1321 Raised — 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/-45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir, starting from the raised position. • TEST 131 — 6 shots around (for single-axis applications).

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 123 • TEST 132 — 12 shots around (for single-axis applications). If the fisheye presets are not available in the Presets list, you may have a firmware version older than (1)2208 installed. To hide all factory presets, uncheck the Show Factory (F) Presets in the Presets List option on the Configuration page. Presets assigned to buttons • Button 1, Button 2, and Button 3 are default presets consisting of 4, 6, and 8 shots, respectively (for single-axis applications). These presets can also be executed with the following button combinations: o 95 , +5 , 85 to the right. o 94 , +4 , 84 to the left. More from Server More from Server — This option allows you to download more presets from the server. See the chapter Downloading Presets from the Server for details. Note that MECHA, accessed at 192.168.8.1, is in AP mode; therefore, [More from Server..] is not available. MECHA controllers operate in two network modes: Access Point (AP) and Station (STA). AP mode allows the controller to create its own network and connect with up to five devices. STA mode allows it to connect to a Wi-Fi network (for example, one created by your wireless router), acting as a client. Out of the box, MECHA operates in AP mode. Since it does not have a wireless modem, it does not have internet access. A device connected to it may also lose internet access. Please refer to the MECHA Controller C1 Manual for more details on STA mode. Now let’s examine the preset descriptions above and load the preset most similar to our desired outcome.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 124 Loading a Preset Suppose we want six shots around, one horizontal row, plus zenith and nadir, starting from the parked position. The most appropriate preset seems to be TEST 1312 Parked, so we select this preset and load it using the [Load] button. To find out more about a preset, you can choose a higher level of complexity for the UI from the drop-down list next to the [info] button at the top of the page. Select A3, which is the most advanced level. Now we have the full description of the selected preset and, in addition, clicking/tapping the [info] button will toggle descriptions for all the controls: • 12 Shots — 12 shots around for a full 360° panorama. Notice how the rotation angle changes according to the number of photos so that if we multiply them, the result is 360°. On the other hand, if we change the rotation angle, the number of images does not change. We will get a similar result for a 33mm focal length entered via Custom instead of 12 Shots. • 1 TRG — One camera trigger signal. This is the number of camera trigger signals per position. Select zero if no camera trigger signal is needed. When using automatic exposure bracketing in continuous shooting or self-timer mode, MECHA treats it as one camera trigger signal.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 125 • AF 0.01 sec — Auto-focus 0.01 seconds. If the value is negative, the AF signal will be ON during the entire image sequence. For some Sony cameras, in order to trigger the camera, you may need to select the MF option or set a non-zero AF value, even if the camera focus is set to manual. • W:0 sec — No delay for camera wake-up. If the value is negative, the delay will be forced even when the camera is ON, before each sequence begins. This can be useful for moving out of the camera's view. • B:0 sec — No delay before a set of images. If the delay before each bracketing sequence or set of images is negative, up to 2 seconds will be used for Mirror Lock-Up. • M:1 — Default modifier of exposure. The Exposure Modifier is a multiplier for the Duration of the shutter button signal. It can be entered as a list of multipliers (for example, 1,0.5,2 for normal, half, and double exposure time in case of 3 TRG) or as EV values (for example, -0.7EV for under, normal, over or 0.7EV for normal, under, over). In the latter case, it will automatically extend to the number of TRG.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 126 If the modifier starts with B, like B-2EV, B1, or 1,0.5,2, the “Bulb” mode will be assumed. • E:0.25 sec — Exposure 0.25 seconds. The duration of the shutter button signal, for example, 3 or 0.5*3 for progressive half Exposure or 2*3 for progressive double Exposure in a set. These can be entered as custom values. The values can be entered as 1/100. • A:1 — Delay of 1 second after each bracketing sequence or individual image. If the value is negative, there will be a delay after each shutter actuation. • 30° — The rotation angle between two consecutive positions in a sequence specified for [N x LEFT] or [N x RIGHT] buttons. • x1 — 1 move. The number of moves (N) for [N x LEFT] or [N x RIGHT] buttons. • Wait — Wait after the last shot. The other option is Rewind, which means rewind to the initial position. Useful if there are cables attached, or when shooting partial panoramas and time-lapse photography. • No Repeat — This is the delay in seconds until the shooting sequence will be repeated automatically. Set 0 (zero) or No Repeat if no repeat is needed. • SP,0x12,-45x12,45x12,Z,N — The MSS script that describes our preset: starting position is parked, 3 rows of 12 positions, one zenith and one nadir (see MECHA’s Simple Scripting (MSS) for more details). • 6 RPM — Speed denoted by Revolutions Per Minute. • 16+128 uStep — Micro-stepping value, simple or combined; for example, different values for acceleration and constant-speed regions. • Medium Load — Means a profile for an average load. The other options are Light, Heavy, and Ring. ! Most input lists, in both Ring and Row pages, can receive custom values. There is no error check nor range check for the custom values at the moment, so please use this feature with caution.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 127 Modifying a Preset 1. Load the preset you want to modify first. For example, TEST 1312 Parked, which is a factory preset, and the preset script is: SP, 0x12, -45x12, 45x12, Z, N 2. Change the preset settings or script as needed. For example, change the script to: SP, 0x12, Z, N 3. Follow the instructions below to save the preset. Saving a Preset To save a preset, do one of the following: A. Tap or click the [Save] button to save the preset with a different name, or with the same name if the preset can be overwritten. The preset name can be preceded by a power code of up to seven digits. This feature also allows you to launch the preset using the remote or MECHA’s buttons. For example, if the preset name is “01 C2-12-shots”:

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 128 • Use 015 to execute the preset to the right (wait 1 second after pressing 0 ). • Use 014 to execute the preset to the left (wait 1 second after pressing 0 ). Preset Power Code Create a preset power code as follows: ● The first digit must be 0 (zero) (remember that every power code starts with zero). ● The next sequence of up to six digits must be a combination of the digits 1, 2, or 3, so that no two identical digits are in consecutive positions. Examples: 01, 023, 0123, 02123, 0123123, etc. B. Tap/click the [Save 1] button to overwrite the preset with the name Button 1, assigned to the 9 button. C. Tap/click the [Save 2] button to overwrite the preset with the name Button 2, assigned to the + button. D. Tap/click the [Save 3] button to overwrite the preset with the name Button 3, assigned to the 8 button. Now the new preset is saved, displayed in the Presets list, and ready to be used in the future. V https://youtu.be/rZu4EI5AbIw Firmware Update Using a Hotspot ‒ MECHA C2

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 129 N The presets created in C2’s Menu Mode (OLED menu) can be edited in the User Interface. If you make further changes to the presets via the OLED menu, the script will be produced again (automatically), unless you change the following settings: T:, E: >, M: AF/MF, W: B: A: Wait/Rewind and motion-related Profiles, Speed, and uStepping. The other settings, if changed, will affect the script and, as a result, the script will be produced again accordingly. Of course, the script can be further edited and checked in the User Interface. Also, check the PTGui/Hugin map file to make sure that the changes made are correct. Show Your Own Presets in C2’s (P) Preset Menu In this section, we’ll show you how to make a preset you created in the User Interface appear in the (P) Preset Menu. Long-press the 8 button to enter menu mode. Press the 0 button to exit Menu Mode. By default, on the first page of C2’s (P) Preset Menu are shown some default presets, while pages 2-8 are blank and can be used in two ways: • either to create presets directly in the (P) Preset Menu, as shown in Creating a Preset in C2’s Menu Mode • or to display some presets you have already created in the User Interface, as we will see in this section. For example, the first option on page 2 might look like this:

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 130 The next options on this page might be: 021 EMPTY, 022 EMPTY, ..., 029 EMPTY (10 in total). To be able to see a preset in exactly the above position – 020 – you have to rename that preset by adding the code 020 to the beginning of the preset name. Access the User Interface using your smartphone or computer, select the preset from the Presets list, and click the [Rename] button. In our example, the preset is kit-lens-pano: In the popup window that appears, add 020 and a space at the beginning of the preset name, then click the [Ok] button. The result should be: Now the first option on page 2 of C2’s (P) Preset Menu is our preset: Similarly for pages 3-8. For example, if the name of a preset is preceded by a code found in the range 030-039, then this preset is automatically listed on page 3, and so on.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 131 N In short, to see a preset created in the User Interface in C2’s (P) Preset Menu, access the User Interface and rename the preset by adding a code from the range 020-089 and a space to the beginning of the preset name. To execute the above preset, press the S button when the preset name is shown on the display, then press either the 5 or 4 button to specify the direction of rotation. The code used in the preset name is a preset power code explained in the section Preset Power Code. Although the power code used in the name of the presets shown in C2’s (P) Preset Menu consists of only three digits, longer codes can be used in a preset name. These presets cannot be displayed in the menu but can be executed using the menu, as we will see below. Using a Preset Name as a Base Name When the name of a preset begins with a code in the range 020-089, then it can be used as a base name. • Suppose we have a preset to shoot a common spherical panorama, and its name is 020 kit-lens-pano. Since 020 is in the range 020-089, we can use 020 kit-lens-pano as a base name. We also know how to execute this type of preset, as we have shown this before. • If we create another preset and give it a similar name, adding a number in the range 1-3 after the code 020: 0203 kit-lens-pano, this preset can be executed as follows: o Press the S button to select the preset 020 kit-lens-pano (the power code is shown on the display).

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 132 o Press the 8 button to enter the number 3 (or press the 9 or + button to enter the number 1 or 2). o Press either the 5 or 4 button to specify the direction of rotation. As you can see, the preset is executed as usual; we only need to specify what is different from the base name – the number 3 in our case. The second preset could be, for example, a preset to shoot 3 images in each position (3 TRG) or whatever you find useful. Of course, instead of the number 3 used in our example, you can use a combination of digits, as shown in the chapter on presets (see Preset Power Code). Directional preset name If a preset name ends with one of the > or < signs, then the preset will be executed automatically when you press the S button. This is because the direction of rotation is specified in the preset name, and there is no need to use the 5 or 4 buttons for that purpose. For example, the 020 kit-lens-pano> preset will be executed to the right when the S button is pressed. Although directional preset names may be preferable in some situations, please note that: • Directional names cannot be used as a base name. • The execution of the preset can be performed in one direction only, the one specified in the preset name.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 133 MECHA’s Simple Scripting (MSS) N MSS scripts are row and column oriented and help you photograph a panorama with few clicks or button presses, without the need to understand the script. You only provide the focal length, and MECHA generates the script. Starting with firmware version (1)2116, MECHA’s Simple Scripting (MSS) reached a level of flexibility that allows easy scripting for common shooting patterns, for both single-axis and dual-axis applications. An MSS script looks like the following. No need to fully understand it now, as MECHA will generate it for you in most cases. Three-row Panorama + Nadir + Zenith (MSS) Suppose we want to script a panorama starting from the parked position, made of 12 shots around, zenith, nadir, one row at 0°, one row at +45°, and finally, one at -45°. The MSS script, in this case, can be:

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.3.2.15 — Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC ® 134 SP, Z, N, 0x12, 45x12, -45x12 In the parked position, the camera – mounted on the upper rail – is facing up. If we want the starting and ending positions to be level, the script will be: SL, Z, N, 0x12, 45x12, -45x12 And if we want the starting and ending positions to be raised, the script will be: SR, Z, N, 0x12, 45x12, -45x12 If we want a pause before a row, we can add P in the script before that row. For example, this will set a pause just before the row at 0°: SP, Z, N, P0x12, 45x12, -45x12 In the example above, the pause is infinite, and to continue, you need to press 5 (the right button of MECHA) or the equivalent UI button, [RIGHT]. Now let’s have a closer look at scripting using the MSS Language. For dual-axis applications, MECHA needs to know its starting position. This can be (1) parked, (2) level, or (3) raised. These conventions are also used in naming the presets available from the Server.