VASP

Vibration Activated Sequence Pause

I received the prototype of VASP (Vibration Activated Sequence Pause) system from OGGLAB, which works in partnership with MJKZZ.de. The system connects directly to the MJKZZ controller (please note: Controller Version 2) MJKZZ WiFi/IR/USB Remote Motion Controller.

VASP is designed to prevent photographs from being captured while the setup is affected by vibrations or unwanted movement. This can be particularly useful when a car or truck passes near the house, when the capture system is accidentally touched or bumped, or whenever environmental vibrations could affect image sharpness during a photo sequence.

The sensitivity of the VASP system can be adjusted using a dedicated knob, allowing the detection threshold to be adapted to the specific setup and shooting conditions. During a capture sequence, when vibration above the selected sensitivity threshold is detected, the system pauses the capture process for a predefined period. This pause duration is adjusted directly on the MJKZZ controller. Once the vibration has subsided and the pause period has elapsed, the sequence automatically resumes.

An important feature is that VASP continues monitoring the vibration rather than simply reacting to a single vibration event. In other words, if the source of the vibration persists, the system keeps the sequence paused until the disturbance has disappeared. For example, when a car passes by, the resulting vibration may continue for several seconds and may fluctuate in intensity. Without this type of continuous monitoring, the system could potentially trigger the vibration detection repeatedly. With VASP, the capture sequence remains paused while the disturbance continues and resumes only when the setup has become sufficiently stable again.

The system is currently in the testing phase. The video linked below was created using the initial captures made to evaluate the system’s functionality and performance. I will later add a comparison of captures made with VASP enabled and disabled, which should provide a clearer indication of the actual improvement in image stability and the number of potentially unusable frames avoided.

This type of system is particularly useful for macro and high-magnification photography, where even very small movements can have a significant impact on image sharpness and focus consistency. It can be especially beneficial when using a DSLR or another camera with a mechanical shutter, as mechanical movement and environmental micro-vibrations can become more noticeable at high magnifications. The benefits may also be relevant with mirrorless cameras, particularly at very high magnification or when the entire setup is sensitive to environmental vibration.

The next stage of testing will therefore focus on comparing identical capture sequences with and without VASP, while keeping the other shooting parameters unchanged. This should make it possible to assess how effectively the system reduces vibration-related unusable frames in real shooting conditions.

The image below was taken with VASP active while hopping around the room throughout the entire 150-frame acquisition period required to capture the valve volume of this tiny ostracod. Mitutoyo 20x objective, OGGLAB Vertical LED Lighting System, 2µm step between frames and 1/25″ shutter speed.