Don, I don't want you falling off any limbs, but I fear you are mistaken about this one. The iPhone's triple accelerometers use a digital version of their readings with some innate sensitivity limitation of that digital conversion to interpolate the direction of tilt, i.e. the difference from down. The suunto clinometer is a purely mechanical device that does not have any inherent sensitivity limitations aside from the printing of the numbers on the dial. There is no interpolation of anything. Its measurements are based upon the idea that gravity points down and that the weighted point on the dial will align straight down with gravity. The only limitation on its accuracy is how well the dial can be read. So it follows that a mechanical clinometer will be be more precise - the data will be more repeatable than an electronic one. You can argue that the dial may stick or that there may be some similar problem with the mechanical instrument, but the same can be said of the iPhone. That is not a question of precision. The mechanical instrument by any reasonable assessment is more precise.
Ed "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science." - Albert Einstein ----- Original Message ----- From: DON BERTOLETTE To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, July 20, 2009 11:39 PM Subject: [ENTS] Re: Combining a rangefinder and clinometer for convenience Ed- 'Tis true, the 550 does have I believe a digital one...had I not purchased a 440 just weeks before the 550 came out/Bob gave it his stamp of approval, I'd probably not be having this conversation...as it is, I'm trying to work with what I have. By the way, check me out on this, but I'll go out on a limb and say that iPhones triple accelerometer based Clinometer IS more accurate than the gravity-based clinometer! The challenge, and it can be met, is to choose a means of precise sighting (I'm working with a solution that involves a simple 'gunsight groove' that aligns the iPhone with the target. -don ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [ENTS] Re: Combining a rangefinder and clinometer for convenience Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:32:32 -0400 Don, Perhaps the iPhone clinometer is as good as you say it is. On the other hand because you can read something to 1/5 degree, does not mean it is accurate to 1/5 degree. The limitation on angle measurement for most people is how steady one can hand hold the instrument. That limitation is in the same range or greater as the reading given by the iPhone, so I don't really see that this is any improvement over a standard clinometer. According to Bob Leverett, who owns one, the Nikon Forestry 500 has a clinometer and rangefinder sharing the same optics. Ed "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science." - Albert Einstein ----- Original Message ----- From: DON BERTOLETTE To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, July 20, 2009 10:56 PM Subject: [ENTS] Re: Combining a rangefinder and clinometer for convenience Steve/Ed- For me, with my iPhone and its clinometer app, I'd be pushing for an iPhone with a laser rangefinder...the three accelerometers the iPhone has are more accurate than the clinometer (can read with a vernier like device to 1/5 degrees)! But yeah, I'd like my Nikon 440 to have a digital or optical clino, particularly sharing same optics! -Don ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:31:57 -0400 Subject: [ENTS] Re: Combining a rangefinder and clinometer for convenience From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Ed- Yes, even though the resolutions differ, it's easier to shift from one to the other and maintain the sighting position. Perhaps we can encourage Nikon to pair with Suunto or Brunton to create a clean instrument. Steve On Mon, Jul 20, 2009 at 6:37 PM, Edward Frank <[email protected]> wrote: Steve, Don, Even if they were not precisely aligned. It would save the problem of them jangling against each other. Also even with sighting each individually on a single sprig, having them side by side would be a minimal adjustment from instrument to instrument when looking at the same point as opposed to dropping one to its lanyard and raising the other while trying to keep the same point in your view... Ed "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science." - Albert Einstein ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bing™ brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now.<BR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Windows Live™ Hotmail®: Search, add, and share the web’s latest sports videos. Check it out. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
