Messages

31

Software Dev / Re: Software v0.3?

« on: October 17, 2017, 07:00:26 PM »

David,

How complicated would it be to allow the user to select what resolutions we want in the drop-down menu?

Maybe we could have a few "user preset" slots in the drop-down menu? Or would this entail too many |UI changes, adding buttons etc for this revision?

32

Software Dev / Re: Improving the Jog Wheel, ideas.

« on: October 12, 2017, 10:33:38 PM »

I use the jog wheel mostly to look at individual frames. I don't use it much to move through the clip when setting my save points, the reason being it's not fast enough to scroll through very large buffers with tens of thousands of frames.

I think if the jog wheel is to be used for this, it must be very quick to refine the scroll rate to go from a coarse scroll to a finer scroll.
For instance, the way I find my save start point is as follows:
-use scroll bar for very coarse search. find rough area of interest.
-set playback rate to 480 or 960fps. use forward and back play buttons to refine search.
-reduce playback to 120 or 240 fps. repeat until closer.
-reduce to 30fps. go 1-2 seconds before event, set in point.

This method works well because changing the playback rate is very quick, no secondary menu to open. The whole process is done from one screen.

I think if there were a way to set the jog wheel speed from buttons on the main screen, it would make the wheel usable for searching. But I think if you have to push and hold every time, it might just be quicker to do it with the on-screen playback buttons.

If it were possible to customize the screens (pick which buttons you want displayed and where), you could have + and - rate buttons for the jog wheel for those who want it.

G

33

Software Dev / Re: Improving the Jog Wheel, ideas.

« on: October 12, 2017, 02:10:27 PM »

I also agree that frame-by-frame jogging is essential. I use it all the time to review my clips before saving.

If video playback from the memory card is ever added to the camera, this will be even more essentiall.

G

34

Chronos User Discussion / Re: New Pre-orders

« on: August 11, 2017, 10:26:50 PM »

You won't be disappointed. The camera is wonderful to use, bult like a tank and the image quality straight out of the camera is significantly better than what youtube leads you to believe, as they compress quite a bit.
Happy shooting!

G

35

Software Dev / Re: Software update V0.2

« on: July 13, 2017, 10:57:25 AM »

question for you regarding the update and remembering the settings:

I've had issues with white balance, every time I try to set it everything gets a pronounced yellow hue. So far when this has happened I've shut the camera down and re-started to regain the default white balance. I always use the default and it works fine.

Is it possible to reset the settings to default in the firmware version 2.0?

Is it also possible to edit the power-on settings, rather than keep the same settings from one session to the other?
for instance, I'd like to be able to set the encoding to 30fps and the default resolution to 1280x720, but keep everything the same as in version 1.0.

Thanks!

G

36

Chronos User Discussion / Re: HDMI port - has anyone hooked up an external monitor?

« on: June 29, 2017, 04:02:10 PM »

Jeff,

I believe the HDMI port isn't activated yet. I've tried connecting my desktop monitor but to no avail.
I've been looking at cheap ebay HDMI viewfinders to solve the brightness probem. So far I've been using a jacket draped over my head and the camera to do adjustments. I suspect a proper shade will help but a viewfinder would be ideal.

Love your Youtube channel, by the way :-)

G

37

Chronos User Discussion / Detonations at 6600 and 9300fps

« on: June 26, 2017, 08:59:49 PM »

David might like these mythbuster-style shots.

https://youtu.be/fDwiYJapqAI

Not very artistic or fancily edited, hopefully the nice shock wave footage makes up for it!

G

38

Chronos User Discussion / Using the charger with an inverter

« on: June 22, 2017, 10:46:25 PM »

I was out filming over the last 2 days and used a modified sine wave inverter to charge the camera in my car. Charging worked but the power block emits a buzzing sound when running. With the camera off (charging) it's slight, when the camera is on and charging it's louder.

I charge the camera at home from a pure sine inverter and there is no buzzing, and it seems to also charge faster.

Can anyone see any issues running the stock power adapter from a modified sine wave inverter? Could any damage be caused to either the adapter or camera?

Thanks!
G

39

Chronos User Discussion / Hitting nails, very high frame rates!

« on: June 19, 2017, 10:02:35 PM »

Being able to go well above 1000-1200fps (where my two other cameras maxed out) seems to open up entire new worlds, there are so many things to film right at home. I love it, hours and hours of fun. I still feel like a kid on Christmas eve.

Hitting rusty nails with a hammer, filmed at 13,000-38,500 fps. Lighting was not optimal, there was cloud cover so I had to use a bit of gain to make things look ok. The shots turned out decent despite the exposure being just 26 microseconds in the last shot.

Taken with the computar lens from about 1m away.

https://youtu.be/znZG2JcAKrM

g

40

General high-speed discussion / Re: First shots with the early bird camera!

« on: June 18, 2017, 09:06:12 PM »

The computar 12.5-75 lens is very soft at f/1.2, much better at f/2, and way way better at f/4 and above. Youtube also absolutely butchers image quality, when I saw the first images out of my own camera I was blown away by the difference.

It's also hard to get the focus right at telephoto focal lengths with close up shots because the depth of field get very very shallow. I was filming a wasp from 1m away in a 10cm diameter glass vase, and if I focused on it on the far side of the glass, it would be totally out of focus when on the near side.

For now I can definitely live with a few flaws because that one lens does almost everything I want. It's nice not to have to swap lenses.

41

Chronos User Discussion / Re: Inexpensive neck strap mounting on the Chronos camera

« on: June 09, 2017, 07:20:49 PM »

I just saw your post on hispeedcams, I tried one of those on the top mount but the strap kept getting in the way of the screen. It didn't occur to me to try mounting a second one on the side. Do you find the left strap still gets in the way?
The obvious advantage is the 1/4" mounts are going to be stronger than the M4 screws.

G

42

Chronos User Discussion / Inexpensive neck strap mounting on the Chronos camera

« on: June 09, 2017, 05:57:05 PM »

I tried to find hardware to attatch a neck strap for a while until I came across these d-ring picture hangers in a hardware store today. They work like a charm and couldn't be more perfect!

$5 plus the strap itself. I lied in the video, it wasn't $10.

https://youtu.be/nZildOP4rIc

G

43

Software Dev / Re: Initial feedback

« on: May 31, 2017, 10:03:06 PM »

David,

I'm not sure how complex it would be but being able to customize the camera's menus and controls (like menu right/left), switching between zoom and focus peaking, or choosing which buttons we want confirmation dialogs for would be really, really nice. Also having an option to reset each setting to default would be handy - for example, if I accidentally do a white balance calibration and don't have a white sheet with me, I like being able to reboot the camera and restore the factory white balance. An option to do this would be good as one could reset individual settings to default while shooting instead of shutting off and resetting all of them.

I'd like to re-iterate that the beta UI is really quite good, there is certainly room for tweaking but I really like it in general. It's very easy to use and quite intuitive.

Another feature that would be handy is the ability to play back clips from the SD card or USB. This would help when you end up with a full memory card in the field and want to make some room to continue shooting.

Have you had any luck adding black bands top and bottom to allow for using fewer than 96 pixels?After seeing just how sensitive the sensor is, I'm really curious to test the FPS limits of the sensor.

Great work with the camera. It's amazing.

G

44

Software Dev / Re: Initial feedback

« on: May 30, 2017, 10:54:00 PM »

Great work on the UI, Kron Tech. It's not perfect but I really like using it, it's simple and you get used to it very quickly.

After a few days of using the camera, I like the UI on the right as I also like to use the jog wheel. If I used my left hand to operate touch controls on the left side, I'd have to switch hands or reach over to operate the jog wheel. I HAVE accidentally pressed some buttons, but usually the one that comes up is the record settings menu or black cal. The critical one, recording over the buffer, is protected by a confirmation dialog box. I like how this is implemented.

I also appreciate being able to do the black cal in a single touch. When you take a lot of shots at different exposures and frame rates you do a LOT of black cals. Having it in a sub-menu would get add a step to a process that is already involved, so I feel as though the current implementaion of that button is good.

Agreed on being able to magnify the center of the image. I've been lowering the resolution in order to help with focus, then once focused I bring it back up to whatever I'm shooting at. It would be nice to have a button somewhere to toggle a magnified portion of the image on and off.

Zebras are great, super useful.

I've used the focus aid, it's helpful at very low resolutions where it's hard to see detail or when it's very bright out and you have trouble seeing the screen.


I'll add a suggestion, I would like to be able to set the default encoding frame rate at 30fps. I often forget to do it and end up with 60fps clips that have to be stretched in post. Since I always work with 30fps clips this would be handy.
To go along with footage from HD cameras, it would be useful to be able to select 29.97 fps as well.

Also of note, I've found that inserting an SD card after powering the camera on will not allow it to be detected.  restarting the camera solves this, however if you realize you forgot the SD card after taking a shot, you'll lose that shot. Luckily, USB sticks seem to get successfully detected as soon as they're plugged in. You can therefore save potentially lost footage by saving to a USB stick if you have one handy.

G

45

General high-speed discussion / Re: Which cheap Amazon LED's are recommended?

« on: May 29, 2017, 11:45:14 AM »

JeffW,

Is your application strictly for mobile use?

If not and you have access to power outlets where you intend to film, I can recommend halogen work lights. They're cheap, very bright and most importantly, they don't flicker on high speed video despite running on AC.

The only downside is they produce a lot of heat, I usually turn them off between shots if I can.

G