Messages

136

Software Dev / Re: Software update V0.2

« on: November 10, 2017, 12:11:29 AM »

I have a little problem. Copied the software to the Fat32 SD.
Started the cam and went into Util to press Backup. -> Gives an error, SD not present.
When I press the trigger and make a short clip, I can save to the SD card without a problem. Just Backup Calibration Data tells me there is no card..
/media/NAME is different in the Recording settings and the error message, so I understand the error msg.. just dont understand why it gives 2 different paths, only has one card slot.
error: no device is mounted to /media/sda1
I save in Play/Settings to: /media/mmcblk1p1 (SD card Partition 1) and that works fine every time

Anybody had that before?

regards
Jay

Calibration data backup and restore only supports USB drives right now, try a USB memory stick or similar.

137

Chronos User Discussion / Re: Let's talk LENSES!

« on: November 08, 2017, 11:39:11 AM »

Hey everyone!


First of all, I really don't know much about lenses.

I've purchased this lens (http://www.krontech.ca/store.html#!/Fujian-25mm-f-1-4-C-Mount-lens/p/77244591/category=21981409) in an online auction similar to ebay, since it was really cheap and had some good reviews. After arriving today I wanted to try it out, but I couldn't get the mounted lens to focus at all. I have the feeling that the lens is malfunctioning, but maybe one of you can give me some tips.

If I unscrew the lens and simply hold it in front in a distance of about 2-3mm, I get a sharp image. But even then, turning the focus ring doesn't seem to change much.

In general: Is a spacer ring needed for this lens?

A CS-C ring is required for this lens, yes.

138

Chronos User Discussion / Re: Something rattling around in my Chronos...

« on: November 06, 2017, 06:32:14 PM »

This is the M2.5x4 screw on the top left of the image sensor board. Should not be a problem on serial numbers 00001 to 00049, only 00050 to 00380

139

Chronos User Discussion / Re: Chronos 1.4 Footage Thread

« on: October 31, 2017, 06:38:39 PM »

Just finished editing a Halloween episode of Will it Mow?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUNxlb7100E

140

Chronos User Discussion / Re: 12 Volt power adapter.

« on: October 31, 2017, 11:37:30 AM »

Hi everyone!


I have a small question about external power for the Chronos:

I've found in my inventory two lead batteries of this type (website is in german, as I am from Switzerland).

https://www.conrad.ch/de/bleiakku-12-v-23-ah-conrad-energy-ce12v23ah-250177-blei-vlies-agm-b-x-h-x-t-177-x-60-x-34-mm-flachstecker-48-mm-250177.html

The batteries are in good condition (no deep discharge) but still, they don't seem to run the Chronos. What do you think about this? Is the voltage too low?


Many thanks in advance! 

Are you connecting them directly to the camera? If so, that won't work, 12V is too low and 24V is too high.

141

Chronos User Discussion / Re: Something rattling around in my Chronos...

« on: October 30, 2017, 09:01:45 PM »

Sorry about that! We had a few instances of that screw being loose, due to the contract manufacturer not tightening them properly. We've checked that on all remaining stock.

Testing out the new firmware update now, it should be out soon.

David

142

Chronos User Discussion / Re: Insanely high speed slit scan method?

« on: October 21, 2017, 11:15:47 AM »

This could be done, yes. The limitation right now is that the video encoder doesn't support resolutions below 96 pixels height. To get around that, we can add black bars to the video to remain within the encoder limitation. Once Raw/uncompressed saving is done, this won't be a problem at all.

There's also a frame rate limit above which the camera becomes export controlled, I believe the number is 200,000fps but I have to check. But the image sensor itself is capable of well above that when running at 1 pixel height.

David

143

Chronos User Discussion / Re: Chronos 1.4 Footage Thread

« on: October 20, 2017, 11:29:25 PM »

Got some new footage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPf6Pv2KeGk

It was on a German "outdoor" shooting range, so basically indoors... low light conditions. Still don't have constant light sources to illuminate the scene.

There are colored lines visible some times. I know this can happen when the memory is cold, but it was about 16 °C, which I wouldn't consider cold. Is there any way to prevent this? I plan to do some more filming in early January, and don't want all of the footage to show these lines.

Also I got trouble with focusing. It seems like the adaptor ring doesn't have a good hard stop, and the backfocus needs to be set depending on the torque that was applied when mounting the lens. I still store the camera in its shipping box, because this is very well stuffed, but that means I need to take off the lens for storing.

Any ideas on how to get this fixed?

The cold temperature RAM issue will be completely fixed in the next update. We're just testing this update right now before releasing it, expect it in a week or so assuming no problems are found. We've tested the camera down to -20C and there is no issue at all with the new software.

To avoid taking off the lens, cut out a portion of the box foam so you can store the camera without taking off the lens. Also, check that you tighten the backfocus lock setscrew enough, if it's not tight the ring will spin and change backfocus when you screw the lens in hard.

David

144

Chronos User Discussion / Re: external trigger

« on: October 18, 2017, 12:06:21 AM »

That mode to do exactly what you want isn't yet supported. The closest thing you can do is have the camera recording, and provide it a TTL signal to end record. You can set any desired trigger delay in frames if required. You'll need to manually select the appropriate range and then save the desired 400ms range.

Let me know if you have more questions on how to set this up.

145

Software Dev / Re: Software v0.3?

« on: October 18, 2017, 12:01:46 AM »

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?

That is quite easy, you could do it now manually in fact. If you put the OS SD card into a Linux system, add your resolutions, one per line, in /opt/camera/resolutions

resolutions is just a text file, the default content is:

Code: [Select]

1280x1024
1280x720
1280x512
1280x360
1280x240
1280x120
1280x96
1024x768
1024x576
800x600
800x480
640x480
640x360
640x240
640x120
640x96

146

Software Dev / Re: Software v0.3?

« on: October 17, 2017, 06:21:27 PM »

The next version is being worked on right now. Features in this coming version are:

• Remembering settings across reboots (most common request!)
• Fix for a potential cold-temperature RAM issue (seen as horizontal bands of colored pixels)
• Autonomous operation with automatic save-after-trigger and automatic recording start after save
• Maybe HDMI

If HDMI doesn't get into this release, it will be in the next.

Ethernet will be coming in a subsequent update, it's a big project, the entire low-level camera control needs to be broken out of the user application and made to work over network.

Also, the open source release is imminent, finally have a working build environment that doesn't have any of the NDA code in it! Hopefully within the week.

147

General high-speed discussion / Re: Triggers?

« on: October 14, 2017, 11:13:34 AM »

Yes, the delay is adjustable in camera.

148

General high-speed discussion / Re: Triggers?

« on: October 12, 2017, 05:33:52 PM »

What type of trigger are you looking for? Manual button, or something automatic? Triggering on lightning automatically would need a light/flash trigger most likely, anyone have suggestions for this? The camera will eventually be able to do this by itself by triggering on an image change, but that's some time off.

149

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

« on: October 12, 2017, 05:04:33 PM »

Great ideas there! The original idea behind the design was to use the scroll bar to get close to the point you want, use the pressed-in jogwheel for slightly finer control, then use the frame by frame control to review the video.

I really like the idea of adding more control, how about this:

Pushing and holding the jogwheel opens up a window on screen, allowing you to select from a number of frames-per-detent selections. Rotate the jogwheel to select one you want, then release the jogwheel and that speed is applied. Turning (not pressed) now goes at the speed you selected. This speed selection menu would also be duplicated in the Util menu somewhere. I like having shortcuts to frequently used things like this, because you're often changing the jogwheel rate several times when reviewing or saving a shot.

Question is, what rates are appropriate, without having too many? I was thinking of something like 1, 2, 4, 16, 64 frames per dentet, and maybe some that are a fraction of the buffer length like NoDak suggested, as the small numbers may not be appropriate when you're saving hundreds of thousands of frames at low resolution. Perhaps from 1/1024 of the buffer down to 1/32 of the buffer per detent.

150

Chronos User Discussion / Re: Triggered Exposure Mode

« on: October 08, 2017, 11:56:58 PM »

Hi Doug,

I just re-read your first message, you were referring to "automatic exposure". The camera does not support any sort of automatic exposure yet, it is entirely manual. The exposure will not adjust by itself, only the slider or setting on the Record Settings page will control it. Is this the problem you were describing?

Auto exposure is coming in a future update.

David.