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Software Dev / Re: Software V0.3 RC1
« on: May 09, 2018, 09:45:56 AM »
Awesome, thank you.
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62
Software Dev / Re: Software V0.3 RC1
« on: May 09, 2018, 08:53:47 AM »
Just a quick question about the update process. If I made an image of my current OS microSD card could it be used to roll back from 0.3 if I ran into problems? I'd like to test out the new colour handling but would also like a safety net. If so I shouldn't need to reload the calibration data correct?
63
Chronos User Discussion / Re: Chronos 1.4 RAW conversion tool - pyraw2dng
« on: April 21, 2018, 07:44:29 PM »
Just wanted to chime in about RAW workflow.
I am using a 128GB USB drive formatted to EXT3 to save files from the camera and avoid the 4GB limit of FAT32, this works perfectly. To get the raw files onto a windows PC I use the software "ext2explore," it's a little clunky but it will get the job done. The pyraw2dng also works perfectly, even with raw files that were broken by the FAT32 limit and my own clumsiness.
To convert the DNG files to 'normal' images I am using Rawtherapee, an image editor meant to be an alternative to Adobe Lightroom. Rawtherapee allows for batch processing of files, so I make my adjustments to one frame and apply them to the whole set, I've done about 8000frames in one go with no problem. Once I have a folder full of PNGs I assemble them into a video file using VirtualDub, this allows you to set the final frame-rate of the video and export it as a raw or compressed AVI file.
All the tools used are free (as in beer) software and the only real limiting factor for any step in the process is time and processing power.
I am using a 128GB USB drive formatted to EXT3 to save files from the camera and avoid the 4GB limit of FAT32, this works perfectly. To get the raw files onto a windows PC I use the software "ext2explore," it's a little clunky but it will get the job done. The pyraw2dng also works perfectly, even with raw files that were broken by the FAT32 limit and my own clumsiness.
To convert the DNG files to 'normal' images I am using Rawtherapee, an image editor meant to be an alternative to Adobe Lightroom. Rawtherapee allows for batch processing of files, so I make my adjustments to one frame and apply them to the whole set, I've done about 8000frames in one go with no problem. Once I have a folder full of PNGs I assemble them into a video file using VirtualDub, this allows you to set the final frame-rate of the video and export it as a raw or compressed AVI file.
All the tools used are free (as in beer) software and the only real limiting factor for any step in the process is time and processing power.
64
Chronos User Discussion / Re: Chronos 1.4 Footage Thread
« on: March 07, 2018, 01:02:44 PM »
I'm going to have a hell of a time lighting this better but, cloud chamber trails: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdV4aziJ_h4
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Software Dev / Re: Software V0.3 Beta - Updated Jan 4 2018
« on: January 17, 2018, 11:35:21 PM »
>_< Thank you, that make my results make more sense. Good luck with round two of production!
66
Software Dev / Re: Software V0.3 Beta - Updated Jan 4 2018
« on: January 16, 2018, 06:05:24 PM »
Did some more fiddling with the the segmented memory mode and still had no luck. For the sake of having a small video file I set the record frame-rate to 30fps, set the "Record Lenght" to 300 frames and set 2 segments of 150 frames each. I filmed at timer and pressed the external trigger at 10s and 20s then stopped the recording at 30s. I added frame numbers to the result and made the following gif.
The recording ended up only being 157 frame long and contained mostly the video that occurred after the second external shutter press. Some of the jumpiness can also be seen. Any idea?
The recording ended up only being 157 frame long and contained mostly the video that occurred after the second external shutter press. Some of the jumpiness can also be seen. Any idea?
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Software Dev / Re: Software V0.3 Beta - Updated Jan 4 2018
« on: January 12, 2018, 10:09:32 PM »
I was playing with the segmented memory mode and I'm not sure if I am using it wrong, my trigger switch is bad or I have a legitimate bug.
-I set to Segmented mode with 3 segments
-Start recording
-Press the external trigger after the events I want to catch
-Stop recording after triggering 3 times
The recording I get is mix of short and long out of order clips, some times from all 3 segments in rapid succession, sometimes from different places inside one segment. The total length seems to be correct and everything that I wanted to record seems to be there but I am not 100% sure. I might try recording a stop watch to see if it gets everything.
My trigger is not the greatest mechanical switch, but the results are the same with de-bounce both enabled and disabled. If this is a 'layer 8' problem please let me know, otherwise 0.2.5 has been working well for me. I installed another 16gb of ram and the camera sees and uses the new memory.
-I set to Segmented mode with 3 segments
-Start recording
-Press the external trigger after the events I want to catch
-Stop recording after triggering 3 times
The recording I get is mix of short and long out of order clips, some times from all 3 segments in rapid succession, sometimes from different places inside one segment. The total length seems to be correct and everything that I wanted to record seems to be there but I am not 100% sure. I might try recording a stop watch to see if it gets everything.
My trigger is not the greatest mechanical switch, but the results are the same with de-bounce both enabled and disabled. If this is a 'layer 8' problem please let me know, otherwise 0.2.5 has been working well for me. I installed another 16gb of ram and the camera sees and uses the new memory.
68
Software Dev / Re: Software V0.3 Beta - Updated Jan 4 2018
« on: January 07, 2018, 06:15:11 PM »
Installed the .5 update with no issues, last time it didn't seem to like my USB stick, this time everything worked on the first try. I have another 16gb of ram ready to install, hopefully I will be able to try it out later this week.
Thanks, David!
Thanks, David!
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Software Dev / Re: Software v0.3?
« on: October 18, 2017, 11:39:10 AM »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.
Awesome news! I'm really curious to take a look under the hood.
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Chronos User Discussion / Re: Recommended Lens brands...etc....
« on: October 11, 2017, 11:33:13 AM »
If you want the clearest image possible you need as much light as possible, it doesn't matter if you have a $10k cinema lens or a $10 eBay special, more light = high image quality.
With that out of the way I would recommend using 35mm, manual focus, manual aperture, SLR lenses (60s/70s) for a couple of reasons. They are fairly reasonably priced, you can get lenses as cheap as $20. Also there are way more choices in the 35mm Nikon/Cannon/Yashica/Konika/etc. range than you will ever find in native C mount. That will give you a huge selection in focal length and aperture (and bigger aperture gives you more light). Finally you will also get a better image in general out of a 35mm lens on a c-mount camera because you are only using the center of the lens, where it is sharpest and has the least aberrations.
The one big drawback is the crop factor, the Chronos sensor is 2/3" which is 3.9x smaller than 35mm film. So a lens that would give a wide field of view on a 35mm camera will be very zoomed in on the Chronos. If you have the space it is easy enough to just step back a little (or a whole lot) to get your subject in frame.
With that out of the way I would recommend using 35mm, manual focus, manual aperture, SLR lenses (60s/70s) for a couple of reasons. They are fairly reasonably priced, you can get lenses as cheap as $20. Also there are way more choices in the 35mm Nikon/Cannon/Yashica/Konika/etc. range than you will ever find in native C mount. That will give you a huge selection in focal length and aperture (and bigger aperture gives you more light). Finally you will also get a better image in general out of a 35mm lens on a c-mount camera because you are only using the center of the lens, where it is sharpest and has the least aberrations.
The one big drawback is the crop factor, the Chronos sensor is 2/3" which is 3.9x smaller than 35mm film. So a lens that would give a wide field of view on a 35mm camera will be very zoomed in on the Chronos. If you have the space it is easy enough to just step back a little (or a whole lot) to get your subject in frame.
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Chronos User Discussion / Re: Chronos 1.4 Footage Thread
« on: October 11, 2017, 11:15:44 AM »
Something like that might work, I was thinking of making something that looks like a rifle stock that lets me support, aim and trigger the camera with one hand and use the other for focusing only. Having a handle on the focus ring would definitely make it easier to hit the same mark repeatedly, thanks!
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Chronos User Discussion / Re: Chronos 1.4 Footage Thread
« on: October 11, 2017, 09:04:13 AM »
I finally have a way to quickly aim and follow targets using a $40 Amazon gun sight, now I just need to find a way to quickly pull focus.
All the clips were shot with a 400mm lens (effective 1560mm) at ~f8-f11 and 6db gain on the camera.
https://youtu.be/JyLn4jDvqTU
All the clips were shot with a 400mm lens (effective 1560mm) at ~f8-f11 and 6db gain on the camera.
https://youtu.be/JyLn4jDvqTU
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Chronos User Discussion / Re: Video Clarity?
« on: September 28, 2017, 07:58:07 PM »
When ever possible I have been using full frame Minolta lenses on my Chronos and it is capable of taking very sharp footage with smaller apertures (f/4-ish) at the 1500fps/720p resolution. None of the c-mount lenses I have tested are very sharp, everything from brand new eBay to 1960s, are pretty soft at all apertures. The problem is getting one or more kW of light on to your subject without cooking it or blowing breakers.
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Chronos User Discussion / Re: Best Save-As frame rate?
« on: September 21, 2017, 06:26:05 PM »
I may be attributing qualities that aren't really there but I seem to have less failed saves (to my sketchy storage) when I use lower Save-As frame rates. At 60fps I seemed to have significantly more problems than at 30fps.
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Software Dev / Re: "Missing" the out point when saving.
« on: September 07, 2017, 09:55:39 PM »
Thanks for the explanation, it covered my next question. The USB key I am using is USB 3 which I would have thought would be fast enough but it seems to only be 99 times out of 100 (still not bad). Is there a bottleneck in USB that the SD card interface lacks? I'm glad to hear that you guys are working on flow control for slower storage devices, thanks!