From: Ray Byrne <ray@in4media.co.uk>

Date: August 31, 2011 3:27:07 AM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] Slightly OT larger format camera

Hi Milton,

Will I be able to run 2 different versions of Astro IIDC on my Macbook one for the Chameleon and my current version for my DMK? Obviously I won't be running these at the same time but I'd rather take the camera registration route as I like to process on my iMac.

ATB

Ray Byrne

On 30 Aug 2011, at 18:28, Milton Aupperle wrote:

Hi Raye;

On 30-Aug-11, at 11:14 AM, Ray Byrne wrote:

> Hi Milton,
>
> Being a USB camera would it still work with Astro IIDC?

Point Grey Research USB 2 and USB 3 cameras will work with Astro IIDC.
I have quite a few customer using the Chameleon and FireFly USB 2
models and have done some custom projects where we were running eleven
USB 2 cameras at the same time off a single Desktop Mac.

Other USB 2 / 3 Cameras will not work, as it says in our FAQ section:

http://www.outcastsoft.com/ASCASTROIIDC.html#FAQ

---------------- These are all answers from our FAQ section of the
Astro IIDC Web Site ---------------

Does Astro IIDC work with the DFG/1394-1 converter or USB Cameras from
The Imaging Source, Lumenera and other Astronomy, Microscopy or
Machine Vision companies?

No. Astro IIDC only works with IIDC Cameras, which follow the open
IIDC camera protocol. By following this robust industrial certified
standard, Astro IIDC can support dozens of manufacturers and hundred
if not thousands of compliant cameras. Almost all higher end USB
cameras use manufacturer specific proprietary non standard protocols
for camera control. This means we would need to have the company
provide us with low level technical information (which most will not
do like The Imaging Source) and then write specific code for each
manufacturer and in some cases each camera. The Mac market place is
simply too tiny to make it cost effective to support all these non
standard proprietary USB cameras. Note that the IIDC camera protocol
can be carried over other delivery systems, which is why we now
support the Point Grey Research Chameleon and FireFly MV USB 2 cameras
and we can likely support the new USB 3 Flea 3 cameras when they
become available.

Why are you not supporting The Imaging Source USB Cameras?

We have asked TIS multiple times (the most recent was in April 2011)
if they will provide us with the low level details of how to control
their cameras. They have either said "we will get back to you" (and
never do) or simply ignored our e-mails. We frankly do not recommend
their cameras anymore and you will get a much more capable and cheaper
camera by going with Point Grey Research's USB 2 or FireWire cameras.

My Intel Mac has no FireWire ports and is a non expandable "Steve Jobs
iToaster", is there anything I can do?

The only USB 2 or 3 cameras supported are the FireFly MV and Chameleon
from Point Grey Research, which follow the IIDC Protocol. If you want
lots of camera choices, you need FireWire. You should avoid Macs that
either lack FireWire ports or are non expandable and lack a PC34
expansion slot. If you only purchase Macs that have FireWire, then
Apple will get the message that FireWire is an essential feature. This
will effect sales of future Macs and they will be forced to add it
back in, so Vote with your Wallet. You can also tell Apple they are
going down the wrong path here.

Does Astro IIDC work with the GigaE Ethernet Cameras?

Again, no. Astro IIDC only works with IIDC Cameras, which follow the
open IIDC camera protocol. Secondly, it is VERY unlikely you will ever
see Giga-E on the Mac. To get the full frame rate and I/O control of
Giga-E, it usually require a special Giga Ethernet card. The stock
GigaBit controller that Apple ships is not up to the task. Since only
the highest end Macs have an expansion slots (PCI-E Express or PC 34
ExpressCard) which Apple sells the fewest models of per year, the
economics of writing Ethernet drivers for them and then developing
Giga-E drivers makes Giga-E prohibitively expensive. And given Apple's
direction in their products designs (no FireWire 3200, no USB 3, no
Ethernet and no Expansion Slots), it's unlikely that any expansion
options will be offered in the future models. If you want to use GigaE
Cameras, you'll have to go Windows with a cheap Non Mac PC that has
expansions slots.

HTH..

Milton aupperle

>
> ATB
> Ray
>
>
> On 30 Aug 2011, at 17:27, Milton Aupperle wrote:
>
>> Hi Raye;
>>
>> You might also want to look at their Chameleon USB2 camera too.
>>
>> http://www.ptgrey.com/products/chameleon/index.asp
>>
>> The mono versions deliver up to 1296x964 @ 18 fps, 8 / 16 bit and is
>> priced at $375 USD.
>>
>> In cropped 640x480 hardware ROI the best I got was 30 fps in 16 bit
>> or 8 bit.
>>
>> At 1280x960 size I get 15 fps.
>>
>> You get 8 or 16 bit video in, hardware ROI, GPIO functionality for
>> ST4
>> port control or arbitrary long exposures and temperature monitoring
>> too.
>>
>> HTH..
>>
>> Milton Aupperle
>>
>> On 30-Aug-11, at 3:44 AM, Ray Byrne wrote:
>>
>> > Hi Guys,
>> >
>> > I'm considering buying a larger format camera for Lunar/Solar use.
>> > I've missed the boat on PG Scorpions I expect, any other
>> > suggestions?. BTW I currently use a DMK21af04
>> >
>> > ATB
>> > Ray
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
>
>

Milton J. Aupperle
President
ASC - Aupperle Services and Contracting
Mac Software (Drivers, Components and Application) Specialist
#1106 - 428 Chaparral Ravine View SE.
Calgary Alberta T2X 0N2
1-(403)-453-1624
milton@outcastsoft.com
www.outcastsoft.com