From: Milton Aupperle <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: April 26, 2012 1:15:11 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] "Mystery Camera" review

Hi Allan;

On 26-Apr-12, at 12:51 PM, Alan Friedman wrote:

Hi Milton,

Excellent... thanks for posting this.

Can you speak a little more on the new Format7 12 bit mode in IIDC 1.3.2... how this compares with 16 bit mode and I'm assuming, a file size savings and speed improvement?

For the Grasshopper 2, the 12 bit doesn't help at all for frame rate or file size reduction, but it will reduce FireWire bandwidth used. Other cameras like the Grasshopper Express models, it does help for frame rates and running in 12 bit gives you a wider dynamic range (8 bit is 255 shades, 12 bit is 4,096 shades, 16 bit is 65,535 shades) and a bit faster frame rate (by 50% ) than going 16 bit.

However 12 bit is automatically converted to 16 bit by Astro IIDC so no saving in movie size for 12 bit. Apple doesn't support 12 bit monochrome video, and since QuickTime is dead - I am not going to create a special codec to support playback for 12 bit.

Actually, going forward, we will be forced to drop QuickTime completely because Apple has refused to make it 64 bit.  Apples "AV Foundation" 64 bit API (ported from iOS for their iDevices)  only supports a subset of horribly compressed 8 bit MP4 video and is non extensible - so no plugin architecture at all and no way to add your own formats or meta data. This is not expected to change as Apple dumbs down and jettisons more and more features to bring OS X down tot he iOS level.

So it's just a question of time before Apple drops 32 bit OSX and that put the nail in the coffin for Astro IIDC and all 32 bit apps.

What I plan to do is create my own file format for movies. This will be endian independent so that if push comes to shove, I can probably switch over to running Astro IIDC on Android tablets with USB 2 / 3 support. All of Apples' iOS devices can only have software installed from the Apple store (so the Apple code Nazis won't allow 3rd party APIs) and Apple doesn't support stock USB 2 let alone USB 3 - and never will.

HTH..

Milton Aupperle

many thanks,

Alan

Alan Friedman

avertedimagination.com

On Apr 26, 2012, at 1:59 PM, milton_aupperle wrote:

Hi Folks;

I just got approval from Point Grey Research (PGR) to release my Review on the "Mystery Camera" - which is a Grasshopper 2 Monochrome Camera:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astro_IIDC/files/Other/PGR_GS2_Camera_Review.pdf

It's a 1.2 megabyte .pdf and besides characterizing the Grasshopper 2, it also compares the Grasshopper 2 to the Grasshopper 1 camera.

Also, if your attending NEAF, you can drop by the PGR Exhibitor booth and see some of their latest cameras too.

And lastly, Stephen Ramsden (http://www.solarastronomy.org/) will also be exhibiting at NEAF this year too, so if you want to see live Solar imaging with Astro IIDC and PGR cameras, drop by his booth / station.

Clear skies (it's raining here again).

Milton Aupperle