From: Alan Friedman <alan@greatarrow.com>

Date: April 26, 2012 1:56:54 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

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

Thank you for the explanation, Milton. When I saw the selection of Format 7 options on the Grasshopper Express, I had to sit down. 

best,

Alan

On Apr 26, 2012, at 3:15 PM, Milton Aupperle wrote:

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
>>
>>