Capturing video from EOS live view

[Terry B]

For anyone that can read russian there is a program here
http://valexvir.narod.ru/

that will capture the live view images.
Might be very useful for planetary and spectra imaging.

[RobF]

Hmmm - I can't read Russian, but sounds intriguing.......

[Merlin66]

The same question was asked overhere in the UK.
The answer is yes! Just plug it in with the standard TV cable which came with the camera. The LED display is dis-connected (ie blank to save batteries-they say)

[renormalised]

Nyet!!!....iz take ova by komrade komputer program to run Kannon kamera for benefit of proletariat masses. Not to see amerikanski imperialist eyes for finding out wat we do. That iz why skreen is blank, da!!!:eyepop::P:D

[spearo]

for what its worth:
i copied the link and pasted it into the Babel web site and it translated the page, poorly but better than what my knoledge of Russian allows me to understand...which is Ziltch...
frank

[RobF]

Merlin- what do you do then with the video stream - record to a video camera?

[renormalised]

Download it to your computer.....it'll be an .avi file.

[RobF]

Me no comprendo. I don't own a video camera, and I can't see how I could get a video lead to plug into my laptop?

[renormalised]

Use a Video to USB capture box/dongle. You can pick one up here... Scorpion Technology (http://www.scorptec.com.au/computer/29415-c200)or goto Harvey Norman, Dick Smith Powerhouse or any decent computer store. They should have one. Or, if it's a video being recorded by your DSLR, just stream it via a USB cable straight into the computer after it's recorded on your camera's flash card.

[Merlin66]

http://translate.google.com/translate?sourceid=navclient&hl=en&u=http%3a%2f%2fvalexvir.narod.ru%2f

OK there seems to be two things here.
1. You can connect the LiveView to the TV using the supplied cable and get the TV display for guiding/ focussing etc. If you want to record it you'll need a VCR (or equivalent)....
2. The other is this russian hack program which allows you to connect ( with the USB connector) to the PC and download ( as AVI) to your HD...
I can't verify as I'm still using a 350D
Hope this helps.

[RobF]

Thank you Sir! Had thought about doing a translate but can never remember how to do it......
Embarrased to say hadn't even considered Option 1, but Option 2 is what I was daydreaming/hoping about.
Will have to give it a go. My webcam is very basic, so might be my best chance for some work on Saturn in coming months.

p.s. Love the odd Russian word that's still in the translation!

"If you think that would only interfere with Autofocus, to put a manual focus lens, if it avtofokusny. "

:)

[renormalised]

What sort of connector does Canon supply for LiveView connection to a TV...composite or S-Video??

[RobF]

There's a composite (RCA) connector provided - must admit I haven't actually tried it for Liveview to date - only for replaying pics on the TV

[renormalised]

Ah....well like I said before. Since LiveView is streaming video, all you need is a capture stick/dongle (they come with composite connectors) and a capture program (even Windows Movie Maker will do...at a pinch, not recommended). You can then record directly off your camera to your PC. No need for some Russkie hack, which has no warranty or guarantee on it and may stuff your camera up.

[RobF]

Have just downloaded this and had a play with it on my laptop. It does what it says on the packet - opens a Liveview window that monitors the camera in realtime over a USB connection. Hit "Write" and it appears to record about 20fps AVI (20sec gave me a 100mb AVI file). Ummmm - I'm getting more excited! :eyepop:

The version I'm using is in English, which makes me wonder if this has been leaked from Canon somehow.

Appears to use far less compression (if any) over the old Sony P200 I was using (recorded MPEG). Have just also checked out DSLR and barlow connections on my OTA and can reach focus ok. I'm thinking Saturn next chance I get. I've been wondering how I could up my planetary capability a bit in the absence of a Toucam - this looks like a great freeware option at this early point in time....

[RobF]

Just trawling about the net there seems to be a growing number of bemused photographers wondering why you'd want to record video on a DSLR without sound, plus the odd astronomy forum just waking up to the possibilities. I'd be interested to hear how others go with this too.

(p.s. no hack changes to camera required, and I haven't been able to find any sign of viruses, etc in executable)

[renormalised]

What is the quality of the .avi's you're downloading??. The acid test will be when you try it out on one of the planets. Although I can see quite a few applications for this. Namely rock steady planetary pics taken from .avi's straight out of your camera...and at high res' too. 10-12mpix beats 300kpix from a DMK/DBK21, for sure. Should prove interesting to see what results you get.

[RobF]

It lists the 450D as 848x560 on the translated Russian page, so I don't think we're talking 12 megapixels here.....
Still, I'm hoping for a bit of competition with a decent webcam.

[ozskywatcher]

Maybe Canon has some software on their site? I will try emailing Canon Australia when I have time and asking them.

Regards,

Paul Floyd.
www.nightskyonline.info

[renormalised]

True.....but that's still better than the DMK/DBK cameras.

[RobF]

Dennis posted some example shots of what Liveview can do resolution-wise early last year(http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=28022&highlight=dennis+liveview)

Shots of my desk seemed pretty clear today, but the skies are up to their old tricks again tonight. Didn't play with recording zoomed image, but imagine should be possible.

Paul - be interested if Canon says anything, but would imagine officially they'll know nothing about it.

[RobF]

I should probably take back the bit about AVI though - Russian website says it MJPEG, whatever that is. Just happens to say "AVI" on the desktop icon of the video :rolleyes:

[Dennis]

Another option might be to use Images Plus Version 3.75 which, according to the website, can save Live View as a series of sequential BMP files (http://www.mlunsold.com/examples/NewFunctions/CanonLiveView.html).

Cheers

Dennis

[renormalised]

It's actually MPEG....Motion Picture Experts Group. An MPEG is a series of individual JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) files that are sequenced into a movable picture....to create a movie. That's the simple explanation:).

AVI's are fairly similar.

[spearo]

cant wait to see if this is any good for planetary
frank

[RobF]

I'm pretty sure this is going to work nicely, even if it won't have the framerate of a DMK. Had a bit of a fiddle last night, but didn't have access to the net and hadn't read the instructions properly - looks like getting into the 5x zoom mode is essential - which I HAVEN'T done here - wasn't smart enough to figure it out in the dark with the internet....!

Anyway, this is my first ever imaging effort on saturn, using Canon 450D at prime focus on 8" newt + 2" 2x barlow + 2nd 1.25" 2x barlow and about 30sec of video stacked in Registax, blown up later by factor of 3, thus the nasty pixelation. Don't think I did the image any favour in registax either whatever I did - definitely a newbie in there!

Keen to have another try with 5x zoom on. For those wanting to give it a try, you have to:

1. install program
2. connect camera to pc with usb
3. start program - hard drive clicks, but nothing written
4. on camera, press Set (Liveview appears on camera screen)
5. on camera press magnify button - screen and PC now display 5x image
6. Click write in program to record
7. Click stop and you're done
(don't worry about DOF - only works with a lens attached)

I used Virtual dub to convert MJPEG to AVI pre Registax.

Can't wait to have another try when time allows.

Rob

[RobF]

Another try on saturn, from Sat night, this time with 5x zoom. About 30secs of video, 450D + MPCC + 2" 2x barlow on 8" newt, average seeing.

[RobF]

From Titan transit last night
Liveview at 5x
2 barlows in series: 2" 2x + 1.25" 2x

(edited - no MPCC and barlow were used - 450 T-ring went straight onto 1.25" barlow)

[Terry B]

Here is another program to capture the live view. I haven't tried it yet.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/eos-movrec/

[RobF]

Thanks again Terry for starting this.
I think this is probably the same program. Executeable name looks the same, but now at version 0.16 (was at 0.13 when the thread started and quickly went to 0.14). Looks like its being actively developed then, which is good of course.

[mbaddah]

Would this mean that there is a possibility of using the live view feature as an autoguider as well? Perhaps wishful thinking :whistle:

[RobF]

Had pondered same thing, but Liveview isn't terribly sensitive, and I suspect most guiding programs won't include support in forseeable future. Toucam or QHY5 etc probably still cheaper options anyway......

[JD2439975]

Just gave the latest version of EOS-movrec a go.

On the desktop: 1024x680, full colour video at 22fps...impressive!!

On the laptop: Same size at 8fps...not so impressive.

CPU power sure makes a difference.

[mbaddah]

Post up results would love to see :)

[wasyoungonce]

Hi Folks...a bit of help needed here.

I tried the above steps & many permutations of the above steps but cannot get the camera to connect. I cannot get liveview on the utility.

I always get a blank liveview screen or the utility program flashes "cannot connect..."

When I connect the camera I cannot select liveview. The computer is connecting to the camera (the red led flashes) & it prompts for download of files. I shut this off & try the utility... same same ...I cannot select liveview.

For some strange reason I managed to get it to work & record once..but never again.

Any ideas????:confused:

EDIT.


Ahhhh ignore all the above. Installing the Canon utilities from the Canon disc fixed it all. Works like a brought one now! I leave this post as others may face the same problems.

I get 22fps on main computer & 20 fps on the lappy.

Tomorrow I'm going to get a 3.5mm mono audio jack so I can plug the camera video output straight into a portable video player. This is so I can try liveview focus on a larger screen without the lappy. Just playing around.

[RobF]

Be interested to see and hear of any progress.
Interesting Canon Utilities had to be installed.

R

[trick]

Shame its not Mac :(

[wasyoungonce]

Actually...further on that....my desktop is ok now, after I installed Canon utilities ...but the lappy is still playing up...sigh! I got it to work once and then once again on that lappy but it is still playing up. I've tried the latest version & earlier versions.

I'll play with the other 2 lappys today...all our kids have lappys.

I'm also going to get a 3.5mm cable to try video out on the canon to a portable DVD. I'll post back soon.

[wasyoungonce]

Update on using movrec.

I tried this utility on 3 laptops. It worked on one of them, an intel chipset. and it also worked on my desktop computer which is also an intel chipset.

But it didn't work on the other 2 lappys one is (edit) a Nvida chipset the other an Intel ICH8 chipset. But, on the Lappy it did work it to had an ICH8 chipset.

I may need USB driver updates...although I think they are pretty up to date already. A bit of fiddling needed I think...sigh!

When I run the movrec utility on those lappys that fail it just opens & closes the shutter/flip prism & then gives an error "cannot initialize your camera! check connection".

On another note. I got the 450D video out to display on a 7.2inch screen portable DVD player. With this I can select 4:3 or 16:9 ratios although the screen resolution is alot to be desired it is alot better than a 3.5 inch screen for focusing.

Here are some attached pics.

So a little joy...mixed with some frustration.:doh:


Edit:
Canon Firmware update to 1.1.0 from 1.0.4 fixed all above problems....all ok on all computers.

[skytry]

hi to all,
reads interesting, another freeware program,
so what is the program we are down loading, I am interested,
is it Liveview???, or the russian, Valexvir.narod-- etc,
regards,
Peter.

[bojan]

It seems it is a video capture from liveview via USB, that you can save on computer.
It says on website that it is advisable to have clean memory card (but the video is not recorded on it), to speed up the boot process, and the saved format is AVI (which may be quite useful for planetary and moon photography..)
I will try it later today and let you know the result.

[RobF]

I was very pleasantly surprised how this has advanced when checked for latest version in preparation for June Transit of Venus. The video captures from my 450D were much nicer than my Toucam captures. I haven't tried to do any planetary with it for ages (but then I haven't done any other planetary work for ages either :question: ;) )

Definitely worth a try if you have an earlier Canon.