BackyardEOS ~ A new software for Canon DSLR

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

That's emailed to you Guylain. Thanks for looking into it for me.

Yes - As you can see, images took several minutes to finally download. The timing is tricky to describe, but you'll see it in the log.

I'm running XP SP3 on that little Acer AspireOne netbook.

You're a champ

[guyroch]

Thanks Chris, I just made another request via email We'll get there!

Guylain

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Second debug file on the way Guylain. To answer your question a while back, these are being saved to that machines desktop - into a lights folder within the "library-style" folder structure.

[guyroch]

Got it, thanks, Lots of info in that log file I'll keep you posted.

Guylain

[guyroch]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Second debug file on the way Guylain. To answer your question a while back, these are being saved to that machines desktop - into a lights folder within the "library-style" folder structure.

Okay, this may seem lame but the camera is acting funny, it is not releasing the image once the bulb exposure has ended and as a result is not firing the event ObjectEvent_DirItemRequestTransfer indicating an image is ready to download

I have extracted the _good_ stuff from the debug.txt file you sent me (see code block below).

Line 5 indicates a successful BULB START command.

Line 8 indicates a successful BULB END command at 14:51:40. This is good because the exposure is at the very least the right duration; so the image is usable for stacking.

Line 19 shows the camera has an image ready for download at 15:01:42, a full 10 minutes (600+ sec) after the bulb end. Is 600 seconds a coincidence given your bulb duration was set at 600 sec? I dunno but it sure look suspicious.

Line 29. shows that the image was received by BackyardEOS and displayed.


It looks to me like the camera is acting funny in delivering (or not in this case) the ObjectEvent_DirItemRequestTransfer event; seem to take twice as long every now and then. I'm stump! Is your camera firmware up to date?

I can very easily remove the timeout for you and the camera will eventually deliver the event and the download will take place. What do you think? I can not download the image without the event being fired because I won't have a camera reference pointer to the image otherwise.

Guylain

1.  *** Imaging session started ***
2.  2011-01-04 14:41:40.937 - UI: Imaging session started.
3.
4.  *** BULB Start ***
5.  2011-01-04 14:41:41.359 - 1: Success: EDSDK.EdsSendCommand(cameraRef, 4, 65539)
6.
7.  *** BULB ended successfully ***
8.  2011-01-04 14:51:40.781 - 1: Success: EDSDK.EdsSendCommand(cameraRef, 4, 0)
9.
10.
11. WAITING FOR IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD... zzz... zzz... zzz...
12.
13.
14. *** BackyardEOS timed out after 90 seconds ***
15. 2011-01-04 14:53:10.234 - UI: Image download timeout, process terminated after 90 seconds of trying
16.
17.
18. *** The Camera FINALLY FIRED an event indicating an image was ready for download ***
19. 2011-01-04 15:01:42.968 - 1: ObjectEvent_DirItemRequestTransfer: (inRef=58946048)
20.
21. *** BackyardEOS Downloads the image ***
22. 2011-01-04 15:01:42.968 - 1: Success: EDSDK.EdsGetDirectoryItemInfo(inDirItemRef, out dirItemInfo)
23. 2011-01-04 15:01:42.984 - 1: Success: EDSDK.EdsCreateFileStream(dirItemInfo.szFileName, EDSDK.EdsFileCreateDisposition.CreateAlways, EDSDK.EdsAccess.ReadWrite, out stream)
24. 2011-01-04 15:01:45.015 - 1: Success: EDSDK.EdsDownload(inDirItemRef, dirItemInfo.Size, stream)
25. 2011-01-04 15:01:45.031 - 1: Success: EDSDK.EdsDownloadComplete(inDirItemRef)
26. 2011-01-04 15:01:45.031 - 1: Success: EDSDK.EdsRelease(stream)
27. 
28. *** BackyardEOS completed the download (18 seconds after recieving the event from the camera) ***
29. 2011-01-04 15:02:00.843 - UI: 600SEC_TESTX4_LIGHT_600s_400iso_+23c_20110104-15h01m45s.CR2 downloaded.

[guyroch]

Chris,

I have created a new 1.0.2 build to address the odd issue you're facing with your 5D. In this build I have increased the timeout period to the bulb duration + 120 seconds; this should be sufficient according to your log files. With this change you won't have to experiment with the pause value and the increase timer would only kick in when the camera is taking longer to release the image.

Let me know if you want it and I'll send you a download link via email.

This change will be in all subsequent build as well so no worries about future release too.

Guylain

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Hi Guylain

Yes, that'd be great, thank you! I'll give that a go first and see how it goes before I start experimenting too much.

Just PM or email me with the details.

[luigi]

Guylain,

I need to know if you made a secret arrangement with the devil to make my skies cloudy during all the trial period. If so please stop it! I plan to buy your software but just let me try it once first ok? Clear my skies, remove the curse!

Luis

[guyroch]

Originally Posted by luigi

Guylain,

I need to know if you made a secret arrangement with the devil to make my skies cloudy during all the trial period. If so please stop it! I plan to buy your software but just let me try it once first ok? Clear my skies, remove the curse!

Luis

Sorry Luis, but you need to cancel your subscription to the clouds for that I can provide a PayPal button for that if you want...

Seriously though... clouds move away... Luis is on his way!

Guylain

[luigi]

Originally Posted by guyroch

Sorry Luis, but you need to cancel your subscription to the clouds for that I can provide a PayPal button for that if you want...

Seriously though... clouds move away... Luis is on his way!

Guylain

I knew the "weather" feature of BYEOS was bogus, you just want to know if we have clear skies to send the clouds!!!

[guyroch]

BackyardEOS Version 1.0.3 (Revision 29320) dated January 15, 2011 has graduated from beta release to production release today!

It's not a big release but I'm paving the way to post Version 1.1.0 as a beta preview in a week or two.

*** Version 1.0.3 Overview ***
New Feature: Support to in-camera dark subtraction.
New Feature: 'AV Flats' shutter is added (when no camera lens is connected); the histogram should peek roughly halfway
New Feature: Camera sensor temperature can now be displayed in Fahrenheit
Bug Fix: A few other minor fixes.

*** Download ***
http://backyardeos.binaryrivers.com/download

*** Complete Change Log ***
http://backyardeos.binaryrivers.com/change-log


*** Version 1.1.0 Overview (later this month) ***
- Canon SDK 2.9
- Canon 60D support
- Several optimization in Live View
- ISO is to maximum value possible value for live view
- Star HD: Way more sensitivity and controls over the parameters
- Star HD: Bahtinov spikes edge detection.
- Programmable snap button in frame & focus; will allow for continuous loop.
- Continuous looping of image capture plans.
- Eclipse Framing; overlap a previous image over current one to facilitate framing over several imaging sessions; full control on opacity and orientation for post meridian flip.
- Camera auto power off override while connected to BackyardEOS.
- Low Battery Alarm with configurable threshold.
- Ability to turn on/off adding extra exif data to all raw image files.
- Improved daylight skins
- The list goes on etc...

Guylain

[White Rabbit]

Having read "most" of the thread I decided I buy a copy on faith, but was a little disappointed to find that it could take up to 2 days to get my license file. Nothing worse than buying a new toy and you cant get to play with it staight away.

If you read this post could please send my key please my email address is sandy073 at tpg dot com dot au. I paid via pay pal.

Thanks

[guyroch]

Originally Posted by White Rabbit

Having read "most" of the thread I decided I buy a copy on faith, but was a little disappointed to find that it could take up to 2 days to get my license file. Nothing worse than buying a new toy and you cant get to play with it staight away.

If you read this post could please send my key please my email address is sandy073 at tpg dot com dot au. I paid via pay pal.

Thanks

Thanks White Rabbit. I just created and sent your licence file. The 2 day thing is a worst case scenario as this process is still manual. To date my average turn around time for licenses is less that 2 hours and in a lot of cases within just a few minutes of receiving payments. I do get an instant email from PayPal and if I'm near to a computer I'll generate it a send it right then and now.

Thank you for your support and interest.

Guylain

[White Rabbit]

great I'm out in the garden right now, thanks a lot.

[White Rabbit]

Nice piece of software you've made, with heaps of potential for the future.

Is there a manual exposure button? Press a button to open the shutter press a button to close the shutter. If there is I couldn't see it, would be handy to have.

Thanks again.

[guyroch]

Originally Posted by White Rabbit

Nice piece of software you've made, with heaps of potential for the future.

Is there a manual exposure button? Press a button to open the shutter press a button to close the shutter. If there is I couldn't see it, would be handy to have.

Thanks again.

Thanks Rabbit. No there is not manual exposure button at the moment but it's an interesting feature to add and not that difficult. I will add it to the to-do feature list for sure.

Thanks for the feedback.

Guylain

[White Rabbit]

Here's another one, if you could make the exposure count, count down to show the remaing frames left in the cue, that would handy. As I stands now I have to check the folder and count the subs that have been taken.

You've opened the flood gate now, lol.

[guyroch]

Originally Posted by White Rabbit

Here's another one, if you could make the exposure count, count down to show the remaing frames left in the cue, that would handy. As I stands now I have to check the folder and count the subs that have been taken.

You've opened the flood gate now, lol.

It's already there Rabbit! Look in the upper right corner inside the progress wheel. I do display x of y images

The flood gates are closed

Guylain

[White Rabbit]

aaahhh!! thank you very much, i though that one seemed a bit to obvious to have left out.

cheers

[White Rabbit]

i was imaging this evening, and had three different exposure lengths in the que but all had the same iso setting, 400. myy exposures were 300, 600 then 900, after the 300sec run had finished the 600 run started but the iso changed 1600. Ive copied the log here so you can see for yourself, I should have taken a screen shot, sorry. I need to get my dithering sorted our as well...

Thanks


22:30:11 Canon camera listener service started.
22:30:14 Canon EOS 5D Mark II ADDED!
22:33:06 Imaging session started.
22:39:32 LIGHT_300s_400iso_+33c_20110205-22h38m11s.CR2 downloaded.
22:39:46 PHD Dithering completed successfuly.
22:46:23 LIGHT_300s_400iso_+37c_20110205-22h45m01s.CR2 downloaded.
22:46:41 PHD Dithering completed successfuly.
22:53:18 LIGHT_300s_400iso_+37c_20110205-22h51m56s.CR2 downloaded.
22:53:56 PHD Dithering completed successfuly.
23:00:34 LIGHT_300s_400iso_+41c_20110205-22h59m11s.CR2 downloaded.
23:01:52 PHD Dithering completed successfuly.
23:08:31 LIGHT_300s_400iso_+41c_20110205-23h07m08s.CR2 downloaded.
23:09:31 PHD Dithering completed successfuly.
23:16:13 LIGHT_300s_400iso_+38c_20110205-23h14m47s.CR2 downloaded.
23:17:09 PHD Dithering settled to current position after 60 tries.
23:23:49 LIGHT_300s_400iso_+38c_20110205-23h22m25s.CR2 downloaded.
23:24:00 PHD Dithering completed successfuly.
23:30:44 LIGHT_300s_400iso_+38c_20110205-23h29m15s.CR2 downloaded.
23:31:40 PHD Dithering settled to current position after 60 tries.
23:38:35 LIGHT_300s_400iso_+38c_20110205-23h36m58s.CR2 downloaded.
23:39:05 PHD Dithering completed successfuly.
23:45:42 LIGHT_300s_400iso_+38c_20110205-23h44m22s.CR2 downloaded.
23:47:39 PHD Dithering settled to current position after 60 tries.
23:59:38 LIGHT_600s_1600iso_+36c_20110205-23h57m55s.CR2 downloaded.
00:00:34 PHD Dithering settled to current position after 60 tries.
00:12:39 LIGHT_600s_1600iso_+41c_20110206-00h10m51s.CR2 downloaded.
00:12:39 PHD Dithering completed successfuly.
00:24:45 PHD Dithering completed successfuly.
00:24:47 LIGHT_600s_1600iso_+41c_20110206-00h22m56s.CR2 downloaded.
00:36:54 PHD Dithering completed successfuly.
00:36:54 LIGHT_600s_1600iso_+37c_20110206-00h35m03s.CR2 downloaded.
00:49:12 PHD Dithering completed successfuly.
00:49:17 LIGHT_600s_1600iso_+37c_20110206-00h47m11s.CR2 downloaded.
00:54:14 Imaging session cancelled by user.
00:54:20 ABORT_LIGHT_187s_1600iso_+37c_20110 206-00h52m38s.CR2 downloaded.
00:58:10 Warning. Canon EOS 5D Mark II is about to shutdown!
00:58:44 Camera SHUTDOWN!
00:58:44 Camera SHUTDOWN!