Frame Locked Mutliframe Stereo Photography

NN

4

« on: 06 / February / 2013, 15:33:48 »

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This is what I plan to do:

Taking stereo photography with the following conditions:

Multiple frames (As close to 30fps as possible)
Each consecutive frame must be synced between the two cameras

Is this possible?
What are my options?
My understanding is the most accurate method is the SDM USB voltage method?
(I found this link but is this my best option?: http://stereo.jpn.org/eng/sdm/pcb.htm)
What are my limitations?
What setup/cameras would be ideal? (Trying to keep price 500-1000 range if possible)

I am able to script if necessary but would prefer not to if the functionality already exists.
Thank you for you help.

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waterwingz

12140

Re: Frame Locked Mutliframe Stereo Photography

« Reply #1 on: 06 / February / 2013, 15:40:55 »

Quote from: NN on 06 / February / 2013, 15:33:48

Multiple frames (As close to 30fps as possible)
Each consecutive frame must be synced between the two cameras
Is this possible?
[/list]

There is basically zero chance you will get 30 fps with a Canon P&S camera in normal picture taking mode. So what you are looking for is sync'd video - something that has been talked about but so far not achieved.

Quote

My understanding is the most accurate method is the SDM USB voltage method?
(I found this link but is this my best option?: http://stereo.jpn.org/eng/sdm/pcb.htm)

CHDK and SDM share this method - CHDK information here : http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/USB_Remote

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

Microfunguy

4037

Re: Frame Locked Mutliframe Stereo Photography

« Reply #2 on: 07 / February / 2013, 05:52:32 »

Quote from: NN on 06 / February / 2013, 15:33:48

Is this possible?

With the cameras that SDM and CHDK support ... no.

Quote

What are my options?

Very, very few.
The GoPro Hero2 may be suitable although I am not aware of synch being tested.
There are no plans for synch support with Hero3.

Quote

My understanding is the most accurate method is the SDM USB voltage method?

That is only for still images.

Quote

What setup/cameras would be ideal? (Trying to keep price 500-1000 range if possible)

What currency .. Zambian dollars ?

Quote

would prefer not to if the functionality already exists.

Inexpensive, synchronised movies using two separate cameras is an unsolved problem.

I am currently building a rig that synchs two keychain cameras to 1/5000 sec.
However, you probably want higher quality than that.

David

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NN

4

Re: Frame Locked Mutliframe Stereo Photography

« Reply #3 on: 07 / February / 2013, 18:56:45 »

Quote from: waterwingz on 06 / February / 2013, 15:40:55

There is basically zero chance you will get 30 fps with a Canon P&S camera in normal picture taking mode. So what you are looking for is sync'd video - something that has been talked about but so far not achieved.

30 fps was an optimistic number. What would be the highest fps in normal picture more with sync?
I am thinking the best option for continuous synced photos would be to modify the USB Remote by replacing the button with some sort of user controlled switch such as a timer or Arduino. Then I could slowly decrease the delay until sync is lost?

Quote from: Microfunguy on 07 / February / 2013, 05:52:32

What currency .. Zambian dollars ?

500-1000 USD (2597500 – 5195000 Zambian Kwacha)

I am planning on using these cameras for a structured light scanner.
Which route should I follow SDM or CHDK?

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waterwingz

12140

Re: Frame Locked Mutliframe Stereo Photography

« Reply #4 on: 07 / February / 2013, 19:06:17 »

Quote from: NN on 07 / February / 2013, 18:56:45

30 fps was an optimistic number. What would be the highest fps in normal picture more with sync?

Currently, most Canon P&S cameras will only sustain about one shot every 2 seconds. Using sync would slow that down a little bit. Lapser has been working on getting rates up to a little less that 1 second per shot using the camera's continuous mode but you won't be able to sync that at all.

Quote

I am planning on using these cameras for a structured light scanner. Which route should I follow SDM or CHDK?

Try them both and see - the sync functionality is identical in both. CHDK has a much more powerful scripting language - SDM goes on the assumption that you don't want or need to program and "dumbs things down" a lot for you.

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

Microfunguy

4037

Re: Frame Locked Mutliframe Stereo Photography

« Reply #5 on: 07 / February / 2013, 20:45:41 »

Quote from: NN on 07 / February / 2013, 18:56:45

What would be the highest fps in normal picture more with sync?

We recently tested about two shots per second at reduced resolution with S95.

However, this may be of interest :-

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/915328713/lynx-a-camera

What resolution do you require ?

Maybe the 1280x720 keychain cameras at 30 fps ARE suitable.

« Last Edit: 07 / February / 2013, 20:49:47 by Microfunguy »

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NN

4

Re: Frame Locked Mutliframe Stereo Photography

« Reply #6 on: 07 / February / 2013, 21:00:42 »

Quote from: Microfunguy on 07 / February / 2013, 20:45:41

What resolution do you require ?

I am looking to get at least 16MP.
Also the cameras need to be farther spaced than that for my application.

I have a few more questions:

Is it possible to disable the refocus after every photo?
This way I could focus once in the beginning an increase my overall capture rate.

Has anyone tried to remove the capture button and trigger pictures my connecting the contacts that the button used to capture the picture? I'm curious to see if this is more or less accurate.

SDM shows specific models that are compatible. Does this apply for CHDK?
Branching off the previous question: What is the best model to buy right now in the P&S range?

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philmoz

3450

Re: Frame Locked Mutliframe Stereo Photography

« Reply #7 on: 07 / February / 2013, 21:10:03 »

Quote from: NN on 07 / February / 2013, 21:00:42

Is it possible to disable the refocus after every photo?

Yes.

Quote

This way I could focus once in the beginning an increase my overall capture rate.

This will only increase the capture rate marginally. As posted earlier 1fps is about the best you can hope for. Some cameras may go up to 2fps; but probably not at 16MP.

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Has anyone tried to remove the capture button and trigger pictures my connecting the contacts that the button used to capture the picture? I'm curious to see if this is more or less accurate.

Since you can control the capture and triggering entirely in software the button and button contacts are irrelevant to capture speed.

Quote

Branching off the previous question: What is the best model to buy right now in the P&S range?

The depends on your definition of best.

The G1X has the best image quality; but is 14MP and very expensive in comparison to other models.
The S95 is possibly one of the best for accurate synching between cameras; but is only 10MP. More recent models have additional delays that make accurate synch harder (although some progress has been made on this).

Phil.

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CHDK ports:
sx30is (1.00c, 1.00h, 1.00l, 1.00n & 1.00p)
g12 (1.00c, 1.00e, 1.00f & 1.00g)
sx130is (1.01d & 1.01f)
ixus310hs (1.00a & 1.01a)
sx40hs (1.00d, 1.00g & 1.00i)
g1x (1.00e, 1.00f & 1.00g)
g5x (1.00c, 1.01a, 1.01b)
g7x2 (1.01a, 1.01b, 1.10b)

waterwingz

12140

Re: Frame Locked Mutliframe Stereo Photography

« Reply #8 on: 07 / February / 2013, 21:11:05 »

Quote from: NN on 07 / February / 2013, 21:00:42

Is it possible to disable the refocus after every photo? This way I could focus once in the beginning an increase my overall capture rate.

Set the AF lock manually using the built-in Canon functions or use CHDK's set_aflock() command. I assume SDM has something similiar but its probably called "make_the_camera_only_focus_once" or something.

However, getting your shot rate faster than even 1 per second already assumes you are doing this.

Quote

Has anyone tried to remove the capture button and trigger pictures my connecting the contacts that the button used to capture the picture? I'm curious to see if this is more or less accurate.

As stated before, I can guarantee that hard wiring the buttons will be far less precise than using the sync mode in CHDK or SDM

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SDM shows specific models that are compatible. Does this apply for CHDK?

Typically, SDM is a subset of the cameras supported by CHDK and they are usually the older models. The latest list of CHDK releases is here : http://mighty-hoernsche.de/

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Branching off the previous question: What is the best model to buy right now in the P&S range?

A bit like asking what's the best car to buy.

« Last Edit: 07 / February / 2013, 21:16:51 by waterwingz »

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

Microfunguy

4037

Re: Frame Locked Mutliframe Stereo Photography

« Reply #9 on: 08 / February / 2013, 06:08:09 »

Quote from: NN on 07 / February / 2013, 21:00:42

I am looking to get at least 16MP.

So, ideally you want 30 fps AND 16MP resolution.
There is no such movie resolution (or continuous-shooting speed) or camera.

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SDM shows specific models that are compatible.

There are many more cameras available for beta testing here :

http://www.zenoshrdlu.com/assist/assist.html

They include :-

a490 100f
a495 100f
a800 100c
a810 100b, 100d and 100e
a1000 100a
a3200 100a and 100d
g12 100c, 100e and 100g
ixus105 100b and 100c
ixus750 100f, 100g and 100h
s95 100h, 100i and 100k
s100 100d, 100e, 101a and 101b
sx20 102b and 102d
sx130is 101c and 101f
sx210is 100c
sx230hs 101b

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