We want new firmware for G2, do we?

Stipica Grgic · Mar 18, 2002

I guess that most G2 owners would be just amazed with new features that new firmware would possibly bring.

Wish list:

1. storage only limited video clips (the best would be that you can choose between default 'safe but time limited' and 'unlimited but may drop frames')

2. audio only recording (could be accessed thru a new item in video clips menu...)
3. voice annotations

...you may add some more features you would love to see in you G2 (and that can be implemented in firmware only).

We can also help Canon to develop such a firmware as beta testers or at least with sugestions...

Also I would like if my OS sees G2 as video capturing device also so that can be used with video conferencing software like NetMeeting...

Maybe I'm asking too much, but it can't do any harm...

Stipica

Todd Walker · Mar 18, 2002

Stipica Grgic said:
I guess that most G2 owners would be just amazed with new features
that new firmware would possibly bring.

Wish list:
1. storage only limited video clips (the best would be that you can
choose between default 'safe but time limited' and 'unlimited but
may drop frames')

The length of video clips is limited by the memory buffer in the camera. The only other option may be to record at a lower frame rate, but what use would that be? You would be able to get longer clips but they would be even lower quality than they are now and would still be time limited.

Stipica Grgic said:
2. audio only recording (could be accessed thru a new item in video
clips menu...)

This should be doable through firmware.

Stipica Grgic said:
3. voice annotations

Same as above

Stipica Grgic said:
...you may add some more features you would love to see in you G2
(and that can be implemented in firmware only).

We can also help Canon to develop such a firmware as beta testers
or at least with sugestions...

I doubt that this will happen. Canon is very good about releasing firmware to fix problems, but not to add features. They want you to buy a new camera for that.

Stipica Grgic said:
Also I would like if my OS sees G2 as video capturing device also
so that can be used with video conferencing software like
NetMeeting...

The camera doesn't send a live video feed out the USB port -- only through the video out port -- so using it as a webcam isn't possible.

Todd
--Todd Walker http://twalker.d2g.com

edelf · Mar 18, 2002

Todd Walker said:
Stipica Grgic said:

I guess that most G2 owners would be just amazed with new features
that new firmware would possibly bring.

Wish list:
1. storage only limited video clips (the best would be that you can
choose between default 'safe but time limited' and 'unlimited but
may drop frames')

Click to expand...

The length of video clips is limited by the memory buffer in the
camera. The only other option may be to record at a lower frame
rate, but what use would that be? You would be able to get longer
clips but they would be even lower quality than they are now and
would still be time limited.

Most off all, I want real IR focus assist of my 420 EX external flash. I don't see any reason why this can't be done with a simple firmware update.

grtz edelf

Todd Walker said:
Todd Walker said:

2. audio only recording (could be accessed thru a new item in video
clips menu...)

Click to expand...

This should be doable through firmware.

Todd Walker said:

3. voice annotations

Click to expand...

Same as above

Todd Walker said:

...you may add some more features you would love to see in you G2
(and that can be implemented in firmware only).

We can also help Canon to develop such a firmware as beta testers
or at least with sugestions...

Click to expand...

I doubt that this will happen. Canon is very good about releasing
firmware to fix problems, but not to add features. They want you to
buy a new camera for that.

Todd Walker said:

Also I would like if my OS sees G2 as video capturing device also
so that can be used with video conferencing software like
NetMeeting...

Click to expand...

The camera doesn't send a live video feed out the USB port -- only
through the video out port -- so using it as a webcam isn't
possible.

Todd

--
Todd Walker
http://twalker.d2g.com

Stipica Grgic · Mar 18, 2002

Hello!

Todd Walker said:
Stipica Grgic said:

I guess that most G2 owners would be just amazed with new features
that new firmware would possibly bring.

Wish list:
1. storage only limited video clips (the best would be that you can
choose between default 'safe but time limited' and 'unlimited but
may drop frames')

Click to expand...

The length of video clips is limited by the memory buffer in the
camera. The only other option may be to record at a lower frame
rate, but what use would that be? You would be able to get longer
clips but they would be even lower quality than they are now and
would still be time limited.

Why not writing video clip directly on CF insted to limited buffer? And because thruput is only in range 120-250KB/sec it can be handled with any respectable CF. I don't see the reason for even lower quality.

From my viewpoint video clip is stored in buffer just as precaution so that it works with every (even the most slowest, which are now history I believe) CF.

Christopher Bruno · Mar 18, 2002

Todd Walker said:
Todd Walker said:

Also I would like if my OS sees G2 as video capturing device also
so that can be used with video conferencing software like
NetMeeting...

Click to expand...

The camera doesn't send a live video feed out the USB port -- only
through the video out port -- so using it as a webcam isn't
possible.

It may not send full speed video feed through the USB port, but it updates it plenty frequently enough for something like Netmeeting. Just hook up the remote capture software or Breezebowsers remote capture program and you'll see what I'm talking about. No video out connection needed.
---Chris

Gordon McGregor · Mar 18, 2002

I've used my G2 with netmeeting, without any problems.

I wouldn't do it for very long, just as the camera gets quite warm, but for short video conferences or sending video mail it works fine.

I just plug the video out into my graphics card and it works like a charm.

NKH · Mar 18, 2002

edelf said:
Most off all, I want real IR focus assist of my 420 EX external
flash. I don't see any reason why this can't be done with a simple
firmware update.

that's no. 1 on my wishlist as well! if we paid for it, we should at least be able to use it

wireless · Mar 18, 2002

Stipica Grgic said:
I guess that most G2 owners would be just amazed with new features
that new firmware would possibly bring.

Wish list:

I'd be happy if they'd just write twain software for Win XP. Relying on WIA is lame and a hassle.

-David

eg #37159 · Mar 18, 2002

wireless 2002 said:
I'd be happy if they'd just write twain software for Win XP.
Relying on WIA is lame and a hassle.

I installed the W2K TWAIN driver on my XP system. Works fine for me.

I've only used it with Breeze Downloader though. Don't know if it works under any other circumstances.

wireless · Mar 19, 2002

eg said:
I installed the W2K TWAIN driver on my XP system. Works fine for me.

I've only used it with Breeze Downloader though. Don't know if it
works under any other circumstances.

Do you have Photoshop? I'd like to be able to import directly into PS using the twain software. That is, when the camera is turned on, the dialog box pops up that says which application do you want to import into, to be able to pick PS. This method used to work under win 98.

The canon site says the twain software won't work on xp. Possibly breezebrowser uses wia. WIA works on xp but is extremely clunky because an extra step is required. XP imports the raw files to the drive. Then the canon raw converter must be used to convert to .tif files. Furthermore the photos can't be rotated before import and must be done in PS.

-David

CSB · Mar 19, 2002

Todd Walker said:
The camera doesn't send a live video feed out the USB port -- only
through the video out port -- so using it as a webcam isn't
possible.

Yes it does! Otherwise you won't be able to use RemoteCapture. But the frane rate is too small.

CSB

Osman Eralp · Mar 19, 2002

wireless said:
Then the canon raw converter must be used to convert to
.tif files. Furthermore the photos can't be rotated before import
and must be done in PS.

-David

If you use BreezeBrowser you can rotate the images before converting. Personally, I don't see any need for Canon's raw converter since BreezeBrowser was created.

Osman

Todd Walker · Mar 20, 2002

CSB said:
CSB said:

The camera doesn't send a live video feed out the USB port -- only
through the video out port -- so using it as a webcam isn't
possible.

Click to expand...

Yes it does! Otherwise you won't be able to use RemoteCapture. But
the frane rate is too small.

CSB

Remote capture grabs a frame when you tell it to. This is NOT a live video feed. If it was, you could have a window in the RM software that shows you what the camera is seeing, which would be great. What RM does is basically taking a picture when you tell it to and sending it out the USB connection rather than writing it to the CF card.

Todd
--Todd Walker http://twalker.d2g.com

bluh · Mar 21, 2002

Seems to me one of the concerns is about image quality due to the odd sharpening artifacts mentioned in the review here at this site. If that were changed (fixed?) I'd be happy. But then if it were also possible to increase exposure time I'd be happier still, since I like astrophotos and other night time scenes. Well, okay, only the astrophoto thing really because the nighttime shots I've seen here demonstrate it does rather well for city lights and such.--Farewell, Bob H.

Teppo Hytönen · Mar 21, 2002

Todd Walker said:
Remote capture grabs a frame when you tell it to. This is NOT a
live video feed. If it was, you could have a window in the RM
software that shows you what the camera is seeing, which would be
great. What RM does is basically taking a picture when you tell it
to and sending it out the USB connection rather than writing it to
the CF card.

Err... I have an S30, and RemoteCapture definitely can and does show what the camera's LCD display normally shows. So it does 'stream' video into the computer and it should be possible to use it directly as a webcam or something.

Leezah · Mar 21, 2002

I have Windows 98 - you mean I can import RAW directly into PS? I thought I had to convert it first! : ) Perhaps you were just referring to JPG. Sorry - confused now.

wireless 2002 said:
eg said:

I installed the W2K TWAIN driver on my XP system. Works fine for me.

I've only used it with Breeze Downloader though. Don't know if it
works under any other circumstances.

Click to expand...

Do you have Photoshop? I'd like to be able to import directly into
PS using the twain software. That is, when the camera is turned
on, the dialog box pops up that says which application do you want
to import into, to be able to pick PS. This method used to work
under win 98.

The canon site says the twain software won't work on xp. Possibly
breezebrowser uses wia. WIA works on xp but is extremely clunky
because an extra step is required. XP imports the raw files to the
drive. Then the canon raw converter must be used to convert to
.tif files. Furthermore the photos can't be rotated before import
and must be done in PS.

-David

CSB · Mar 21, 2002

Teppo Hytönen said:
Teppo Hytönen said:

Remote capture grabs a frame when you tell it to. This is NOT a
live video feed. If it was, you could have a window in the RM
software that shows you what the camera is seeing, which would be
great. What RM does is basically taking a picture when you tell it
to and sending it out the USB connection rather than writing it to
the CF card.

Click to expand...

Err... I have an S30, and RemoteCapture definitely can and does
show what the camera's LCD display normally shows. So it does
'stream' video into the computer and it should be possible to use
it directly as a webcam or something.

Yes, the same with G2. However I was not able to 'attach' any other program, like NetMeeting, to G2

Mickey64564 · Mar 21, 2002

I don't know about using the G2 as a webcam through USB, but if you have a video card with video-in then you could just hook up the A/V cable from the G2 to the video-in on your video card and that should work just fine.

BTW, the old remote capture app from Canon didn't have a "live preview" window but I believe the new one does, and at least the one from Breeze Systems does.

Michael

CSB said:
Teppo Hytönen said:

CSB said:

Remote capture grabs a frame when you tell it to. This is NOT a
live video feed. If it was, you could have a window in the RM
software that shows you what the camera is seeing, which would be
great. What RM does is basically taking a picture when you tell it
to and sending it out the USB connection rather than writing it to
the CF card.

Click to expand...

Err... I have an S30, and RemoteCapture definitely can and does
show what the camera's LCD display normally shows. So it does
'stream' video into the computer and it should be possible to use
it directly as a webcam or something.

Click to expand...

Yes, the same with G2. However I was not able to 'attach' any other
program, like NetMeeting, to G2

wireless · Mar 21, 2002

Leezah said:
I have Windows 98 - you mean I can import RAW directly into PS? I
thought I had to convert it first! : ) Perhaps you were just
referring to JPG. Sorry - confused now.
wireless 2002 wrote:

Yes. more or less. Just plug the camera in and when the dialog box asks what app to send it to, select photoshop. The canon twain software will pop up where the photos are selected, rotated, etc. Next click import and the twain software will convert and put photos into photoshop.

-David

Mickey64564 · Mar 21, 2002

Yes, you can import RAW images into PS through TWAIN acquire but it still gets converted to an uncompressed RGB file (like TIFF) in the process. It just saves the step of converting to TIFF or JPEG first and then opening that file. In Windows 2000 I get a choice of applications to use when I hook up the camera. I normally use BreezeDownloader, but I also have the option to download them right into Photoshop through TWAIN. It'll download the RAW file from the camera into memory then convert it into a usable RGB file for use in Photoshop. It's pretty much the same as using any other downloader/converter applications except you don't have the security of a stored file on your hard drive (until you save it in Photoshop) and I don't like the TWAIN interface as much as BreezeBrowser.

Michael

Leezah said:
I have Windows 98 - you mean I can import RAW directly into PS? I
thought I had to convert it first! : ) Perhaps you were just
referring to JPG. Sorry - confused now.

We want new firmware for G2, do we?

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