QCfocus

When the program is launched, it asks which video capture driver you wish to use.

    The proper driver must be selected from the list, and for certain cameras it is also essential to select appropriate options using the “Camera Options” button.

Frame Decompression Method: Users are urged to conduct tests or change this parameter only in the event of problems in reading an image. Not all options are available in every case.

Vesta-SC: Check this box if you use a Vesta SC connected to a parallel port. Indicate the parallel port used, as well as the hexadecimal values to use to mark the beginning and the end of the exposure sequence (00 and 01 for the standard modification).
With Windows 2000/XP you must copy the file porttalk.sys to the folder C:\windows\system32\drivers to gain access to the parallel port. Then start the program normally, you must no longer use allowio.exe with this version.
If you not have administrator privileges you must also install porttalk.reg as describe in porttalk.pdf, section "Starting and installing the driver".
Checking debug file records the arrival time of each frame during a long exposure sequence, and helps solve problems that may be encountered in reading image. Be careful not to activate it under normal conditions.
End exposure delay: the time that the program pauses at the end of the exposure
Frame rate: the time in milliseconds between two frames.
Normally, the image is saved at the end of exposure given any small value (50 to 100) for the two above parameters (end exposure delay, frame rate).

Camera in RAW color mode: Use this setting with a color ccd in raw mode. The preview, focusing and recording of reformated images will be in color. But the recording of standard images and video is in RAW format to speedup the recording and let you to use more sofisticated sotware afterward.
Tips: If you really want to always record a color image use the Reformat option but specify a size equivalent to the original one.
Mode : The color order in the Bayer matrix. In case of doubt do a daytime recording on a very colored subject.

Each camera model requires its own set of options. It is therefore recommended that if you are using several different camera models, copy the program to separate folders and create a shortcut for each copy. This way, known-good settings are saved for each camera model.

Most functions are available from the menu, the toolbars, a right mouse click, or keyboard shortcuts (the letter underlined in the menus). They are described here in the order in which the buttons appear on the screen.

It is necessary to always keep the image visible without these, one is likely to lose the image.

The display window can be resized to fill the screen by means of the Display menu, or by double clicking on the image.

Activation of the image preview and choice of preview image size must be done by resizing the window.

The refresh rate is in frames per second for normal cameras or in seconds for the Vesta SC. With the Vesta SC, an exposure time from 5 to 10 seconds is useful for centering objects before image capture.

Exposure: Clicking on the Exposure button calls up the camera driver’s video source menu. This is generally used to set exposure time.

Format: This calls up the camera driver’s video format menu, enabling changes of image format or pixel depth.

These two menus are dependent on your specific camera model; you will find more information in the documentation provided by your camera manufacturer.

Camera options: Open this menu to configure your camera connection.

Focus: Open this window for focusing. The principle is to measure full width at half maximum (FWHM) and intensity of a star image by modelling it as a Gaussian distribution. See this page for more details on the method used.

Reformat: Allows carrying out certain image processing steps before recording as either AVI video or BMP images:

Direct Video: This box must be unchecked to reach the remaining options, unless the video recording is to be made directly by the driver, which is generally faster.

Add capture time (UT): Insert in the images the date and time of each image. For long exposures, this is the time of mid-exposure. Click on the round button to change text color.

Clipping: Cuts out a portion of the center of the image; only this window will be recorded.

Binning: Allows collecting pixels in groups of four (2x2) to decrease image resolution. Often the Video Format menu of the camera driver permits choosing a lower resolution, which is more effective than this option.

Images menu: Permits recording a sequence of images in BMP format. Indicate a generic name for the images; sequential frame numbers are automatically incremented to avoid overwriting existing files.

Start: Start image capture. The button changes to Stop to permit interrupting the sequence.

Param: Modify image capture parameters.

Indicates the number of images in the sequence, as well as the directory where they will be stored.

All other options refer only to the Vesta SC.

When this mode is selected, the video functions is deactivated. It is necessary to set the camera driver to 5 frames per second (it is possible to view 1 frame/sec).

Exposure time in seconds for each image.

This permits recording a video in AVI format. Type in the generic file name; the sequence number is automatically incremented to avoid overwriting existing files.

Video: Start image capture. The button changes to Stop to permit interrupting the sequence.

Param: Modifies image storage parameters.

Audio: Normally, to produce the smallest possible files, this should not be checked. However, it can be useful in recording time signals.

Frame rate: Number of images per second. Note: with Vesta cameras (and perhaps others), this must be set to the same value as used in the camera driver.

Milliseconds per frame: Essentially the same as frame rate but permits values in excess of one second, for example set to 10000 for an image every ten seconds (if permitted by the camera driver).

Capture time of the video sequence, in seconds.

Index size: permits forcing the size of an AVI file index. If set to zero, size is calculated according to the duration of recording and the frame rate.

Video directory: Directory in which AVI file is to be saved.

Known problems:

• B/W QuickCam are no longuer supported. Use the last version 0.91 with this camera.