p.2 #2 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
I've continued testing - this one taken with a 70-200mm F4: 79mm, F8, 1/30, 11 shots (large version to see details), focus stacked in PS.
I have found that the number of shots jumps from various numbers (7-11) up to double+. When using that large number I've had the process freeze after two shots. After turning the camera off and on, then choosing the number just below that jump it has always worked.
p.2 #3 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
Jim Dockery wrote:
I've continued testing - this one taken with a 70-200mm F4: 79mm, F8, 1/30, 11 shots (large version to see details), focus stacked in PS.
I have found that the number of shots jumps from various numbers (7-11) up to double+. When using that large number I've had the process freeze after two shots. After turning the camera off and on, then choosing the number just below that jump it has always worked.
Yeah, i've had that happen as well. This is probably because the developer is using an A5100 or something similar. It's a current problem with the custom apps in general since there aren't many photographers that are developers as well. Few of these developers hang around forums as well unfortunately.
There is an issue tracker for the FocusBracket app here: http://github.com/obs1dium/FocusBracket/issues
but it also requires one to have a Github-account and again, few photographers are developers.... and around it goes.
p.2 #4 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
tommieh wrote:
Yeah, i've had that happen as well. This is probably because the developer is using an A5100 or something similar. It's a current problem with the custom apps in general since there aren't many photographers that are developers as well.
I have an A6000, A7R and A7RII and plenty of software development experience.... what I don't have unfortunately is any free time. But after the summer wedding season is over I'll be taking a good look at this to see what can be done as it could potentially be huge (watch out for a firmware update from Sony that disables this functionality)!
p.2 #5 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
Matt Grum wrote:
I have an A6000, A7R and A7RII and plenty of software development experience.... what I don't have unfortunately is any free time. But after the summer wedding season is over I'll be taking a good look at this to see what can be done as it could potentially be huge (watch out for a firmware update from Sony that disables this functionality)!
Hence they are aware of it, they could have disabled it (or added more vertifications etc) in the latest firmware but they have actively choosen not to (for now at least).
It's only the 'OpenMemories Tweak' app that actually changes any camera setting though. The rest of the apps are just apps like any other apps; some of them writes to the SD-card (for logs etc) but that's about it. Just like the Sony apps no other apps actively changes any sort of setting and is therefor very harmless (they just use Sony API commands). Worst case scenario is that something hangs but since all apps basically run in a sandboxed environment (as i understand it..) this is sort of a non-issue.
p.2 #6 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
tommieh wrote:
Just like the Sony apps no other apps actively changes any sort of setting and is therefor very harmless (they just use Sony API commands). Worst case scenario is that something hangs but since all apps basically run in a sandboxed environment (as i understand it..) this is sort of a non-issue.
I'm more worried they'll shut it down for financial reasons - they currently sell the Bracket Pro app, if someone comes along and makes a better one, releases it for free and it becomes really popular then they might step in...
p.2 #7 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
Matt Grum wrote:
I'm more worried they'll shut it down for financial reasons - they currently sell the Bracket Pro app, if someone comes along and makes a better one, releases it for free and it becomes really popular then they might step in...
True, but that would be a terrible decision. What they should do is rather open up the appstore for 3rd party apps and thus create an additional revenue stream. It's a "win-win" due to the fact that they, Sony, can take a certain percentage just like Google Play or the Apple Appstore does, it's a win for the end user due to the fact that it opens up the possibility of better and more specific apps.
p.2 #10 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
I couldn't get the download function to work on a PC, not even using Internet Explorer (which I think it's required), but for some reason it worked fine the first time using Safari on Mac OS. I'm curious as to whether anyone has gotten the bootleg store to work with a PC, at all.
p.2 #12 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
I was able to get it installed with a PC. Seemed to take 2 tries.
But it won't work on mine. It focuses and takes the 1st photo then just displays "Focusing" and nothing. I tried settings from 3 to 30 images, all the same.
This is on an A7r2 with f/w 3.2 and I tried a 25mm Batis and the Zony 55/1.8
Also tried with uncompressed RAW, Compressed Raw and jpg only.
p.2 #13 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
mcbroomf wrote:
I was able to get it installed with a PC. Seemed to take 2 tries.
But it won't work on mine. It focuses and takes the 1st photo then just displays "Focusing" and nothing. I tried settings from 3 to 30 images, all the same.
This is on an A7r2 with f/w 3.2 and I tried a 25mm Batis and the Zony 55/1.8
Also tried with uncompressed RAW, Compressed Raw and jpg only.
Make sure you set the camera to manual focus before running the app.
It's curious that the app worked with the CV 10/5.6 MF lens. It let's you chose the minimal and maximum distances and number of shots. However, you need to manually rotate the focusing ring slowly for the software to start shooting the frames. No luck with my three Loxias though.
It worked with my FE 16-35/4 and FE55/1.8 lenses without any glitches. It did not work with my adapted Canon 24-70/2.8L II with the Sigma MC-11 adapter.
p.2 #14 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
Thanks Fred. In fact I noticed that the camera WAS in MF which I thought was the issue, so I switched it to AF. I then found that the APP switches it from AF to MF when you run it, so I ended up trying both by chance. I pulled it off that body. I might load it onto my other one to see if there's a difference. I also forgot to turn off Steady Shot in case that's interfering with it. Did you test it with or without?
p.2 #15 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
mcbroomf wrote:
Thanks Fred. In fact I noticed that the camera WAS in MF which I thought was the issue, so I switched it to AF. I then found that the APP switches it from AF to MF when you run it, so I ended up trying both by chance. I pulled it off that body. I might load it onto my other one to see if there's a difference. I also forgot to turn off Steady Shot in case that's interfering with it. Did you test it with or without?
Mike,
I works all the time with the FE 55/1.8. I tried Steady Shot on/off, compressed/uncompressed, and many other settings and the app always works with this lens.
For me, if you start in AF mode, the app does not work as it does not let you set the distances. I have to set the camera to MF before launching the app.
It's actually very stable and an amazing tool. I only tested on the A7RII though. Thanks for this tip guys!
p.2 #16 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
Nice to see that there is some interest, haven't had time to check the thread since i'm abroad (Mallorca, Spain). I thought of creating a new thread about the custom apps with links to help sections etc but the interest didn't seem that great at the moment.
That the current focus stacking app is quirky/not working with some lens combinations most probably has to do with missing conditions that basically tries command A and if fail command B and if fails... C etc.
The Sony API doesn't got a singular command for takePicture() but rather has a plethora of different ones. In the focus stacking app something along the lines of takeBurstable() is used which might be what is causing some issues with some lenses. I've asked the dev to look into it, but it's hard for him due to the fact that he doesn't own a A7x series camera.
p.2 #17 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
Fred Miranda wrote:
Mike,
I works all the time with the FE 55/1.8. I tried Steady Shot on/off, compressed/uncompressed, and many other settings and the app always works with this lens.
For me, if you start in AF mode, the app does not work as it does not let you set the distances. I have to set the camera to MF before launching the app.
It's actually very stable and an amazing tool. I only tested on the A7RII though. Thanks for this tip guys!
Still no luck. I reinstalled it on 1 body and installed it on a 2nd (both A7r2). I did get it to run twice on the 1st body, once with 3 exposures and after a few fails the 2nd time with 8, but it then seemed to stop working. No joy at all on the 2nd camera.
Both bodies are set up identically but yet the image I get to set the focus positions is way underexposed on one body, and way overexposed on the 2nd. Both are to the point that the App would be unusable, and there's no way to focus magnify in the app to check focus in any case.
I removed it from both bodies but I did think afterwards that I should have done a settings reset on one of them to see if I have some combination of settings that it doesn't like.
p.2 #18 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
tommieh wrote:
True, but that would be a terrible decision. What they should do is rather open up the appstore for 3rd party apps and thus create an additional revenue stream. It's a "win-win" due to the fact that they, Sony, can take a certain percentage just like Google Play or the Apple Appstore does, it's a win for the end user due to the fact that it opens up the possibility of better and more specific apps.
I sure hope you're right, it's just after the "other OS" option on Playstation 3 which Sony disabled with a firmware update I've learned not to take anything for granted!
tommieh wrote:
The Sony API doesn't got a singular command for takePicture() but rather has a plethora of different ones. In the focus stacking app something along the lines of takeBurstable() is used which might be what is causing some issues with some lenses. I've asked the dev to look into it, but it's hard for him due to the fact that he doesn't own a A7x series camera.
I fully intend to dive in and contribute to this project, but it wont be until the start of September at the earliest
p.2 #19 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
Matt Grum wrote:
I fully intend to dive in and contribute to this project, but it wont be until the start of September at the earliest
Sounds great! There's a lot that could be done.
I did a mockup on how a better menu system could look and what features that, in my opinion, would be great to have. Check it out at: http://fiddle.jshell.net/tommiehansen/ugf637s6/show/
...and run it in a modern browser. Use arrow keys to navigate the menu (left/right/up/down). I thought of adding the submenues as well, but yeah... It would probably go faster to just learn JAVA and code it.
p.2 #20 · Why not give Bracket Pro app more options?
tommieh wrote:
Sounds great! There's a lot that could be done.
I did a mockup on how a better menu system could look and what features that, in my opinion, would be great to have. Check it out at: http://fiddle.jshell.net/tommiehansen/ugf637s6/show/
...and run it in a modern browser. Use arrow keys to navigate the menu (left/right/up/down). I thought of adding the submenues as well, but yeah... It would probably go faster to just learn JAVA and code it.
It would be very useful to add exposure bracketing with focus bracketing as you did in the mockup. Let's hope someone picks it up!
