[carabez]

First SDKs designed for use with PENTAX-brand digital SLR cameras

I's saw a video and was impressed with the "Focus Stacking" feature from the Nikon D850

Youtu.be

Youtu.be

I think that, if the SDK gives the control over the sensor position and control the focus of the lens, we can make a Focus Stacking and, even better, a Macro-Focus Stacking.

Let's play with the SDK.

[sbh]

I's saw a video and was impressed with the "Focus Stacking" feature from the Nikon D850

Focus Stacking

I think that, if the SDK gives the control over the sensor position and control the focus of the lens, we can make a Focus Stacking and, even better, a Macro-Focus Stacking.

Let's play with the SDK.

Recently I did a tethered focus stack with IT2 and wished this feature would have been available. Focus can be controlled from the software, but there is no automated process to trigger and move the focus x times in a row.

[carabez]

Focus can be controlled from the software, but there is no automated process to trigger and move the focus x times in a row.

That's is the magic of Software Developer Kit: you can build your own application or "software" that will automate "any" process your imagination + features available by de SDK can give. That's why We're so happy

In the past, I'd used several SDK in my work as software programmer: Fingerprint engine to Identify users, fast jpg's Image processing for surveillance still images mimic video, RF id for mass item identification, barcode printer, interface to ERPs, etc. You'd got the idea.

By now, I'd no time to check the Ricoh SDK's avaliables functions + I DO NOT have a compatible camera, but by studing the SDK I can have an overall idea of the SDK potencial.

I'd found today, and I hope, this weekend, I'll have time to overview the SDK

[carabez]

process to trigger and move the focus x times in a row

In the C++ SDK there is a function to "focus" in a point before capturing the image



KP 27 focus points


K1 33 focus points

So Focus Stacking is limited by the camera's focus points: 27 in KP and 33 in K1. We can select the Diagonal, Vertical or Horizontal contiguos Focus points to make a serie of "focus on x point & capture"

Interesting.

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Last edited by carabez; 09-13-2018 at 08:20 AM. Reason: Insert K1 Focus point

[SirTomster]

In the C++ SDK there is a function to "focus" in a point before capturing the image



KP 27 focus points


K1 33 focus points

So Focus Stacking is limited by the camera's focus points: 27 in KP and 33 in K1. We can select the Diagonal, Vertical or Horizontal contiguos Focus points to make a serie of "focus on x point & capture"

Interesting.

Is this going to be useful with the focus points all near the center? If I was doing a landscape focus stack. I would likely focus once near the bottom, once near the middle (center) and once near the top.

But with the small area that we have focus points I can only see focusing on the center. Even if I selected the top and bottom focus point, I feel they are to close to the center to be a true focus stack.

I would want to focus stack at these 3 points. the 3 red X's below

[carabez]

I would want to focus stack at these 3 points. the 3 red X's below

virtual Response focus (const Point &point)=0
Performs auto focus at specified focus point

&point = x, y structure

It seems that you can focus any &point (x,y)... I wonder if that point is a x,y coordinate to any part of the sensor or just is the reference to a static focus point?

I'd assume that the &point references to a camera's focus point, wich make me sense as the SDK is a way to do, via software, what a human can do via the camera controls.

If the &point can be any X,Y location of the sensor... well... Wow!

Camera Controller Class Reference



camera setting

If you want to obtain a LiveViewImage object from the acquired LiveViewSpecification, use the get method of LiveViewSpecificationValue, which stores the actual value in the LiveViewSpecification object.

LiveViewImage object has height and width size of the live view image and the range where focus position can be specified on the live view image. focusArea represents the upper left corner of the live view image as (0.0, 0.0), the upper right as (1.0, 0.0), the lower left as (0.0, 1.0), and the lower right as (1.0, 1.0). The inside of the area represented by each point included in focusArea is the position specifiable range.

This information is used by Focus with Specified Position.

[sbh]

In the C++ SDK there is a function to "focus" in a point before capturing the image



KP 27 focus points


K1 33 focus points

So Focus Stacking is limited by the camera's focus points: 27 in KP and 33 in K1. We can select the Diagonal, Vertical or Horizontal contiguos Focus points to make a serie of "focus on x point & capture"

Interesting.

Interesting. I may add that I am not a programmer unfortunately. However, for focus stacking, autofocus might be not the best way to go. Ideally the focus can be moved back and forth in increments of xyz. Example how I do it:

Step 1: User focusses on the front most focus point and takes a picture.
Step 2: User moves the focus a tiny bit forward and takes a picture.
Step 3: Repeat Step 2 until the last focus point at the back of the subject.

The screenshot shows the buttons for moving the focus forwad or backwards. One tiny increment per click. The arrows show where I needed the focussing points. These are about 30 clicks apart each.

virtual Response focus (const Point &point)=0
Performs auto focus at specified focus point

&point = x, y structure

It seems that you can focus any &point (x,y)... I wonder if that point is a x,y coordinate to any part of the sensor or just is the reference to a static focus point?

I'd assume that the &point references to a camera's focus point, wich make me sense as the SDK is a way to do, via software, what a human can do via the camera controls.

If the &point can be any X,Y location of the sensor... well... Wow!

Camera Controller Class Reference



camera setting

Putting it anywhere on the screen would be nice. In Live View the focus point can move almost anyhwere on the screen except the far edges. In the screen shot the focus point is as far left as the software allows (the square)

Attached Images

 

[carabez]

Putting it anywhere on the screen would be nice. In Live View the focus point can move almost anyhwere on the screen except the far edges.

In fact, that is what the &point parameter in focus(&point) function is intended for: to put the focus anywhere on the screen. I WAS confusing that &point with the Camera's "Focus points".

Here is how the x,y position must be compute:

Quote:
If you want to obtain a LiveViewImage object from the acquired LiveViewSpecification, use the get method of LiveViewSpecificationValue, which stores the actual value in the LiveViewSpecification object.

LiveViewImage object has height and width size of the live view image and the range where focus position can be specified on the live view image. focusArea represents the upper left corner of the live view image as (0.0, 0.0), the upper right as (1.0, 0.0), the lower left as (0.0, 1.0), and the lower right as (1.0, 1.0). The inside of the area represented by each point included in focusArea is the position specifiable range.

This information is used by Focus with Specified Position.

[CPLTarun]

Any news or documentation on Pentax programs in development using the SDKs?

[carabez]

Pentax programs in development using the SDKs?

I have not a Ricoh SDK's compatible camera, but this new SDK opened my eyes to a deep research... so I'd looked at the open source option: PkTriggerCord and Melda.info

As a matter of wish, I'm interested in building a Windows Library or DLL to be used in C++ with this scope in mind: To Mimic the Ricoh C++ SDK functions and parameters so any software developed will be compatible with both the Ricoh's SDK Library or the PKCord Library but allowing a wide range of compatible cameras. So if you want to use a new Camera device you can use to the Ricoh's SDK or by switching to the PKCord Library you will be able to interface the old Cameras.

[angerdan]

this new SDK opened my eyes to a deep research

You just have to look at this table:
Keep the overview on the increasing tethering options for Pentax cameras - PentaxForums.com

[carabez]

You just have to look at this table:
Keep the overview on the increasing tethering options for Pentax cameras - PentaxForums.com

Wow! that's great. Thank You!

[repaap]

Little update about that Dragonframe program. They have now 4.1.4 version, which includes, Pentax KP, K-1, K1II and 645 Z. So you have full controll of your camera with this program, and these released SDKS made it possible.

[angerdan]

Little update about that Dragonframe program. They have now 4.1.4 version, which includes, Pentax KP, K-1, K1II and 645 Z. So you have full controll of your camera with this program, and these released SDKS made it possible.

Pentax K-1 Setup Instructions for Dragonframe
Camera Support - Dragonframe

Very nice!

[Mikesul]

Interesting to see this company supporting Pentax. Has anyone used the software enough to see how well it does things like timelapse?