Suggestions on cameras with Software (via USB) controllabl..

External Since: Jun 13, 2007 Posts: 6

I need to take snapshots at software controlled precision focal
planes where image
is not necessarily always in focus.
Is there a digital camera out there that would allow me to set the
focus
from my software (via camera's usb port and remote control software)?
I looked at
Canon EOS 30D for example and don't see any discussion in the
documentation
to allow for this? Any suggestions on camera possibilities would be
very helpful.

Thanks
Ben

External Since: Jun 13, 2007 Posts: 6

Thanks Chris,

Unfortunately the option of putting targets at various distances
and using Auto-focus is not practical for me as I need
a large number of focus planes.

I am really hoping there is a camera out there that allows for
software controlled focusing distance. I am aware of Canon's
SDK for the EOS 30D, but again I have not seen any
reference that would mention focusing arbitrarily to a given
plane. I don't necessarily need to know the focusing plane
distance, that I can calibrate for if there is a linear continum I
can set the focus from software.

Ben

On Jun 13, 5:03 am, "dennis@home" <den... DeleteThis @killspam.kicks-ass.net>
wrote:
> "Chris Gilbert" <christopher.DELETEgilb... DeleteThis @virgin.net> wrote in message
>
> news:09Pbi.1221$O%6.555@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net...
>
> > curious314... DeleteThis @yahoo.com wrote
>
> > You would probably need access to Canon developer
> > kit. I'm sure this uses it ....
>
> >http://www.breezesys.com/DSLRRemotePro/index.htm
>
> It says you can't control the focus with that software.
>
> If its like Olympus studio you can either set autofocus or manual focus but
> you can't set the actual focus distance.
> Its probably because many modern lenses don't have manual focus so there is
> no need to accurately calibrate the focusing as the AF just zips along until
> its focused.. no feedback of the actual focus distance is needed. The camera
> may approximate the focus just to put the info in the exif.
>
> If it doesn't it may be possible to put some targets at different distances
> so you can focus on them by selecting which focus area is being used.
> Pop some string and a hinge on the target and you can pull the string,
> autofocus and then drop the target and snap away on manual.
> Very fiddly but it depends on what you are doing.