Issues with SV305 Pro
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2021 7:18 pm
Hello all. I've been using a DSLR for over a year for some easier planetary and DSO imaging so I'm not a complete newbie. I received an SV305 a few days ago and after spending those days trying to get it to work properly all I've manged to obtain is what I hope is a temporary case of Tourette's syndrome. I realize this is a completely different ball game, but it shouldn't be this hard.
I'm running windows 10 with the latest updates. I've installed the windows driver from the Svbony site, and the 32 bit version of Sharpcap 3.2.6473.
I'm connecting to the camera in the 'Svbony cameras' section of cameras. I'm using a Celestron 5SE with the camera straight into the optical back, no diagonal. Here's what I'm experiencing:
1) Camera locking up: After playing with the settings I can see an image. I can close and reopen the camera, it can run for hours without locking up. If I try and change the colour space or the capture area it will always lock up the camera, whether it's been running for an hour or a minute. Previewing frame count in lower left stops incrementing, but the clock keeps running so the application is not stuck, I can change settings but they have no effect since the camera isn't sending images. If I close the camera and try to reconnect, I get an error saying 'SVB_ ERROR_INVALID_INDEX" from call to camera..ctor (ID=1). If I try and connect to the SV305 in the 'Directshow cameras' section I get an error saying 'This camera does not provide control over resolution and colour space. It cannot be used with this version of SharpCap'. I know I shouldn't use this instance of the camera but that may provide a clue to someone more knowledgeable. If I rescan cameras, the 'Svbony cameras' section and SV305 is gone, but the SV305 in the 'Direct show' section remains. No amount of rescanning or closing and reopening SharpCap will get it to return. The only solution is to unplug and replug the USB cable to the camera. Then rescan and it's back and I can connect to it again. I don't suspect the cable as the laptop plays a notification sound when the USB cable is removed or plugged in. I don't hear that sound when the camera locks up but I do hear it when I remove the USB cable and plug it back in to reset it. So I end up having to unplug and replug the USB cable to change colour space or capture area.
2) Image quality / settings: I'm trying to test the camera during the day, with a Celestron 5SE scope pointing at a house about a mile away. After spending 2 days messing with settings I can tell it's a house, but that's about it. No matter what I do I can't get the color even close to realistic (it's very green), or even get a clear focus. The autoexposure and auto white balance adjust don't seem to help. I've tried changing them manually as well but no joy. Neither does changing gamma, contrast, saturation or sharpness.
Regarding the focus, it will go from really fuzzy, to fuzzy, back to really fuzzy when moving in one direction so I don't think I'm out of focuser travel. I can get a super clear shot of the house with a DSLR.
I have the same color and focus issues when trying to get an image of a streetlight in front of the same house.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.
I'm running windows 10 with the latest updates. I've installed the windows driver from the Svbony site, and the 32 bit version of Sharpcap 3.2.6473.
I'm connecting to the camera in the 'Svbony cameras' section of cameras. I'm using a Celestron 5SE with the camera straight into the optical back, no diagonal. Here's what I'm experiencing:
1) Camera locking up: After playing with the settings I can see an image. I can close and reopen the camera, it can run for hours without locking up. If I try and change the colour space or the capture area it will always lock up the camera, whether it's been running for an hour or a minute. Previewing frame count in lower left stops incrementing, but the clock keeps running so the application is not stuck, I can change settings but they have no effect since the camera isn't sending images. If I close the camera and try to reconnect, I get an error saying 'SVB_ ERROR_INVALID_INDEX" from call to camera..ctor (ID=1). If I try and connect to the SV305 in the 'Directshow cameras' section I get an error saying 'This camera does not provide control over resolution and colour space. It cannot be used with this version of SharpCap'. I know I shouldn't use this instance of the camera but that may provide a clue to someone more knowledgeable. If I rescan cameras, the 'Svbony cameras' section and SV305 is gone, but the SV305 in the 'Direct show' section remains. No amount of rescanning or closing and reopening SharpCap will get it to return. The only solution is to unplug and replug the USB cable to the camera. Then rescan and it's back and I can connect to it again. I don't suspect the cable as the laptop plays a notification sound when the USB cable is removed or plugged in. I don't hear that sound when the camera locks up but I do hear it when I remove the USB cable and plug it back in to reset it. So I end up having to unplug and replug the USB cable to change colour space or capture area.
2) Image quality / settings: I'm trying to test the camera during the day, with a Celestron 5SE scope pointing at a house about a mile away. After spending 2 days messing with settings I can tell it's a house, but that's about it. No matter what I do I can't get the color even close to realistic (it's very green), or even get a clear focus. The autoexposure and auto white balance adjust don't seem to help. I've tried changing them manually as well but no joy. Neither does changing gamma, contrast, saturation or sharpness.
Regarding the focus, it will go from really fuzzy, to fuzzy, back to really fuzzy when moving in one direction so I don't think I'm out of focuser travel. I can get a super clear shot of the house with a DSLR.
I have the same color and focus issues when trying to get an image of a streetlight in front of the same house.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.