Is there as Raspberry Pi expert in the house ?

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Not yet, Neil ... but heading in that direction

Regrettably [expensively], I am trying to avoid using lots of compression ... although it would probably be O.K. for focusing and ROI location.

For the moment this one is just an aspirational example from the wish-list, but it’s pretty representative of the sort of performance that I want: **LINK**

https://www.lumenera.com/media/wysiwyg/resources/documents/datasheets/microscopy/INFINITY-5-5-Datasheet-1.pdf

The RPi project is basically a money-saving exercise.

MichaelG.

Is this not your answer?

"Simultaneous Live Viewing on Computer and HDMI Monitor
Operate the camera by directly connecting to an HDMI monitor, or connect the camera
to a PC or Mac via USB 3 for image preview and capture. Use the soft-touch response
buttons to control the camera with or without connection to a computer."

You can use your TV as a huge screen in real time, and still capture using USB2 (USB3 is backwards compatible with USB2).

You should look at Astro cameras...

You can get a lot more bang for your buck... this one is £685, for example,

IMX294 Sensor

23.2mm diagona,l approximately 11.7 megapixels.

Back illuminated highly sensitive 4.63μm pixels.

The 'IMX294CJK' is the first image sensor for astronomy cameras to adopt the 4/3 format and achieves the number of pixels required for 4K at 120 frame/s (in ADC 10-bit output mode, ASI294MC can run up to 25fps at 4k format base on USB3.0 bandwidth). In addition, the large-size pixels achieve SNR1s of 0.14 lx*, which is very close to ZWO's ASI224 (0.13 lx*).

All ZWO cameras include a 2-year warranty.

www.firstlightoptics.com/zwo-cameras/zwo-asi-294mc-usb-30-colour-camera.html

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Thanks for your continued interest, Neil ... You are an excellent advocate for Astro cameras.

The fact is : I currently use either a Micro 4/3 camera or a 5MP Toupcam USB2 [which has a physically much smaller sensor] ... Both are effective for making ‘pretty pictures’ but I would like a dedicated Microscope Camera that is suitable for doing more analytical work, on both stills and video. [compression artefacts can be very troublesome in microscope imaging]

This proposed USB3 ‘adapter’ is my inexpensive toe-in-the-water, to help me understand what might be achievable.

MichaelG.

Just an aside [but this seems a good place to post it] :

I was surprised to see that a 3Amp power supply is specified for the RPi 4 and it uses a tiny USB-C connector to deliver that current

That led me to find this useful reference: **LINK**

https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/introduction-to-usb-type-c-which-pins-power-delivery-data-transfer/

MichaelG.

Given the modern propensity for pulling the plug at the device, rather than the power source, I'm rather surprised too.

Surely the Toupcam generates uncompressed video? My three astro cams do including a Toupcam Astro (1.2MP). Compression is fatal, rather than troublesome, for most astro work.

Make sure you don't use the Directshow driver but use the manufacturer's driver which allows better control.

My main camera is an ASI1600

• 4/3" 16 Megapixels CMOS Sensor
• 256MB DDR3 Memory Buffer
• Regulated two-stage Tec-Cooling: 40-45 degree below ambient temperature
• Very low read noise - 1.2e @30db gain
• 12Bit ADC - provides real 12bit dynamic range
• Electronic shutter - no issues with vibrations sometimes found in mechanical shutters
• USB3.0 Port (back compatible with USB2.0) - 14.7fps@4656x3520 124.5fps@320X240
• AR coated protective window - all light can pass
• Compatible with Windows / Mac OS / Linux

USB 3 is very nice, the 15fps @16MP is plenty for real time focusing etc. I look forward to using it for planetary at high frame rates.

What is interesting is that Apple are wingeing that changing to USB-C will 'stifle innovation' even though USB-C has the same insert any way advantages as their own connector, more dedicated data lines and even two bespoke lines they can use in any way they wish (so they can use it with their existing tech...)

Apple may have whinged ... but the latest iPad Pros use USB-C

MichaelG.

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... at less than three frames per second ... which is why I am looking at USB3

MichaelG.

The ZWO cameras do look very impressive, Neil

... one has to wonder why they are not pitching for the Microscopy market.

Biggest failing [for microscopy] that I can see so far is the rolling shutter

... if I can justify a new dedicated camera, I would want a global shutter.

MichaelG.

True. Astronomy targets are static (at least static enough that a rolling shutter is fine).

For reliability set the Pi up to boot and run from an ssd drive. Improves the performance and reliability of the Pi.

SD cards do not survive well the amount and will fail early. From the Pi 3 you can boot directly to the SSD drive.

Peter

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Thanks for that, Peter ... Duly noted

MichaelG.

Currently a Pi 4 can't be booted off a usb based drive, earlier models can, you would need some files on the micro sd card but not the full system - ref: Tom's hardware

Regards

Roger

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Thanks for that revelation, Roger

I am just in the process of assembling the Pi 4 with a 32GB micro SD in the slot ... but can probably consider swapping it for a smaller one and using external SSD for storage.

MichaelG.

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P.S. for general info. ... This box seems to fit nicely, and it’s ventilated

**LINK**

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/raspberry-pi-cases/1873798/

Update:

Not going well, so far ... I have the problem discussed here: **LINK**

https://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/questions/19354/raspberry-pi-with-boots-up-with-rainbow-screen

MichaelG.

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P.S. ... I have an error message on the TV screen

Broadcom, Videocore, Unknown Info : 13

... and re-seating the card has made no difference.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 11/02/2020 14:35:34

All I can suggest is re-burning the NOOBS image onto your card - sometimes things just go wrong (don't ask me how I know ).

I suspect you already followed the tutorial, but here's a link anyway.

Good luck!

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Thanks ... I have tried [shall we say] ‘several’ times this afternoon, to no avail.

Every one’s the same ... and it renames the card as RECOVERY, and reduces its apparent capacity [so the card has to be re-formatted]

I have now given-up on NOOBS and am trying a direct install of the Raspbian Buster image

... Need to eat now, so I will be back anon

MichaelG.

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https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/

https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/installation/installing-images/README.md

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 11/02/2020 19:28:02

" it renames the card as RECOVERY, and reduces its apparent capacity [so the card has to be re-formatted] "

That doesn't sound at all right - but I would reformat on every attempt in any case. Looking at your link re the EEPROM needing re-flashing.. well, in for a penny as they say, you might as well give it a go.

And just to be sure - you are formatting as FAT32, aren't you? Apologies if it sounds like one of those grandmother and eggs scenarios.

Unfortunately I don't have any experience of using a Mac for any of this, but willing to be a sounding board for you. Quite often just telling somebody else about an issue prompts a lightbulb moment in your own mind.

EDIT - having thought about it a little longer, I don't think the EEPROM is the issue, unless the test they describe also shows it to be faulty. I don't think you'd get as far as the rainbow screen if it was.

Edited By Grindstone Cowboy on 11/02/2020 20:36:32

Many thanks for the moral support

Progress has been seen to be made !!

I downloaded Raspbian Buster Lite and used balenaEtcher to Flash the image to the card ... it works, so there can’t be anything fundamentally wrong with the hardware, the eeprom , or what I am doing.

Now trying to put something other than Lite onto it without wrecking everything.

MichaelG.

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Note: I was considering re-flashing that bootloader, but the green light was flashing O.K. so I left well alone.