Helicon Remote and Canon 40D

[vesna]

I am currently evaluating your products to see if they are able to meet my personal photography needs.

I have no problems working with Focus, however I do have some major difficulties with Remote. I have a Canon 40D camera. I have not found any information on your site that you support this model.

Problem 1
When I launch the Remote application, it is able to detect the camera and lens. However, it does have problems in focusing the lens. When I press the >> or << icons or the AF Calibrator button, I get the following message:

The lens in the manual focusing mode. Please switch to auto-focus mode to use focus bracketing.

My lens is already in auto-focus mode when I get this message. When the lens is in manual mode, I get the same message.

Problem 2
When I press the Auto Focus button, I get a message:

The camera does not support remote phase detect focusing in Live View Mode.

Can you tell me what is the problem.

Question
s it possible to install Remote on a notebook and have Focus installed on a separate work station. I have no use for Remote on my workstation as all my work will be done with the notebook in the field. What I am looking for is one license for your product on two different machines.

Hope to hear from you soon!

[Stas Yatsenko]

We have not tested 40D and cannot tell for sure if it is fully supported. Canon SDK says that many functions are added starting from 50D which means that your camera may not properly support newest functions like focusing. You can install Helicon Focus and Helicon Remote on your two computers, the license allows this.

[vesna]

My question now is - will you be including the 40D as part of the cameras your Remote software will be supporting in the near future?

[Stas Yatsenko]

Sorry, support of 40D is defined by Canon SDK. Theoretically 40D should be able to do remote focusing but we have no camera to test. Please make some focusing steps with ">>" button and send us log file from Preferences\Tools\Log of the current session.

[vesna]

Here are the attached files for you to review. Tried to attach files, did not want to work. Get message "The extension log is not allowed"

HeliconRemote.log

04459.816 Version of library remoteControl: 1.0.7(01.04.2010) 0x0000007b
00000.098 Version of library remoteControl: event=0x0000007b
00000.076 OS Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (build2600)
00000.046 Start 27.04.2010 22:55:35
00000.040 CSdkBase: creating
00000.037 CSdkBase: create all SDK, begin
00000.040 CCanonSdk: creating session
00119.413 CCanonSdk: created
00000.067 CNikonSdk: creating
00000.037 CNikonSdk: findModule, begin
00000.037 CNikonSdk: findModule, end, (D200_Mod.md3)
00000.035 CNikonSdk: loadModule, begin
00087.368 CNikonSdk: findModule, end
00000.122 CNikonSdk: openModule, begin
00097.390 CNikonSdk: openModule, end
00000.058 CNikonSdk: created
00000.037 CNikonSdk: creating
00000.028 CNikonSdk: findModule, begin
00000.030 CNikonSdk: findModule, end, (Type0001.md3)
00000.027 CNikonSdk: loadModule, begin
00092.935 CNikonSdk: findModule, end
00000.055 CNikonSdk: openModule, begin
00060.351 CNikonSdk: openModule, end
00000.064 CNikonSdk: created
00000.037 CNikonSdk: creating
00000.028 CNikonSdk: findModule, begin
00000.030 CNikonSdk: findModule, end, (Type0002.md3)
00000.028 CNikonSdk: loadModule, begin
00079.678 CNikonSdk: findModule, end
00000.053 CNikonSdk: openModule, begin
00108.799 CNikonSdk: openModule, end
00000.061 CNikonSdk: created
00000.037 CNikonSdk: creating
00000.028 CNikonSdk: findModule, begin
00000.058 CNikonSdk: findModule, end, (D40_Mod.md3)
00000.028 CNikonSdk: loadModule, begin
00063.835 CNikonSdk: findModule, end
00000.053 CNikonSdk: openModule, begin
00042.901 CNikonSdk: openModule, end
00000.060 CNikonSdk: created
00000.042 CNikonSdk: creating
00000.028 CNikonSdk: findModule, begin
00000.029 CNikonSdk: findModule, end, (D80_Mod.md3)
00000.026 CNikonSdk: loadModule, begin
00105.755 CNikonSdk: findModule, end
00000.053 CNikonSdk: openModule, begin
00034.938 CNikonSdk: openModule, end
00000.060 CNikonSdk: created
00000.035 CNikonSdk: creating
00000.027 CNikonSdk: findModule, begin
00000.029 CNikonSdk: findModule, end, (Type0003.md3)
00000.106 CNikonSdk: loadModule, begin
00105.156 CNikonSdk: findModule, end
00000.054 CNikonSdk: openModule, begin
00034.706 CNikonSdk: openModule, end
00000.056 CNikonSdk: created
00000.032 CSdkBase: create all SDK, end
00000.026 CSdkBase: created


HeliconRemote_Pre.log

03922.321 Version of library remoteControl: 1.0.7(01.04.2010) 0x0000007b
00000.086 Version of library remoteControl: event=0x0000007b
00000.078 OS Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (build2600)
00000.047 Start 24.04.2010 23:51:06
00000.040 CSdkBase: creating
00000.035 CSdkBase: create all SDK, begin
00000.040 CCanonSdk: creating session
00076.393 CCanonSdk: created
00000.069 CNikonSdk: creating
00000.044 CNikonSdk: findModule, begin
00000.037 CNikonSdk: findModule, end, (D200_Mod.md3)
00000.034 CNikonSdk: loadModule, begin
00056.146 CNikonSdk: findModule, end
00000.141 CNikonSdk: openModule, begin
00068.876 CNikonSdk: openModule, end
00000.057 CNikonSdk: created
00000.036 CNikonSdk: creating
00000.028 CNikonSdk: findModule, begin
00000.030 CNikonSdk: findModule, end, (Type0001.md3)
00000.026 CNikonSdk: loadModule, begin
00055.256 CNikonSdk: findModule, end
00000.054 CNikonSdk: openModule, begin
00029.509 CNikonSdk: openModule, end
00000.064 CNikonSdk: created
00000.037 CNikonSdk: creating
00000.027 CNikonSdk: findModule, begin
00000.030 CNikonSdk: findModule, end, (Type0002.md3)
00000.027 CNikonSdk: loadModule, begin
00045.686 CNikonSdk: findModule, end
00000.052 CNikonSdk: openModule, begin
00038.291 CNikonSdk: openModule, end
00000.063 CNikonSdk: created
00000.037 CNikonSdk: creating
00000.028 CNikonSdk: findModule, begin
00000.030 CNikonSdk: findModule, end, (D40_Mod.md3)
00000.027 CNikonSdk: loadModule, begin
00037.358 CNikonSdk: findModule, end
00000.056 CNikonSdk: openModule, begin
00047.749 CNikonSdk: openModule, end
00000.061 CNikonSdk: created
00000.037 CNikonSdk: creating
00000.029 CNikonSdk: findModule, begin
00000.029 CNikonSdk: findModule, end, (D80_Mod.md3)
00000.027 CNikonSdk: loadModule, begin
00049.891 CNikonSdk: findModule, end
00000.055 CNikonSdk: openModule, begin
00048.837 CNikonSdk: openModule, end
00000.063 CNikonSdk: created
00000.043 CNikonSdk: creating
00000.029 CNikonSdk: findModule, begin
00000.030 CNikonSdk: findModule, end, (Type0003.md3)
00000.027 CNikonSdk: loadModule, begin
00039.682 CNikonSdk: findModule, end
00000.053 CNikonSdk: openModule, begin
00116.469 CNikonSdk: openModule, end
00000.060 CNikonSdk: created
00000.032 CSdkBase: create all SDK, end
00000.026 CSdkBase: created
99818.508 CSdkBase: destroying
00000.070 CSdkBase: stopSession, begin
00000.031 CSdkBase: stopSession FAILED: session was not started
00000.023 CSdkBase: remove all cameras, begin
00000.031 CSdkBase: remove all cameras, end
00000.023 CSdkBase: destroy all SDK, begin
00000.023 CCanonSdk: destroying
00000.703 CCanonSdk: destroyed
00000.063 CNikonSdk: destroying
00001.164 CNikonSdk: unloadModule, begin
00000.180 CNikonSdk: unloadModule, end
00000.031 CNikonSdk: destroyed
00000.039 CNikonSdk: destroying
00000.477 CNikonSdk: unloadModule, begin
00000.164 CNikonSdk: unloadModule, end
00000.031 CNikonSdk: destroyed
00000.031 CNikonSdk: destroying
00000.453 CNikonSdk: unloadModule, begin
00000.156 CNikonSdk: unloadModule, end
00000.031 CNikonSdk: destroyed
00000.031 CNikonSdk: destroying
00000.438 CNikonSdk: unloadModule, begin
00000.148 CNikonSdk: unloadModule, end
00000.031 CNikonSdk: destroyed
00000.031 CNikonSdk: destroying
00000.430 CNikonSdk: unloadModule, begin
00000.141 CNikonSdk: unloadModule, end
00000.031 CNikonSdk: destroyed
00000.039 CNikonSdk: destroying
00000.633 CNikonSdk: unloadModule, begin
00000.148 CNikonSdk: unloadModule, end
00000.031 CNikonSdk: destroyed
00000.039 CSdkBase: destroy all SDK, end
00000.023 CSdkBase: destroyed

HeliconRemote.ini
[Trace]
Last=2
[Settings]
DetectFocus=1
DOFPreview=1
Histo=2
[Form]
rpSettingsCamera=0
rpHistogram=0
rpFocus=0
rpSeriesFoto=0
rpStack=0
rpAdvancedSettings=1
rpExposureBracketing=0
[FormSize]
Top=-4
Left=-4
Height=746
Width=1032
Maximized=1
[SeriesFoto]
speCountPic=2
speCountSteps=1
cmbSizeStep=0
[ExposureBracketing]
NumberOfShots=0
FirstImageEv=-1
LastImageEv=-1
FirstImage=1
LastImage=5.96578428466209
[HelpPanel]
Visible=1
Height=200
[Buttons]
Preview=1
[Style]
Language=english
Color=0
[File]
Path=C:\Documents and Settings\User\My Documents\My Pictures
[Pause]
Flash=0
Focus_ms=4
FastPreview=2
AF=4
[LiveView]
Type=2
[PreviewRotation]
Item=1
[BgColor]
Item=0
[Focus]
SizeStep=1
[Foto]
AutoCreateNewStack=0
DownloadImage_new=0
MirrorLockUp=1
[Canon]
MirrorLockUpSet=1
DelayMLU=1
[StackName]
Count=3
Value0=[year4].[month].[day]_[counter]
Value1=[year2].[month].[day]_[counter]
Value2=#[counter]
[ImageName]
Count=2
Value0=img_
Value1=[folder name]_
[FocusM1]
Set=1
Shift=0
Alt=0
Ctrl=0
Key=37
[FocusM2]
Set=1
Shift=0
Alt=0
Ctrl=1
Key=37
[FocusM3]
Set=1
Shift=0
Alt=1
Ctrl=0
Key=37
[FocusP1]
Set=1
Shift=0
Alt=0
Ctrl=0
Key=39
[FocusP2]
Set=1
Shift=0
Alt=0
Ctrl=1
Key=39
[FocusP3]
Set=1
Shift=0
Alt=1
Ctrl=0
Key=39
[TakePicture]
Set=1
Shift=0
Alt=0
Ctrl=0
Key=84
[Preview]
Set=1
Shift=0
Alt=0
Ctrl=0
Key=80
[FastPreview]
Set=1
Shift=0
Alt=0
Ctrl=0
Key=81
[StartShooting]
Set=1
Shift=0
Alt=0
Ctrl=0
Key=83
[GoToNear]
Set=1
Shift=0
Alt=0
Ctrl=0
Key=78
[SaveNear]
Set=1
Shift=0
Alt=0
Ctrl=1
Key=78
[GoToFar]
Set=1
Shift=0
Alt=0
Ctrl=0
Key=70
[SaveFar]
Set=1
Shift=0
Alt=0
Ctrl=1
Key=70
[TimeBr]
FormLeft=228
FormTop=198
All=7
TimeLapse=3
NumberShots=3
StartAfter=1
FocusBr=0
ExpBr=0
[CorrFactor]
Value=1

[Stas Yatsenko]

Thanks for the log. It looks like the program does not even detect the camera. Have you ever been eable you see Live View image from your camera in Helicon Remote? Does it work in Canon Utility?

[vesna]

The program is able to detect the camera. I can also see my subject in Live View. In addition, the top display on my camera says Busy when I am using Remote.

I am not sure what Canon Utility is.

[Stas Yatsenko]

This is strange because the log says that the camera was not found.

Please make the following test:

1. Connect the camera
2. Run Helicon Remote, make sure the camera is found and you see Live View image in Helicon Remote.
3. Make several steps with ">>" button.
4. Open Preferences\Tools\Log of the current session, copy the whole log (Ctrl-A, Ctrl-C)
5. Send us the log.

As the forum does not allow to attach log files, please send it to support@heliconsoft.com

A printscreen of the Helicon Remote would also help. I suspect that the camera may be in some special state.

[geofft]

I downloaded and installed the latest version of Helicon Focus 5.1.2 but had the same problems with my Canon 40D. I know this model was the prefered camera sold with the Visionaty Digital system for a while. So I am sure there are plenty of other users with this camera. It worked fine with Helicon Remote in the old version 5.0.5 and I have now reinstalled that version and it is working fine again. So it is definitely a problem with the new software and nothing to do with the connection to the camera.
Geoff

[Stas Yatsenko]

Geoff,

Thanks for this info! We will try to locate the bug. We included new SDK and make some internal changes. I would appreciate if you help us to find this bug. I will contact you via private message or email.

[geofft]

Thanks I look forward to hearing from you.
Geoff

[geofft]

I now cannot get the focus to move at all using the computer in either program.
Have not heard from you via direct email either.
Geoff

[geofft]

I have now got some control back but it won't go to the final marked focal depth, leaving the tail of the fly out of focus. I tried taking a few extra shots and inserting them manually but that stuffed up the resulting image.
Then I tried again, set the starting focal point and zoomed down to the bottom one. Then everything went haywire and the lens just kept going way beyond where I wanted to be. I couldn't get it to come back. I've wasted most of the morning without a single photo to show for it. Not happy!
Geoff

[Stas Yatsenko]

We are now testing some workarounds for this problem, so I can only ask you for patience. We will contact you as soon as we have new version to test. I appreciate your feedback very much.

[geofft]

I never heard from you. I have ignored prompts to upgrade to version 5.1.9. Is this now safe for Canon 40D?