Focus setting of Lifecam HD3000

[Marius Liebenberg]

Hi
I am rather new to OpenPnP. I have just started my machine build and I am busy getting to know the software.
I purchased two Microsoft Lifecam HD3000 cameras. There was no CD with the packaging so I dont have any means of talking to the camera.
I found that the focus setting are not enabled when I create a new camera under Camera Specific Settings.

Is there a way to enable that so that I can set focus manually please?

[Jason von Nieda]

Hi Marius,

The Internet leads me to believe that that is a fixed focus camera, so the focus is not adjustable from software. See https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/apps_windows_10-camera/microsoft-lifecam-hd3000-focus-not-working-on/7c2c7958-c327-4699-b849-508df0cd090e?auth=1.

Jason

On Thu, Oct 12, 2017 at 8:20 AM Marius Liebenberg <mdlca...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Cri S]

I have that camera and it is fixed focus.
For using it as macro camera, i have modified it.
Without modifications, the only method is to use additional
(macro/magnifications) lenses.
I don't know if it is suitable as downlooking camera without modification.

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[n.a.m...@gmail.com]

Hello Marius,

The Microsoft Lifecam HD3000 is a fixed-focus camera, i.e. the focus cannot be changed through software.

Regards,
Niels.

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[Marius Liebenberg]

What kind of modifications are we talking about?

[Marius Liebenberg]

Hi Cri S
What does the modifications amount to. Is it worth the trouble?

[Cri S]

Modification of optical mount to increase objective distance to sensor.
Using macro lenses is annother equivalent possibility,
It is a great camera
You can see the internal here,
https://astrophotovideo.wordpress.com/adapting-a-webcam-to-a-telescope/
The objective don't have enought movement on the screw in order to do
macro focusing.
As example on this vga camera the objective need to be just screwed to
macro position.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71u0PGog%2BFL._SL1500_.jpg
as on most M12 objectives where the objective position could be
changed for 5-10mm.
Maybe there are other versions with more .lense travel , the version i
own have 70% pcb size
compared to the internals displayed on the above link for the hd3000 camera.

Cri.S

2017-10-12 22:14 GMT+02:00, Marius Liebenberg <mdlca...@gmail.com>:
> Hi Cri S
> What does the modifications amount to. Is it worth the trouble?
>
>
> On Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 3:43:00 PM UTC+2, Cri S wrote:
>>
>> I have that camera and it is fixed focus.
>> For using it as macro camera, i have modified it.
>> Without modifications, the only method is to use additional
>> (macro/magnifications) lenses.
>> I don't know if it is suitable as downlooking camera without modification.
>>
>>
>> 2017-10-12 15:20 GMT+02:00, Jason von Nieda <ja...@vonnieda.org

>> <javascript:>>:

>> > Hi Marius,
>> >
>> > The Internet leads me to believe that that is a fixed focus camera, so
>> the
>> > focus is not adjustable from software. See
>> >
>> https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/apps_windows_10-camera/microsoft-lifecam-hd3000-focus-not-working-on/7c2c7958-c327-4699-b849-508df0cd090e?auth=1
>>
>> > .
>> >
>> > Jason
>> >
>> >
>> > On Thu, Oct 12, 2017 at 8:20 AM Marius Liebenberg <mdlca...@gmail.com

>> <javascript:>>

>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >
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[Marius]

Thaks a lot for that information. It is very helpfull. I don't know much
about lenses so excuse my stupid questions.

What focal length lens must I look for that will work with the PnP?

I can find 12mm lenses with focal length from 2.5mm to 12mm. all fixed
length.

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[Marek T.]

Hi Marius,
All this depend how wide area you want to cover and distance from camera to the objects. Usually for upper camera are used narrow lenses (I've started from 6mm and landed with 4.2mm), wider for bottom camera - here also depend how large parts you want to align (I've started from 1.8mm and landed with 3.4mm which allow me to see parts up to ~50x50mm).
For upper camera your camera seems be more than perfect if we say about resolution. As for bottom it depend what the parts size you will decide to align. If not too large (and not to wide lens) - ok, if large like mine and also very small as well 1M seems be too low a bit.

[Cri S]

The HD3500 don't support M12 lenses. I don't know camera format.
First check what is minimal focus distance for hd3000 camera without
modification just
unscrewing the objective and that it have don't that big movement play..
It is possible that it works. After you have done that, you can
measure the focus distance.
If it''s less then 8cm it works, less then 11cm it could work but
field of view probably is too big. When checking the focus at minimal
distance, measure the width and height that the
camera view cover using a ruler.
I doubt that you can buy different lenses for this non M12 lens mount,

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[Marek T.]

But camera in typical web-camera housing is not too useful to be mounted on the machine anyway. Also to add lightening around it's not very comfortable. Consider to take the electronic off then mount to typical M12 lens holder. It's not very complicated. I did it with some web camera with full success.
Don't think you can find other lenses for replacement fitting to current holder.

[Marius]

Hi Merek

50x50 will be to big for me I think. So you have given me some idea of the
focal length to look for thanks.

Maybe I have to invest in a better camera for bottom :(


On Fri, 13 Oct 2017 16:07:19 +0200, Marek T. <marek.tw...@gmail.com>
wrote:

[Marius]

Hi Cri s
I thought that mush after looking at your links. I will either buy a 12mm
board mount or make one.

I will try without the standard lens and see how it goes.

[Marek T.]

I often need to mount the parts like modems with the sizes like 40x40mm or large BGA. Second range ending are for me imperial 0402. So when I firstly build camera usung 1Mpx web-camera (with just changed lens holder to allow M12 lenses to use), I found it as too low resolution to see comfortable these small parts and have FOV enough for these bigger. So I have migrated with bottom to 2Mpx and it seems be good for me.
I have also tried 5Mpx but with little weak effects - 3Mpx mode works ok but didn't give me to much more gain, 5Mpx mode which could be much more interresting didn't work with OpenPnpCamera on my PC (too low bandhidth of USB). I gave up further experiments with this.
Recommend you ELP cameras. It's not any wonder of the world but has one adventage: Jason uses it (as I know) so you will ever have best compatibility with effects as he does :-). Moreover, except webcameras, not so many USB options available to buy.

[Marius]

Merek

Can you suggest what ELP models to look at?

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[Cri S]

Avoid the 5Mpixel model, 2Mpixel is ok.

>>>> Hi Marius,All this depend how wide area you want to cover and distance

>>>>
>>>> from camera to the objects. Usually for upper camera are used narrow
>>>> lenses (I've started from 6mm and landed with 4.2mm), wider for
>>>> bottom camera - here also depend how large parts you want to align
>>>> (I've started from 1.8mm and landed with 3.4mm which allow me to see

>>>> parts up to ~50x50mm).For upper camera your camera seems be more than

>>>> perfect if we say about resolution. As for bottom it depend what the
>>>> parts size you will decide to align. If not too large (and not to
>>>> wide lens) - ok, if large like mine and also very small as well 1M
>>>> seems be too low a bit.
>>>
>>>

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[Marek T.]

I'm using and glad with:
ELP-USB100W03M - upper camera, with 4.2mm lens
ELP-USBFHD01M - bottom camera, with ~3.0mm lens

[Marek T.]

Above 1Mpx I have ordered with 6mm and later replaced into wider.
Above 2Mpx I have ordered as they name it "fisheye 170deg" and later replaced into more narrow ~3.0. Btw this 170 had fatal distortions hard to eliminate completely with the tool included into Openpnp.

The one 5Mpx which I have it's this: ELP-USB500W02M - and as Cri said really avoid it.
However I'd be glad to try some 5Mpx with USB3.0 if have some occasion. I mean as the test only, not that it's some my recommendation or something.

[Cri S]

The 5Mpixel elp have really worst and inconsistent image delay time
and because that it is
not usable on openPnP, usb2 or usb3 don't change anything.

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[Marek T.]

Confirm what you say about this ELP 5Mpx/USB2.0.
But about USB3.0 I meant that would like to try some 5Mpx camera with chipset having USB3.0 interface, not to connect above one to USB3.0 port (what I did as said previously).

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[Marius]

Just to give some feedback on this topic. I opened one of these cameras
and found that it had a manually adjustable lens that could be tuned for
the correct required focal length.
So it would seem that these cameras might still be useful after all.