Re: [Gphoto-user] Ask about capture command

[Theodore K. <ki...@ba...>]

> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:51:30 +0800
> From: "Vuong Dao Nghe" <Ng...@nt...>
> Subject: [Gphoto-user] Ask about capture command
> To: <gph...@li...>
>
> Hi all,
>
> I wonder if there is a command that allow to save picture directly from
> camera to PC, not through internal memory of camera. For example, if you
> use webcam you can click at "capture button" to have picture save in a
> folder in PC.
> My reason is if you take picture then wait until it save to camera's
> memory after that download to PC will take longer time compare to save
> picture directly to PC.
> And I use Aiptek Pencam 1.3, an old model webcam, I cannot use --capture
> command to take picture on it but have to take picture manually by click
> the button then download the picture by gphoto.
>
> So it will be very helpful if somebody could tell me is there any way I
> could save the picture directly to PC.
>
> Thank you very much !
>
> Regards,
> Nghe

I suspect the answer is: Probably not. But you did not give the essential 
details about USB Vendor and Product numbers, so it is impossible to tell 
for certain.

A longer explanation:

1. You say it is a webcam. Basically, gphoto does not do webcams, only 
still camera functionality. There are some deeper reasons for this, 
implying that most webcam functionality requires a kernel module, which 
hooks up the camera as /dev/videoX where X is some number.

2. Some still cameras will do some kinds of capture, and are supported 
while doing that. This camera is probably an spca50x camera, and some of 
them will capture and some will not. As I said, those numbers are crucial 
for knowing.


Perhaps if the camera is suported by the kernel you can use a streaming 
application to do what you want, if gphoto can not handle your particular 
camera.

Disclaimer:

As I said, I think the camera is probably an spca50x camera (see the 
source directory libgphoto2/camlibs/spca50x). I did not write that camera 
driver and do not maintain it. I merely glanced through the source code 
and thought I might be able to suggest ways for you solve your problem.

Again:

I do get the impression that some of those cameras can be made to capture 
with gphoto, and some can not. Anyone who would try to answer your 
question would need more information about the camera, such as the USB 
Vendor:Product number reported to the computer when it is hooked up.

Theodore Kilgore