Change the IMX477 resolution/framerate

[wjschmitt]

I'm running an RPi HQ camera using the indi_pylibcamera driver on the Pi, which sends images to indi_allsky running on a VM. BTW it works great so thanks for this. However, it looks like indi_pylibcamera runs the IMX477 at its highest resolution 4056x3040. by default. I want to run at a lower resolution and higher framerate. I haven't been able to figure out where I can do that in the indi_pylibcamera.ini. Can I instead use the INDI custom config option on the indi_allsky server side? If so, can you help with the settings for the IMX477., either for the ini file or for the custom config. Thanks.

[scriptorron]

Unfortunately the resolution can not be set in the 'indi_pylibcamera.ini'. But I believe there is a "binning" option in the indi_allsky camera controls. In fact binning is the only way to change resolution of raw images. All other resolution settings require a software pre-processing (debayer, white balance, image scaling) on the Pi. Typically the Pi CPU is not able to make this fast enough.

To come back to your question: look in the indi_allsky camera settings for something called "binning" and set it to "2x" (maybe it is called similar). This will reduce both X and Y image dimensions by 1/2 (picture will have 1/4 number of pixel). The camera has this implemented in hardware, so it does not increase CPU load on your Pi. Positive side effect is a better image noise. The images will still be in color with Bayer pattern.

[wjschmitt]

Excellent. I've adjusted binning on my astro cameras, usually to increase resolution. Never thought that I could also decrease resolution with it. Indi_allsky has a BIN MODE setting, which I assume is the binning setting and can be set to 1 - 4. I'll give this a try. Thanks.

[scriptorron]

The HQ camera hardware supports binning 1 (no binning) and 2 only. I do not know what happens when you set higher values.

[wjschmitt]

Bin 2 will be sufficient if that means half resolution. I will try it.

[wjschmitt]

Setting binning to 2 resulted in resolution being halved, so this worked. Thanks for the suggestion.