Installation - dougforpres/ASCOMSonyCameraDriver GitHub Wiki

FYI: Windows Security Popup

Because the driver isn't signed, Windows will probably pop up a warning box. There is a "Run Anyway" button you can click, but it doesn't show up until you click the "Show Details" button in the warning dialog.

(Sorry I'm a bit vague on the labels for the buttons but Windows has only ever asked me once and I never thought to grab a screen-shot)

Installer

The installer is currently stored in my Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive:

Version Number	32-bit apps	64-bit apps	Download Link	Change Log	Windows Version	Notes
1.0.0.36	⚫	⚫	MS OneDrive v1.0.0.36	1.0.0.36	For Both 32 and 64-bit Windows	Released: July 9, 2022
1.0.0.37	⚫	⚫	MS OneDrive v1.0.0.37	1.0.0.37	For Both 32 and 64-bit Windows	Released: Dec 24, 2022
1.0.0.38	⚫	⚫	MS OneDrive v1.0.0.38	1.0.0.38	For Both 32 and 64-bit Windows	Includes libraw 0.21.0, Released: Dec 26, 2022
1.0.0.40	⚫	⚫	MS OneDrive v1.0.0.40	1.0.0.40	For Both 32 and 64-bit Windows	Released: Dec 29, 2022
1.0.0.41	⚫	⚫	MS OneDrive v1.0.0.40	1.0.0.41	For Both 32 and 64-bit Windows	Released: Dec 30, 2022
1.0.0.43	⚫	⚫	Github v1.0.0.43	1.0.0.43	For Both 32 and 64-bit Windows	Released: Aug 24, 2023
newer versions	⚫	⚫	Github

⚪ Not Supported ⚫ Supported

Important Note about included libraw DLL

Prior to v1.0.0.38 I included an older pre-built version of libraw. This version often required an additional installation of VS2013 runtime libraries.

With v1.0.0.38 I have built new 32 and 64-bit DLL's based on the libraw 0.21.0 source released on December 18, 2022. This version does not require the older VS2013 runtime to be installed, so should cause less problems with installation.

It is also possible that it may support the newer uncompressed ARW files (if someone could let me know that would be great) The newer libraw has been lightly tested with my a6400 camera.

Upgrading from the older (1.0.0.16 and prior) 32-bit only driver to the new 32/64-bit version.

If this is the first time installing the 32/64-bit version after you have previously installed the 32-bit driver, there are a couple of manual steps you need to perform in order to avoid "weirdness".

The 32/64-bit driver is usually installed to C:\Program Files\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera
The support DLL's are NO LONGER installed there, they're installed in the Windows 32/64 bit system directories
After running the new installer, please go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera (note the "(x86)" part) and remove any of the following files that you see there:
- SonyMTPCamera.dll
- turbojpeg.dll
- libraw.dll

(if those files are not removed, there is a good chance the 64-bit version won't work and you'll get N.I.N.A's pretty red error boxes)

Note 1: Re-run SonyCameraInfo.exe

If the Notes next to a version say to re-run SonyCameraInfo.exe, please do so. This is because the driver needs to get more detail from the camera in order to work best. See the instructions under "If you don't have a supported camera model".

Please send the reported info to me. This will allow me to incorporate the data into the driver for future versions/users

Needed for 1.0.0.24

Supports cropping the full sensor image to the advertised image size. In order to do this it needs to take another test shot.

Needed for 1.0.0.26

Supports scanning the available exposure times so that the driver can use the built-in exposure settings for very fast shots (like Bias/Flats) which allows much more accurate timing.
Supports scanning the available ISO values so that the driver can allow an application to change the ISO/Gain value.

Note 2: Visual Studio (VS) Redistributables

If you have problems loading the driver (errors indicating it cannot be loaded, or that MSVSP120.dll is missing) it could be because some Visual C++ files need to be installed. They are not currently included in the installer. See the following section from the Troubleshooting page.

Troubleshooting: If the driver won't load.

Once the installer has been updated to include these automatically I'll update these instructions.

Issues?

If you have any issues, please report them to me, I can't fix what I don't know about.

If you have a supported Camera Model

Ensure your camera is "ready" to be connected to (connect USB, etc). Basically go thru the steps you normally would to have it work with Imaging Edge Remote (but don't run Remote)
Run your favorite ASCOM enabled software and go to the camera setup screen.
Choose "Sony Mirrorless Camera" from the "ASCOM Camera Chooser" dialog and hit the "Properties..." button.
If your camera is found, it'll appear in the "Camera" list. Select it.
Choose the "Personality" of the app you're running. Currently, this is one of "APT", "N.I.N.A", or "SharpCap". The personality changes the way the driver responds to the application slightly and may limit some of your choices (for example, APT supports both RGB and RAW images, SharpCap supports BGR and RAW, and NINA only supports RAW).
Choose whether you want to use the camera's LiveView mode for preview images (if you leave the box unchecked the camera will take real photos)
Choose whether you want to save the files downloaded by the camera "untouched" on your hard-drive. (you'll need to select a directory/location to save them)

The content on the right-hand-side is for diagnostics and only shows up when the driver is connected to the camera. The "Diagnostics" checkbox enables ASCOM logging for the ASCOM part of the driver. It is normal to leave this OFF. If I need this information I'll ask you to enable it.

If you don't have a supported Camera Model

Download and install the driver as per above.

Check some settings on your camera - this will speed things along:

Make sure you have a memory card in the camera (this seems a bit "duh!" but this has been added for a reason :) ).
Set the camera to "M" mode.
Set auto-focus to "Manual".
Set the file format to be "RAW" or "RAW & JPEG" ("RAW" is needed so the "PC Remote Settings" below will let you send it to the PC).
Set the Aspect ratio to "3:2", OR, whatever you plan on always shooting astro with (ASCOM needs to know the image size BEFORE the photo is taken, and some apps get very VERY upset if they're expecting X x Y and they get A x B).
In your "PC Remote Settings", ensure "Still Img. Save Dest" includes "PC". (it's possible that if you set it to "PC Only" then you actually don't need a memory card).
In your "PC Remote Settings", ensure "RAW+J PC Save Img" is either "RAW" or "RAW & JPEG" (the driver only needs RAW).
Set the exposure time to either be "BULB" or some short value (we only need a photo, so a short exposure speeds things along) - to speed the process, use "BULB".
Set the ISO to "AUTO" (this just speeds the learning process).

Ensure your camera is "ready" to be connected to (connect USB, etc). Basically go thru the steps you normally would to have it work with Imaging Edge Remote (but don't run Remote)
In the "Search" box next to the Windows "Start" button, type "cmd" and press enter.
Navigate to the folder that contains this driver - for a default install this should be c:\Program Files\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera\
Run the "SonyCameraInfo" utility

If the camera is found, the utility will try to do the following:

Check to see if LiveView is supported.
It will try to take a photo - this is used to detect the camera resolution and cropping info.
It will try to learn all the supported exposure times - it does this by stepping down until it gets to "BULB" and then it goes the other direction until it gets to the end (this is why setting exposure time to BULB can speed things up).
It will try to learn all the supported ISO values - just like exposure times, it steps down until it gets to "AUTO" and then it goes the other direction.

The utility will ask you to send the displayed info to me, please do so. If possible, use the mouse to select all the text and CTRL-C/CTRL-V to paste it into an email - screenshots may seem easier, but then I have to type all the values in versus just pasting them from your email. When I get your information I'll update the driver to add support for the camera and publish a new version.

Examples:

Example 1 - Running the utility with no camera connected (or at least detected)

C:\Users\YourNameHere>cd "\Program Files\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera"
C:\Program Files\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera>SonyCameraInfo.exe
Sony Camera Info
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enumerating connected devices...0 portable devices found
C:\Program Files\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera>

Example 2 - Running the utility with a known camera model connected

C:\Users\YourNameHere>cd "\Program Files\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera"
C:\Program Files\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera>SonyCameraInfo.exe
Sony Camera Info
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enumerating connected devices...1 portable devices found

--------------------------------------
Device #1
  Manufacturer: Sony Corporation
  Model:        ILCE-6400
  Connection:   Connected
  Get Info:
   Manufacturer:                     Sony Corporation
   Model:                            ILCE-6400
   Device Path:                      Sony Corporation\ILCE-6400
   Preview image width:              1024px
   Preview image height:             680px
   Full-size image width:            6024px
   Full-size image height:           4024px
   Full-size image width (Cropped):  6000px
   Full-size image height (Cropped): 4000px
   Available Exposure Times:
     0,19660810,16384010,13107210,9830410,8519690,6553610,5242890,3932170,3276810,
     2621450,2097162,1638410,1310730,1048586,851978,655370,524298,393226,327690,
     262154,65539,65540,65541,65542,65544,65546,65549,65551,65556,
     65561,65566,65576,65586,65596,65616,65636,65661,65696,65736,
     65786,65856,65936,66036,66176,66336,66536,66786,67136,67536,
     68036,68736,69536,
   Available ISO Values:
     16777215,100,125,160,200,250,320,400,500,640,
     800,1000,1250,1600,2000,2500,3200,4000,5000,6400,
     8000,10000,12800,16000,20000,25600,32000,40000,51200,64000,
     80000,102400,

C:\Program Files\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera>

Example 3 - Running the utility with a new (unknown) camera model connected

C:\Users\YourNameHere>cd "\Program Files\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera"
C:\Program Files\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera>SonyCameraInfo.exe
Sony Camera Info
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enumerating connected devices...1 portable devices found

--------------------------------------
Device #1
  Manufacturer: Sony Corporation
  Model:        ILCE-7RM4
  Connection:   Connected
  Get Info:     Currently unknown device:  - attempt to determine image resolution...
    Shutter speed set to: 1/60"
    Storage mode set to:  RAW
    Asking camera to take test shots (1 x preview, 1 x full-resolution)...

  Please email the following info to: [email protected]

   Manufacturer:                     Sony Corporation
   Model:                            ILCE-6400
   Device Path:                      Sony Corporation\ILCE-6400
   Preview image width:              1024px
   Preview image height:             680px
   Full-size image width:            6024px
   Full-size image height:           4024px
   Full-size image width (Cropped):  6000px
   Full-size image height (Cropped): 4000px
   Available Exposure Times:
     0,19660810,16384010,13107210,9830410,8519690,6553610,5242890,3932170,3276810,
     2621450,2097162,1638410,1310730,1048586,851978,655370,524298,393226,327690,
     262154,65539,65540,65541,65542,65544,65546,65549,65551,65556,
     65561,65566,65576,65586,65596,65616,65636,65661,65696,65736,
     65786,65856,65936,66036,66176,66336,66536,66786,67136,67536,
     68036,68736,69536,
   Available ISO Values:
     16777215,100,125,160,200,250,320,400,500,640,
     800,1000,1250,1600,2000,2500,3200,4000,5000,6400,
     8000,10000,12800,16000,20000,25600,32000,40000,51200,64000,
     80000,102400,

C:\Program Files\Common Files\ASCOM\Camera>