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README_EN.md

1. Introduction

This application is a camera control program developed based on Maix series hardware (MaixCam/Pro/MaixCam2). It integrates core functions such as photo capture, video recording, and parameter adjustment. It is compatible with camera sensors of different resolutions and supports features like audio-video synchronization and custom parameter configuration, meeting diverse usage requirements such as daily shooting and time-lapse photography.

2. Main Features

Feature Category Capabilities
Basic Shooting Supports one-click photo capture with configurable delay (in seconds). Photos are automatically categorized by date and thumbnails are generated for easy preview.
Video Recording Supports H.264 format video recording with audio-video synchronization. Video bitrate can be customized, and recommended bitrates are automatically adapted based on resolution.
Parameter Adjustment Shutter: Auto/manual mode with customizable shutter speed.
ISO: Auto/manual mode (range: 100~800).
Exposure Compensation (EV): Auto/manual adjustment.
White Balance (WB): Auto/manual adjustment.
Resolution: Switch between multiple presets (e.g., 3840×2160, 2560×1440, 1920×1080).
Auxiliary Functions Fill Light: Hardware fill light on/off control.
Time-lapse: Configurable interval; audio is automatically disabled when enabled.
Focus: Manual focus area setting.
Timestamp: Display current time on the screen.
RAW Format: Option to save photos in RAW format.

3. User Guide

3.1 Basic Operations

3.1.1 Taking Photos

  1. Upon entering the app, the preview screen is displayed by default.
  2. (Optional) Set a capture delay (0 seconds for immediate capture).
  3. Click the capture button. If a delay is set, a countdown animation will appear. The photo is taken automatically after the countdown.
  4. Photos are automatically saved to [Image Storage Directory]/[Current Date]/[Index].jpg, and a thumbnail is generated for preview.

3.1.2 Video Recording

  1. Click the Record Start button. The app prepares the environment and starts recording; the recording duration is displayed on screen.
  2. During recording, the elapsed time is shown. The bitrate is auto-adapted but can be manually modified (only when not recording).
  3. Click the Stop button to end recording. The video is saved to [Video Storage Directory]/[Current Date]/[Index].mp4.

3.2 Parameter Configuration

3.2.1 Resolution Switching

  1. Select a resolution preset in the settings menu.
  2. The app will automatically restart the camera module to apply the new resolution.
  3. Note: Options are limited by the hardware sensor; presets exceeding the sensor's maximum capability are disabled.

3.2.2 Shutter/ISO Adjustment

  • Auto Mode: Check the "Auto" option. The camera adjusts Shutter/ISO based on the environment.
  • Manual Mode: Uncheck "Auto" and input the target Shutter speed (seconds) or ISO value. Changes take effect immediately.

3.2.3 Auxiliary Function Switches

  • Fill Light: Toggle the button to turn the hardware light on or off.
  • Timestamp: Toggle the button to display the current date and time in the bottom-left corner.
  • Time-lapse: Set the interval in seconds (0 to disable, >0 for fixed interval). Audio is automatically disabled in this mode.
  • RAW Format: Toggle the button to save an additional RAW format file (.raw suffix) when capturing photos.

3.3 Preview and Playback

  1. After capturing a photo, the thumbnail and a larger preview are displayed automatically.
  2. Click the "View Photos" button to browse the photo gallery.

4. Notes

  1. Resolution Switching: Switching resolution restarts the camera module, causing a brief interruption in the preview. This is normal behavior.
  2. Bitrate Modification: Bitrate can only be modified when not recording. Attempting to change it during recording will show a "Video Busy" warning and will not take effect.
  3. Time-lapse Photography: Audio is automatically disabled in time-lapse mode. You need to manually re-enable it if you switch back to normal recording.
  4. RAW Format: Enabling RAW format increases file size significantly, and dedicated software is required for viewing/processing.
  5. Fill Light: The default hardware pin for the light is GPIOB3. This can be modified via the device configuration file (cam_light_io).
  6. Storage Path: Files are stored in date-based directories by default. Ensure sufficient storage space is available to prevent save failures.
  7. AV Sync: If audio stutters during recording, check the audio sample rate configuration (default is 48000Hz).

5. More Information

5.1 Hardware Compatibility

  • Supports MaixCam and MaixCam2 platforms.
  • MaixCam2 supports higher bitrates (up to 100Mbps) and features AI-ISP.
  • The fill light pin is configurable via the cam_light_io parameter in the device config file (default: B3).
  • The available resolution options are determined by the camera sensor's maximum resolution.

5.2 Storage Details

  • Default Photo Path: Defined by the system interface (usually under the app's picture directory).
  • Default Video Path: Defined by the system interface (usually under the app's video directory).
  • A sync operation is performed after saving to ensure data is written to the storage device, preventing data loss in case of sudden power loss.

5.3 Performance

  • The default preview frame rate is 30fps. Higher resolutions consume more system resources.
  • In time-lapse mode, the output video remains at 30fps, but frames are pushed at the set interval. This is suitable for long-duration, low-frame-rate recording.

5.4 Source Code