pCAM version 1.81

Instructions updated: April 14, 2001

Designed by:
          David Eubank.
Designed and Programmed by:
          Dian Suharto Iskandar.

The Field of View, Depth of Field, Aperture Finder ( for "splits") and Hyperfocal distance calculator with many film formats/aspect ratios and user-definable formats to choose from.

  • IMPORTANT:  If you are upgrading pCAM from previous versions please note that the PocketC.prc file is no longer needed.  You should delete the program PocketC and its databases before installing this new version.  Here's how-->  Open PocketC by tapping its icon in your device's application list.  Tap on your device's menu button.  Tap on "databases," then individually delete all of the files listed.  Once all databases are deleted you can then delete the programs  pCAM and PocketC by tapping the menu button in your device's application list, then "delete" from the menu.  Select the programs pCAM and PocketC and delete them.
  • The file Mathlib.prc is still needed so leave it on your Palm device.  Some manufactures already have Mathlib built into the system so it may not be necessary.  If yours doesn't, then pCAM will give you a warning message and refuse to load.
  • Users no longer need the old conversion file called data_transfer.prc.  If you have it on your Palm please delete it immediately.
  • For future upgrades after v 1.81 it will not be necessary to first delete the pCAM program as each new release will install over the old.  Your databases will also remain in tact as long as you install over previous installs and do not delete the program.
  • For registered users please hang on to your code as you may need it again someday.

 

FEATURES:

  • Field of View Calculator:
    • Many film formats for Cinematography, Photography and CCTV.
    • 10 user definable fields to add your own formats and CoC.
    • Find FoV based on Lens's Focal Length and Object's Distance.
    • Find Object's Distance based on Lens's Focal Length and FoV.
    • Find Lens Focal Length based on Object's Distance and FoV.
    • Angle mode for display of angle of view.
    • Preview mode for display of camera's framing and object size approximation.  
    • Ability to size a frame in preview mode and pCAM will automatically tell you the lens size and distance required.
    • Recompose button in Preview to change camera composition.
    • Distances or Focal length can be changed with soft or hard up/down keys.
    • Can lock horizontal or vertical size in FoV.
  • Depth of Field Calculator:
    • Circle of Confusion automatically changes with each chosen film format.
    • CoC is shown in microns with inch equivalent (example: 25.4 microns = .001")
    • Find DoF based on Object's Distance, Aperture and Lens Focal Length.
    • Find Aperture and focus Distance based on Near and Far Object's Distance.
    • Aperture is selectable from 1/4 stop, 1/3 stop, 1/2 stop, 1 stop or all stops.
    • Image page mode, to see image size of chosen format.
    • Can tap a button to automatically enter the hyperfocal distance and calculate its DoF.
    • Displays the percentage of focus in front and behind the object distance.
  • Lens Edit to add 20 of your favorite lenses with their ranges.
  • Meter or foot/inch selectable format.
  • Can save calculations automatically or manually.
  • Chose of numeric pad or manual input.
  • Runs and looks like a standard Palm application.

GLOSSARY:

  • Lens FL = Focal Length
  • D = Distance
  • FoV = Field of View
  • H = Horizontal size of FoV
  • V = Vertical size of FoV
  • DoF = Depth of Field
  • CoC = Circle of Confusion
  • Aper = Aperture
  • f = Distance far
  • n = Distance near

HOW TO SET UP pCAM:

  • New users should install the following 2 files onto your Palm device:

    • pCAM.prc

    • MathLib.prc

    • [NOTE: MathLib.prc is a file needed for pCAM to operate, but once installed you never need to open or launch it.  Launch pCAM only with its camera icon in applications.]

    • [NOTE: If you would like a photo icon or a CCTV icon instead of the default movie camera icon, you can download either from www.davideubank.com in the NOTES section.

  • Once installed tap on the pCAM camera icon to launch it.  You can also launch pCAM from within pCINE (if you own it) by tapping on the "p" or the diamond above it at the top left of your screen or you may select it from the pCINE scroll-down menu as well.
  • PREFERENCES:
    • Tap MENU --> Options --> Preferences.
    • Select Camera by choosing either CCTV, Cinema, Photo or User defined.
    • Select Measurement - either meter or feet,inches.
    • Select Object Distance inc/dec. Enter the length you would like to increase or decrease the focus distance in DoF or the far and near distances in Aperture Finder with the hard up/down keys of your Palm.  Entry examples: (enter as 0 3 for 3", 1 for 1', 1 6 for 1' 6", etc).
    • Select Average Person's height for Preview mode (approximates object size of people -- 5' 10" is good).
    • Select Mode Selection - either toggle or list mode.  Toggle mode will change to a different mode each time you tap it and list mode displays a scroll down list.
    • Tap numeric pad input to highlight it for numeric pad (calculator style) instead of manual input.
    • Tap sound ON/OFF.
    • Tap OK to go back to program screen.
  • Set up EDIT LENS
    • Tap MENU --> Options -> Edit lens. Here you can add up to 20 lenses, either primes or zooms with their ranges.
      • HINT: Add a generic zoom 10mm-150mm with an F-stop range of F1-22. This will give you a sliding scale that can be quickly moved to change focal length for practically every lens desired.
    • Tap OK to go back to FoV, DoF or Aper screens.  To use your favorite lenses you must choose one of your saved lenses from the lens pop-up menu (bottom left). You must also activate Lens Edit by tapping on the checkbox underneath "Lens." 
      • NOTE: Activating your saved favorite lenses by checking the Lens box limits you to the parameters of that lens.  For instance, if you have a 10-100 zoom lens activated and try to find a matching FoV for a 200mm, pCAM won't allow you because the zoom parameters will already have been set to only go from 10 to 100. You must uncheck the Lens box (bottom left) to go beyond the limits of a saved lens parameter.
    • You can also sort your list numerically or alphabetically.
  • Set up EDIT USER DEFINED
    • Tap MENU --> Options -> Edit User Defined. Here you can add up to 10 user defined formats and CoC.
    • Tap OK to go back to FoV or DoF screen.
    • To use your user defined formats you must choose "User defined" in MENU --> Options --> Preferences --> Camera.


HOW TO USE PCAM:

  • At the top right screen, you can choose the film format/aspect ratio.
  • At bottom right screen, you can choose which mode, FoV, DoF or Aper.
  • If you have added your favorite lenses in Lens Edit, you can load each designated lens by choosing it on the lens pop-up menu (bottom left).
  • However, to activate the Lens Edit you must also tap on the checkbox underneath "Lens." 
    • NOTE: Activating your saved favorite lenses by checking the Lens box limits you to the parameters of that lens.  For instance, if you have a 10-100 zoom lens activated and try to find a matching FoV for a 200mm, pCAM won't allow you because the zoom parameters will already have been set to only go from 10 to 100. You must uncheck the Lens box (bottom left) to go beyond the limits of a saved lens parameter.

FIELD-OF-VIEW CALCULATOR (FoV):

  • Choose your format/aspect ratio from drop-down list (top right).
  • Choose FoV in the mode button on the bottom right. You are now in Field of View mode.
  • Enter the Lens FL, or D, or FoV based on your needs. Only the underlined entries can be changed.  When you fill in FL, D or FoV in foot\inch mode, you can enter it as 2 11, 2-11, 2.11, 2'11", 2'11 or 2 11" and all will automatically enter the 2'11" value after you tap OK.
  • If you have numeric pad input activated in preferences, then you must tap the foot symbol (lower right on numeric pad) in order to differentiate between feet and inches.
  • Tap on the darkened icon in the lower right (with padlock icon) to lock in either the D, FL or FoV.  If you choose D (to lock Distance), then you can change FL and the result will be a new FoV. You can also change FoV (Horizontal or Vertical) and a new FL will be calculated.
  • If you choose FL (to lock Lens FL), then you can change D and the result will be a new FoV. You can also change FoV (H or V) and a new D will be calculated.
  • If you choose FoV (to lock FoV), then you can change D or FL and the FoV stays the same. 
    • HINT: This is the most useful feature for finding matching lenses at different distances and keeping the same FoV.
  • You can also change what part of the image size you would like to lock, horizontal or vertical.  Tap on the "Lock H" or 'Lock V" box in-between the object size graphic.  The default is "Lock H" since horizontal is what truly distinguishes the different formats.
    • NOTE: To find matching lenses at various distances it doesn't matter whether you have H or V locked.  However, when trying to compare various formats it is recommend you lock H (horizontal).
    • HINT: The VistaVision format is full aperture since it is used for effects.  When comparing it to other formats remember to compare apples to apples and compare it to either "16mm Full Aperture" or "35mm Full Aperture."
  • The Angle of View, H and V are automatically displayed at the top left.
  • Tap on the Angle button underneath it to see the angle.
  • Tap on the Preview button underneath Angle to see an approximation of the framing and subject size.
    • You can pan or tilt the image by tapping the arrows.  
    • The "C" button is for centering the image.
    • The "R" button is for quickly recomposing the image instead of using the arrows buttons.  
    • There is also a zoom mode which allows you to increase or decrease the image size.  Once you change the size and tap "exit" a new lens focal length or distance (whichever is chosen) will be displayed.
    • Highlight the "D" button if you want the +/- buttons to change the distance.
    • Highlight the "FL" button if you want the +/- buttons to change the focal length.
    • +/- buttons changes in small increments and ++/-- buttons change in larger increments. 
      • HINT:  You enter a lens and a particular distance in FoV, then select the Preview button.  If you don't like the image size represented, then zoom in or out to one you do.  When you exit Preview a new lens size (or distance, if you had selected it instead) will be displayed in FoV.
  • Tap on the camera icon to show the current Image size dimensions and Image ratio.

DEPTH OF FIELD CALCULATOR (DoF):

  • Choose your format/aspect ratio from drop-down list (top right). This automatically enters the correct Circle of Confusion (CoC).
  • Choose DoF in the mode button on the bottom right. 
  • Above the mode button is a box that changes the increments that the F-stop will be changed. The choices are 1/4 stop, 1/3 stop, 1/2 stop, 1 stop or all stop.
  • In DoF mode you can change Object's Distance, Lens's Focal Length and\or Aperture, and the result will be the Near and Far Object Distance focus.
  • The percentage of focus in front and behind the Object distance is displayed on the dotted line.
    • HINT: Use these percentages to learn your actual coverage.  Remember, percentage gradually moves from the "normal" 33%-66% split to a 50%-50% split as your object distance decreases, especially under 4 ft.
  • Use the up/down arrows to change your Distance, Aperture or Focal Length. Focal length will change 1mm per tap. 
  • Aperture will change according to your F-stop setting (see above). Distance will increase or decrease according to the inc/dec you set up in preferences. Example: set inc/dec to 3" and it will change 3" each tap.
    • HINT: Tap on the diamond next to the up/down arrows to give control to your hard up/down keys.  For obvious reasons you can only choose either distance or aperture, not both at the same time. 
  • Besides automatically changing with the film format, you can also manually change Circle of Confusion (CoC) to suit your particular requirements.
    • WARNING: your manually changed CoC will automatically be saved when you close the program and will not default back to the original "factory settings" when you restart pCAM!  Just remember to change the CoC back if you want the orginal settings which are 15.24u (microns) for 16mm and 25.40u (microns) for 35mm.
  • Hyperfocal distance is automatically displayed for each calculation above the aperture buttons.
  • Tap on the diamond underneath the human form and it will automatically enter the hyperfocal distance into the distance formula and recalculate using the hyperfocal distance.  It saves you a step.
  • You can also create your own formats with various CoC in User Defined.
  • Tap on CoC to see inch equivalent to micron.
  • Tap on the camera icon to show the current image size dimensions and Image ratio.

APERTURE FINDER CALCULATOR (APER):

  • If you haven't already done so, choose your format/aspect ratio from drop-down list (top right). This automatically enters the correct Circle of Confusion (CoC).
  • Choose Aper in the mode button on the bottom right.
  • You can change Near and Far Object's Distance and/or Lens' Focal Length and the result will be the aperture needed to keep both points in focus plus where to set the lens barrel to achieve it. 
    • HINT: This is for calculating "splits." Enter background subject distance (f) plus foreground subject distance (n), then enter focal length (FL) -- pCAM gives you the aperture needed to keep both subjects in focus.  (D) shows you where to set the lens barrel to achieve it.   Change either f, n or FL to get to an F-stop that you have the light for.
  • Use the up/down arrows to change your far Distance or near Distance. Distance will increase or decrease according to the inc/dec you set up in preferences. Example: set inc/dec to 3" and it will change 3" each tap.
    • HINT:  Tap on the diamond next to the up/down arrows to give control to your hard up/down keys.  For obvious reasons you can only choose either far distance or near distance, not both at the same time. 
  • Besides automatically changing with the film format, you can also manually change Circle of Confusion (CoC) to suit your particular requirements.
    • WARNING:  your manually changed CoC will automatically be saved when you close the program and will not default back to the original "factory settings" when you restart pCAM!  Just remember to change the CoC back if you want the orginal settings which are 15.24u (microns) for 16mm and 25.40u (microns) for 35mm.
  • You can also create your own formats with various CoC in "User Defined."
  • In find Aperture mode you can tap Aperture result box to show you a rounded-off F-stop.
  • Tap on CoC to see inch equivalent to micron.
  • Tap on the camera icon to show the current Image size dimensions and Image ratio.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO RUN pCAM:

  • pCAM.prc, version 1.81 or later (the Program file).
  • MathLib.prc to do the math (included with pCAM).
  • Palm device with PalmOS v2.0.5 or later.

NOTE:  The latest version will always be available at www.davideubank.com

HISTORY:

  • April 12, 2001 - v 1.81
    • Fixed bug which didn't recognize MAC OS installs.
    • Made PalmOS v 4.0 compatible.
  • March 30, 2001 - v 1.71
    • Compiled into a stand-alone program.
    • Changed f-stops to display only the stop plus a fraction and never the stop minus a fraction.
    • Added zoom feature to Preview.
    • Added pan and tilt feature to Preview.
  • February 6, 2001 - v 1.62
    • Changed preferences.
    • Changed mode selection button.
    • Added percentage of focus in front and behind object distance in DoF.
    • Changed Angle button in FoV.
    • Changed Preview button in FoV.
    • Improved the human form in FoV's Preview to better show framing.
    • Added a Recompose button in FoV's Preview to change framing.
    • Removed scale from Angle screen.
    • Took advantage of PocketC v 3.91 advances.
  • October 31, 2000 - v 1.53
    • Simplified the procedure for updating program.
  • October 15, 2000 - v 1.52
    • Fixed minor nuisance bug in numeric pad.
  • October 7, 2000 - v 1.51
    • Fixed minor nuisance problem with user-defined display.
  • October 5, 2000 - v 1.50
    • Added lock to either horizontal or vertical in FoV.
    • Moved image ratio display inside of image size view (camera icon).
    • Added VistaVision-35mm/8-perf format.
  • August 21, 2000 - v 1.45.
    • Added numeric pad input.
    • Added button to automatically enter hyperfocal distance and recalculate based on the hyperfocal distance.
    • Revised one format and added another.
    • Added a button to link to pCINE (the cinematographer's companion to pCAM).
    • Took advantage of PocketC, v 3.7, allowing for a larger program.
  • Oct. 28, 1999 - v 1.13. 
    • Added two standing figures in Aperture Finder graphically showing near and far subject distances.
    • Removed Fixed Nodal Constant and instead changed the DoF and Hyperfocal formulas for more accurate close-up work.
  • Sept. 27, 1999 - v 1.10. 
    • Took advantage of new PocketC, v 3.10, allowing program to AutoSave like most Palm programs. 
  • Sept. 16, 1999 - v 1.03. 
    • Fixed a minor bug in Aperture Finder that gave a fatal error when choosing the same distance for both near and far distances.
    • Implemented a Fixed Nodal Constant of 50mm (2in.) as a means to fine tune DoF. There is no hard or fast rule (as each lens make and model differs) and FNC is an attempt to average the nodal point 
      distance.
  • August 31, 1999 - v 1.0, the official first release version.
    • Single pcam.prc file for applet and icon.
    • Added User Definable formats, maximum of 10. 
    • Changed some "factory" formats and added others.
    • Changed some of the F-stops.
    • Added hard up\down key control.
    • Fixed some minor bugs.
    • Added more capacity to Lens Edit, totaling 20.
    • Added beaming capability.
  • March 30, 1999 - v1.0b4
    • Some bugs fixed.
    • More accurate DoF calculation by changing CoC to exactly match the American Cinematography Manual.
    • Some new features.
  • March 14, 1999 - v1.0b1 released.
    • January 29, 1999 - David Eubank contacted Dian asking him to consider including cinema and photography to his CCTV FoV calculator. David also suggested adding the Depth of Field, Hyperfocal and Aperture Finder calculators.
    • November 1, 1998 - The previous version of PocketCCTV v1.1 (was for CCTV and FoV only).

BUGS:

  • Please report all errors or bugs a.s.a.p to David or Dian.

SHAREWARE AND REGISTRATION INFO:

  • pCAM is a Shareware program, $15 US.  If you like it and find it useful, please register it at:
    http://www2.viaweb.com/pilotgearsw/pcam.html
    or via a direct link at www.davideubank.com
  • When you register, don't forget to give your Palm device Hotsync name.  After registering, you will sent a registration code that can only be used on your Palm device with your given Hotsync name.
  • Without registration you can still use pCAM (there are no missing features), it will only remind you to register each time you launch it.
  • If you need further information or feature requests please drop David or Dian an e-mail. Other detailed information is also available on David Eubank's web site (see below).
  • David Eubank:   pcam@davideubank.com
  • Homepage:        www.davideubank.com
  • Dian Suharto Iskandar:   arto88@dnet.net.id
  • Homepage:                     http://www.geocities.com/artosoft

We would like to give thanks to Jeremy Dewey for his PalmOS compiler, PocketC. More info about PocketC can be found at:  http://www.orbworks.com

Dian would like to give special thanks to:
David Eubank, a Los Angeles Camera Assistant, for helping to create and design pCAM.  Jeremy Dewey for his PocketC, which enabled him to write the programs for the Palm OS.

David would like to thank:
Dian for his many hours, knowledge and inspiration.  Andrew Young at Panavision Hollywood for his expertise, patience and time spent beta-testing.  Mako Koiwai, a Los Angeles Camera Assistant, for his suggestions and time spent beta-testing.  Enjoy.

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