Capture Parameters
Overview
When capturing images using the camera, it is important to consider the various camera parameters to ensure optimal results. These parameters include focus, exposure, white balance, ISO sensitivity, and resolution. Each parameter plays a role in determining the quality, clarity, and overall visual appeal of the captured images.
Exposure Settings
Exposure settings determine the amount of light that enters the camera sensor and affect the brightness and clarity of the captured images. The exposure can be set to one of the following modes:
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Auto Mode | In Auto mode, the camera automatically adjusts the exposure settings based on the detected lighting conditions. This mode is suitable for most situations where the user wants the camera to handle the exposure settings on its own. The shutter speed and ISO are adjusted automatically while the aperture remains fixed. |
| Manual Mode |
Manual mode allows the user to take full control over the shutter speed and ISO sensitivity. The user can manually adjust the shutter speed anywhere between 0.001 to 0.3 seconds, and the ISO to achieve the desired exposure. This mode provides maximum flexibility but requires a good understanding of exposure principles. The chosen shutter speed directly impacts the video frame rate. For instance, if a user has selected 60 FPS video but also selected a 0.3s shutter speed, the video frame rate will be around 3.3fps, not 60fps. To maintain the chosen frame rate, the selected shutter speed should not be slower than the inverse of the desired frame rate. Please note that the aperture remains constant in this mode. |
| Shutter Priority Mode | This mode allows the user to set the desired shutter speed, and the camera automatically adjusts the ISO sensitivity accordingly to achieve the optimal exposure. This mode is useful when the user specifically wants to control motion blur or freeze the action in the images. |
| ISO Priority Mode | ISO Priority mode enables the user to select the desired ISO sensitivity while the camera adjusts the shutter speed to achieve the best possible exposure. This mode is useful when the user needs to control the camera's sensitivity to light in different lighting conditions, or when the user wants to emphasize or minimize the presence of image noise. |
Lighting Settings
Lighting settings impact the ability to achieve well-lit and balanced images. These settings optimise the camera's performance under different lighting conditions.
| Mode/Description | Function |
|---|---|
| Lighting Mode | On: Hydrus will utilise its LED lighting to provide additional illumination for capturing images or videos. |
| Off: Hydrus' LED lighting system will be disabled and the scene will be captured using ambient light only. | |
| Brightness Mode |
Auto: The camera automatically adjusts the brightness level based on the detected lighting conditions. This mode is suitable for most situations where the user wants the camera to handle the brightness adjustments on its own |
| Manual: The user can manually adjust the brightness level according to the users preferences or specific requirements. |
Brightness Level
The brightness level setting allows the user to fine-tune the brightness of the captured images when the brightness mode is set to manual. The available options range from 0 to 100 in a numerical scale. Adjusting the brightness level higher increases the brightness, while reducing it lowers the brightness.
Correction Settings
Correction settings help to compensate for colour accuracy in the captured images.
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| White Balance Mode | The white balance mode allows the user to adjust the camera's colour temperature to compensate for different lighting conditions underwater. It ensures accurate colour reproduction in captured images and videos. |
Image Settings
Image settings allows the user to control various aspects of the captured images, such as resolution, format, and quality.
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| JPEG | JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a widely used image format that offers high compression, resulting in smaller file sizes. It is suitable for general use and sharing images easily. JPEG images have a standard level of compression applied, which can result in some loss of image quality. |
| TIFF | TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is another type of image format that is known for its flexibility and its use of lossless compression, which means it retains all the image data during compression. TIFF images offer high quality and are often used in professional settings such as publishing, photography, and graphic design. |
Video Settings
Video settings are specifically relevant when capturing underwater videos. The video mode determines the resolution and frame rate of the recorded video. The available video mode options include:
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| 4K@60fps | This video mode allows the user to capture videos in 4K resolution at a frame rate of 60 frames per second (fps). 4K resolution provides high levels of detail, while the higher frame rate of 60fps ensures smooth and fluid motion in the recorded videos, however can result in large file sizes. |
| 4K@30fps | This video mode enables the user to capture videos in 4K resolution at a frame rate of 30fps. 4K resolution provides excellent detail, while the lower frame rate of 30fps is suitable for capturing standard motion |
| 4:3 2K@60fps | This video mode allows the user to capture videos in a 4:3 aspect ratio and 2K resolution at a frame rate of 60fps. The 4:3 aspect ratio is beneficial for certain applications, while the higher frame rate of 60fps ensures smooth motion in the recorded videos |
| 4:3 2K@30fps | This video mode enables the user to capture videos in a 4:3 aspect ratio and 2K resolution at a frame rate of 30fps. The 4:3 aspect ratio is suitable for specific requirements, while the lower frame rate of 30fps is ideal for capturing standard motion. |
| FHD@60fps | This video mode allows the user to capture videos in Full HD (FHD) resolution at a frame rate of 60fps. FHD resolution provides high-definition quality, while the higher frame rate of 60fps ensures smooth and fluid motion in the recorded videos. |
| FHD@30fps | This video mode enables the user to capture videos in Full HD (FHD) resolution at a frame rate of 30fps. FHD resolution provides high-definition quality, while the lower frame rate of 30fps is suitable for capturing standard motion. |
Note: Selecting high-quality capture mode may result in very large file sizes.