Programming guys! Can you update Canon EOS ES-E1 Software for Modern Mac/PC?

[StoneNYC]

Moderators ... THIS IS A FILM CAMERA QUESTION

I and many others own the Canon 1V film camera, it came with a feature to download shooting data into a spreadsheet, and even to link scanned images to the spreadsheet data to connect the image with the shooting data, that includes aperture, film speed, type, shot number, shutter speed, camera lens details, focal length etc.

Very modern stuff, but still film based.

So, with the advent of modern technology, I know there are old emulators for various windows versions... but I now exclusively use a Mac, and don't want to try and add a whole operating system into my hard drive that has the potential for viruses etc, (hence why I use a Mac) so, being that these days the technology and ability to program is essentially automated and not quite as complicated as it once was, is there a way to design a simple mini-program that would allow access to the shooting data on the camera and download it to a spreadsheet in Mac Numbers, or if need be Excel? just port it into columns enough so that the data can be saved and also printed on a single page for posterity (or to add to the film files) etc for easy reference?

The old program I don't believe it let you actually save the info to a spreadsheet, only work within the program itself...

Anyway, I have the camera, and I have the link cable... and I have the OLD software... but it certainly doesn't work on my mac, and the old laptop I used to use to download the data is lost (it was my mom's and I think she gave it away) so all the data I had downloaded is of course gone (I did print out about 80 rolls worth of shooting data before giving it back to her so at least it's saved somewhere) but anyway, the point is... is this possible, and would it be relatively simple? the link cable connects to the computer by... USB!! thank goodness!!!

It connects to the camera via a proprietary connector and cable with some kind of small circuitry mid-cable that does.... something... to convert it to USB.

Anyway, anyone?

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

The short answer is yes, it can be done. The long answer is, while it can be done it's probably not worth it, as this would be a far from trivial exercise. First you'd have to write a driver that would connect the camera to the computer. Then you'd have to connect to the data source in the camera, parse it, and output the data into a human-readable format. Would you be willing to pay someone north of $200/hr to develop this kind of code? Let's put a conservative estimate on the time to complete at 160 hours.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

In other words, get a pen (the kind with ink, or perhaps a pencil...) and a notebook (the paper kind). Cameras that print spreadsheets...

 

[MattKing]

The software update for Windows XP compatibility is still available on Canon's website: http://web.canon.jp/imaging/ELS/PC/ese1_pc02W-e.html

I'd venture a guess that there are a few used Windows XP computers around that could be had for very little money.

And the Windows emulators for Mac aren't really separate operating systems.

And by the way, Macs are the new growth industry for viruses.

 

[j-dogg]

Hiren's Boot Disc has something called MiniWindowsXP which is a CD-bootable XP environment for troubleshooting, it is available as a USB-bootable OS as well.

Might be something to look into.

Old laptops are a dime a dozen and Windows 95/98 and XP are practically free these days

Tell you what, pay me shipping, I'll dig out one of my old IBM Thinkpads, I have a couple of them from my PC repair days I believe one of them has Windows 2000 on it. let me go fire it up if this program you need can run in 2000 it's yours. It might even have Excel on it, if it doesn't I'll put it on there.

I'm not doing anything with it and it needs to go to a good home where it will be used, the battery even lasts an hour or something.

 

[Chris Lange]

if nobody else will say it, I will...bito**ent?

 

[StoneNYC]

The software update for Windows XP compatibility is still available on Canon's website: http://web.canon.jp/imaging/ELS/PC/ese1_pc02W-e.html

I'd venture a guess that there are a few used Windows XP computers around that could be had for very little money.

And the Windows emulators for Mac aren't really separate operating systems.

And by the way, Macs are the new growth industry for viruses.

Thanks, as I get rid of GAS I was trying to avoid owning an old clunker machine JUST for this one purpose...

Also, back in 2010 when I actually was using the software on the old laptop (XP was old then) all the info said that the windows emulators wouldn't work with the software/cable for some reason, I even downloaded the xp update or whatever and got canon to burn me a copy directly from their master copy (since they didn't actually have anymore disks but a single disk and single ES-E1 cable, and it was only there to use for identifying issues for customers at the New Jersey CPS center) so, unless things have changed, there's something that the software needs that the emulators don't provide... I don't know what that could be, but I did try it on my Mac Leopard OS with an emulator and it didn't function and got error messages.

I could try it again I suppose, but I doubt it would function any differently... I think it's because the program needs to save and alter data on the computer drive in order to download the camera data? maybe? I dunno... I'm not really the computer guy I once was.

I only vaguely followed Flying Camera's description... however, I was hoping he would program really fast and do the whole thing in 1 hour, that I would pay for

 

[StoneNYC]

if nobody else will say it, I will...bito**ent?

that's a pretty fast way to pick up viruses...

 

[StoneNYC]

In other words, get a pen (the kind with ink, or perhaps a pencil...) and a notebook (the paper kind). Cameras that print spreadsheets...

Can't go back in time... I've got at least 20 rolls of new data stored in the camera already... lol

 

[darkosaric]

The cheapest solution would be to install Virtual Box, and some old Windows on it, and then install old software on that Windows.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Oh, and don't forget that whoever is doing this programming job for you would have to have the camera in their possession the entire time they're developing it. So you'd be without the camera for at least a month.

 

[bernard_L]

The cheapest solution would be to install Virtual Box, and some old Windows on it, and then install old software on that Windows.

+1
Virtual Box works surprisingly well. Probably the thoughest question is: does you Mac have a place to plug your "old" cable?

 

[Truzi]

I'll echo the idea of Virtual Box:
virtualbox.org

You'll need a windows disc to install windows onto a virtual machine. You can pass ports into the virtual machine (USB, rs232, etc.) - sometimes it's easy, sometimes it takes a bit of work. You can also look into "linux-based" camera software. Some are feature-rich and ported to OS X. If not ported you could always compile the source code on your Mac so it will work.

 

[EdSawyer]

I use this software on my Mac. I run it inside a Windows 7 VM, using VMware fusion five. It works fine.

 

[StoneNYC]

+1
Virtual Box works surprisingly well. Probably the thoughest question is: does you Mac have a place to plug your "old" cable?

It does have USB, but no DVD/CD drive.... lol

 

[StoneNYC]

I use this software on my Mac. I run it inside a Windows 7 VM, using VMware fusion five. It works fine.

Thanks, again I don't want windows software on a partition on my computer.

 

[StoneNYC]

Oh, and don't forget that whoever is doing this programming job for you would have to have the camera in their possession the entire time they're developing it. So you'd be without the camera for at least a month.

That's ok I have my 4x5 lol

 

[StoneNYC]

I'll echo the idea of Virtual Box:
virtualbox.org

You'll need a windows disc to install windows onto a virtual machine. You can pass ports into the virtual machine (USB, rs232, etc.) - sometimes it's easy, sometimes it takes a bit of work. You can also look into "linux-based" camera software. Some are feature-rich and ported to OS X. If not ported you could always compile the source code on your Mac so it will work.

I've been holding off on buying the DVD/CD drive that allows me to use those OLD shiny disk things lol

 

[Truzi]

If you have access to another machine, or a friend with a machine, you can make an .iso image of an XP disk. Then copy it to an USB drive, and transfer to your Apple. Virtualbox will allow you to "mount" an .iso file as a virtual CD, and you can install it to the virtual machine that way.

You are not partitioning your drive, Virtual Box (like most VMs) will create a virtual computer and virtual drive. These are basically files. No dual-booting (no boot camp) or anything like that.

 

[darkosaric]

You are not partitioning your drive, Virtual Box (like most VMs) will create a virtual computer and virtual drive. These are basically files. No dual-booting (no boot camp) or anything like that.

Even better - you can have files that are virtual drive and computer on your USB stick, so no Windows files on your fancy Mac at all .

 

[Light Guru]

Just for kicks have you connected the camera to the computer? Maybe you will get lucky and it will show up like a flash drive and have a CSV file with the data that you can copy off and open in Excel or Apple's Numbers.

If that does not work you are going to need to install WinXP in a virtual machine and run the old cannon software to access the data.

You say you don't want to put windows on because you might get a virus well you should know that simply running windows won't get you viruses, simply DONT use the internet inside the virtual machine, in fact you could even disable the network sharing to the virtual machine.

 

[StoneNYC]

Just for kicks have you connected the camera to the computer? Maybe you will get lucky and it will show up like a flash drive and have a CSV file with the data that you can copy off and open in Excel or Apple's Numbers.

If that does not work you are going to need to install WinXP in a virtual machine and run the old cannon software to access the data.

You say you don't want to put windows on because you might get a virus well you should know that simply running windows won't get you viruses, simply DONT use the internet inside the virtual machine, in fact you could even disable the network sharing to the virtual machine.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, what you don't understand or might not know is that even Macs can have viruses that just sit there and files that already exist on the computer and would have no effect on my Mac computer if there designed for windows, however if I'm running anything in windows there's a possibility that a file might find its way onto the windows media stick, but unlikely, I run a virus protection program anyway for Mac, that also weeds out Windows viruses as well.

But one can never be too cautious.

I'll give that whole media stick thing a try, I'll have to see if someone can guide me through the steps because it's a little complicated for me, and have to purchase one big enough to run the windows stuff, how big would it need to be?

I highly highly doubt that the computer would be able to access the actual data on the camera, I'm not exactly sure how it all functions but I assume it's some kind of flash drive in the camera that stores the data, but there is that little chip in between the ES-E1 wire and I think that is what converts everything so it's possible that the farthest that my USB connection would go would be that little intermediary chip.

I won't be home for at least a week so I may not have the opportunity to try it right away, and I also then of course would have to find the stupid cable which is buried in a box somewhere but I do have it.

Thanks.

Still would prefer an exportable file, currently the way that I remember it functioning, you couldn't exactly add it to a spreadsheet, you had to just use the data inside of the program, and then you could print it off from the program, but I don't know that the data was readable without the program....

Stupid proprietary crap! Lol

 

[Truzi]

Stone, everything will be contained within the virtual environment. Nothing will happen when the virtual machine is off.

When it is on, the windows VM can only bother the USB stick if a stick is plugged in AND the VM is given access to it. This is something you can control. You would only give access if you were to transfer data to/from the real hard drive or an USB stick.

As posted above, if you keep the windows VM from connecting to the internet, you'll be safe. If you do have an unknown virus on your USB stick, then you don't deserve to have one . Seriously, though, if an USB stick were to infect the windows VM, you just revert the VM to a snapshot (you'll make that after you are all set up, but before doing any work). Of course, you'll also clean the USB stick.

If you are really paranoid, install ghostscript printer on the VM windows installation. It is a free PDF printer. You "print" to it and it makes a PDF file (there are other similar programs). Then just transfer the PDF.

This is all true whether you house the virtual machine on your hard drive or on an USB stick.

Here are some virtualbox links for you:
https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch01.html
(notice the "1.7. Creating your first virtual machine" link)
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/User_HOWTOS

Now, depending how similar your camera's firmware is to the canon digitals, you may be able to get the information the hard way. Mac is an UNIX system, so you can try connecting the camera and see if you can "cat" data from the device - command line stuff. This is advanced, but if the firmware is simple, it might be doable.

Also, although for digital cameras, gphoto2 (http://www.gphoto.org/) may help - though I doubt it. You could try to compile it on your Mac (advanced), or install a Linux system in the virtual machine. If doing a VM, though, might as well make it windows.

 

[StoneNYC]

Stone, everything will be contained within the virtual environment. Nothing will happen when the virtual machine is off.

When it is on, the windows VM can only bother the USB stick if a stick is plugged in AND the VM is given access to it. This is something you can control. You would only give access if you were to transfer data to/from the real hard drive or an USB stick.

As posted above, if you keep the windows VM from connecting to the internet, you'll be safe. If you do have an unknown virus on your USB stick, then you don't deserve to have one . Seriously, though, if an USB stick were to infect the windows VM, you just revert the VM to a snapshot (you'll make that after you are all set up, but before doing any work). Of course, you'll also clean the USB stick.

If you are really paranoid, install ghostscript printer on the VM windows installation. It is a free PDF printer. You "print" to it and it makes a PDF file (there are other similar programs). Then just transfer the PDF.

This is all true whether you house the virtual machine on your hard drive or on an USB stick.

Here are some virtualbox links for you:
https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch01.html
(notice the "1.7. Creating your first virtual machine" link)
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/User_HOWTOS

Now, depending how similar your camera's firmware is to the canon digitals, you may be able to get the information the hard way. Mac is an UNIX system, so you can try connecting the camera and see if you can "cat" data from the device - command line stuff. This is advanced, but if the firmware is simple, it might be doable.

Also, although for digital cameras, gphoto2 (http://www.gphoto.org/) may help - though I doubt it. You could try to compile it on your Mac (advanced), or install a Linux system in the virtual machine. If doing a VM, though, might as well make it windows.

I would love to hang out with you and you guide me through the hack, I can't remember any command line stuff... I know you can access it easy on the Mac with... Oh shoot I forget but I know it's in the applications folder, but I haven't navigated Linux/unix since RedHat came out on IPO and the name Linus Torval And "free Kevin Mitnick" were still fresh on people's tongues.

Shutdown -h

 

[polyglot]

You need not only the software that talks to the camera, but operating-system drivers for the electronics in the cable, which is probably a USB/RS232 converter. It might be a standard/common one or it might not - plug it into your machine and see if it detects the cable as a new serial port. If not, no go.

Get rid of the damn thing and if you want data logging, buy a Minolta 9 with DM-9 data back. It writes text files to a card which you can read in anything, no bullshit proprietary cables required. There's even code out there on the net (written by me!) which will take your DM-9 files and stuff them into the EXIF fields on your scanned jpegs.