For this driver, please select Canon EOS 1 (older models) or Canon EOS 2 (newer models with Digix II or III processors) on the Setup tab.
The newer Canon EOS 2 driver, which uses the new Canon camera control API, currently supports the 1DmkII, 1DsmkII, 20D, 350D / Rebel XT, 400D / Rebel XTi, 30D, 40D, 450D / Rebel XSi, 50D, and 1000D / Rebel XS.
The older Canon EOS driver supports older camera models, including the 1D, 1Ds, 1DmkII, 1DsmkII, 10D, 20D, 20Da, 300D/Rebel/KISS, 350D/Rebel XT, D30, D60 and 5D. Note that some of these cameras are also supported by the new Canon EOS 2 driver, which may have better performance with certain models.
Availability of this feature depends on Product Level.
Windows Vista users: Please note that Canon has decided not to support third party camera control under Windows Vista for the models operated by the Canon EOS 1 driver. RAW files from these camera can however be opened.
Important: Please read this entire section before attempting to use the Canon EOS cameras. Due to various camera quirks, the following notes must be followed for the driver to operate:
The Canon software must be installed.
The USB or FireWire cable must be connected to the camera.
Most camera models require PTP mode to be turned On for Windows Vista, and Off for Windows XP. This can be set through the built-in camera menus.
If the Canon EOS Utility software starts when you plug in the camera, you must close it; otherwise MaxIm DL will not be able to connect to the camera.
If a Canon lens is attached, turn autofocus off. If autofocus is on, and the camera cannot achieve autofocus, the exposure will never be taken and the camera will appear to lock up.
Either plug in the camera to an AC power converter or have fresh batteries and turn on the Auto Power Off setting to Off so the camera won’t shut down. Otherwise the camera will unexpectedly stop working after it is idle for a period of time.
Older models (prior to 30D) require an external Bulb cable to take exposures longer than 30 seconds.
If Mirror Lockup mode is enabled in the camera (Custom Function menu) then you must use a Bulb cable for all models. This is true even if your camera does not require a Bulb cable to take long exposures. If you do not have a Bulb cable then you must turn off Mirror Lockup mode, or else the shutter will never fire.
If you are using a parallel port Bulb cable, do not connect it until the software is linked to the camera (via the USB cable). Otherwise the cable may trigger the shutter as soon as it is plugged in, and this will prevent the camera from connecting. This is inherent to the design of the parallel cables. It is not a problem for serial cables.
If you have a serial Bulb cable you may leave it connected, but be aware that when the system reboots, some drivers may scan the serial port and cause an unexpected exposure if the camera is powered up during boot.
If you have a 10D or 300D/350D with modified firmware you must to set the mirror lock mode to off and the Exposure stops to 1/3.
When using the 5D with a bulb cable, always set Bulb Exposure to 1 and over, set the camera to Bulb mode, and always use exposures of 1 second or longer. If you need to take exposures shorter than 1 second, you will have to manually switch the camera to Manual mode (and then remember to switch it back to Bulb for longer exposures).
This driver uses threading to ensure that the user interface remains active at all times, except during image download. This means you may cancel the exposure while it is in progress; however, due to the design of the camera the image must still be downloaded and discarded. During this time the camera status will show Flushing.
EOS Model
Select the EOS Model from the drop list. Please note that Canon releases new models frequently, and that a software update is always required to support a new model. Updates are available through Help menu Check For Updates. Beta test versions may also be announced on the MaxIm DL user group.
Shutter Release
The EOS cameras can only use the available exposure "stops". If you select an exposure time that is not the same as a "stop", the closest available exposure time is automatically used. Also many EOS cameras are limited "out of the box" to a maximum exposure time of 30 seconds. Longer exposures require a Bulb cable.
Using a separate Bulb cable, the computer can directly control the shutter. By default, the Bulb cable is used for exposures greater than 30 seconds. You can configure the driver to use the Bulb cable for exposures over 1 second, which means you are not limited to the "stops" between 1 second and 30 seconds (see Bulb Exposure below).
Newer models such as the 40D and 450D can take longer exposures without an extra Bulb cable. However, the Bulb cable is still required if you wish to use the mirror lockup feature (see Mirror Settle Time below).
Bulb cables are available at http://www.cyanogen.com/buy/DSLRcable.htm, http://www.hapg.org/astrocables.htm, http://www.optcorp.com/, and various telescope distributors.
If no Bulb cable is being used, select USB/FW Only. For parallel cables select Parallel and connect the cable to LPT1. For serial cables select the desired COM port. For the Shoestring DSUSB select DSUSB. Note that serial or USB cables are preferred over parallel cables, and that serial cables can be used via popular USB-to-serial adapters.
If you have trouble actuating the shutter release cable, please try the DSLR Cable Tester utility, available on our web site.
Bulb Exposure
By default, Bulb Exposure is set to 30 and over. This means that Bulb mode is used only for exposures over 30 seconds. Exposures shorter than 30 seconds are limited to the camera "stops".
You can set Bulb Exposure to 1 and over. This means that Bulb mode is used for exposures 1 second and over. This has the advantage that you are not restricted to the exposure stops above 1 second.
If you are not using a Bulb cable, and your camera does not support Bulb exposures via the USB cable (e.g. 40D, 450D and newer models), then you should select 30 and over.
Mirror Settle Time
Some camera models support a mirror lockup function. This mode is activated through the camera's built-in menus (Custom Function menu, Mirror Lockup option). When this mode is on, the mirror will flip up first, and then the shutter will open after a delay. This allows time for vibrations induced by the mirror motion to settle out. The Mirror Settle Time specifies how long that delay is. On cameras that do not have mirror lockup capability, such as the 300D, this setting is ignored.
You must use a Bulb cable when Mirror Lockup mode is enabled; otherwise the shutter will not fire. This is true even if the camera does not require a Bulb cable for taking exposures (e.g. 40D, 450D and newer models).
Readout Mode
Through the Expose tab you can set the Readout Mode, as follows:
RAW Monochrome for RAW (bayer-encoded) 12-bit or 14-bit images (saves as FITS)
RAW Color for RAW 12-bit or 14-bit color converted images (saves as FITS)
JPEG Monochrome for 8-bit JPEG compressed download in monochrome (saves as FITS)
JPEG Color for 8-bit JPEG compressed download in color (saves as FITS)
CF - RAW write RAW file directly to Compact Flash card
CF - JPEG write JPEG file directly to Compact Flash card
RAW to Hard Drive write RAW file directly to PC hard drive (saves in proprietary RAW format)
For the best quality imaging, select Readout Mode to RAW Monochrome and set Binning to 1x1. In this mode, the images are initially monochrome but have color information encoded in them by way of a Bayer matrix. Although color is not immediately visible, this mode provides higher bit depth (12 bits instead of 8), and dark frame subtraction will be superior on RAW images. The typical sequence is to acquire images, subtract dark frame, convert color, and then stack. Note that this mode is not suitable for use with the focusing tools.
If you set Readout Mode to RAW Color and Binning to 1x1, then the images appear immediately in color. This is not optimal for dark frame subtraction, though, so the RAW Monochrome mode is preferred unless you set the camera to subtract dark frames internally. Some camera models have the capability of taking two frames for every exposure; one with the shutter closed and one with the shutter open; the images are automatically subtracted prior to download. If you activate this mode, then the images take twice as long to collect, but they are already dark subtracted. This feature is best used with Developed Color, since it eliminates the color conversion step.
Focusing can be performed in any mode except for RAW Monochrome, Binning 1x1. In that mode, the Bayer matrix is present, and this will interfere with measurements. Focus in any other mode or with Binning 2x2.
Please note that Binning only improves the download speed for JPEG download modes.
ISO
This setting can adjusted on the Expose tab. The desired ISO setting can be configured from 100 through 3200 (the range actually available depends on the camera model selected). The ISO setting is really the camera's A/D converter gain; a low setting provides good quality but is less sensitive. A high setting provides the highest sensitivity but may limit the dynamic range. You may need to use trial-and-error to determine the best setting for your specific conditions; however, a good starting point for low-light images is 800.