[SailfishDevel] Camera flash control. Wired to Qt level or not?

[Mohammed Hassan]

Hi Artem,

On Sat, Nov 16, 2013 at 04:43:57PM +0200, Artem Marchenko wrote:
>  Thanks, Mohammed.
> 
>  I know that torch mode is not supported, but ON mode is. So my current
>  workaround idea is to make phone think it shoots video with flash mode
>  ON (ok, we can even shoot video for real if needed). Assumption is that
>  video + flash mode ON should make phone record video with light
>  constantly ON. Currently it doesn't work for me, maybe because
>  assumption is wrong or maybe I am just using some api the wrong way.

It will not work that way. There is a special mode for torch light but it's
not yet been implemented.


>  2nd workaround idea is to make phone seekAndLock all the time causing
>  flash to be ON. That is likely to result in a multitude of short
>  flashes though.

That can work but it will be slow "light bursts".

A 3rd option would be going even below GSTreamer and Qt and talk to the camera HW directly.
This is harder -trust me- and will tie you to the hardware.

I am really sorry I don't have a solution for you :(

I can only promise it will be available soon in an update.

Cheers,

>  When you record video with the flash ON in a system camera app, does it
>  cause LED to have kith ON all the time?
> 
>  Artem.
> 
>  On Saturday, November 16, 2013, Mohammed Hassan wrote:
> 
>  Hi Artem,
>  On Sat, Nov 16, 2013 at 02:48:30PM +0200, Artem Marchenko wrote:
>  > Hi All
>  > *Context*
>  > I am trying to build a flashlight app, but the same question is
>  valid
>  > for any camera app that wants to shoot photos/videos in low
>  light.
>  > *The problem*
>  > I am trying to control LED flash by setting flash mode to ON (api
>  > confirms that ON mode is supported) and starting camera. Nothing
>  > happens. I also tried actually capturing photo, shooting video
>  and
>  > seekAndLocking. I don't have a device myself, but kind people on
>  IRC
>  > told that only two short LED flashes happen (during seeking for
>  focus
>  > probably).
>  > Could somebody, please, advise how to control flash in Sailfish
>  OS? Or
>  > maybe you could confirm that libhybris flash control just isn't
>  wired
>  > to Qt level?
>  This is unfortunately not supported.
>  The only flash modes supported now are: on, off or auto.
>  Torch light mode is not yet supported but I assure you it will come
>  in an update soon.
>  I am not that familiar with Qt but I know it's a limitation of the
>  layer underneath Qt.
>  The best you can do now is to wait for the phone itself and tinker
>  as you like and I am
>  sure you will manage to do it :-)
>  Cheers,
>  P.S. libhybris camera wrapper is not used by sailfish. It might or
>  might not work.
>  _______________________________________________
>  SailfishOS.org Devel mailing list
> 
>  --
>  Artem Marchenko
>  [1]http://agilesoftwaredevelopment.com
>  [2]http://twitter.com/AgileArtem
> 
> References
> 
>  1. http://agilesoftwaredevelopment.com/
>  2. http://twitter.com/AgileArtem