Sony A7III bulb mode images not opening correctly

[RT--]

Hello,

I am having trouble opening Sony ILCE-7M3 bulb exposures in PixInsight.

Have a look at the attached image.
The left one is a 20s exposure shot in manual mode, the right one is a 4min exposure shot in bulb mode.
I have tried a number of different images, and it seems nothing shot in bulb mode will open correctly in PixInsight.
Other software will open the files without issues.

[sharkmelley]

In bulb mode Sony drops the bit depth to 12bits.  But I don't know why that should cause any issues.

Does this problem happen both with compressed and uncompressed file formats?

Can you upload a raw file somewhere e.g. DSC3305.ARW so we can take a look.

Mark

[RT--]

The 12-bit drop was the first thing on my mind too.
I don't shoot compressed.
I will upload the raw when I get home.

[oldwexi]

Some cameras need in Bulb mode 2 times pressing the exposure button.
First press for moving the mirror up and
second press for starting exposure.
It could be that your 4 minute image is only a very short dark image.
Have you checked the header about exposure time?

On the other hand you say image _DSC3305 can be opened by other software AND shows details
of the milkyway ?

Please check what you did.

Gerald

[msmythers]

Real curious to see the raw for this. I still use the Original Nex-5 and no issue ever in bulb and raw. The 7M3 is mirrorless also, right?



Mike

[RT--]

I did a quick test set. See the attached image.
All images have the same exposure; 2s f/2.8 ISO100.
top left: uncompressed, manual mode
top right: uncompressed, bulb mode
bottom left: compressed, manual mode
bottom right: compressed, bulb mode

Something strange going on with the uncompressed bulb, here's the raw for that one.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AFwsopoLn5GBf3I9FdFY6eEte64SP0Sa/view?usp=sharing

All shots open just fine in Photoshop and RawDigger, etc.

[bulrichl]

This raw image (_DSC7108.ARW) is loaded and displayed correctly with the new RAW module, see attached sreenshot.  I suggest to install the new RAW module, see https://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?topic=12126.0 .

Bernd

[msmythers]

I can confirms Bernds suggestion. Here is the image with the old DSLR_Raw module and PI 1.8.4 and the image is clearly wrong. Running 1.8.5 and the new module the image is fine.



Mike

[sharkmelley]

This raw image (_DSC7108.ARW) is loaded and displayed correctly with the new RAW module, see attached sreenshot.  I suggest to install the new RAW module, see https://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?topic=12126.0 .

Bernd

There is obviously something different about the format used for Bulb mode uncompressed data which DCRaw cannot handle.  I don't know why Sony uses a different format for bulb mode.  DeepStacker cannot handle it either because it also uses DCRaw.

Development work ceased on DCRaw some time ago so as Bernd says, you will need the new module based on LibRaw.

Mark

[msmythers]

An interesting thing is the old sony image converter software from 2012 opens the file fine. Not totally sure it's a sony thing as much as a DCRaw problem as I never updated that software. The top 2 images are of course PI but the bottom is the old converter. Anyway the new LibRaw works.


Mike

[RT--]

Excellent! Thank you for your help!