Agfa ePhoto 307 Linux Software

This page contains executables and documentation for my linux program for retrieving pictures from the Agfa ePhoto 307 color digital camera.

The Camera

The Agfa ePhoto 307 is a digital camera. It produces very nice pictures at a resonable resolution (640x480) at a very good price ($300, last check).

The Software

I have discontinued development of this software because the photopc software does everything this software does, and has free source. Due to the non-disclosure agreement under which I was given the protocol specs, I cannot comment on the technical accuracy of the photopc software. I can say that it is what I use at home exclusively any more.

The last version was release 0.11. You may download the linux ELF binary. Please read the documentation and license, below.

Documentation

Basic features The basic syntax for using ephoto-0.11 is:
ephoto-0.11 [-G -b basename -n startnum] [-g picnum] [-d picnum] [-a] [-p device] [-c]

Specifying the camera device

To specify where the camera is attached: 
ephoto-0.11 -p device
where device is the name of the serial port which has the camera attached. Use device names /dev/ttySn in preference to /dev/cuan names. /dev/ttyS0 is default.

Downloading a single picture

To download a single picture: 
ephoto-0.11 -g <#>
where <#> is the number of the image to be downloaded. For example "ephoto-0.11 -g 4" will download the 4th picture. In this mode, the image is printed on STDOUT. Error/status messages will be printed on STDERR.

Downloading the entire camera

To download all the pictures in a camera 
ephoto-0.11 -G -b basename -n <startnum>
That is, if you do "ephoto-0.1 -G -b image -n 7", the images will be downloaded from the camera, and given names image7.jpg, image8.jpg, image9.jpg, image10.jpg, etc. in the current working directory.

Deleting a single picture

To delete a single picture: 
ephoto-0.11 -d <#>
where <#> is the number of the image to be deleted.

Deleting the entire camera

To delete the entire camera: 
ephoto-0.11 -a
This will delete the entire camera.

Getting a picture count

ephoto-0.11 -c
This will report the number of pictures currently in the camera.

Bugs and other notes

You can use commands in combination, but this is not recommended. For example, "ephoto-0.1 Ga image 1" should download the entire camera and then delete the entire camera. However, if the download fails, it will continue on to the delete anyway, and possibly succeed in deleting the entire camera without having downloaded the images.

It only runs at 57600 bps currently.

Long options --get-all, --basename, --startnum, --get-picture, --delete-picture, --delete-all, --port work too.

It randomly fails a lot.

License

Due to the nature of the agreement by which I obtained the protocol specs, I am unfortunately unable to distribute source.

This software is Copyright 1997 by the Matthew Gray

All rights reserved.

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its documentation for any non-commercial purpose and without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting documentation, and that my name, "Matthew Gray", not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of the software without specific, written prior permission.

I DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL I BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

Licenses for any sort of commercial use will be granted on a case by case basis, and in general will be free, except in cases where the software will be resold in any way. All commercial users are required to email me to register and obtain official permission to use the software. Commercial users are considered to be granted a 30 day trial period of use, to allow me time to reply with official permission.

Non-commercial users are encouraged, but not required to email me if they are using it.

Version History

Version 0.11
Changed argument parsing to getopt
Added option to specify camera port
Version 0.1
Initial Release
by Matthew Gray (hits: )