Q:    Which Operating System is Supported?
A:    Optic: You can work with Windows 98SE/ME/NT/2000/XP/XP64/2003/Vistax86. But we do not support Windows 98/ME. No Support for Vista x64 Edition. Because of diver certifications.
       Optic2: You can work with Windows 2000/XP/XP64/2003/ME. For Vistax86 you will need at least minimum Camera Flash software V2.7 installed. No Support for Vista x64 Edition. Because of diver certifications.

Q:    I would like to work with a Notebook. Can I do that?
A:    Of course. Many new Notebooks have the IEEE 1394-Interface included. But you can work also with an PCAMCI(Cardbus) or Express Card for IEE1394. The IEEE1394 Interface must be 1394-1995 OHCI 1.0-compatible.

Q:    Which IEEE1394 interfaces are supported?
A:    Optic/Optic2 run with the IEEE1394 and IEEE1394b Standards. Note that the IEEE1394b Interfaces run from XP SP2. This interfaces do not work properly with older Operating systems. Using XP SP2 note that KB885222 is installed. 800MBit Card make troubles because they are not well supported by microsoft. We suggest to use standard 400MBit Interfaces.

Q:    Where do I find the driver of OPTIc?
A:    You have to download it from our homepage: Optic, Optic2 This is a self-extracting file. After downloading extract the files into a specified directory by executing the downloaded File.

Q:    I have Windows XP professional. Do I have to install the chipsetdriver also?
A:    Yes.

Q:    I have Windows Vista. Does Alge Photofinish work with Vista?
A:    Optic Yes. Optic2 Yes, but you will need at least minimum Camera Flash software V2.7 installed. Vista 64 Bit edition we do not support because the driver has to be digitally signed. Our driver isn't. So Vista x64 do not work with our driver. Same for Timy USB driver.

Q:    I have Windows XP Service Pack 2. I have trouble with the FireWire what can this be?
A:    There is an issue with Windows Service Pack 2 that slow down the FireWire Connection. Please install Hotfix 885222. Some PC's also make Problems when transition effects are enabled. We recommend also to set the visual effects to "best performance".

Q:    I have Windows XP with hyperthreading. Does OPTIc support this?
A:    Yes. The OPTIc Software ist a multi threading software. Hyperthreading will increase the system perfomance considerable. see also: Hyperthreading

Q:    Is it void in which PCI Slot my FireWire Card fits?
A:    Yes. But for best performance you're FireWire Card should have an own IRQ. Lower is better. Unluckely this is not possible on all computer systems. Thatswhy some Computers with Windows XP have troubels with the performance. See also FAQ of http://www.ieee1394-produkte.de/ (only in german)
 

Software Install:

Q:    How do I have to install the OPTIc driver
A:    Normally like every windows driver.

Q:    After installing the OPTIc Software I cannot start it. I always get an error.
A:    Maybe you do not have Administrator or power user rights. In this case you are not allowed to install the OCX needed by OPTIc. Log in with Administrator rights. Install the Software once again. Then it will work.

Troubleshooting:

Q:    Windows Vista: Testpicure seems to be updated very slow . Does it not work correct?
A:    Yes. Windows Vista is very fast in repainting pictures. It is so fast that you often can't see updating of the Testpicture.

Q:    Sometimes my PC crashes when using OPTIc2 with Windows XP SP2. What can I do?
A:    There is an error in the Microsoft 1394 driver stack. Do not use "minimal Power managment". Use "Always on" instead. And "turn of harddisk": NEVER. Maybe this problem will be solved from Microsoft in feature.

Q:    Everything is connected, but the Error-LED shines. What is wrong?
A:    In this case you don't have a connection from the OCD1 to the PC. Please check the cable and/or try to connect the 1394-cable to an other port.

Q:    After a few seconds of recording time I get the message "Virtual memory full" and I get strage vertical lines on the picture.
A:    There are more possibilities:
        1. You have to less System-memory (min. 256MB)
        2. Your hard disk is too slow/full
        3. Some new computers need a chipset-driver for the main board. Otherwise they work really slow. Specially VIA-Chips make a lot of troubles because they are not very well supported by Microsoft. The VIA 4 in 1 driver is also on the ALGE-CD.
        4. The photocell is not well adjusted, this means it gives a constant impulse and therefore records constant.
        5. The photocell lens is covered with water or has steam on it. This means the photocell blocks and gives a permanent impulse, which does continuous recording.
        6. The DMA for the Harddisk is not enabled. Use the DMA-Check-Tool from Microsoft to enable it. This is also on the ALGE-CD
        7. DirectX is not installed: For faster Graphics use DirectX. This is also on the ALGE-CD
        8. BIOS Setting: PCI delayed transaction ist Enabled: This is wrong set this to DISABLED. See the links: PCI-Latency or in German:  Link. Unluckley on some Computers (Laptops) you can't  change this setting in BIOS....

Q:    I have a OHCI-IEEE 1394-Card with VIA Chips. After a view restarts of the OPTIc-Program I can't work with the OPTIc anymore and I have to restart the computer.
A:    This is a bug in the OHCI-driver. A view bus-resets cause that the driver hangs. In this case you have to install Windows 2000 Servicepack 3. We suggest IEEE 1394-cards with TI-chips. They have the biggest FIFO.  This is nessesary for long recordings.

Q:    My computer works very slow, especially when I use the zoom window.
A:    You have to install the chipset of your computer. Which one you can see in the manual of your computer. Some chipset-drivers have to be installed FIRST, immediatly after installing Windows 2000!

Q:    Can I use PCMCIA(Cardbus) or Express Cards?
A:    Yes. We recommend those with TI-Chipset because they have the biggest fifo memory. Some customers reported problems with NEC Cards.

Q:    I have troubles working with Windows XP. It makes pictures on his own. What can I do?
A:    On some Laptop/slow computers this problem happens. Sorry, but this is a internal windows problem. In this case try to install WIN2K.

Q:    I have a computer with SIS chipset. OPTIc does not work properly on this computer. What can I do?
A:    OPTIc is a realtime program. Computers with SIS chipset are not suitable for realtime recording. We suggest Computers with INTEL Chipsets.

Q:    How do I know which cipset does my computer have?
A:    On the ALGE-CD you will find a third-party software called "SiSoft-Sandra Freeware Benchmark". With this program you can check your computer.

Q:    Sometimes my Laptop makes pictures on his own. What can I do?
A:    Some IEEE1394 connectors are very bad. If you touch the cable/connector the connection makes a short break and this causes this strange pictures. Be shure that you have connected the IEEE1394 properly.

Standard Zoom Lens - C-Mount 12.5 - 75 mm:

Q: Which angle does the standard zoom lens C-Mount 12.5 – 75 mm cover?
A: If you use 768 pixel of the camera: The lens covers about 7° to 20°.
If you use 1356 pixel of the camera: The lens covers about 12° to 33°.

If you have any question which is not listed above, please send us an email