Microscope Camera MediaCybernetics Evolution MP

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Norbert
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Microscope Camera MediaCybernetics Evolution MP

#1 Post by Norbert » Mon Aug 05, 2019 9:23 am

Dear members,

At work we have this old MediaCybernetics Evolution MP microscope camera dusting away on one of our microscopes. It's currently hooked up to a crappy pc (with Windows XP) which is not workable anymore. Most of the other pcs we have around here are Windows 10 and I'm wondering if there's any way to connect this camera to a newer pc and bring back to live again.

On the website of Media Cybernetics (http://www.mediacy.com/device/media-cyb ... ion-mp/108) I found that it requires a QCAM driver, but these drivers only go up to Windows 7 according to QI Imaging.

Does anybody have an idea to work around this and save this little buddy from complete obsolescence?

Cheers,
Norbert
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mrsonchus
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Location: Cumbria, UK

Re: Microscope Camera MediaCybernetics Evolution MP

#2 Post by mrsonchus » Mon Aug 05, 2019 10:56 am

I think, for backwards-compatibility presumably, that Windows 10 has the facility to run programs in other version modes - you may be able to run the camera software that uses this driver 'in Windows 7 mode'.
John B

Hobbyst46
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Re: Microscope Camera MediaCybernetics Evolution MP

#3 Post by Hobbyst46 » Mon Aug 05, 2019 11:18 am

A totally crazy idea: if the camera is connected to the PC via a USB cable, why not try the free downloadable software MICAM (on any Windows version) - perhaps it will recognize the camera ? it is not a very old camera I think ?

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Roldorf
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Re: Microscope Camera MediaCybernetics Evolution MP

#4 Post by Roldorf » Mon Aug 05, 2019 12:26 pm

Are you sure it's USB the only one I could find is a firewire version. See here http://www.svision.com.cn/uploadfile/20 ... 833624.pdf

With Image-pro software.

You can still get the software for Windows 10. See here.

http://www.mediacy.com/support/imagepro/updates/

Edit: you can also get USB to firewire adaptors for very little money.
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Norbert
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Re: Microscope Camera MediaCybernetics Evolution MP

#5 Post by Norbert » Tue Aug 06, 2019 12:21 am

Thank you for your replies! Yes, its connection is Firewire, no USB. I might indeed try to get hold of a Firewire-USB adapter and see if that works.
Unfortunately, there is no Image Pro subscription here at work as this camera was operated with Olysia Bioport software.

Scarodactyl
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Re: Microscope Camera MediaCybernetics Evolution MP

#6 Post by Scarodactyl » Tue Aug 06, 2019 1:33 am

Firewire and usb aren't really compatible, fundamentally. These converters exist but the reviews aren't very good, since a perfect adapter isn't really possible.

PeteM
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Re: Microscope Camera MediaCybernetics Evolution MP

#7 Post by PeteM » Tue Aug 06, 2019 2:04 am

Seems to me the simplest thing is to buy a used Windows 7 laptop and dedicate it for scope use. Around here it might be $125 for something like a pretty decent but old IBM Thinkpad. Don't know the quality of that camera - but I'd guess it's worth more than the $125 or so?? Sounds like the trick will be finding a machine with a Firewire port.

Norbert
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Re: Microscope Camera MediaCybernetics Evolution MP

#8 Post by Norbert » Tue Aug 06, 2019 4:36 am

I guess you're right PeteM.
It's so unfortunate the connectivity of these old microscope cameras is what's keeping them in the past, not the camera itself.
I'm also looking into the possibility of getting it to work with MICAM, but that's not giving any result either.

MichaelG.
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Re: Microscope Camera MediaCybernetics Evolution MP

#9 Post by MichaelG. » Tue Aug 06, 2019 4:48 am

Scaraodactyl makes a very important point !
... and PeteM has the simple answer.

I would just add that PCMCIA cards are [or at least were] available, which implement FireWire effectively .... and that also that [until a few years ago] most Macs had FireWire ports and may produce some sort of image, even though OS X is not supported by MediaCybernetics.

MichaeG.

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MichaelG.
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Re: Microscope Camera MediaCybernetics Evolution MP

#10 Post by MichaelG. » Tue Aug 06, 2019 5:42 am

Norbert wrote:At work we have this old MediaCybernetics Evolution MP microscope camera dusting away on one of our microscopes. It's currently hooked up to a crappy pc (with Windows XP) which is not workable anymore. Most of the other pcs we have around here are Windows 10 and I'm wondering if there's any way to connect this camera to a newer pc and bring back to live again.
I think the BIG question is: Do you have a licensed copy of the software on that 'crappy pc' ?
... If so: don't scrap the PC yet; you will probably want [at least] the licence details.

MichaelG.
.
http://www.mediacy.com/support/imageproplus
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Markus
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Re: Microscope Camera MediaCybernetics Evolution MP

#11 Post by Markus » Sun Mar 07, 2021 3:57 pm

Hi Norbert,

We also have a camara like this in our microscope however I can´t find the disk with the driver QCam 2.0.11 or later from QImaging and the link in the page of the proveedor does not work anymore https://www.qimaging.com/support/downloads/.

Is it possible that you can share with me the driver for the camara or recommend me a page where I can find it?

I bougth an USB adapter to Firewire port in amazone and I have a computer with windows 7 but I dont have the driver.

This is my mail marcos.zea.14@gmail.com

I really appreciate your help.

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