When I try to start the camera, I get an error message: "cannot find xxxxxxD.TIF".
Your Dark File is either missing or in the wrong folder. Your xxxxxxD.TIF (the "x's" stand for your serial number)  must be in the same folder as your Data files.

When I try to start the camera, I get an error message: "cannot find xxxxxxG.TIF".
Your Gain file is either missing or in the wrong folder. Your xxxxxxG.TIF (the "x's" stand for your serial number) must be in the same folder as your Data files.

I've just made a new Black file, now my software can't find it, why?
You've probably saved it in the wrong folder. The Black file must be in the same folder as the parameter file. Note, later versions of software do not allow the black file to be saved in a folder other than the parameter file folder.

SINGLE-SHOT BACKS (S2, S3, S4, S242)

Although I am sure I focused properly with my camera, the image seems to be out of focus...
Your single-shot digital back may not be shimmed correctly. The digital back contains shims between the actual back and the adapter plate. Although MegaVision uses the specifications supplied to us by the various camera manufacturers (Hasselblad, Maymia, etc) AND tests each and every digital back before it leaves the factory, there still is a chance that your individual camera may be slightly different and require a custom fitting. This can be caused by simple use; your camera may "loosen up" a little after years of use. MegaVision offers to our customers a custom fitting service. If you send your single-shot digital back along with your camera (please include lens & view finder) to the factory we will custom shim your camera to correct specifications at. Contact John Cox in the Service Department or any one of your MegaVision Technical Representatives for further information.

After installing/upgrading PhotoShoot on a Macintosh with a higher OS, or after upgrading a Macintosh, I get a "xx driver not loaded" error.
The single-shot driver distributed prior to the release of Mac OS version 7.6.1 are incompatible with later versions of the Operating System, including OS 7.6.1, OS8, OS8.1 and OS9. To solve the problem, refer to the PhotoShoot page and then the appropriate Technical Information page for driver details.

When taking pictures of some clothing patterns I get a moiré pattern. How can this be corrected?
Moiré is an effect of striped CCD-arrays (which are the heart of single-capture digital cameras). MegaVision is working on a built-in software function to correct this, but the current recommended fix is to use PhotoShop™ to correct the moiré. See Tech Tips for a how-to.

What is the equivalent film speed of the S2/S3/S4?
ISO 80

What are the allowable shutter speeds for the S2/S3?
There are two answers to this question: The S2/S3 tethered can shoot at 1/125th sec. and slower*. The S2/S3 on the BatPac™ can shoot as fast as your camera is capable. The temperature of the CCD increases with longer exposures, increasing the shadow noise. Noise in images longer than 1 second can be unacceptable. *Faster speeds are possible when using a hot shoe strobe sync. See Tech Tips for details.

After developing an S2/S3/S4 image, shadows are noisy.
Re-capture the dark correct and make sure the new dark file is saved to the same directory as the parameter file.


TRIPLE-SHOT BACKS (T2, T32)

My shadows look noisy. What is wrong?
Chances are, your Dark Correct is not enabled, or you need to capture a new black. (We recommend capturing a new black a minimum of once a day.  If your environment changes temperature, you should make as many as necessary to compensate for the changes. Watch for a 10 to 15 degree change).  Check to make sure you are not accidently pushing your exposure or dragging your shutter.  Check to make sure you are capturing the image at full resolution.

When I do a capture, it looks very off color, I get error messages when I try to balance or balancing doesn't work, but my Meter shot looks fine. Why?
Recycle time.... if your pack is too slow for your capture, your system is probably only getting one or two good flashes out of three. The T2 fires in this order.. G, B, R. If your pack isn't fully recycled when the camera fires, you will get an unpredictable color shift. The first pop is usually ok, but the camera may fire the 2nd or even the 3rd  exposure before the strobe pack has fully recycled, creating color shifts. ( Remember Meter mode only uses one flash) To correct this problem, either reduce the power output of your strobe pack or increase the delay time between flashes in the T2 Software.

When doing a balance I click on my desired high light and I receive an error message...        
Make sure that you have selected an highlight that has density in ALL three channels... we recommend a highlight with 15 to 20% density. If one or more of the three channels has a 0 density (255, zone 10) the software is unable to do the calculations and gives an error message.

When taking an RGB picture, I only get two flashes and one of the color separations (Red, Blue, or Green) is missing, or black.
The T2 is capturing faster than your flash pack can recycle. Try either turning down your pack to decrease its recycle time or increase the T2's delay (Setup/Preferences/Delay). A delay of 3-4 seconds is enough for most flash packs on a nominal setting.

Frequently, especially on older Operating Systems/Computers, the preference file becomes corrupt. Often problems encountered by users are solved by throwing away the preferences file for the MegaVision software. On the Macintosh, this file is located in the preference folder, which is in the system folder of your startup drive. For the NT users, the preferences file will be located in the "Capture Station" or PhotoShootPC folder, and is named "MVprefsxx.dat". It is ok to throw away the .dat file as the software will remake it, but be aware that you may be throwing away your personalized settings. The exact location of the software folder is dictated by where you allowed the installer to place it. To dump your prefs: