Camera controls for Linux
It's a standalone Python CLI and GUI (GTK3, GTK4, TK) and camera Viewer (SDL) to set the camera controls in Linux. It can set the V4L2 controls and it is extendable with the non standard controls. Currently it has a Logitech extension (LED mode, LED frequency, BRIO FoV, Relative Pan/Tilt, PTZ presets), Kiyo Pro extension (HDR, HDR mode, FoV, AF mode, Save), Systemd extension (Save and restore controls with Systemd path+service).
flatpak install flathub hu.irl.cameractrls
pacman -S cameractrls
pamac install cameractrls
Install the dependencies via apt:
sudo apt install git libsdl2-2.0-0 libturbojpeg
or via dnf:
sudo dnf install git SDL2 turbojpeg
Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/soyersoyer/cameractrls.git
cd cameractrls
GTK3 GUI for the Camera controls
Add desktop file to the launcher
desktop-file-install --dir="$HOME/.local/share/applications" \
--set-key=Exec --set-value="$PWD/cameractrlsgtk.py" \
--set-key=Path --set-value="$PWD" \
--set-key=Icon --set-value="$PWD/pkg/hu.irl.cameractrls.svg" \
pkg/hu.irl.cameractrls.desktop
Run from the launcher or from the shell
./cameractrlsgtk.py
Add desktop file to the launcher
desktop-file-install --dir="$HOME/.local/share/applications" \
--set-key=Exec --set-value="$PWD/cameractrlsgtk4.py" \
--set-key=Path --set-value="$PWD" \
--set-key=Icon --set-value="$PWD/pkg/hu.irl.cameractrls.svg" \
pkg/hu.irl.cameractrls.desktop
Run from the launcher or from the shell
./cameractrlsgtk4.py
TKinter GUI for the Camera controls
If you like old looking user interfaces.
Install the python3 tkinter dependency via apt:
sudo apt install python3-tk
or via dnf:
sudo dnf install python3-tkinter
Add desktop file to the launcher
desktop-file-install --dir="$HOME/.local/share/applications" \
--set-key=Exec --set-value="$PWD/cameractrlstk.py" \
--set-key=Path --set-value="$PWD" \
--set-key=Icon --set-value="$PWD/pkg/hu.irl.cameractrls.svg" \
pkg/hu.irl.cameractrls.desktop
Run from the launcher or from the shell
./cameractrlstk.py
The CLI.
Run the cameractrls
./cameractrls.py
usage: ./cameractrls.py [--help] [-d DEVICE] [--list] [-c CONTROLS]
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
-d DEVICE use DEVICE, default /dev/video0
-l, --list list the controls and values
-L, --list-devices list capture devices
-c CONTROLS set CONTROLS (eg.: hdr=on,fov=wide)
example:
./cameractrls.py -c brightness=128,kiyo_pro_hdr=on,kiyo_pro_fov=wide
The camera viewer.
./cameraview.py -h
usage: ./cameraview.py [--help] [-d DEVICE] [-s SIZE] [-r ANGLE] [-m FLIP] [-c COLORMAP]
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
-d DEVICE use DEVICE, default /dev/video0
-s SIZE put window inside SIZE rectangle (wxh), default unset
-r ANGLE rotate the image by ANGLE, default 0
-m FLIP mirror the image by FLIP, default no, (no, h, v, hv)
-c COLORMAP set colormap, default none
(none, grayscale, inferno, viridis, ironblack, rainbow)
example:
./cameraview.py -d /dev/video2
shortcuts:
f: toggle fullscreen
r: ANGLE +90 (shift+r -90)
m: FLIP next (shift+m prev)
c: COLORMAP next (shift+c prev)
Control your PTZ camera with the arrow keys/keypad keys/wasd/Home/End/PageUp/PageDown/+/-/Ctrl++/Ctrl+- of your keyboard while one of the PTZ control is in focus.
Use Alt+PresetNum to select a preset for logitech_pantilt_preset.
Control your camera with your 6DoF SpaceMouse.
Z => zoom_absolute
X => pan_absolute
Y => tilt_absolute
RY => pan_speed
RX => tilt_speed
BTN1 => PTZ reset
It requires spacenavd and libspnav. (optional, only if you have a SpaceMouse)
sudo apt install spacenavd libspnav0
sudo cp /usr/share/doc/spacenavd/examples/example-spnavrc /etc/spnavrc
or via dnf:
sudo dnf install spacenavd libspnav
sudo cp /usr/share/doc/spacenavd/example-spnavrc /etc/spnavrc
tip: set led = auto
in /etc/spnavrc
Control you camera with your Game Controller (PS5 DualSense/Xbox controller/etc)
Left Stick => pan_speed/tilt_speed or pan_absolute/tilt_absolute
Right Stick => pan_absolute/tilt_absolute
DPAD => pan_absolute/tilt_absolute
Left/Right Trigger => zoom_absolute
South/East/West/North/Left Shoulder/Right Shoulder/Back/Start => PTZ Presets 1-8
Guide => PTZ Reset
Control you camera with your MIDI Controller (e.g. MPK Mini or any with configurable knobs/joys)
Configure your MIDI Controller as follows:
With joystick:
CC78 => pan_speed/pan_absolute
CC79 => tilt_speed/tilt_absolute
With absolute knobs (knob values: 0-127):
CC71 => pan_absolute
CC72 => tilt_absolute
CC73 => zoom_absolute
With relative knobs (knob values: INC:1 DEC:127):
CC70 => pan_speed
CC74 => tilt_speed
CC75 => pan_absolute
CC76 => tilt_absolute
CC77 => zoom_absolute
CC121 => PTZ reset
PGM0-7 => PTZ presets 1-8
git pull
Disable, stop and delete the systemd paths, services:
cd ~/.config/systemd/user
systemctl --user disable --now cameractrls-*
rm cameractrls-*
Remove launcher shortcut
rm ~/.local/share/applications/hu.irl.cameractrls.desktop
Delete the cameractrls:
rm -rf cameractrls
Linux usage is increasing every year, currently around 3-4%.
Due to the low adoption of Linux, Camera control software with custom controls is usually only available for Windows/MacOS, so Linux users cannot take advantage of the true potential of each camera.
If you want happy Linux customers and if your camera has custom controls that are missing from this app, just send me a camera and I'll add them. Contact
Or of course, you can create a PR.