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Happyarch edited this page Jun 7, 2026 · 1 revision

Controls

Default key bindings

Key Action
↑ / ↓ Manual focus step (toward macro / toward infinity)
← / → Aperture step down / up
Shift+↑ / Shift+↓ Shutter speed step faster / slower (S and M modes only)
T Cycle exposure mode forward: P → A → S → M → P
Shift+T Cycle exposure mode backward
P Jump to Program mode (full auto)
A Jump to Aperture priority mode
S Jump to Shutter priority mode
M Jump to Manual mode
I ISO step up (first press exits AUTO and snaps to nearest step)
Shift+I ISO step down
Shift+A Toggle autofocus on / off
Space Capture JPEG still
Shift+R (hold 500 ms) Start / stop video recording
C Toggle center guide crosshair overlay
V Open camera mode selection list
H (hold 3 s) Show key binding help overlay (release to dismiss)
Esc or Q (hold 5 s) Quit (warning shown at 2.5 s)

All bindings are rebindable via the [keys] section of microscopi.conf. See Configuration for details.

Exposure modes

Mode Label Shutter ISO Aperture
Program P Auto Auto Fixed (cosmetic)
Aperture priority A Auto Manual or Auto Fixed (cosmetic)
Shutter priority S Manual Manual or Auto Fixed (cosmetic)
Manual M Manual Manual or Auto Fixed (cosmetic)

Pi camera lenses have a fixed aperture; the aperture control is cosmetic (updates the OSD display only).

Shutter speed ladder (17 stops)

2 s · 1 s · 1/2 · 1/4 · 1/8 · 1/15 · 1/30 · 1/60 · 1/125 · 1/250
· 1/500 · 1/1000 · 1/2000 · 1/4000 · 1/8000 · 1/16000 · 1/32000

In S and M modes, Shift+↑ steps to a faster shutter; Shift+↓ steps slower.

ISO ladder (7 stops)

AUTO · 100 · 200 · 400 · 800 · 1600 · 3200 · 6400

Pressing I for the first time exits AUTO and snaps to the ISO currently reported by the camera sensor.

Camera mode list

Press V to open a scrollable list of all resolutions the connected camera supports.

Key Action
↑ / ↓ Navigate the list
Enter / Space Apply the selected mode and close the list
Esc / V Cancel and close the list

The currently running mode is marked with *. Switching modes restarts the camera stream; recording is not possible during a mode switch.

OSD layout

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  ● REC  00:01:23'45                                             │  ← recording indicator (top-left)
│                            +                                    │  ← crosshair guide (center, optional)
│                                                                 │
│  P  1/500  ISO AUTO  f/--  MF 0.50  [023]                      │  ← bottom bar
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
  • Mode (P / A / S / M) — current exposure mode
  • Shutter — dimmed in auto modes; bright in S/M
  • ISO — AUTO or the current step value
  • f/ — aperture; f/-- if unknown/fixed and not manually set
  • MF / AF — focus mode and lens position (0.0 = infinity, 1.0 = macro)
  • [023] — stills captured this session
  • Recording timer uses arc-seconds (HH:MM:SS'AS) for exact integer arithmetic at both 30 fps and 60 fps

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