Hi all! My first post here and hoping to be able to get this issue resolved. I am having an issue with my Nikon Z6 DSLR and the Capture module. I am able to take preview images without any issue, but as soon as I try to run a capture job, even if only one exposure, KStars crashes when downloading the image file. I tried a few tweaks to the Frame Image Settings and CCD Info width & height - but the results are always the same. The Preview images are around 146 MB each.

According to DigiCamDB.com the Nikon Z6 specs are as follows:
Sensor Resolution = 6062 x 4041
Max Image Size = 6048 x 4024

ekos seems to want to default to 6064 x 4040.

I have tried all 3 variations without any impact to resolving the issue.

Included in the zip are multiple log files & the DSLR test output. I intended to also upload the sample preview images that I saved after they were displayed, but even zipped it exceeds the file size limit for the forum.

Each of the log files has something similar to this at the end:

[2021-01-17T11:49:47.171 EST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Nikon DSLR Z6 : "[DEBUG] Exposure complete. "
[2021-01-17T11:49:49.218 EST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Nikon DSLR Z6 : "[DEBUG] File added event completed. "
[2021-01-17T11:49:49.219 EST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Nikon DSLR Z6 : "[DEBUG] Downloading image... Name: (capt0001.nef) Folder: (/) Delete from SD card? (false) "
[2021-01-17T11:49:49.342 EST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Nikon DSLR Z6 : "[DEBUG] Could not determine image size (Unspecified error) "
[2021-01-17T11:49:49.416 EST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Nikon DSLR Z6 : "[DEBUG] Capture target is INTERNAL RAM. "
[2021-01-17T11:49:49.472 EST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Nikon DSLR Z6 : "[DEBUG] Capture event completed. "
[2021-01-17T11:49:52.148 EST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Nikon DSLR Z6 : "[DEBUG] read_libraw: raw_width: 6064 top_margin 0 left_margin 0 first_visible_pixel 0 "
[2021-01-17T11:49:52.149 EST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Nikon DSLR Z6 : "[DEBUG] read_libraw: rawdata.sizes.width: 6064 rawdata.sizes.height 4040 memsize 48997120 bayer_pattern RGGB "
[2021-01-17T11:49:52.220 EST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Nikon DSLR Z6 : "[DEBUG] read_libraw: memsize (48997120) naxis (2) w (6064) h (4040) bpp (16) bayer pattern (RGGB) "
[2021-01-17T11:49:52.591 EST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Nikon DSLR Z6 : "[DEBUG] Uploading file. Ext: fits, Size: 49003200, sendImage? Yes, saveImage? No "
[2021-01-17T11:49:53.587 EST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Nikon DSLR Z6 : "[DEBUG] BLOB transfer took 0.769439 seconds "
[2021-01-17T11:49:53.588 EST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - Nikon DSLR Z6 : "[DEBUG] Upload complete "
[2021-01-17T11:49:54.207 EST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - processBLOB() mode 0

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Same issue with different camera of similar resolution was reported. Let me try to reproduce it on my system using simulators as I don't have any native cameras with such resolution.

Yes I'm seeing the exact same thing only with my new ZWO camera as my other one is working just fine.

Weather has stopped me testing a work around of not enabling the FITS viewer during an imaging run. It's on this thread here FYI including Jasem's advice on disabling the FITS viewer. I suspect solving one will solve both our issues.
indilib.org/forum/stellarmate/8620-zwo-2...-two-subs.html#66080

I just received a couple of frames from a QHY600 camera so these would act as a very good testing case. Hopefully this would result in an improved system and less memory consumption.

I have added my 2 preview files to Dropbox so you can see them as well.

www.dropbox.com/sh/iwqppyiiy72jh8a/AADov...rbgsdAJMBRAOtha?dl=0

I'll add that I'm running this on a RPi 4 with 4GB Ram as well. I've also tried Disabling both the FITS Viewer & the DSLR Image Viewer and the crash still happens at the same point.

If I change the FORMAT in the Capture Module to NATIVE - it works fine - even with the Viewers still enabled. This is only an issue if the Capture Format is set to FITS. So I have a temporary workaround in my case, but I'd love to be able to capture in FITS instead.

Thanks for the replies already & for the work to review the issue!

Good to know you have a work around there and interesting note on this being FITS file related. The rest of us a still stuck with FITS being the format we have to use.

Well - I had a work around but was still having frequent crashes. Now even my work around no longer works. kStars crashes anytime I try to capture an image - whether FITS or RAW. Before this started, I was noticing that anytime I disconnected & stopped the profile - it would crash. I've tried restoring to factory default, purging the Nikon config, rebuilding my gear profile - none of which work. I have been running on the latest stable release and usually check daily for updates. I have another SM instance that I use with ZWO cameras and a different set-up and it works great. This seems tied directly to my Nikon Z6 from the best I can tell. I have also noticed that it doesn't always want to go in to Connect to PC mode when I connect it to my raspberry Pi. As an aside - I also updated to a RPi 4 8gb hoping that would help - but no luck......

I am using a Fuji X-T3 and have had no luck in attempting to save in FITS mode. When I save in NATIVE (the Fuji RAF file) I have no issues saving to the Pi (very quick), or to the laptop (really slow). I, perhaps naively, assumed FITS wouldn't work as the camera does not support FITS. My FITS conversion is handled by Siril when preprocessing the images later.

Random Kstar/Ekos crashes happen and I've not really noticed a solid pattern yet. It always seems to come up again fine.

Here's a little more info on this. From the Focus Module - I can successfully capture a preview, loop frames, and activate Liveview for my Nikon Z6 without incident. However when I go to the Capture module and try to loop frames or capture a preview kstars crashes. It's not random for me but every single time right now. If anyone has ideas - I'm open to suggestions. thanks in advance!

Sorry I can't add more useful suggestions, but...

I use a Nikon Z7 (full frame 8256 x 5504 pixels) on an Odroid-N2 with 4 G RAM. It seems to me over a year or so, the only way I can reliably capture images is to turn on the "Limited Resources" mode. Having done that I can still view and zoom into images with the Fits Viewer. Each fits file captured is 90.9 M. My previous experience would suggest that Debayering would certainly kill it eventually.The camera of course, is in Manual mode and I'm saving in Fits format.

About 2 weeks ago, I believe I naively let a system update run that trashed my 20.04 Ubuntu Mate. No USB devices were recognized, even the Samsung T5 SSD. So I re-imaged the computer (see My notes )

So now I'm on Release 20.04.2 LTS (Focal Fossa) 64-bit, Kernel Linux 4.9.241-109 aarch64, MATE 1.24.0, but haven't had any clear weather to test the new installation yet.

Thanks for the info! I tried the Limited Resources mode just now that you mention and sadly I'm still getting the crashes. Bu t I appreciate the time and suggestion. I figure eventually I'll hit the right setting that stabilizes things for me. At least I hope.

Is it crashing with the Nightly PPA?