RTSP stream and OpenCV (Python)

Question

I have an IP camera streaming on Linux through rtsp protocol and h264 linux driver. I am able to see the video in VLC with the following address and port:

rtsp://192.168.1.2:8080/out.h264

However if I try to get the same video for OpenCV processing in Python 2.7.5 (MacOS X 10.9):

import cv
video = cv.CaptureFromFile('rtsp://192.168.1.2:8080/out.h264')

I get the following error:

WARNING: Couldn't read movie file rtsp://192.168.1.2:8080/out.h264

It seems something rather simple, but I am stuck on it. Thanks.

Pabzt · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-10 11:34:06Z

33

this works for me (using opencv 2.4.9):

vcap = cv.VideoCapture("rtsp://192.168.1.2:8080/out.h264")

while(1):

    ret, frame = vcap.read()
    cv.imshow('VIDEO', frame)
    cv.waitKey(1)

answered Sep 10, 2014 at 11:34

Pabzt

5064 silver badges13 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

5 Comments

Marvin Effing Over a year ago

This doesn't work for opencv 3, as I get the same error as Guadancil11

Dion Bridger Over a year ago

This did work for me using opencv 3.1.0 and python3.4

ezfn Over a year ago

Worked for me. Python 2.7, opencv 3.3

Chop Labalagun Over a year ago

Worked on 2.x but needed some changes: import cv2 import numpy as np #This code shows only 1 frame. vcap = cv2.VideoCapture("rtsp://cam:554/ch0_0.h264") while(1): ret, frame = vcap.read() cv2.imshow('VIDEO', frame) cv2.waitKey(0)

Peter Nazarenko Over a year ago

@ChopLabalagun Your code works on 3.x even without numpy

Solar.gy · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-24 16:05:40Z

21

OpenCV relies on ffmpeg or other video backends for handling video formats and IP camera protocols. Depending on your platform and how you installed OpenCV, you may not have any support for rtsp.

You can check video backend support for your OpenCV installation:

python -c "import cv2; print(cv2.getBuildInformation())"

Video I/O:
  DC1394 1.x:                  NO
  DC1394 2.x:                  NO
  FFMPEG:                      NO
     avcodec:                   NO
     avformat:                  NO
     avutil:                    NO
     swscale:                   NO
     avresample:                NO
  GStreamer:                   NO
  OpenNI:                      NO
  OpenNI PrimeSensor Modules:  NO
  OpenNI2:                     NO
  PvAPI:                       NO
  GigEVisionSDK:               NO
  Aravis SDK:                  NO
  UniCap:                      NO
  UniCap ucil:                 NO
  V4L/V4L2:                    NO/NO
  XIMEA:                       NO
  Xine:                        NO
  gPhoto2:                     NO

edited Mar 24, 2017 at 16:05

answered Mar 24, 2017 at 14:08

Solar.gy

1,26712 silver badges15 bronze badges

5 Comments

Matt Over a year ago

Which one indicates RTSP support?

bit_scientist Over a year ago

To my knowledge, (if it is still needed), FFMPEG should indicate rtsp support, as it shows NO, one should have ffmpeg

MrZander Over a year ago

To anyone in the future: I had to put opencv_ffmpeg310.dll into my working directory. Otherwise the VideoCapture basically just failed silently.

Zin Min Over a year ago

My Raspberry PI 3 with OPENCV 4.5.1 FFMPEG is NO. So, how to solve the issue.

DLara Over a year ago

@ZinMin install ffmpeg before build opencv

Krik · Accepted Answer · 2021-08-05 18:42:42Z

9

struggled for a while on this...

finally this got it going for me.

On Android

Install: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.miv.rtspcamera
Start rtsp server on android

On PC, create python script

import cv2
import numpy as npimport os
os.environ["OPENCV_FFMPEG_CAPTURE_OPTIONS"] = "rtsp_transport;udp"
vcap = cv2.VideoCapture("rtsp://192.168.1.2:5554/camera", cv2.CAP_FFMPEG)
while(1):
    ret, frame = vcap.read()
    if ret == False:
        print("Frame is empty")
        break;
    else:
        cv2.imshow('VIDEO', frame)
        cv2.waitKey(1)

Change “192.168.1.2” to your android device address.

Run python script

edited Aug 5, 2021 at 18:42

answered Sep 9, 2019 at 20:19

Krik

4055 silver badges11 bronze badges

Comments

Uni · Accepted Answer · 2020-03-10 04:23:10Z

6

Somehow by default, as I knew, OpenCV used TCP protocol for transporting. Then, if your streaming is using UDP protocol, then you must define the environ option by the following code:

import os
os.environ["OPENCV_FFMPEG_CAPTURE_OPTIONS"] = "rtsp_transport;udp"
cam = cv2.VideoCapture("rtsp://YOUR_STREAMING_IP_ADDRESS:PORT/foo.sdp", cv2.CAP_FFMPEG)

You also need check if your openCV2 build comes with FFMPEG (RTSP) or not as Solar.gy 's anwser, if not, you must rebuild and install openCV with FFMPEG.

python -c "import cv2; print(cv2.getBuildInformation())"

answered Mar 10, 2020 at 4:23

Uni

911 silver badge5 bronze badges

3 Comments

Bill Michaelson Over a year ago

This bit of voodoo solved my problem. Without it:

[ERROR:0] global /io/opencv/modules/videoio/src/cap.cpp (116) open VIDEOIO(CV_IMAGES): raised OpenCV exception:  OpenCV(4.2.0) /io/opencv/modules/videoio/src/cap_images.cpp:253: error: (-5:Bad argument) CAP_IMAGES: can't find starting number (in the name of file): rtsp://rpi3bp5.cosi.com:8080/ in function 'icvExtractPattern'

Uni Over a year ago

Maybe it is just an internal error message, it can be ignored if nothing strange happens with your video/image result?

Bill Michaelson Over a year ago

The process dies after issuing that message. But as indicated, it's behind me. Thanks.

Steve Hu · Accepted Answer · 2021-09-29 16:32:24Z

0

I use Python on OpenCV 2 under Linux. The following works for me.

cap = cv2.VideoCapture('rtsp://' + str(s_count) + '@' + str(s_URL) + ':' + str(i_rtsp_port) + '/' + str(i_rtsp_stream))

If you do not mind, you can visit the sample code here.

answered Sep 29, 2021 at 16:32

Steve Hu

1

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

RTSP stream and OpenCV (Python)

5 Answers 5

5 Comments

5 Comments

Comments

3 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

5 Answers 5

5 Comments

5 Comments

Comments

3 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related