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You can use ANY-maze with inexpensive USB web-cams, high quality digital FireWire cameras, DV camcorders or almost any analogue CCTV camera.
This breadth of support not only makes it easy to find a compatible device (indeed, you may already own one), but also means that the system can meet a range of differing requirements, such as low cost, notebook connectivity, simultaneous capture from multiple cameras, tracking in darkness, etc., etc.
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USB web-cams
ANY-maze can use good quality USB digital cameras to track in all but the most adverse conditions - i.e. low light and/or poor contrast.
If you expect to track in light levels above about 20 lux and there's good contrast between the background of your apparatus and the animals, then a USB camera may be just the answer. USB cameras are extremely easy to set up and prices start from just $160.00.
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The Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000
- A good quality USB digital camera.
- Suitable for tracking in normal light levels with good contrast between the animal and apparatus background.
- Priced from $160.00
- Further details : Available on our main web-site
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FireWire cameras
ANY-maze can capture images from any FireWire camera that adheres to the DCAM specification. These cameras provide high quality images in all conditions, have interchangeable lenses and connect directly to a computer's FireWire (IEEE 1394, i.Link) port.
What's more, multiple cameras can be daisy-chained on a single port, making them an ideal way to connect multiple cameras to a portable computer.
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The Fire-i Monochrome
- A high quality black and white FireWire camera.
- Accepts a special range of fixed focal length lenses.
- Infrared sensitivity allows tracking in darkness with an infrared illuminator (requires a suitable lens).
- Price $395.00
- Further details : Available on our main web-site
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The DMK 21F04
- A high quality black and white FireWire camera (lens not included).
- Accepts both C and CS mount lenses, including zoom lenses.
- Works with FireWire cables up to 10m long.
- Price $695.00
- Further details : Available on our main web-site
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The Pentax C70313 vari-focal lens
- A good quality vari-focal lens for use with the DMK 21F04.
- Allows you to zoom in and out to fit apparatus to camera's view.
- Price $95.00
- Further details : Available on our main web-site
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Network cameras
ANY-maze can capture images from Axis network cameras. These devices plug directly into a standard Ethernet network, allowing any computer on the same network to connect to them. Models such Axis 211 can be fitted with a CS mount, auto-iris lens, while devices such as the Axis 221 have a special night time mode providing good low-light performance.
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The Axis 210
- The Axis 210, pictured here, is suitable for tracking in normal light levels. Other models have night time mode for low light tracking.
- Prices start from around $400.00
- Further details : Available on the Axis web-site
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DV camcorders
ANY-maze can also capture images from DV (digital video) camcorders. These cameras are quite expensive but as many people own a DV camcorder for making home movies, you may already have one.
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DV camcorders
- DV cameras connect to a FireWire (IEEE 1394, i.Link) port and offer a simple method to capture images in ANY-maze.
- However, it's usually only worth using this type of camera if you already own one, as they're quite expensive.
- Further details : Search google for DV cameras
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Analogue cameras
You can use almost any black and white or colour analogue CCTV camera with ANY-maze, so there's a chance you may already have a suitable device somewhere in your lab. If not, then Stoelting can supply a range of devices to suit all situations.
Analogue cameras generally aren't supplied with a lens, but this has the benefit that you can choose one which exactly suits your apparatus. Images quality is generally better than USB devices and black and white cameras usually work well in low light. As ANY-maze only processes black and white images there's no benefit to using a colour camera although they do work.
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The Panasonic WV-BP330
- A good quality black and white analogue camera.
- Suitable for tracking in all conditions.
- Supplied without a lens
- Price $400.00
- Further details : Available on our main web-site
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The Panasonic PLZ27/5 vari-focal lens
- A good quality vari-focal lens suitable for use with the Panasonic WV-BP330.
- Allows you to zoom in and out to fit apparatus to camera's view.
- Price $155.00
- Further details : Available on our main web-site
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The Clover Electronics CM625
- A medium quality black and white board camera.
- Very small size - approx 1-inch square
- Ideal for mounting inside place preference or light dark boxes.
- Price $150.00
- Further details : Available on our main web-site
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Capture cards
If you use an analogue camera with ANY-maze then you'll need to use a capture card (sometimes called a frame grabber or digitiser) to convert the camera's signal to a digital form that the computer can read. ANY-maze works with a number of devices from different manufacturers.
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The Adlink RTV-24
- A good quality capture card, with excellent multi-camera support.
- Captures images from up to 4 cameras simultaneously.
- Connects to a maximum of 16 cameras using optional extension cards.
- Price $500.00
- Further details : Available on our main web-site
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The Euresys Picolo series
- ANY-maze supports the Pioclo, Picolo Pro2, Picolo Pro3 and Picolo Tetra.
- A range of high quality devices, providing excellent images at competitive prices, with multi-camera support.
- Prices start from $200.00
- Further details : Euresys s.a.
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The Data Translation DT3120 & DT3153
- The DT3120 (pictured) is a good quality, low cost capture card that connects to a single camera.
- The DT3153 is a more expensive device that can connect to up to 3 cameras*.
- Further details : Data Translation Inc.
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The DFG/1394-1 FireWire digitiser
- Connects to a computer's FireWire (IEEE 1394, i.Link) port making it ideal for capturing images from an analogue camera on a notebook computer
- Connect to 2 cameras and switch between them within ANY-maze*.
- Further details : The Imaging Source
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The National Instruments IMAQ range
- Top quality capture cards from a market leader.
- A range of devices to connect 1, 2 or 4 cameras and switch between them within ANY-maze*.
- Suitable for tracking in all conditions.
- Further details : National Instruments
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* Multiple devices are required to connect multiple cameras for simultaneous tracking.
In summary
ANY-maze supports many different devices for image capture covering a wide spectrum of requirements: low cost, notebook connectivity, support for simultaneous capture from multiple cameras, etc.
The easiest way to work out which device is best for your application is to download ANY-maze and run the Equipment Wizard - it will asses your needs and recommend a suitable camera, lens and capture card, as well as listing the accessories, such as cables and camera mounts that you'll need. Its report even includes part numbers and prices.
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