Computers require a digital image to display photographs on PC monitors (or laptops). For still images the technology is well established and digital cameras download images very easily to computers. Digital camcorders record a digital image on tape or directly to a CD and can then download to computers.

 

CCTV cameras on the other hand have no internal memory system and traditionally provide a live image to TV or TV monitor that requires an analogue (non digital) image. Digital CCTV cameras are available either as relatively expensive Firewire units or as the recently introduced USB 2.0 units that are more reasonably priced.

 

CCTV - Analogue Cameras

Analogue CCTV cameras produce an output suitable for TV’s and their resolution is measured (as for TV monitors) in lines. These days high resolution colour cameras (approx 540 lines) can be obtained for under £200. Some of these analogue CCTV cameras are actually marked ‘digital’ however this does not apply to the output which is analogue. These units produce images through the video in or scart plug of any television on one of the AV channels.

 

To obtain an image from these cameras on a PC or laptop, the analogue image has to be converted to digital. For PC’s this can be done by using an internal PCI card that can be added to one of the vacant card bays. Alternatively an external conversion unit can be used to relay a digital image into a USB port. An internal PC card is of course not an option for laptops that must rely either on the external conversion unit or a PCMCIA card that fits the laptop card bay and allows image grabbing. All PCI, PCMIA and external conversion units come complete with the necessary software. We also have conversion units for Apple Mac computers. The Canopus ADVC 55 analogue to digital conversion box will link any analogue device to a USB port of the Apple Mac.

 

For current recommendations click here.....

 

CCTV - Digital Firewire Cameras

True digital Firewire cameras produce excellent very high resolution images for video and still image capture. The SXGA images have a resolution of 1360 x 1024 that is in theory equivalent to 800 TV lines! For flexibility most Firewire cameras can also provide an analogue output that means they are able to be used with both TV monitor and PC/laptop. However, Firewire units are not cheap and are in the region of £3000.

For current recommendations click here.....

 

PCI Cards and External Decoders

There are a number of medium priced PCI cards suitable for microscopy. Brunel Microscopes recommends the Meiji or Eurosys internal card which supports high resolution images. It is easy to install and comes complete with the necessary software. For less difficult resolution requirements, for laptops or for those not wishing to insert internal cards into their computers, we recommend the Hauppage or Grand external capture card systems, which connect to a PC or laptop via the USB port and directly to the CCTV camera. No internal PCI card is needed, and the CD ROM software and all connectors are included at a very reasonable price. We also have an external decoder for Apple Mac computers (the Canopus ADVC 55).

 

Eurosys PCI Card - for purchase details click here.....

Internal PCI cards - for Purchase details click here.....

 

External capture systems - for purchase details click here.....

 

CCTV - CMOS, USB 2.0 Digital Cameras

The relatively fast download speeds of USB 2.0 ports has allowed the production of a number of USB 2.0 digital cameras that are more realistically priced. They are particularly effective for laptop computers and give good resolution video clips and grabbed still images. Computer images are defined by pixels, with the concentration of pixels dictating the maximum size of the image. At Brunel we now offer an excellent 2M USB 2.0 camera - the XLI is British made! We also have a 1.3M digital camera that is excellent value at around £250 giving an image of 1200 x 1080 pixels. This is also available in economy version as a 350k unit with 640 x 480 resolution.

 

Minicam USB 2.0 - for purchase details click here.....

 

For more information on CCTV cameras and monitors please click here.....

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