photo camera with pci 1411

[kurt4916]

Hi,

I checked several posts for image aquisition but I did'nt understand wether I can use a digital photocamera with my PCI-1411. We have to take pictures regularly timed and we have available a compact photocamera and a reflex one (Canon 500D). Would a converter S-video to USB be anough to connect the camera to the PCI-1411?

Any suggestion is more than welcome!

Giacomo

[ThiCop]

Hello Giacomo,

Can you give some more information about  the complete project?

Should the camera be triggered by the pc or does it automatically produce a digital output feed?

The PCI-1411 (http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/374550a.pdf) expects an analogue signal at its inputs.

This signal should one of the following two:

- Composite video on BNC (RSE)

- Y/C on S-Video connector (RSE)

As far as I know, the Canon 500D is a digital reflex camera, so you should find a way to get an anlogue feed out of it to be able to use the PCI-1411.

[kurt4916]

Hi Thierry,

thanks for the fast reply and useful info!

The camera should be triggered by the pc in order to get a picture every minute in .tiff format. The images then will be then processed to recognize particles shape and distribution.

The canon eos 500D has the following connectors:

• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
• Video output (PAL/ NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal)
• HDMI Type C

therefore I though we could use the video output to go to the PCI1411. But here I'm doubting on how to make the connections. The PCI1411 has three plugs (i.e. video, s-video, trig) and I'm guessing I have to connect the camera to the s-video and the trig port, but I don't see any cable which could do all of this.

For the moment I'm waiting for the PCI1411 to be delivered to me and I cannot try practically, but I'm trying to be prepeared.

Thanks again for any suggestion and tips!

Giacomo

[ThiCop]

Hello Giacomo,

I have been out of office for a few weeks because of holidays and courses.

Do you have User Manual/Spec Sheet of your camera available that I could use to look up the information you specify over here?

[kurt4916]

Hi Thierry,

thanks for your help and interest!

We currently have two cameras and the possibility to buy a new one if necessary. The manuals of the two photocameras:

1 - a compact one with which the PCI1411 probably wont work http://download1.medion.com/downloads/anleitungen/bda85863denlfr.pdf

2 - a digital reflex from canon http://www.evergreen.edu/medialoan/docs/photo_manual_rebelt1i.pdf

In case the both wont be able to communicate with the PCI1411, which are then the specifications of the camera one should look for?

Looking forward for your reply, I thank you again and wish a nice day.

Greetings,

Giacomo

[ThiCop]

Hello Giacomo,

Sorry for my late reply.

The flu and some other issues came in the way.

To be able to acquire images wit he PCI-1411 the only restriction is the type signal you're providing to its inputs.

In the User Manual (http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/372157d.pdf) You can find the 2 different supported types at page 3-2:

- (Composite) Video

- S-Video

More info can also be found in this document (http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/374550a.pdf)

The NI 1411 device supports both

NTSC and PAL color standards as well as the RS-170 and CCIR

monochrome standards.

 So what you'll have to check is:

- Is there an S-video or Composite Video output on my camera? (I don't think this is the case with your cameras)

- Can I somehow convert my signal to S-Video/Composite Video?

There exist things that you can buy online for this.

Normally you can use any camera that has these types of outputs and that follow these standards:
- PAL/CCIR (25 frames/sec)

- RS-170/NTSC (29,97 frames/sec)