Mac compatible camera?

[Mark Adelman (Work)]

I would like to purchase a Mac-compatible firewire CCD camera  
(monochrome) for fluorescence microscopy.  I would like one that can  
be 'driven' from within MicroManager.  Am currently doing image  
capture (with a Micropublisher 5.0 RTV camera)  on an iMac (PowerPC  
G4), with OS 10.4.11.  Any suggestions?  Thanks in advance.  Mark R.  
Adelman

[Philip Ershler]

On Jun 10, 2011, at 9:50 AM, Mark Adelman (Work) wrote:

> I would like to purchase a Mac-compatible firewire CCD camera (monochrome) for fluorescence microscopy.  I would like one that can be 'driven' from within MicroManager.  Am currently doing image capture (with a Micropublisher 5.0 RTV camera)  on an iMac (PowerPC G4), with OS 10.4.11.  Any suggestions?  Thanks in advance.  Mark R. Adelman

I am using an analog intensified camera for some fluorescence microscopy. I initially purchased a firewire analog to video converter from The Imaging Source, because it is supported in Micro Manager under Windows. I need to take video. I was some what discouraged with how MM handles video acquisition (Burst Mode). When one performs a Burst Mode acquisition with MM you end up with a folder full of individual files, each holding the data from one frame. It's somewhat cumbersome to assemble the frames and produce a movie. I'm in a situation in an automated setup where I need to produce hundreds for videos from each automated run. The steps needed to get even one avi file from the Burst Mode Acquisition are quite time consuming.

So I have moved over to OS X (actually my preference anyway). Fortunately, my video converter is handled very smoothly by QuickTime Player Pro 7. In addition the QuickTime Player is very easy to handle with AppleScript. And finally, AppleScript is very easy to call from Java. So now I am using MM to handle the objectives, a Ludl X-Y Stage and auto focusing with a Zeiss AxioVert 200M. Then I just make an AppleScript call from my Java script out to the QuickTime player specifying the path and file name, the length of the movie and the output format of the movie. Presto, I get a movie, in any format I wish in effectively one step. So, if you can't find a firewire camera that is supported directly under MM and you are using OS X, you can always use AppleScript calls to capture you images from any firewire camera that QuickTime recognizes.

HTH,

Phil

Philip R. Ershler Ph.D.
University of Utah
Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute
95 South 2000 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5000

phone: [phone]
alt ph: [phone]
fax: [phone]
e-mail: [hidden email]

[Philip Ershler]

On Jun 10, 2011, at 10:56 AM, Philip Ershler wrote:

> On Jun 10, 2011, at 9:50 AM, Mark Adelman (Work) wrote:
>
>> I would like to purchase a Mac-compatible firewire CCD camera (monochrome) for fluorescence microscopy.  I would like one that can be 'driven' from within MicroManager.  Am currently doing image capture (with a Micropublisher 5.0 RTV camera)  on an iMac (PowerPC G4), with OS 10.4.11.  Any suggestions?  Thanks in advance.  Mark R. Adelman
>
> I am using an analog intensified camera for some fluorescence microscopy. I initially purchased a firewire analog to video converter from The Imaging Source, because it is supported in Micro Manager under Windows. I need to take video. I was some what discouraged with how MM handles video acquisition (Burst Mode). When one performs a Burst Mode acquisition with MM you end up with a folder full of individual files, each holding the data from one frame. It's somewhat cumbersome to assemble the frames and produce a movie. I'm in a situation in an automated setup where I need to produce hundreds for videos from each automated run. The steps needed to get even one avi file from the Burst Mode Acquisition are quite time consuming.
>
> So I have moved over to OS X (actually my preference anyway). Fortunately, my video converter is handled very smoothly by QuickTime Player Pro 7. In addition the QuickTime Player is very easy to handle with AppleScript. And finally, AppleScript is very easy to call from Java. So now I am using MM to handle the objectives, a Ludl X-Y Stage and auto focusing with a Zeiss AxioVert 200M. Then I just make an AppleScript call from my Java script out to the QuickTime player specifying the path and file name, the length of the movie and the output format of the movie. Presto, I get a movie, in any format I wish in effectively one step. So, if you can't find a firewire camera that is supported directly under MM and you are using OS X, you can always use AppleScript calls to capture you images from any firewire camera that QuickTime recognizes.
>
> HTH,
>
> Phil

Oh and forgive me, there is one step I left out. In order for QuickTIme to recognize the FireWire Converter from The Imaging Source, one has to buy a driver from
Aupperle Services and Contracting ( http://www.outcastsoft.com/ASCDFG1394.html ) for $50.00. You can download a demo driver that is fully functional. But after 10 or 15 minutes the driver will scramble the colors or contrast and brightness for a monochrome image. As soon as you obtain a license key, this restriction is removed. This company also wanted to produce a similar driver for the USB analog converter that The Imaging Source sells. But, The Imaging Source was unwilling to supply Aupperle with the USB protocols necessary to write a driver. I think The Imaging Source is producing a hole in one of their pedal appendages with a pistol, but that is their decision.

If anyone wants one of the firewire converters from The Imaging Source, it has been formally discontinued ( do to the unavailability of a critical IC in the device ) The company was able, however, to locate one last lot of the IC. So for a limited time, The Imaging Source can supply a limited number of the DFG1394-1 converters.

Phil

Philip R. Ershler Ph.D.
University of Utah
Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute
95 South 2000 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5000

phone: [phone]
alt ph: [phone]
fax: [phone]
e-mail: [hidden email]