need image capture solution

[Nick-2]

Hello All,

I am in need of some solution to capture images from a microscope and
display live video at reasonable framerates (30fps).  I have a few
compatible cameras (svideo, and bnc) that I would like to use.  I have
tried interfacing them to the computer using a capture card but my
problem is that there is slim support on the software side for this.
I have tried every quicktime and windows direct show plugin listed on
ImageJ's and so far nothing has been stable or worked.

I know that Micro-manager has been mentioned as another option, but I
cannot find any instructions for using it with capture cards.

Does anyone have any other microscope software that may allow me to
achieve my goal?  Perhaps an alternative camera/software option?

Thanks,
Nick

[Aryeh Weiss]

On 3/16/11 2:53 PM, Nick wrote:

> Hello All,
>
> I am in need of some solution to capture images from a microscope and
> display live video at reasonable framerates (30fps).  I have a few
> compatible cameras (svideo, and bnc) that I would like to use.  I have
> tried interfacing them to the computer using a capture card but my
> problem is that there is slim support on the software side for this.
> I have tried every quicktime and windows direct show plugin listed on
> ImageJ's and so far nothing has been stable or worked.
>
> I know that Micro-manager has been mentioned as another option, but I
> cannot find any instructions for using it with capture cards.
>
> Does anyone have any other microscope software that may allow me to
> achieve my goal?  Perhaps an alternative camera/software option?
>
> Thanks,
> Nick
>

I have done this with The Imaging Source video to firewire (or video to
USB) converters. Ask tehm about micromamanger support -- they directed
me to someone who had a suitable plugin for it.

Here is a link for video to usb:
http://www.theimagingsource.com/en_US/products/converters/

I do not know why I cannot find a link for the  video to firewire version.

--aryeh
--
Aryeh Weiss
School of Engineering
Bar Ilan University
Ramat Gan 52900 Israel

Ph:  972-3-5317638
FAX: [phone]

[Philip Ershler]

On Mar 16, 2011, at 7:15 AM, Aryeh Weiss wrote:

> On 3/16/11 2:53 PM, Nick wrote:
>> Hello All,
>>
>> I am in need of some solution to capture images from a microscope and
>> display live video at reasonable framerates (30fps).  I have a few
>> compatible cameras (svideo, and bnc) that I would like to use.  I have
>> tried interfacing them to the computer using a capture card but my
>> problem is that there is slim support on the software side for this.
>> I have tried every quicktime and windows direct show plugin listed on
>> ImageJ's and so far nothing has been stable or worked.
>>
>> I know that Micro-manager has been mentioned as another option, but I
>> cannot find any instructions for using it with capture cards.
>>
>> Does anyone have any other microscope software that may allow me to
>> achieve my goal?  Perhaps an alternative camera/software option?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Nick
>>
>
> I have done this with The Imaging Source video to firewire (or video to USB) converters. Ask tehm about micromamanger support -- they directed me to someone who had a suitable plugin for it.
>
> Here is a link for video to usb:
> http://www.theimagingsource.com/en_US/products/converters/
>
> I do not know why I cannot find a link for the  video to firewire version.
>
> --aryeh

Up until last week, there was a link on The Imaging Source web site to the Firewire version. Today I can only find a link to the USB version. MicroManager ( www.micro-manager.org ) is a free open source project for handling microscope control and acquisition. It is tied directly into ImageJ. I have been told that there is a MicroManager plug in for the Firewire version, but as of yet I have not been able to determine if there is a USB plugin.

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]

[Nico Stuurman-4]

>>> I am in need of some solution to capture images from a microscope and
>>> display live video at reasonable framerates (30fps).  I have a few
>>> compatible cameras (svideo, and bnc) that I would like to use.  

>> I have done this with The Imaging Source video to firewire (or video to USB) converters. Ask tehm about micromamanger support -- they directed me to someone who had a suitable plugin for it.
>>
>
> Up until last week, there was a link on The Imaging Source web site to the Firewire version. Today I can only find a link to the USB version. MicroManager ( www.micro-manager.org ) is a free open source project for handling microscope control and acquisition. It is tied directly into ImageJ. I have been told that there is a MicroManager plug in for the Firewire version, but as of yet I have not been able to determine if there is a USB plugin.

Micro-Manager has an "adapter" to the SDK from The Imaging Source (written by Falk Dettmar from Maerzhauser).  Both the Firewire version (apparently no longer available) and the USB version of the video capture device are supported by the SDK.  Since Aryeh reported success with the Firewire version, it is quite likely that the USB version also works.  I asked "The Imaging Source" about Micro-Manager support for the USB frame grabber, and they offered me to test it.  I'll report back once I have done so.

Best,

Nico

[Nico Stuurman-4]

On 3/16/11 2:53 PM, Nick wrote:

>>>> I am in need of some solution to capture images from a microscope and
>>>> display live video at reasonable framerates (30fps).  I have a few
>>>> compatible cameras (svideo, and bnc) that I would like to use.  
>
>>> I have done this with The Imaging Source video to firewire (or video to USB) converters. Ask tehm about micromamanger support -- they directed me to someone who had a suitable plugin for it.
>
> Micro-Manager has an "adapter" to the SDK from The Imaging Source (written by Falk Dettmar from Maerzhauser).  Both the Firewire version (apparently no longer available) and the USB version of the video capture device are supported by the SDK.  Since Aryeh reported success with the Firewire version, it is quite likely that the USB version also works.  I asked "The Imaging Source" about Micro-Manager support for the USB frame grabber, and they offered me to test it.  I'll report back once I have done so.

We now have the USB capture device from The Imaging Source in the lab, and found it to work well (after some tweaks of the code by Karl Hoover).  To get those tweaks, please use the latest nightly (1.4) build of Micro-Manager, available here:

http://valelab.ucsf.edu/~MM/MMwiki/index.php/Micro-Manager_Nightly_Builds

Best,

Nico

[Philip Ershler]

On May 14, 2011, at 3:26 PM, Nico Stuurman <[hidden email]> wrote:

> On 3/16/11 2:53 PM, Nick wrote:
>
>>>>> I am in need of some solution to capture images from a microscope and
>>>>> display live video at reasonable framerates (30fps).  I have a few
>>>>> compatible cameras (svideo, and bnc) that I would like to use.  
>>
>>>> I have done this with The Imaging Source video to firewire (or video to USB) converters. Ask tehm about micromamanger support -- they directed me to someone who had a suitable plugin for it.
>>
>> Micro-Manager has an "adapter" to the SDK from The Imaging Source (written by Falk Dettmar from Maerzhauser).  Both the Firewire version (apparently no longer available) and the USB version of the video capture device are supported by the SDK.  Since Aryeh reported success with the Firewire version, it is quite likely that the USB version also works.  I asked "The Imaging Source" about Micro-Manager support for the USB frame grabber, and they offered me to test it.  I'll report back once I have done so.
>
> We now have the USB capture device from The Imaging Source in the lab, and found it to work well (after some tweaks of the code by Karl Hoover).  To get those tweaks, please use the latest nightly (1.4) build of Micro-Manager, available here:
>
> http://valelab.ucsf.edu/~MM/MMwiki/index.php/Micro-Manager_Nightly_Builds
>
> Best,
>
> Nico

Hi,
     I had to make some purchases a while ago. So when I found out that The Imaging Source could deliver a FireWire video converter, I went ahead and purchased it.
     I just pulled down the latest nightly build of 1.4. I can't find either the FireWire nor the USB version in the Add Device list. Is there some trick that  I am not aware of?

Thanks, Phil