Choosing equipment

[Oblivion_LV]

Hi!

I am very interested in Motion Capturing for a personal game project. The project is personal, that means that 24 camera set is way too expensive. So what would be the cheapest and still funkcional set to get? (and upgraidable in time would be nice)
The game itself is a shooter so the animations will be like (running, reloading, changing weapon, throwing grenade, managing current weapon, falling, jumping, rolling etc.)
So I will be very grateful for sugestions.

For now I am looking at 2 posabilities:

8x FLEX:C120 cameras + all that stuff in Arena studio (without cameras ofcorse)

Or

6x SLIM:V100 + Enclosure for OptiTrack SLIM:V100 + 800nm-Pass-Filter for SLIM:V100 Enclosure (if it is nessesary??) + Lens and lens holders that would be best fitting + all that Arena studio stuff ofcorse

Please correct me if i made some mistakes with SLIM:V100. For now SLIM:V100 seems very nice.

Ow, and i forgot - which kind of markers work best?

Thank you for answers!

[VincentG]

Ok, a couple of thing to note......

! - Unfortunately the C120 cameras are just not capable of wotking with the Arena software.

2 - The slim units are not excluded from be used with the Arena software, but there are some disadvantages.

After getting the case, lens, IR filter, etc., you are looking at least around $360 per camera.

They have no built in IR source for using with the IR reflective markers, so you would have to have your own IR source.

There is no strobe effect to work in conjunction with the camera shutter. (JIM EDIT: there is a strobe output pin on the SLIM)

There is no direct sync port built onto the Slim boards, you would need to connect your own cabling to sync the cameras to each other.

3 - Any package discounts only apply to the V100 cameras.

I think it would be cheaper and more cost effective to start with the the basic foundation package, wwhich would give you a good starting point, and still allow you for futher expansion.


As for markers, we use the 5/8" semi-soft markers.

http://www.naturalpoint.com/optitrack/s ... mocap.html

http://www.naturalpoint.com/optitrack/s ... cking.html

[Oblivion_LV]

1 and 2 - auch!
3 - Yea i know that

So it means that usable equipment starts from basic Arena studio?

hmmm, ok, i will think about it.

[VincentG]

It is possible to use the Slim cameras, but it will take some extra work, to get them up and running properly, and they do have a few drawbacks (see above)

Let me know if I can answer anymore questions.

[leith]

The slim is a better camera for certain but I think you've forgotten the LED ring? Or did I miss it?

woops. nevery mind. didn't see the previous replies.

[VincentG]

No IR LED ring for the Slim, would need an external IR source, or active IR LEDs for the markers.

[Jim]

Brad:

SLIM is a better camera? I think that it is a good camera, but has a much different purpose than the FLEX camera does. Integrating the IR strobes and camera sync makes the FLEX a much better choice for mocap in my opinion, unless you want to roll your own stuff, then I would just buy the raw boards and go to town!