some questions before purchasing...

[Ymer]

first of all, I want to congratulate all the NaturalPoint team for this product. I do not have it yet, but I'm sure it will fit my needs.
I red carefully the FAQ, but I still have some unanswered questions, mainly concerning the setup, to be sure to have everything in my shopping cart before checkout.

the biggest room were I can install the cameras is 14'x14'

1. do you think it's enough to capture a single actor ? (I do not plan to make wild moves, so a 7'x7' zone should be enough)
2. how can I choose the correct setup ? I'm hesitating between 6 and 8 cameras setup. can I have a major improvement, a better precision with a 8 cam setup compared to a 6 one ?
3. what kind of tripods do I need ? I have no tripods, and there are different types and different prices in your store. if I can use a cheaper model, I would like to know.
4. how many markers do I need ? I may need to add 6-12 markers to my card in case I need some rigid props (objects to carry...)

5. when do you remove the money from the bank account ? I saw that some products may require up to 3 weeks, and as I'm french, it can be interesting to choose a better USD/EUR ratio, if possible.

here is the state of my card :
1. ARENA Motion Capture software $1999
1. Calibration Square $99
1. Calibration Wand 2 $89
1. Marker Set : 5/8" Semi-Soft $249
1. Motion Capture Suit (M) $279
6. OptiTrack FLEX:V100 $3294
5. OptiTrack Sync Cable : 30ft $50
6. SLIK Pipe Clamp Head $294
6. Tall Tripod $294
2. USB 2.0 Hub 7-Port D-Link $62
2. USB Cable : 15ft A to B $10
6. USB Cable High Grade : 15ft $60


please tell me if I missed something, or if I can optimize my configuration.
thanks so much for your attention, I can't wait to use Optitrack.

[bsteagal]

Hi Ymer!

I'll take a stab at answering some of this, as I originally had a 6 camera setup and recently upgraded to an 8..

14x14 is certainly enough to do captures... so long as you don't require anything where you might need a short run or anything. My capture space is not much bigger than this and I get good results (now, I'm 6'2"... so it made it a lot more interesting, if you are shorter, it shouldn't be an issue)

6 cameras is the bare minimum.. and you can get some good captures with is, but you will have to make sure camera placement, marker placement and calibrations are really good. 8 cameras give you that more flexibility and you will get better camera overlap = better captures

If you can afford it, buy the good Bogen tripods, although you are looking at about 300+ per tripod. If you plan to have it fixed, consider using inexpensive camera wall mounts... which will give you good stability at a fraction of the cost.

Get 1 full marker set, then some extra ones (you always lose one or two... and you can use them for rigid bodies)

As far as pricing... get the Foundation Plus package, then start adding stuff, instead of adding one by one.. it will be cheaper (and they give a discount) One of the naturalpoint guys will be more than happy to quote you a package deal with shipping and everything... and I'd suggest using bank transfer... cheaper and faster... (I'd quote you, but then again, I only sell in Mexico and LatinAmerica... grin)

Hope this helps!

Bryan

[VincentG]

Dear Ymer,

It looks like Bryan answered must of your questions, but if you have anymore feel free to ask.

As far as a final quote, with shipping, feel free to send me an email, with your shipping nformation, and I can generate something for you.

support@naturalpoint.com

[Ymer]

thanks so much to both of you, for your helpful and quick answers...

still a pair of questions :
- is there a major difference between the Bogen tripod and the Tall tripod ? I suppose the Bogen one brings a better stability, but at the end I can save almost 1000$ by buying the tall tripod. I can afford it, but I want to be sure it's worth bying the most expensive ones. I made some checkout simulations, and the shipping cost is 100$ cheaper when I take the tall tripods (I suppose they are lighter)
- when will my bank accound be debited ? I prefer to be debited just after the confirmation of my order, and not when the order is ready to be send. depending on the USD/EUR ratio, I can save up to 400 euros.

ok Vincent. I just need to make the right choice for the tripods (I can buy the wall mounts, and fix them on a truss to keep a 'movable' installation) and I will send you an email to have your final quote.
my only option for the shipping is UPS Saver Air International and I will pay via visa card

thanks again, Bryan and Vincent, for your answers.

Remy (Ymer)


PS : sorry for my bad english, I'm french ;o)

[VincentG]

The Bogens are more sturdily constructed, have a wider base, and also get a little higher. The shipping cost may be slightly skewed, as the box weight might be a little incorrect, when it comes to the tripods.

When the order is placed, we will then ask for credit card, or wire transfer before the order is taken off of hold.

The wall mounts are also a good choice, especially in a smaller area, as the tripods, regardless of which ones, do take up some room.

[markdc]

I don't know your setup, but I use the cheaper tripods with a 12 cam setup (8 tripods so 4 of them have two cams). I haven't had any issues with stability so far. I'm probably going to go to wall mounts soon to get extra space though.

[trahan]

Save the tripods for that warehouse capture session...

http://home.earthlink.net/~trahan/cnc/id3.html

These are wall mounts I made from mini-tripods(the ball-head type) available at any camera store and brass wall brackets from the local hardware store. I bought six tripods at $9 each. Carefully unscrew the base and remove the legs and legmounts. Then use the screw to mount the ballhead onto the bracket.

However, with a 14 x 14 space, you're not going to be able to capture more than 2-3 steps of a walk cycle,roughly a 4.5' circle of useable capture volume.(with a 6 camera setup)

M