Increasing camera count from 8 to 12

[kdoyle]

Has anyone had experience of how increasing cameras from 8 to 12 cameras increases accuracy and lessens occlusions?

I've been running an 8 camera arrangement since the R2 cameras arrived and have gotten excellent results - gradually moving into more professional and high-end work.

I'm expecting 4 more cameras will give some extra accuracy, but the big thing I'm expecting is for the actor to be able to perform more postures without the markers being lost from occlusion. say, folding arms, or sitting down type things - with 8 cameras markers do get lost. Does the hexagonal arrangement work well? Does the hexagonal arrangement require a larger room? Or smaller? Is there a marked difference in making the additions of 4 more cams?

It's going to be a sure thing that it will improve the system - just curious about others experiences and how it made the system 'feel'.

Also I'm considering the new optihubs. I'm still running analogue synch cables simply because it works well. What gains are gotten by putting in the two optihubs and running synch over USB ? Apart from the obvious - that your running less cables.

Thanks,
-Kristian

[Seth Steiling]

Hi Kristian,

I won't comment on the specifics of the 12 cam experience compared to the 8, as it sounds like you're looking for feedback from other users. But regarding the OptiHub, there are some nice benefits in addition to the reduced cabling:

- High Power Mode (R2 cameras only) gives you brighter IR strobes for more tracking range. If you have the physical room, this would let you move the cameras back a bit more, giving you wider coverage/camera.

- On board voltage regulation (as opposed to in the brick, like COTS USB hubs) delivers more power to the hub directly. This reduces variability in the power to the cameras, resulting in more consistently bright strobes.

- Status LEDs on the hub that reveal various states of port activity.

- External syncing for triggering and interoperability with other peripherals like shutter glasses and force plates.

- Hub to hub syncing automatically propagates camera sequencing, assigning camera numbers based on port location.

Hope this helps!

-Seth