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FreeTrack Forum > FreeTrack : English Forum > Support : Tracking System > Which Microsoft webcam?  Is IR Filter removal necessary?

RSS >  Which Microsoft webcam?  Is IR Filter removal necessary?
bugmenot #1 03/10/2010 - 01h12

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Hello all,
I am looking into getting a FreeTrack system set up and the webcam I currently have is really, really terrible (Creative Live Cam I think).  The frame rate is really low, picture colour is undefined.  I've been wanting to buy a new webcam for quite a while now and now that I've discovered FreeTrack it's giving me an even bigger incentive to buy a new one.

I want to buy a Microsoft LifeCam - some of their cheaper models.  The ones I'm looking at are the VX-xxx series.  The VX-1000 looks pretty good and reading around I've found that many people have had success getting it to work with FreeTrack.  However, I am more inclined to buy the VX-2000 as it seems to have better picture quality which I would want.  I haven't found any reports regarding compatibility with that model so I'm not sure.

What I really want to know is this:  do you definitely have to remove the IR filter in order to have good results?  The thing is, I don't particularly want to mess around with my webcam because I want to use it for other things like video chatting etc. and not just FreeTrack, so I wouldn't want the lighting all messed up.  In the Handbook there's something about Visible Light Filters (using floppy disks) - are those sufficient or am I forced to remove the IR filter as well?

Thanks for your time,
Mike
Burner #2 05/10/2010 - 20h42

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I just bought a fairly expensive web-cam and thought about using it for FT but removing the ir filter (which is mandatory) would ruin the cam.  I'll stick with my Wiimote as it blows away any webcam.
Arrowhead #3 08/10/2010 - 09h19

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I have a VX-3000 and it's not necessary at all to alter anything. I just have a red filter taped over the lense and try not to get any sunlight reflecting in the background. I've been going strong with this setup for over 2 years now.  :D
Mattias #4 08/10/2010 - 12h40

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How did you configure the VX-3000 to run with 30 fps? I have removed the Auto Exposure but I only get 20 FPS. Is there anything else I have forgot?
/Mattias
Arrowhead #5 09/10/2010 - 07h25

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I'm not sure. It's been so long since I set it up, but it has always ran at 30 fps. Didn't find it to be hard to get this way.

I'm running RGB 24 @ 640x480 under stream options. Maybe fiddle with something in there?
bugmenot #6 09/10/2010 - 13h13

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Cool - thanks for the reply.  What exactly is a red filter and how and why did you fit it on?  Are you using IR LEDs or Red LEDs?
Edited by bugmenot on 09/10/2010 at 13h17.
Arrowhead #7 10/10/2010 - 03h01

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I'm using infrared LEDs. The camera has no problem seeing IR from what I can tell, and I never opened anything. I just taped on a red piece of Roscolux light filter over the lense.

http://www.rosco.com/us/filters/roscolux.cfm

I don't know how expensive or inexpensive this stuff is as my dad hooked me up with it since he's in the TV broadcasting biz. But any kind of red photographic filter should do a good job of filtering out most background lighting.

You can also try using a piece of a floppy disk as a filter, but I find that to be too thick and blocks too much light for me. The trick is simply to get FT to see nothing but the three points of light from your headpiece.
Edited by Arrowhead on 10/10/2010 at 03h04.

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FreeTrack Forum > FreeTrack : English Forum > Support : Tracking System > Which Microsoft webcam?  Is IR Filter removal necessary?

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