New computer for video camera

[billsea]

I am trying to spec a new computer for connection to a video camera. We are using a video camera at work for inspecting small parts. The camera is an analog camera with a composite video cable. We want to hook the camera to the computer so we can view the image on the monitor and then capture .jpg pictures. I want to be able to squeeze the best possible pictures out of the camera so I can see the most detail on the screen without buying a lot of extra features that we don't need.

Is there a good video card that has the composite video in jack, and is that the best way to go? Or, should I just get a good video card and then a video capture card to go with it? What is the most important feature of the video card, Speed, memory, processing bits, buss?

What would be the best monitor to use, CRT or LCD?

I've been told that Pinnacle Dazzle uses a USB connection for the cable and would not give as good a picture as plugging the cable directly to the video card which would use a pci or agp buss.

I've also been told that a 256bit or 512 bit would give me a better screen picture that a 128 bit or less.

I think that a .21 dot pitch CRT is the way to go, but I have heard a lot of good things about LCD's.

Thanks for your help.

[thefultonhow]

Why are you trying to use an analog video camera? Buying a cheap 3 megapixel digital still camera and using it with an existing PC seems to be a better route to go if you're trying to inspect parts and get a good picture quality -- it doesn't do much good to have a good monitor and video card if you're using an analog video camera (not great quality in the first place) and then bringing the signal into the computer over a composite cable (degrades the quality further). If you really need a video camera, I would recommend getting the Canon ZR80 (http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/product.asp?ref=pricegrabber&sku=CNVZR80) and a FireWire card and putting it into an existing PC over building a new PC to use your analog video camera.

I think LCDs give a better picture quality than CRTs, but once again, I would change the camera before i do anything else.

[billsea]

I am stuck with the analog camera. It has a special right angle head and magnification for my specific purpose. I would love to get a better camera, but unfortunately there none available for this custom purpose. That is why I want to squeeze the best picture out of it that I can. Based on that restriction what set-up should I get?

[thefultonhow]

I am stuck with the analog camera. It has a special right angle head and magnification for my specific purpose. I would love to get a better camera, but unfortunately there none available for this custom purpose. That is why I want to squeeze the best picture out of it that I can. Based on that restriction what set-up should I get?

Do you have to use composite, or does the camera support S-Video? That would be ideal. Either way you could look at the ATI All-In-Wonder video cards or video cards that offer VIVO (Video In Video Out) capabilities. They should come with S-Video to composite adaptors if you need to use composite, but as I said, S-Video is preferable.

I would personally choose an LCD, but others on this forum might beg to differ. I find that LCDs have a much crisper picture and I like that they don't flicker. Make sure you get an LCD that supports DVI input, as VGA picture quality is not quite as good.

[billsea]

The camera doesn't support S-video, only composite. Good tip on the DVI monitor. I assume that means I need to get a video card that has the DVI output connector. How about Speed, memory and processing bits. Will a 256 bit card give me a better pitcure than 128 or is that a waste of money in my case? Thanks,

[SonicVanguard]

Keep this in mind - regardless of the computer you put together, you will be limited by your camera. A composite signal at best is 230 lines of resolution interlaced. But NTSC video is technically 525 vertical lines - so your original composite signal is actually doubled to get a NTSC compliant video. So regardless of DVI, 256Meg video card, 256 bit v. 128bit video - your end result will be the same: a image captured at 640x480 that is actually a 525 vertical line image that was trasncoded up from 230 lines.

I'm not trying to be a partypooper, I'm just pointing out the reality of composite analog video capture.

[glc]

Speed, memory, and processing bits won't do anything for you. Any entry level video card is more than you need, as long as it has the right inputs and outputs.

Here's a card with VIVO and a DVI connector:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-125-152&depa=0

[billsea]

Thanks for all the feedback. Looks like I am just going to get a barebones machine.