Point Grey launches HD 2.8 MP FireWire camera

RICHMOND, CANADA: Point Grey, a leader in advanced digital imaging products, has announced the addition of new 2.8 megapixel models to its Grasshopper Express IEEE 1394b (FireWire-b) digital cameras series.

The new Grasshopper Express GX-FW-28S5 camera models are based on color and monochrome versions of the fast and highly sensitive Sony ICX674, a 2/3" CCD featuring 4.54 micron square pixels and capable of sending 1932 x 1452 images at 26 FPS. The ICX674 sensor supports high definition (HD) 1080p30 imaging and uses Sony's EXview HAD CCD II technology—a further evolved version of the well-known EXview HAD CCD technology—to improve quantum efficiency, reduce smear, and increase sensitivity, including into the near infrared.

Every Grasshopper Express camera is equipped with a 32 MByte frame buffer, 14-bit analog-to-digital converter, and on-board temperature and power sensors to monitor camera status. Also included with every camera is the FlyCapture SDK, a full software library that provides a common control interface for all Point Grey cameras under both Windows and Linux.

The 800 Mbit/s FireWire-b interface allows fast image transfer and is well-suited to building low latency, highly deterministic, multiple camera networks. Industry-leading pricing and best-in-class image quality make the new GX ideal for applications in biophotonics, medical, astronomy, traffic surveillance, factory automation, and machine vision.

"The Sony ICX674 sensor is quickly becoming the new industry standard for low noise, high sensitivity CCD imaging," says Michael Gibbons, Product Marketing Manager. Gibbons adds, "By pairing it with a reliable and deterministic FireWire-b interface, we are able to address a broad range of customer needs in both scientific and industrial markets. We continue to see strong demand and growth in FireWire camera sales and will introduce additional Grasshopper Express camera models throughout 2012."

The Grasshopper Express GX-FW-28S5M-C (monochrome) and GX-FW-28S5C-C (color) models are list priced at USD $1995 and are available to order now from Point Grey and its network of distributors.