Point Grey expands world's smallest GigE POE camera family

CANADA: Point Grey, a world-leading designer and manufacturer of innovative, high-performance digital cameras, announced the addition of two new Blackfly models to the value-packed, GigE POE camera family – the smallest POE camera line in the world.

The two new models feature global shutter CCD sensors with excellent quantum efficiency and dynamic range. The BFLY-PGE-05S2 model uses the ICX693 SuperHAD CCD II sensor from Sony, and supports 808 x 608 resolution at 50 fps. The sensor uses a 6 um square pixel with excellent well depth and signal-to-noise ratio with similar performance to the ICX424 device, a very popular sensor in factory automation.

The BFLY-PGE-09S2 uses the ICX692 EXview HAD CCD II from Sony and supports 1288 x 728 resolution at 30 fps. The sensor provides low read noise, quantum efficiency near 70 percent, and excellent near infrared response. Current ICX204 users will benefit from improved sensitivity and reduced smear performance.

The Blackfly supports cable lengths of up 100 meters using Gigabit Ethernet, is compatible with third-party imaging libraries via the GigE Vision standard and provides a host of features including Power over Ethernet, temperature and status monitoring, in-field updatable firmware, color interpolation, look up table, gamma correction, pixel binning functionality, and much more.

With their unique combination of sensors, 29 x 29 x 30 mm enclosure size, GigE interface, and feature set, the new Blackfly models are perfectly suited for factory automation and analog camera replacement. The Blackfly can provide cost savings of up to 40 percent over competing products with similar resolutions and interfaces.

"The new models are an appealing alternative to existing camera users interested in taking advantage of improved sensor performance at a lower price point" explains Michael Gibbons, director of Sales and Marketing. "Analog camera users will find the Blackfly offers the cost structure required to motivate a transition to digital while benefitting from the newest CCD sensor technology."

The BFLY-PGE-05S2 (1/3-inch 0.5 MP 50 FPS) is list priced at $345/€249 and the BFLY-PGE-09S2 (1/3 inch 0.9 MP 30 FPS) is listed priced at $375/€279 – both are available to order now from Point Grey, its network of distributors, and the webstore (for North American customers). Further Blackfly models are planned to be released throughout 2013 including a 1.4 MP CMOS model and a 2.3 MP CMOS model by June 30, 2013.