Barnard Microsystems Limited

The excellent (in our opinion) Canon G9 mid size camera, with a 12 MPixel imager, an optical zoom of 6x and the ability to control the camera from a computer through a USB interface.

• See "imaging" for examples of photographs using the G9
• See "Aerial Photo 1" for aerial photographs using the G9

- from http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/G9/G9A.HTM

Features

This camera system is ideal for the smaller Unmanned Aircraft. Thanks to Michael Taylor for pointing this camera out to us.

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The ability to control the camera from a computer is an essential requirement for a professional Unmanned Aircraft based surveillance and photographic capability. The Canon G9 can be easily controlled by a computer through the use of the USB connection, using the RemoteCaptureDC software supplied with the camera.

The quality of the streaming video imagery from this camera is excellent, even when the camera is moving.

Demonstrating the ability to remotely zoom in, the above photograph was taken at the widest angle, while the lower photograph was taken at the maximum zoom corresponding to the smallest zoom. I cleaned the laptop screen after seeing this photograph.

You can download the Canon Software Development Kit (SDK) from the Canon Digital Imaging Developer Programme site called https://www.didp.canon-europa.com/ once you have requested access, and been granted access, to the site.

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The good points

• good quality images, across zoom ranges
• good video imagery, even when the camera is moving
• not too heavy at 320 grams, including the lens
• relatively inexpensive at just under £ 300 in the U.K. (from www.amazon.co.uk )
• very good remote camera control software via USB connection to a Personal Computer

The not-so-good points

• takes about 3 seconds between single images due to time for auto-focus and image data storage

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