Sequential modification of digital image capture methods steadily improved the
resolution of the images used in the MUDES Project:

1.  Video tape images from Camcorder.   One minute specimen segments were
taped in the field with a camcorder.  Images were then digitized from the tape via
Image1.

     PRO: Hardware readily available.

     CON: Low spatial resolution images.  Bulky field equipment.  NTSC signal        can not be frame averaged via Image1.  Multi-step process makes       this method slow.

2.  Quicktake digital still camera.   Single frame video capture of field specimens
downloaded to computer via serial port connection.

     PRO: Light weight and extremely portable.  Downloads can be done to        notebook computers in the field.  Extremely inexpensive.

     CON: Fixed lens of camera allows capture of images beyond 60 cm (24        inches) and between 35 -20 cm (4 - 8 inches).  Unfortunately, the          out-of-focus gap extending from 60-35 cm is where most of the    botanical images are best framed.

3.  NTSC color charge couple device.  Standard C mount interfaces this camera
with either  fixed or variable focal length lenses, or dissecting or compound light
microscopes. 

     PRO: Wide range of focal lengths permits capture of nearly anything that        can be brought into the lab, alive or slightly wilted.  Humidity boxes,         constructed by Matt Duley, consisting of Tupperware and moist   towels, extended leaf and flower photo-op time to 1-2 hrs.

     CON: Cannot be used in the field because of power requirements.  Image          capture requires video capture board and 120 Volts AC power for the
          CCD.  Image capture is single frame since Image1 cannot frame         average NTSC signals, nor could any other frame capture software,          as far as I could determine.


4.  RGB charge coupled device.  Standard C mount interfaces this camera with
either  fixed or variable focal length lenses, or dissecting or compound light
microscopes. 

     P  RO: Wide range of focal lengths permits capture of nearly anyt  hing that        can be brought into the lab, alive or slightly   wilted.  Humidity boxes,         constructed by Matt Duley, consistin  g of Tupperware and moist   towels, extended leaf and flower photo-op time to 1-2 hrs.  Image1 can frame average 256 frames which greatly enhanced the color resolution compared to NTSC images.  Since the RGB signals are captured in separate frames, this presents the opportunity to utilize the grey scale information from these signals.

     CON: Cannot be used in the field because of power requirements.  Image          capture requires video capture board and 120 Volts AC power for the
            CCD.   NB  .: Image1 RGB image is stored as t hree separate f  iles (3            MEGS) and requires Image1 to display a near photograp  hic image.            In order to transport the RGB image to othe  r applications, it is    necessary to reduce the color to 256 grey levels, which reduces the information content associated with real color images.  Color resolution is lost in the encoding process from RGB to 256 grey level image format.  The size of our encoded 256 images is  0.25 MEG.  Disproportionate rescaling has to be done from images coming from Image1, which uses rectangular pixels in order to work with these in applications that use square pixels.



5.  Kodak DC120 digital still camera.   Light weight, battery operated camera, with
variable focal length is used in the field and with a copy stand in the laboratory. 
Very versatile in regard to whole object imaging.  Images downloaded from
camera to computer via parallell port connection, or camera controlled via Twain
Acquire Routine in Photoenhancer running on computer.

     PRO: Wide range of focal lengths permits capture of nearly anything that        can be brought into the lab, alive or slightly wilted.  Humidity boxes,         constructed by Matt Duley, consisting of Tupperware and moist   towels, extended leaf and flower photo-op time to 1-2 hrs.  Battery
          powered hardware (4-6 hrs on a single set of 4XAA) facilitates rapid       field work.  On-line interaction provides limited manipulation of          camera parameters.  There is no restriction with regard to focal   distance, but the user has to learn how to use the camera before this
          is apparent. 


     CON: Steady supply of rechargeable batteries has to be maintained.
          There is a limitation to exposure time = 16 sec, which may limit some
          users, operating under especially dark conditions.

Currently the RGB CCD is used for microscopy images and the DC120 is used for
images collected in the field.