Knowledge Base

Configure the DanioVision Camera

Camera Settings

The DanioVision camera that you received is already configured according to your setup. Noldus created three main settings profiles, called User Sets, stored in the Pylon Viewer software which controls the camera: User Set 1, User Set 2, and User Set 3. Only one User Set can be active at a time.

For each video resolution, you must use different camera settings and in some cases a different camera lens. For example, the video resolution determines the maximum frame rate. The higher the required resolution (in number of pixels), the lower the maximum frame rate (in frames per second). The three User Sets are specific for a combination of video resolution and frame rate.

Note: Pylon Viewer is installed when you install the camera driver software. For more information about Pylon Viewer, see Configure the Digital Camera in the EthoVision XT Help.

The predefined User Sets and their associated settings are as follows:

• User Set 1 is default for most applications, used with a 12 mm lens at 1280 x 960 resolution and 30 fps.
• User Set 2 is pre-selected if you purchased a 12 mm lens and work with a high frame rate (640 x 480 at 60 fps). Binning mode must be set to Summing for User Set 2.
• User Set 3 is pre-selected if you purchased an 8 mm lens with a 0.5 mm spacer ring (800 x 600 at 60 fps).

For all User Sets, Enable Acquisition Frame Rate must be selected. For User Sets other than User Set 2, either binning option has no effect when binning is equal to 1.

Which User Set Is Currently Selected?

Make sure that EthoVision XT is closed. Start the Basler Pylon Viewer software and in the Features panel, under Configuration Sets, look for the item Default Startup Set. This is the User Set that contains the current settings. Always check that the settings in Pylon Viewer for a particular User Set correspond to those in the table.

Note: EthoVision XT reads the settings from the camera driver software. For a specific EthoVision XT experiment you can override the values of video resolution and frame rate stored in the driver, but not other settings. The maximum frame rates have been measured with a 96-well plate setup; other values may be optimal in other setups.

Adjust the Camera Settings in EthoVision XT

In EthoVision XT, choose Setup > Experiment Settings and click the camera button. Adjust the settings according to your chosen User Set configuration. For details, see Adjust Camera Settings in EthoVision XT in the EthoVision XT Help.

Adjust the Camera Settings in Pylon Viewer

You can also adjust the camera settings directly in the camera software Pylon Viewer. First choose a video resolution and frame rate combination, then mount the recommended camera lens, make the appropriate settings in Pylon Viewer, and finally adjust the appropriate settings in EthoVision XT. The following settings should be configured:

• Pixel format
• Analog gain
• Center X and Center Y options
• Horizontal and vertical binning
• Acquisition frame rate and exposure time

Tip: To preview the camera image, click the Continuous Shot button on the toolbar.

Tip: You can increase the Analog gain to 2 or higher if you need a brighter image. However, the image noise will also increase, which may influence tracking.

To save the settings, click the Stop button and open the Configuration Sets item. From the Configuration Set Selector list, select the User Set you want to save the settings to. Next to User Set Save, click Execute. Then from the Default Startup Set list, select the User Set you want to use on a daily basis.

For more information about Pylon Viewer, see Configure the Digital Camera in the EthoVision XT Help.

Camera View

Check that the camera view is correct by placing a well plate in the DanioVision Observation Chamber. Make sure that:

• The well plate is in the middle of the field of view, not rotated or skewed.
• The well plate is in focus. If not, operate the focus ring of the camera lens.
• Fixation screws of all rings on the lens are tightened.
• The aperture is chosen such that the image appears slightly overexposed. With water in the well plate, the image is fine.

When you create an EthoVision XT experiment, check that the video resolution, video frame rate, and color space match the settings for the User Set you want to use.

Source: DanioVision DVOC-0050 Reference Manual - Set Up DanioVision, Noldus Information Technology