OptiTrack Announces Flex 13 Mo-Cap Camera

Press release from OptiTrack:

CORVALLIS, OR — OptiTrack introduced the world’s first megapixel motion capture camera for under $1K, the Flex 13 [1]. Boasting an impressive 1.3 million pixels of resolution, a 120 FPS sample rate, and an immense 56° field of view, the Flex 13 is an evolution of efficient motion capture technology.

The combination of an expansive field of view and 1.3 MP sensor resolution enables the Flex 13 to track complex, multiple-actor scenes with an exceptional volume-to-setup ratio. When deployed with the stock 56° lens in a standard 20’ x 20’ arrangement, the camera can attain an active capture area that is among the largest in the industry, which allows for extensive capture volumes even in modest tracking environments.

“Mocap technicians asked for larger volumes, and we’ve built the perfect camera in response,” says OptiTrack President Jim Richardson. “The Flex 13 addresses this need with the added benefit of a simpler setup and calibration process—and at 1.3 megapixels, it offers the cleanest data that $1K can buy.”

OptiTrack has long been a favorite for price-sensitive developers and previs studios. The Flex 13 marks a continuation of the technology’s expansion into more rigorous production ecosystems. “This new camera is actually a reflection of our roots,” continues Richardson. “We turned the market on its head five years ago with a bold message—motion capture can and should be affordable. Then we made sure that it was. The Flex 13 is the next step in the democratization process—affordable mocap tuned for demanding capture applications.”

Additional Features [2]:

• On-camera image processing for efficient system scaling
• Grayscale scene video with on-camera MJPEG compression
• User-changeable 5.5mm (56°) and 8mm (42°) M12 lenses
• Unobtrusive 850nm infrared illumination
• Infrared and visible-spectrum filtering options
• OptiSync for camera synchronization over USB cable
• External sync in/out via the OptiHub [3]
• On-camera Aim Assist button
• Quick-release face plate for simple lens adjustment
• Compatible with OptiTrack’s ARENA [4], Expression [5], and Tracking Tools [6] software
• Free Camera SDK [7] for system integration

OptiTrack will be demonstrating the Flex 13 at GDC 2012 from March 7-9, in booth 1632.

Pricing and Availability
The Flex 13 is available for preorder now at $999 and is scheduled to ship in April 2012. For more information, please contact the company's headquarters in Corvallis, Ore. at 1-888-865-5535 or visit them at: www.optitrack.com [8].

About OptiTrack (A division of NaturalPoint)
OptiTrack™ is the leading brand of affordable, high-performance motion capture technology. The OptiTrack product line includes motion capture software and high-speed tracking cameras, as well as contract engineering services. Used by facilities worldwide in a variety of markets ranging from film and games to sports training and biomechanics, OptiTrack customers include Under Armour, NASA, Mechdyne, Lockheed Martin, John Deere, Stanford University, Duke University, Laser Shot, Ubisoft, Sony, Electronic Arts, Microsoft Game Studios, and other top contractors and studios around the world.