A couple of points for clarifcation regarding the Data Translations
DT cards.   The PCi cards from Data Translation (www.datx.com) are
refered to as the MACH series and there are serveral different cards
which do different things.

        DT3152:  PCI BUS, capable of 1 to 4000 x 1 to 4000 pixels (for a
maximum of 4,194,304 pixels however you'd like to divide them ) and
8-bit depth (i.e. its monochromatic not colour).  It will also
handle variable scan rates: 0-20MHz/pixel (i.e. it'll do 50HZ/PAL or
60HZ/NTSC easily).  I have such a board but as of present I have not
been able to capture anything beyond the standard TV rates (PAL,
NTSC, CCIR, RS170).  Inputs: 4 analog channels, H-sync, V-sync,
External pixel clock, external trigger.  Outputs:  8 digital outputs,
H-sync, V-sync.

        DT3155:  PCI BUS, captures at standard TV rates NTSC (640x 480), and
PAL (768 x 512) at 8-bits greyscale. 4-analog inputs, External
trigger input, 8 digital outputs (these are on one 15-pin D-shell
connector), one BNC video input.


        Martorx (www.matrox.com) also makes several PCI BUS capture cards,
the matrox cards differ from the Data translations cards in their
integration of a display adapter on the card (i.e. you can use these
cards as your computer display monitor, SVGA, graphics card - and
infact they can be problematic if you wish a second graphics adapter
in the system), and they do cost a little more than than the DT cards
(you'll need an additonal graphics card, but you generally have
one with your computer anyway, eh?).

        Matrox Meteor:  Composite or Y/C (S-Video: S-VHS, Hi8), RS-170
 (640 x 480) / CCIR (768 x 576) NTSC (640 x 480) / PAL (768 x 576) / SECAM
(768 x 576) at upto 24-bit (Full colour or greyscale; 8-, 15-,
24-bit).  four software selectable video input channels (i.e. R,G,B,
sync),  BNC, S-video or trigger. SVGA video output.


        Matrox Pulsar:  Tv-rate and Variable scan rate, upto 1k x 1k.
Sampling is up to 30 MHz with 10-bit grayscale resolution or up to 45
MHz with 8-bit. standard with a 16-bit TTL data interface. An
optional input module is required for 16-bit RS-422 data at up to 30
MHz. Can be programmed to accept or generate video timing signals
such as horizontal sync, vertical sync, and pixel clock in
TTL/RS-422 format.  External TTL/RS-422 trigger input , exposure (or
timer) output  TTL/RS-422. SVGA Output.




        Matrox Genesis:  analog acquisition at up to 140 MHz from standard
and non-standard video devices on-board, digital acquisition up to
32-bit wide TTL at up to 30 MHz, optional digital input board for up
to 32-bit wide RS-422 at up to 30 MHz, grabs color or monochrome
video, simultaneous capture of up to 4 video streams.  (All this is
dependant upon amount of memory on the card, 8, 16, 32, 64MB).


        It basically comes down to what type of imaging and resloution you
need.  PCI BUS cards do a really nice job for far less than $2,000
(USD).  And if your looking at Standard video rates, there are MANY
otehr vendors.  Including those which will capture full video
streams (but then you really start eating up memory fast!).


 [NOTE:  I am not a vendor nor do I have any financial interests in
either  Data Translations nor Matrox.  I just happen to have seriously
looked at frame capture cards from both of the companies]



Richard E. Edelmann
Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor
352 Pearson Hall
Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056
Ph: 513-529-5712        Fax: 513-529-4243
E-mail: [log in to unmask]