The IEEE1394 Digital Camera List

~ ~ ~ Listing firewire cameras since 1999 ~ ~ ~

Last update: 2008-12-20, Current camera count: 1188

This page summarizes the uncompressed video cameras available with IEEE1394 interfaces (also known as Firewire, IEEE-1394, i-Link, 1394, 1394b, etc...) Uncompressed video cameras are used mostly in scientific, industrial, microscopy, machine vision, computer vision and photography applications that require real-time processing of the video stream. A few webcams are also available.

Manufacturers are welcome to contact me for additions and updates. I don't have the time to regularly google the web for new cameras and manufacturers so if you want your products to be up-to-date the best is to push the info to me. Of course I also welcome information from the User Side (tm); don't hesitate to drop me a line! And remember the best gift you can make is often a good old fashioned link :-)

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Recent news:

2008-12-20: New IR camera module from China
2008-12-06: From Russia with love: 2 models from a newly spotted manufacturer: Fastvideo.
2008-11-21: 6 new models of the Grasshopper from Point Grey Research, all with dual 1394b links for an effective 1.6Gbit/s bandwidth (roughly equal to S1600 in Firewire jargon). And just announced before Christmas. Woohoohoo!
2008-11-08: 6 new models from AVT.
2008-10-29: Price update from ISG.
2008-10-15: More updates from PixeLINK.
2008-10-13: Update from PixeLINK.
2008-09-27: Update from Sony.
2008-09-03: Point Grey introduces the Ladybug 3; update of (almost) all PixelInk models
2008-07-20: Update of AOS Technologies' cameras (some models were not obsolete...)
2008-06-11: Update from Baumer Optronic
2008-06-07: New manufacturer: Red One, maker of cool cinema cameras. The "Scarlet" model will be available for around USD3000: a real bargain!!
2008-06-03: Update from VDS-Vosskuhler.
2008-05-29: Two new Japanese manufacturers: PTE and OKK.
2008-05-25: OMG! Ponies! I mean, pictograms!
2008-05-24: Four new Flea2 models announced by Point Grey.
2008-05-07: Display currencies using the currency sign (€, 円, $).
2008-02-12: New 5MP camera from AVT
2008-01-26: I have stopped Google advertising on this website due to the puny revenue it represented. I may setup an advertising program directly with manufacturers in the future.
2008-01-26: Manufacturer update, S-Z.
2008-01-17: Manufacturer update, P-R.
2008-01-16: Manufacturer update, L-O. We have just past the 1000 cameras landmark! The next landmark is to have 1000 non-obsolete cameras. Since there is only 753 of them now it's certainly going to take a couple of years.
2008-01-10: Thanks to Baumer Optronic for the update.
2008-01-06: Manufacturer update, G to K. The list will soon reach the symbolic mark of 1000 listed cameras!
2007-12-27: Manufacturer update, A to F. Many left the 1394 business: Fuji, Flovel, Canon and Apple.

Mini-FAQ: How to choose a camera?

(This is obviously not necessary for professionals but it avoids quite a few emails for me...)

First check you budget. Camera prices start under USD 100 but can reach more than USD 50000.
Next, think about the software required to use your camera. Some cameras are compliant with the IIDC specifications wich is a good thing because standard APIs, programs and GUIs exist for them on most platforms (Linux, Mac, Windows and maybe some others). Under Linux, these cameras are the only one openly supported, thanks to libdc1394, the control library, and Coriander, the GUI. It is strongly advised to Linux users to buy a IIDC-compliant camera. Under Windows, most manufacturers provide a proprietary API, which has its pro and cons. Some vendors provide generic APIs, like Unibrain, 1394imaging and IOXperts.
You will then need to know what kind of resolution and framerate you want. Since the IEEE1394 bandwidth is currently limited to 400Mbps or 800Mbps, there is a tradeoff between high-resolution and high-speed. Note that the framrate limit is often due to the sensor maximum output rate rather than the bus speed. Example: for a [1280x1024,8bpp,20MHz,B/W] camera the bus limit is 400e6/1280/1024/8=38fps, but it probably never reach that because the sensor is limited to 20MHz output, which leads to 20e6/1280/1024=15fps only.
Don't forget to check the bit-per-pixel too: maybe you don't need 10 bits accuracy. Typically, cameras are available in 8, 10, 12 or 14 bpp. 8bpp is standard, 10bpp and 12bpp are quite common now and 14bpp models exists (mainly medium-format photography digital backs).
Think also about image quality, mostly related to optics, pixel size (bigger pixel = more sensitivity = better SNR) and sensor type (CMOS more noisy than CCD). Webcams use integrated plastic optics, wich is good for webcams but probably not for demanding applications. C-mount lenses are the standard for machine vision and video surveillance, and most users will need this lens mount. F-mount is for Nikon SLR lenses, a.k.a. Nikkor lenses. I got nice info from John Lord about C-mount lenses. You can find that here. At last, some cameras have passable glass integrated optics, like the (obsolete) Sony DFW-VL500.
A last thing you might consider: CMOS sensors (and some CCD but it is less efficient) have selectable 'regions of interrest' (ROI). This can increase the framerate dramatically with high-res cameras, or provide software pan/tilt by only sending an rectangular image region selected by the user. This is for instance very nice for high-res, high-speed object tracking.
For CMOS sensors, check that their type fits your needs: ''rolling shutter'' is very different from ''global shutter''!! (hint: most people will need global shutter). OK, a longer description: global shutter means all pixels are taken at the same time, rolling shutter means that lines are acquired one by one. The latter is usually only used for static scenes, obviously. You can see a nice explanation about this on this page from Point Grey.

Optics Key:

C: C-mount
CS: CS-mount
F: Nikon SLR F-mount
fixed: unknown fixed focal integrated optic
Xmm: fixed focal integrated optic (the focal length is specified)
Dove: Dovetail (for optic tables)
SM1
Fiber: optical fiber coupling
Block: block mount
MF: Medium format camera back
N: Contax SLR N-mount
EF: Canon SLR mount
Sigma: ''SA Bayonet Mount''
mini: miniature lens mount
HC: Hasselblad mount

IIDC compatibility

The IIDC column tells you if a camera is compatible with the IIDC/DCAM standard or not, along with the version of the standard if available. Camera compatible with this standard will work out of the box with many software packages. Cameras not compatible will work only with proprietary drivers. I recommend buying a camera that is compatible with IIDC unless you have a single specific application in mind. Note that all cameras on this page are compliant with the IEEE 1394 specifications but only some of them are compliant with IIDC.

Features Key: (Note that some features may be optional.)

Cooling
external trigger input/output
auto synchronization
pan/tilt base
selectable Region Of Interest (ROI)
non-linear response (multi-slope integration, CMOS,...)
on-board video memory (from a few frames to full recording)
on-board user-programmable DSP or processor
analog video out (PAL/NTSC/RGB/...)
advanced features (for example, IIDC vendor specific extensions)
additionnal I/O (strobe, serial/parallel,...)
on-chip binning (pixel binning for increased sensitivity)
programmable Look-Up Table (LUT)
raw Bayer pattern output (e.g. IIDC "RAW" formats)
intensified
autofocus
1394b camera (800Mbit+)
heavy duty, hardened, waterproof, etc...
optical fiber output (for 1394B cameras only)

Hall of Fame:

Most expensive digital camera: Phantom V9 from Vision Research, USD 84000 (obsolete)
Cheapest digital camera: Stealthfire form iRez, USD 80
Largest sensor: DBP, from Fuji: 52 x 37mm (obsolete)
Pixel count: P45, from Phase One: 39.052.992 pixels
Fastest: Phantom V7.2 from Vision Research, 3.2Gpixel/sec (obsolete)
Sturdiest: Shark Eye, Desert Star: certified to -6000m underwater
Most spider-like: Point Grey LadyBug2: 6 sensors
Smallest: the Flea, from Point Grey: 30x31x29mm!
Most prolific manufacturer: Allied Vision Technologies: 63 models.

The List

Manufacturer index:

Found 863 cameras

Advision Systems	Color	Resolution	Bpp	FPS	Sensor	Optics	IIDC	Price	Features
FC 1076	color	1024 x 768	8	15	CCD 1/3"	C,CS
FC 1296	color	1280 x 960	8	7.5	CCD 1/2"	C,CS
FC 6448	color	640 x 480	8	30	CCD 1/4"	C,CS
FM 6448	mono	640 x 480	8	30	CCD 1/4"	C,CS
Aglaia	Color	Resolution	Bpp	FPS	Sensor	Optics	IIDC	Price	Features
INKA HDRC 100	color	640 x 480	10	30	CMOS 1/3"	CS	1.30
INKA HDRC 100	mono	640 x 480	10	30	CMOS 1/3"	CS	1.30
INKA NSC640-PG	color	640 x 480	12	30	CMOS 1/4"	C	1.30
INKA NSC640-PG	mono	640 x 480	12	30	CMOS 1/4"	C	1.30
INKA NSC800	mono	800 x 480	12	25	CMOS 1/4"	C	1.30
INKA NSC800	color	800 x 480	12	25	CMOS 1/4"	C	1.30
Allied Vision Technologies	Color	Resolution	Bpp	FPS	Sensor	Optics	IIDC	Price	Features
Dolphin F-145	mono	1392 x 1040	12	15	CCD 2/3"	C,CS	1.30	2590€
Dolphin F-145	color	1392 x 1040	12	15	CCD 2/3"	C,CS	1.30	2590€
Dolphin F-201	mono	1628 x 1236	10	12.75	CCD 5/9"	C,CS	1.30	2590€
Dolphin F-201	color	1628 x 1236	10	12.75	CCD 5/9"	C,CS	1.30	2590€
Guppy F-025B	mono	510 x 492	8	30	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	1.31
Guppy F-025C	color	510 x 492	8	30	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	1.31
Guppy F-029B	mono	500 x 582	8	25	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	1.31
Guppy F-029C	color	500 x 582	8	25	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	1.31
Guppy F-033B	mono	659 x 494	8	60	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	1.31	590€
Guppy F-033C	color	659 x 494	8	60	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	1.31	590€
Guppy F-036B	mono	752 x 480	8	60	CMOS 1/3"	C,CS	1.31	490€
Guppy F-036C	color	752 x 480	8	60	CMOS 1/3"	C,CS	1.31	490€
Guppy F-046B	mono	782 x 582	8	53	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.31
Guppy F-046C	color	782 x 582	8	53	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.31
Guppy F-080B	mono	1034 x 779	8	30	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.31
Guppy F-080C	color	1034 x 779	8	30	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.31
Guppy F-146B	mono	1392 x 1040	8	17	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.31
Guppy F-146C	color	1392 x 1040	8	17	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.31
Guppy F-503B	mono				CMOS	C,CS	1.31
Guppy F-503C	color				CMOS	C,CS	1.31
Marlin F-033B	mono	656 x 494	10	74	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.30	990€
Marlin F-033C	color	656 x 494	10	74	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.30	990€
Marlin F-046B	mono	780 x 582	10	53	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.30	1090€
Marlin F-046C	color	780 x 582	10	53	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.30	1090€
Marlin F-080B	mono	1032 x 778	10	23	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	1.30	1290€
Marlin F-080B 30fps	mono	1032 x 778	10	30	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	1.30	1390€
Marlin F-080C	color	1032 x 778	10	23	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	1.30	1290€
Marlin F-080C 30fps	color	1032 x 778	10	30	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	1.30	1390€
Marlin F-131B	mono	1280 x 1024	10	25	CMOS 2/3"	C,CS	1.30	990€
Marlin F-131C	color	1280 x 1024	10	25	CMOS 2/3"	C,CS	1.30	990€
Marlin F-145B2	mono	1392 x 1040	10	10	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.30	1490€
Marlin F-145C2	color	1392 x 1040	10	10	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.30	1490€
Marlin F-146B	mono	1392 x 1040	10	17.5	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.30
Marlin F-146C	color	1392 x 1040	10	17.5	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.30
Marlin F-201B	mono	1628 x 1236	10	12.5	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.30
Marlin F-201C	color	1628 x 1236	10	12.5	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.30
Oscar F-320C	color	2080 x 1540	16	6.6	CCD 5/9"	C,CS	1.30	2490€
Oscar F-510C	color	2588 x 1958	16	3.7	CCD 2/3"	C,CS	1.30	2990€
Oscar F-810C	color	3288 x 2470	16	3.1	CCD 2/3"	C,CS	1.30	3490€
Pike F-032B	mono	640 x 480	14	205	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	1.31
Pike F-032C	color	640 x 480	14	205	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	1.31
Pike F-100B	mono	1000 x 1000	14	48	CCD 2/3"	C,CS	1.31
Pike F-100C	color	1000 x 1000	14	48	CCD 2/3"	C,CS	1.31
Pike F-145B	mono	1388 x 1388	14	25	CCD 2/3"	C,CS	1.31
Pike F-145C	color	1388 x 1388	14	25	CCD 2/3"	C,CS	1.31
Pike F-210B	mono	1928 x 1084	14	30	CCD 1"	C,CS	1.31	2990€
Pike F-210C	color	1928 x 1084	14	30	CCD 1"	C,CS	1.31	2990€
Pike F-421B	mono	2048 x 2048	14	15	CCD 1.2"	C,CS	1.31	4990€
Pike F-421C	color	2048 x 2048	14	15	CCD 1.2"	C,CS	1.31	4990€
Pike F-505B	mono	2452 x 2054	14	15	CCD 1.2"	C,CS	1.31
Pike F-505C	color	2452 x 2054	14	15	CCD 1.2"	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-033B	mono	656 x 492	14	84	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-033C	color	656 x 492	14	84	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-046B	mono	780 x 580	14	61	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-046C	color	780 x 580	14	61	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-080B	mono	1032 x 776	14	31	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-080C	color	1032 x 776	14	31	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-125B	mono			30	CCD	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-125C	color			30	CCD	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-145B	mono	1388 x 1038	14	16	CCD 2/3"	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-145C	color	1388 x 1038	14	16	CCD 2/3"	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-146B	mono	1388 x 1038	14	15	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-146C	color	1388 x 1038	14	15	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-201B	mono	1624 x 1234	14	14	CCD 5/9"	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-201C	color	1624 x 1234	14	14	CCD 5/9"	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-504B	mono				CCD	C,CS	1.31
Stingray F-504C	color				CCD	C,CS	1.31
AME Optimedia	Color	Resolution	Bpp	FPS	Sensor	Optics	IIDC	Price	Features
CF-2000	color	640 x 480	8	30	CCD 1/4"	fixed	1.04
AOS Technologies	Color	Resolution	Bpp	FPS	Sensor	Optics	IIDC	Price	Features
MOTIONeer	mono	1280 x 1024	8	500	CMOS 1"	C
MOTIONeer	color	1280 x 1024	8	500	CMOS 1"	C
SMIZE	mono	1280 x 1024	8	500		C
SMIZE	color	1280 x 1024	8	500		C
VITcam	mono	1280 x 1024	8	500	CMOS 1"	C	no
VITcam	color	1280 x 1024	8	500	CMOS 1"	C	no
Basler	Color	Resolution	Bpp	FPS	Sensor	Optics	IIDC	Price	Features
A102f	mono	1392 x 1040	12	15	CCD 2/3"	C	yes
A102fc	color	1388 x 1038	12	15	CCD 2/3"	C	yes
A311f	mono	659 x 494	12	73	CCD 1/2"	C	1.30
A311fc	color	658 x 494	12	73	CCD 1/2"	C	1.30
A312f	mono	782 x 582	12	53	CCD 1/2"	C	1.30
A312fc	color	780 x 580	12	53	CCD 1/2"	C	1.30
A601f	mono	656 x 491	10	60	CMOS 1/2"	C	1.30	999€
A601fc	color	656 x 490	10	60	CMOS 1/2"	C	1.30	999€
A602f	mono	656 x 491	10	100	CMOS 1/2"	C	1.30	$1475
A602fc	color	656 x 490	10	100	CMOS 1/2"	C	1.30	$1475
A622f	mono	1280 x 1024	10	25	CMOS 2/3"	C	1.30
A631f	mono	1392 x 1040	12	18.7	CCD 1/2"	C	1.30
A631fc	color	1388 x 1038	12	18.7	CCD 1/2"	C	1.30
A641f	mono	1624 x 1236	12	14	CCD 5/9"	C	1.30
A641fc	color	1624 x 1234	12	14	CCD 5/9"	C	1.30
scout scA1000-20fc	color	1032 x 778	12	20	CCD 1.3"	C,CS	yes
scout scA1000-20fm	mono	1034 x 779	12	20	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	yes
scout scA1000-30fc	color	1032 x 778	12	30	CCD 1.3"	C,CS	yes
scout scA1000-30fm	mono	1034 x 779	12	30	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	yes
scout scA1390-17fc	color	1390 x 1038	12	17	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	yes
scout scA1390-17fm	mono	1392 x 1040	12	17	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	yes
scout scA1400-17fc	color	1390 x 1038	12	17	CCD 2/3"	C,CS	yes
scout scA1400-17fm	mono	1392 x 1040	12	17	CCD 2/3"	C,CS	yes
scout scA1600-14fc	color	1624 x 1234	12	14	CCD 5/9"	C,CS	yes
scout scA1600-14fm	mono	1628 x 1236	12	14	CCD 5/9"	C,CS	yes
scout scA640-70fc	color	658 x 492	12	71	CCD 1.3"	C,CS	yes
scout scA640-70fm	mono	659 x 494	12	71	CCD 1/3"	C,CS	yes
scout scA640-74fc	color	659 x 490	12	74	CCD 1.2"	C,CS	yes
scout scA640-74fm	mono	659 x 490	12	74	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	yes
scout scA750-60fc	color	752 x 480	8	60	CMOS 1.3"	C,CS	yes
scout scA750-60fm	mono	752 x 480	8	63	CMOS 1/3"	C,CS	yes
scout scA780-54fc	color	782 x 582	12	54	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	yes
scout scA780-54fm	mono	782 x 582	12	54	CCD 1/2"	C,CS	yes
Baumer Optronic	Color	Resolution	Bpp	FPS	Sensor	Optics	IIDC	Price	Features
FQX33c	color	2088 x 1550	12	5	CCD 5/9"	C	no
FQX50c	color	2592 x 1944	12	5	CCD 5/9"	C	no
FQX80c	color	3264 x 2448	12	3	CCD 2/3"	C	no
FWL120	mono	2048 x 1	8	2800	CCD	F	no
FWX03	mono	656 x 494	8	70	CCD 1/3"	C	no
FWX03c	color	656 x 494	8	70	CCD 1/3"	C	no
FWX05	mono	780 x 582	8	25	CCD 1/2"	C	no
FWX05c	color	780 x 582	8	25	CCD 1/2"	C	no
FWX06	mono	780 x 582	8	50	CCD 1/2"	C	no
FWX06c	color	780 x 582	8	50	CCD 1/2"	C	no
FWX08	mono	1032 x 776	8	19	CCD 1/3"	C	no
FWX08c	color	1032 x 776	8	19	CCD 1/3"	C	no
FWX131	mono	1392 x 1040	8	20	CCD 1/2"	C	no
FWX131c	color	1392 x 1040	8	20	CCD 1/2"	C	no
FWX14	mono	1392 x 1040	8	15	CCD 2/3"	C	no
FWX14c	color	1392 x 1040	8	15	CCD 2/3"	C	no
FWX20	mono	1624 x 1236	8	12	CCD 5/9"	C	no
FWX20c	color	1624 x 1236	8	12	CCD 5/9"	C	no
FWX401D	mono	2048 x 2048	8	10	CCD 1.3"	C,F	no
FWXC03c	color	640 x 480	8	64	CMOS 1/4"	C	no
FWXC13c	color	1280 x 1024	8	18	CMOS 1/2"	C	no
FWXC30c	color	2048 x 1536	8	10	CMOS 1/2"	C	no
TXD03	mono	656 x 494	12	90	CCD 1/3"	C	1.31
TXD03c	color	640 x 480	12	90	CCD 1/3"	C	1.31
TXD06	mono	776 x 582	12	64	CCD 1/2"	C	1.31
TXD06c	color	768 x 574	12	64	CCD 1/2"	C	1.31
TXD08	mono	1032 x 776	12	28	CCD 1/3"	C	1.31
TXD08c	color	1024 x 768	12	28	CCD 1/3"	C	1.31
TXD13	mono	1392 x 1040	12	20	CCD 1/2"	C	1.31
TXD13c	color	1384 x 1032	12	20	CCD 1/2"	C	1.31
TXD14	mono	1392 x 1040	12	20	CCD 2/3"	C	1.31
TXD14c	color	1384 x 1032	12	20	CCD 2/3"	C	1.31
TXD20	mono	1624 x 1236	12	16	CCD 5/9"	C	1.31
TXD20c	color	1616 x 1228	12	16	CCD 5/9"	C	1.31
TXD50	mono	2448 x 2050	12	13	CCD 2/3"	C	1.31
TXD50c	mono	2448 x 2050	12	13	CCD 2/3"	C	1.31
TXF03	mono	656 x 494	12	90	CCD 1/3"	C	no
TXF03c	color	640 x 480	12	90	CCD 1/3"	C	no
TXF06	mono	776 x 582	12	64	CCD 1/2"	C	no
TXF06c	color	768 x 574	12	64	CCD 1/2"	C	no
TXF08	mono	1032 x 776	12	28	CCD 1/3"	C	no
TXF08c	color	1024 x 768	12	28	CCD 1/3"	C	no
TXF13	mono	1392 x 1040	12	20	CCD 1/2"	C	no
TXF13c	color	1384 x 1032	12	20	CCD 1/2"	C	no
TXF14	mono	1392 x 1040	12	20	CCD 2/3"	C	no
TXF14c	color	1384 x 1032	12	20	CCD 2/3"	C	no
TXF20	mono	1624 x 1236	12	16	CCD 5/9"	C	no
TXF20c	color	1616 x 1228	12	16	CCD 5/9"	C	no
TXF50	mono	2448 x 2050	12	15	CCD 2/3"	C	no