Dear Adrien,

This company offers a variety of affordable cameras that should work for your application; check-out this one first:

http://www.optitrack.com/products/flex-13/buy.html

Regards,

Bob Skiles

Dear Bob,

Thank you very much for your answer.

I was actually more thinking of "traditional" video like in analyses with Dartfish or Kinovea, since there will indeed be some painted skin targets but they wont be retroreflective and they will be tracked semi-automatically frame by frame (not like in maker infrared-based motion capture). In addition, skin contours may be important as well. Sorry, should have precised it.

I was therefore more thinking of e.g. a Basler high speed camera (what model? Any other brand?) or a commercially available still frame (with video mode)/video camera.

Best regards,

Adrien

Have you considered GoPros?

Have you considered GoPros?

Dear Sir,

I hope, you will find my answer to be justified to your specific requirements...!!

As you mentioned above you are expecting a Basier, High speed camera, or commercially available still frame video camera, in addition, with skin contours. for this I do suggest an request you to please go through the link I have provided below. Some specification are also mentioned below it. I  guess it will be a helpful resource for your specific requirements.

All the best.

Regards,

A. Arjun

http://www.simi.com/en/products/movement-analysis/simi-motion-2d3d.html

In comparison to the majority of products available on the market, Simi Motion uses no infrared technology but utilizes image based techniques. High quality video recordings with high frame rates and high resolutions are captured and saved using synchronized industrial cameras. Using the latest algorithms of image processing, Simi Motion can capture motion in detail and calculate 2D/3D data. As with the other systems, Simi Motion has marker based automatic tracking to calculate marker positions. It is however also possible to track using markerless methods, such as pattern matching or silhouette tracking using no markers.

http://www.simi.com/en/products/movement-analysis/simi-motion-2d3d.html 

If you willing to increase your budget, a Vicon camera system will do the job perfectly. If you are looking for a cheaper solution, you will have to heavily code a program (DLT, 3D kinematics etc.) that will answer your needs. Back in my Master degree at Indiana University we were able to use 3 high-resolution Sony cameras in order to collect 3D data outdoor. The digitize part took for ever (which was manual only) and the programing was time consuming and challenging. I know that couple of my colleagues are sill using the Sony video camera system in order to collect outdoor activity.

Thanks,

Dr. Haddas

Dear Adrien,

Dr. Ram Haddas is spot-on in pointing out that your biggest problem is not the expense of the cameras, but in power of firmware & software processing that comes with them (on-board firmware/hardware builtin in the case of the commercial optitrack camera package that I first recommended, as well as the Vicon systems that Dr. Haddas now mentions), but particularly, also, the software processing/sychronizing package that is provided for use with the commercial camera systems. The "magic" (power ... in terms of time-saving and hair-pulling-out-frustration) is in the processing software suite. Of coarse, there ARE many software packages, nowadays (even some freewares and sharewares) that are touted to do a wide array of tracking and 3D synchronization functions, but unfortunately (having worked briefly with a few of these, myself, like Dr. Haddas, I must also report), the time invested to get even marginally passable results was way-too-many-hours! Take another look at the optitrack website ... they have a multiplicity of systems (with as few as 3 cameras, and with less expensive cameras to select from, their least expensive even approaching toward being within your budget constraint; with a slight increase in your budget you might be able to afford a turn-key trouble-free complete integrated system). There are several OTHER commercial manufacturers who make similar motion-capture camera and/or software analysis systems similar to Vicon's; try:

https://www.researchgate.net/go.Deref.html?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.motion-labs.com%2Fsoftware_c3d_reportgenerator.html

https://www.researchgate.net/go.Deref.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motionanalysis.com%2Fhtml%2Fmovement%2Ftalonplug.html

Best regards, and good luck on finding a good inexpensive system that works for you,

Bob Skiles

Dear Adrien,

The GoPro cameras that Marco Pino mentioned are fantastically excellent little cameras, and have been used successfully for your application in similar projects. There is a good paper that describes such a project in detail that was carried out in 2014 (2-camera set-up cost in 2014 was under $2000 for everything excluding the necessary MATLAB license, which I assume you already have anyway; 3-camera setup for under $2,500 ... costs are likely to be substantially LOWER now as prices have dropped substantially on last year model cameras that are still suitable for your work), see:

https://www.haverford.edu/physics-astro/Amador/links/Go-Pro-3D-Video-Project-to-post.pdf

Regards,

Bob Skiles

Dear Adrien,

A GoPro system can be built within your budget:

GoPro Hero cameras from eBay average $200 each (new with shipping included; you'll need a minimum of 2; you can buy a bunch if you will settle for less-expensive second-hand cameras);

The 3D-Guy's mounting bracket (mounts 2 of the GoPro Hero's at adjustable interaxial dseparation up to 64mm ... the avg. distance between the human eyes), these sell for $99 each;

http://www.shapeways.com/product/W5TES4FW9/adjustable-ia-superhero-3d-rig?li=search-results-1&optionId=56891085

a synchronization cable is required between each pair of cameras, which adds another cost of $49 to $99 per pair of cameras (depending on what kind of syncing system you're using & how many total cameras you have in your system):

http://alcaudullo.com/superhero-3d-cable-2/ [be sure to examine the photo of an example of a multi-camera system & cables set-up using their mounts & sync cables with GoPro Hero cameras, plus the comments at the bottom of this page]

It looks like you can certainly put together the hardware/camera/capture/syncing system well within your budget (and even have some money left-over for purchase of software). BUT, the big problem you are left with is chasing-down the software that will work with this hardware ... and investing the time to get usable results from it.

Best of luck, and regards,

Bob Skiles

Dear Adrien,

Al, the 3D-Guy has a custom turnkey kit available for mounting 2 of the GoPro Hero 3 (Black) model cameras that includes the mount, the cables, and the processing SOFTWARE, all for just $199 !!! Be sure to watch his sample of 3D video of elephant bathing, shot with his system (and processed with the provided software), which is also on this same page:

http://alcaudullo.com/superhero-packages

Looks like you can afford two of these setups (with 4 new cameras) and still remain within your budget!

Regards,

Bob Skiles

Gopro Hero 4 Black has 240fps at 720p (HD) hope that will help. I have been using it for long and that's the less expensive camera available with the high frame rate. I may also suggest you to go for a smart wifi remote for the same. The camera is very handy and can be sneaked in at any place. 

For Details

http://shop.gopro.com/

 Dear All

Thank you very much for all your answers!! I will have a look at the different suggested options.

Thanks,

Adrien

Great project to measure movement with several cameras and using video analysis software. DO you find products to ajust your budget?

FPS1000 looks very interesting.....