We eventually purchased a complete system for "routine" video capture. The system is called "Northern Exposure". It consists of Northern Exposure software and a 24bit color frame grabber ($7500), Sony DX900 series (720 horizontal line resolution) 3 chip color video rate CCD camera (about $7600), Pentium PC running DOS/Windows (3.1 or W95) (about $4000, 16MB RAM, 1.2GB HDD, 17" monitor). Yes, it's Windows, but unfortunately PC compatibles are really much better for this type of system than the Mac, from the equipment side (plus, NIH Image does not support 24bit capture, at least now). Northern Exposure is sold in the US by Phase 3 Imaging Systems. Phase 3 is Scott Randall and Mark Sobiesk, formally of Universal Imaging Corp. Northern Exposure has image capture, processing, and morphometry. Unlike Universal Imaging's Metamorph (very expensive), Northern has a simple, icon driven desktop, which makes it easy for anyone to sit down in front of it and use immediately. Images are not stored in RAM with Northern: the frame grabber comes with 2 color frame buffers, but more can be added. We have 4, which makes overlays and arithmetic operations a little easier.
Northern can support a variety of external devices (OMDR, VCR, shutters, filter wheels, etc.--the drivers are part of the software, and simple macros can be made to automate function--just point and click). A very nice feature is that the Sony camera is modified (no additional cost) such that it can integrate on-chip. This means that one can do most routine fluorescence work with it, and even some low light level work. On-chip integration is superior to frame-grabber integration, or image summing in computer RAM. We have adaptors for our Zeiss Axiophot, as well as a Wild M8 stereoscope, for the camera. Images are viewed directly on the computer monitor, running in 24bit color mode, with a pass-through from the frame grabber, so a separate monitor is not required. Images are saved in TIFF, TGA, or Windows BMP formats, which can be opened by Photoshop, etc., on PCs or Macs.
Phase 3 can serve as the vendor for any additional imaging/computer equipment built around Northern, except the microsope.
We have pretty much eliminated photography as a result. Images of whole mount, cleared or un-cleared embryos are very good, and quite sufficient for publication. Higher mag transmitted light or epi-fluorescence images on the Axiophot are excellent.
For anyone interested, contact Scott Randall (508) 478-0050. Demos can be arranged.