Re:SNAPPY Video Grabber

[threed@xxxxxxx (Bob Mannle)]

I seem to recall someone asking about the Snappy unit not long ago.

I received mine today and video captured a few images for one of my
web pages (http://www.3d-web.com/nvt/pop.htm). I've been putting off
making this web page mainly because I didn't have any photos to work
with.

Anyhow... I find the Snappy to be a very handly little unit. Very simple
to use, and very slow. It does take quite a while to finally get an image
generated on my 486/50. I guess that's why it's not called "Speedy".

It captures images in 3 resolutions:

320x200
640x400
1500x1125

and will work with video tape or a camera.

The images as they are captured are not all that great. I've been adjusting
them and then reducing the size... I've been primarily using the two higher
res sizes. Scanning in the 640x400 mode with the highest scan setting gives
me great images for the web when reduced to around 250 pixels wide. Using
the 1500x1125 images, and reducing them to 640x480 gives pretty decent results.
I doubt if any of these images would be classified as good if kept at the
captured image size.

It also captures them a little differently than I've heard before. Depending
upon your selection it will capture a number of "fields". This only works
with a freeze frame, or a video camera. It then interlaces the various fields
to theoretically give you a higher res image. Although I can't see how it's
getting additional fields with a freeze frame... it probably isn't.

All in all, it does a pretty good job for the $200 cost. Although I wouldn't
recommend it just for video tape capture. You'll certainly want to have a
deck that offers a very stable freeze frame, and a video camera.

I tried one simple test of a stereo pair by moving the object, and it appeared
to work fairly well. My camera weighs about 15 pounds so I guess I'll have
to break out the heavy duty slide bar to do more serious testing 8-)


Best Regards,



Bob Mannle

--------------------------------------------------------------------

                         http://www.3d-web.com/
                The Premier Site For Stereoscopic Imagery
              ---------------------------------------------
                          New Vision Technology
                           653 Hutchison Street
                              Vista, CA 92084
                (619) 941-5500 Office - (619) 941-3934 Fax


------------------------------