BTC1.125 Minirhizotron Video Microscope

The BTC-1.125 camera is for researchers who need a high resolution camera system for indoor laboratory or greenhouse use with less intrusive small diameter observation tubes.

This camera system slides horizontally or vertically into a small (28.5 mm inside x 1.6 mm wall) clear tube in a planter in a green house. The camera looks out through the wall to take pictures of roots that intersect the tube. Magnification can be set for 15 x to 50 x (assumes the image is on a 12 inch monitor). The field of view for the camera is from 18 mm to 6 mm horizontal. The camera head is not water resistant, and the tubes are usually open at both ends so they cannot fill with water. The system comes with a reflective aluminum case.

The camera head rides on 27 mm plastic bearings inside tubes. There is clearance so soil particles or bends in the tube do not stop the camera. A 4.87 M cable connects the camera head to the camera control box. The blue control box has remote controls for white light level and focus. A handle system is provided to control movement of the camera in depth and rotation, so the operator can know where the picture is coming from. The camera operates from both AC 90 to 260 Volt power. No self-contained power system is provided, but a 12 Volt Battery power system can be ordered as an option.

The 15x magnification can be used for root growth measurement although it requires care to focus with the sharp curve of the small tubes. The higher magnifications can be set manually before the camera is inserted in the tube. The magnification is not normally changed once it is set for an experiment. A 1mm grid target is provided for measuring field of view.

Features

  • Magnification can be zoomed remotely
  • 15 x to 100 x, 6:1 range of magnification
  • Water resistant camera.
  • 470 TV lines color resolution.
  • 2.2 M telescoping handle.
  • 8-hour field power supply.
  • Field case included

Options

  • Hi-8 video tape (400 TV lines) image storage
  • Screen Counter system available
  • Digital Image Capture system
  • Ultra-Violet lighting system
  • Indexing Handle system
  • PAL (European) video format available
  • Longer cables available
  • Alternative backpack or Cart transport systems

Each camera system needs a monitor to view the images in the field to be sure they are in focus and properly lighted. It also needs a method for storing the pictures and identifying each one according to the tube number and the location down the inside of the tube. There are a number of options available for accomplishing these tasks, and for viewing the images later in the lab. There are a number of handle options for increasing the accuracy of the position the camera returns to each time it goes back into the tube.

All of our Recorder/Monitor Systems and the I-CAP image capture system are compatible with the BTC-1.125 as well as the Backpack and Briefcase configurations. Please see the current product list for details. (The product list requires Adobe Reader, available for free here for Windows -- for a free Mac version, click here and then click "Choose a different version" on the Adobe website page.)