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v3.2
v3.2
  • OptiTrack Documentation
  • WHAT'S NEW
    • What's New in Motive 3.2
  • QUICK START GUIDES
    • Quick Start Guide: Getting Started
    • Quick Start Guide: Prime Color Camera Setup
    • Quick Start Guide: Precision Capture
    • Quick Start Guide: Tutorial Videos
    • Quick Start Guide: Active Marker Tracking
    • Quick Start Guide: Outdoor Tracking Setup
  • HARDWARE
    • Cameras
      • Ethernet Cameras
        • PrimeX 120
        • PrimeX 41
        • PrimeX 22
        • PrimeX 13
        • PrimeX 13W
        • SlimX 13
        • Prime Color
        • VersaX 22
        • VersaX 41
        • VersaX 120
      • USB Cameras
        • Slim 3U
        • Flex 13
        • Flex 3
        • V120:Duo
        • V120:Trio
        • Adjusting Global Origin for Tracking Bars
    • Prepare Setup Area
    • Camera Mount Structures
    • Camera Placement
    • Ethernet Camera Network Setup
      • General Overview and Specs
      • Windows 10 Network Settings
      • Cabling and Load Balancing
      • Switch Configuration for PrimeX 120
      • NETGEAR ProSafe GSM7228S: Disabling the Broadcast Storm Control
      • White/Blacklisting Cameras
    • USB Camera System Setup
      • USB Camera Network Overview and Specs
      • V120:Duo and Trio Setup
      • Tracking Bar Coordinate System
        • Transforming Coordinate System: Global to Local
    • Aiming and Focusing
    • Camera Status Indicators
  • MOTIVE
    • Installation and License Activation
    • Motive Basics
    • Calibration
      • .mcal XML Calibration Files
      • Continuous Calibration
      • Continuous Calibration (Info Pane)
      • Calibration Squares
    • Markers
    • Assets
      • Gizmo Tool: Translate, Rotate, and Scale
    • Rigid Body Tracking
      • Aligning Rigid Body Pivot Point with a Replicated 3D Model
    • Skeleton Tracking
    • Trained Markersets
    • IMU Sensor Fusion
    • Data Recording
      • Data Types
    • Labeling
    • Data Editing
    • Data Export
      • Data Export: BVH
      • Data Export: C3D
      • Data Export: CSV
      • Data Export: FBX
      • Data Export: TRC
    • Data Streaming
    • Camera Video Types
    • Audio Recording
    • Motive HotKeys
    • Measurement Probe Kit Guide
    • Motive Batch Processor
    • Reconstruction and 2D Mode
  • MOTIVE UI PANES
    • Settings
      • Settings: General
      • Settings: Assets
      • Settings: Live Pipeline
      • Settings: Streaming
      • Settings: Views
      • Settings: Mouse and Keyboard
      • Settings: Audio
    • Assets Pane
    • Builder Pane
    • Constraints Pane
      • Constraints XML Files
    • Calibration Pane
    • Data Pane
    • Devices Pane
    • Edit Tools Pane
    • Graph View Pane
    • Info Pane
    • Labels Pane
    • Log Pane
    • Probe Pane
    • Properties Pane
      • Properties Pane: Camera
      • Properties Pane: Force Plates
      • Properties Pane: NI-DAQ
      • Properties Pane: OptiHub2
      • Properties Pane: Rigid Body
      • Properties Pane: Skeleton
      • Properties Pane: Take
      • Properties Pane: Trained Markerset
      • Properties Pane: eSync2
    • Status Panel
    • Toolbar/Command Bar
    • Control Deck
    • Viewport
  • PLUGINS
    • OptiTrack Blender Plugin
      • OptiTrack Blender Plugin
    • OptiTrack Unreal Engine Plugin
      • Unreal Engine: OptiTrack Live Link Plugin
        • Quick Start Guide: Real-Time Retargeting in Unreal Engine with Live Link Content
        • Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN): OptiTrack Plugin for Live Link Hub
        • Unreal Engine: Live Link Camera Stream Setup
        • Live Link Content: Active Puck Static Meshes
      • Unreal Engine: MotionBuilder Workflow
      • Unreal Engine: HMD Setup
      • Unreal Engine VCS Inputs
    • OptiTrack Unity Plugin
      • Unity: HMD Setup
    • OptiTrack OpenVR Driver
    • OptiTrack MATLAB Plugin
    • Autodesk Maya
      • Autodesk Maya: OptiTrack Insight VCS Plugin
    • Autodesk MotionBuilder
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: OptiTrack Skeleton Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: OptiTrack Optical Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: OptiTrack Insight VCS Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: Timecode Data
    • OptiTrack Peripheral API
    • External Plugins
      • Houdini 19 Integration
  • ACTIVE COMPONENTS
    • Active Components Hardware
      • Active Puck
      • Wired AnchorPuck
      • CinePuck
      • Wired CinePuck
      • BaseStation
      • Information for Assembling the Active Tags
      • Manus Glove Setup
    • Configuration
      • Active Batch Programmer
      • Active Hardware Configuration: PuTTY
      • Active Component Firmware Compatibility
    • Active Marker Tracking
      • Active Finger Marker Set
  • SYNCHRONIZATION
    • Synchronization Hardware
      • External Device Sync Guide: eSync 2
      • External Device Sync Guide: OptiHub2
    • Synchronization Setup
    • OptiTrack Timecode
  • VIRTUAL PRODUCTION
    • Unreal Engine: OptiTrack InCamera VFX
    • Entertainment Marker Sets
    • PrimeX 41
  • MOVEMENT SCIENCES
    • Movement Sciences Hardware
      • General Motive Force Plate Setup
      • AMTI Force Plate Setup
      • Bertec Force Plate Setup
      • Kistler Force Plate Setup
      • Delsys EMG Setup
      • NI-DAQ Setup
      • Multiple Device Setup
    • Movement Sciences Marker Sets
      • Biomechanics Marker Sets
      • Biomech (57)
      • Rizzoli Marker Sets
    • For Visual3D Users
    • Prime Color Camera Setup
      • Prime Color Setup: Required Components
      • Prime Color Setup: Hardware Setup
      • Prime Color Camera Setup: Camera Settings
      • Prime Color Camera Setup: Prime Color FS Calibration
      • Prime Color Setup: Data Recording / Export
      • Prime Color Camera Setup: FAQ / Troubleshooting
      • Prime Color Camera Setup: Windows Network Settings
  • VIRTUAL REALITY
    • VR Plugins
      • VR Unreal Engine
        • OptiTrack Unreal Engine Plugin
        • Unreal Engine: OptiTrack Live Link Plugin
          • UE5.1 Live Link Retarget External Workaround
        • Unreal Engine VCS Inputs
      • VR Unity
        • OptiTrack Unity Plugin
      • VR OpenVR
        • OptiTrack OpenVR Driver
    • VR HMD Setup
      • Unreal Engine: HMD Setup
      • Unity: HMD Setup
      • Manually Calibrating the HMD Pivot Point
      • Sync Configuration with an HTC Vive System
    • SlimX 13
    • Active Marker Tracking
      • Active Finger Marker Set
    • Synchronization Hardware
      • External Device Sync Guide: eSync 2
      • External Device Sync Guide: OptiHub2
  • ANIMATION
    • Autodesk Maya
      • Autodesk Maya: OptiTrack Insight VCS Plugin
    • Autodesk MotionBuilder
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: OptiTrack Skeleton Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: OptiTrack Optical Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: OptiTrack Insight VCS Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: Timecode Data
  • ROBOTICS
    • MoCap4ROS2 Setup
    • OptiTrack Robot Applications
    • Outdoor Tracking Setup
  • DEVELOPER TOOLS
    • Developer Tools Overview
    • Camera SDK
      • Class: cCameraModule
      • Class: cUID
    • Motive API
      • Motive API: Quick Start Guide
      • Motive API Overview
      • Motive API: Function Reference
      • Motive API Camera Calibration
    • NatNet SDK
      • NatNet 4.1
      • NatNet: Class/Function Reference
      • NatNet: Creating a Managed (C sharp) Client Application
      • NatNet: Creating a Native (C++) Client Application
      • NatNet: Data Types
      • NatNet: Matlab Wrapper
      • NatNet: Migration to NatNet 3.0 libraries
      • NatNet: Remote Requests/Commands
      • NatNet: Sample Projects
      • NatNet: Unicast Data Subscription Commands
      • Latency Measurements
    • VRPN Sample
    • Peripheral API: Glove Devices
  • SKELETON MARKER SETS
    • Full Body
      • Baseline (41)
      • Core (50)
      • Biomech (57)
      • Conventional (39)
    • Full Body + Fingers
      • Baseline + Passive Fingers (49)
      • Baseline + Active Fingers (57)
      • Core + Passive Fingers (54)
      • Core + Active Fingers (62)
    • Upper
      • Baseline Upper (25)
      • Conventional Upper (27)
    • Lower
      • Baseline Lower (20)
      • Helen Hayes Lower (19)
      • Conventional Lower (16)
    • Hand and Fingers
      • Left/Right Hand (4) Active
      • Left/Right Hand (10) Active + Passive
      • Active Finger Marker Set
    • Glove Device Setup
      • Manus Glove Setup
      • StretchSense Glove Setup
    • Rizzoli Marker Sets
    • Entertainment Marker Sets
    • Rigid Body Skeleton Marker Set
  • GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING
    • Licensing Troubleshooting
    • Windows 11 Optimization for Realtime Applications
    • Network Troubleshooting
    • Troubleshooting Q&A
    • Running Motive on High DPI Displays
    • Firewall Settings
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  • General Steps
  • Aim Assist Button
  • Adjusting Aiming
  • Adjusting Focus
  • How to Change Focus

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  1. HARDWARE

Aiming and Focusing

PreviousTransforming Coordinate System: Global to LocalNextCamera Status Indicators

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In order to ensure that every camera in a mocap system takes full advantage of its capability, they need to be focused and aimed at the target tracking volume. This page includes detailed instructions on how to adjust the focus and aim of each camera for an optimal motion capture. OptiTrack cameras are focused at infinity by default, which is generally sufficient for common tracking applications. However, we recommend users always double-check the camera view and make sure the captured images are focused when first setting up the system. Obtaining best quality image is very important as 3D data is derived from the captured images.

General Steps

  1. Pick a camera to adjust the aim and focus.

  2. Place one or more reflective markers in the tracking volume.

  3. Carefully adjust the camera angle while monitoring the Camera Preview so that the desired capture volume is included within the camera coverage.

  4. Adjust the focus (detailed instruction given below) so that the captured image is resolved as clearly as possible.

  5. Repeat above steps for other cameras in the system.

Aim Assist Button

Adjusting Aiming

Adjusting Focus

All OptiTrack cameras (except the V120:Duo/Trio tracking bars) can be re-focused to optimize image clarity at any distance within the tracking range. Change the camera mode to raw grayscale mode and adjust the camera setting, increase exposure and LED setting, to capture the brightest image. Zoom onto one of the reflective markers in the capture volume and check clarity of the image. Then, adjust the camera focus and find the point where the marker image is best resolved. The following images show some examples.

Auto-zoom using Aim Assist button

Double-click on the aim assist button to have the software automatically zoom into a single marker near the center of the camera view. This makes the focusing process easier to accomplish for a single person.

How to Change Focus

PrimeX 41 and PrimeX 22

For PrimeX 41 and 22 models, camera focus can be adjusted by rotating the focus ring on the lens body, which can be accessed at the center of the camera. The front ring on the lens changes the focus of the camera, and the rear ring adjusts the F-stop of the lens. In most cases, it is beneficial to set the f-stop low to have the aperture at its maximum size for capturing the brightest image. Carefully rotate the focus ring while monitoring the 2D grayscale camera view for image clarity. Once the focus and f-stop have been optimized on the lens, it should be locked down by tightening the set screw. In default configuration, PrimeX 41 cameras are equipped with 12mm F#1.8 lens, and the PrimeX 22 cameras are equipped with 6.8mm F#1.6 lens.

Prime 17W and 41*

For Prime 17W and 41 models, camera focus can be adjusted by rotating the focus ring on the lens body, which can be accessed at the center of the camera. The front ring on the Prime 41 lens changes the focus of the camera, while the rear ring on the Prime 17W adjusts its focus. Set the aperture at its maximum size in order to capture the brightest image. For the Prime 41, the aperture ring is located at the rear of the lens body, where the Prime 17W aperture ring is located at the front. Carefully rotate the focus ring while monitoring the 2D grayscale camera view for image clarity. Align the mark with the infinity symbol when setting the focus back to infinity. Once the focus has been optimized, it should be locked down by tightening the set screw.

*Legacy camera models

PrimeX 13 and 13W, and Prime 13* and 13W*

*Legacy camera models

Slim Series

SlimX 13 cameras also feature M12 lenses. The camera focus can be easily adjusted by rotating the lens without the need to remove the housing. Slim cameras support multiple lens types, including third-party lenses so focus techniques will vary. Refer to the lens type to determine how to proceed. (In general, M12 lenses will be focused by rotating the lens body, while C and CS lenses will be focused by rotating the focus ring).

Make sure that the is appropriate for your application.

Set the camera to the raw grayscale video mode (in Motive) and increase the camera exposure to capture the brightest image (These steps are accomplished by the on featured cameras).

Within the in Motive, zoom in on one of the markers so that it fills the frame.

Adjusting aim with a single person can be difficult because the user will have to run back and forth from the camera and the host PC in order to adjust the camera angle and monitor the 2D view at the same time. OptiTrack cameras featuring the Aim Assist button (Prime series and Flex 13) make this aiming process easier. With just one button-click, the user can set the camera to the grayscale mode and the exposure value to its optimal setting for adjusting both aim and focus. Fit the capture volume within the vertical and horizontal range shown by the virtual crosshairs that appear when Aim Assist mode is on. With this feature, the single-user no longer needs to go back to the host PC to choose cameras and change their settings. Settings for Aim Assist buttons are available from pane.

After all the cameras are placed at correct locations, they need to be properly aimed in order to fully utilize their capture coverage. In general, all cameras need to be aimed at the target capture volume where markers will be tracked. While cameras are still attached to the mounting structure, carefully adjust the camera clamp so that the camera field of view (FOV) is directed at the capture region. Refer to 2D camera views from the pane to ensure that each camera view covers the desired capture region.

PrimeX 13 and PrimeX 13W use M12 lenses and cameras can be focused using custom focus tools to rotate the lens body. Focusing tools can be purchased on , and they clip onto the camera lens and rotates it without opening the camera housing. It could be beneficial to lower the LED illumination to minimize reflections from the adjusting hand.

camera placement
Aim Assist Button
Camera Preview
Application Settings
Camera Preview
OptiTrack’s Lens Accessories page
Cameras — shows only one side — aimed to cover the main target volume.
Grayscale camera view.
Out of Focus
Moderately Focused
In-Focus
Focus and f-stop rung on the PrimeX 41 lens
Focus tool for PrimeX 13.
Focus tool for Prime 13W.