To take measures by means of digital camera, the first thing you need is a digital camera. Not much time ago a very few of us could afford to buy such equipment. We frequently analyze different models which have acceptable price and good characteristics.

To use a usual video camera and digital plated is rather inconvenient, and, besides, such set is not cheap. More acceptable are web-cameras (for their price).

Web-cameras, as a rule, have VGA-resolution (640x480), which is also interpolated resolution (for user it means a fuzzy image). Such resolution is insufficient for figure screening.

We tried to take pictures with web-camera Zoom 1595 (resolution 720x540, price $140 in 1999). It was better than usual camera, but the image claimed for higher quality. Recently we have bought Pencam (by Aiptek). The device includes: a camera, a video camera and a web-camera.

Matrix resolution is 1280õ1024 (1.3 Mp), interpolated resolution is 2,1 mp. But the main advantage of the camera is its price - $120. Taiwanian producers from AIPTEK succeeded in getting such a price due to maximal simplifying of optics and electronics (SDRAM memory). It is difficult to use the device as a camera or video camera of full value. But is may be used as rather good web-camera and, consequently, be useful for measuring. High resolution allows rather exact estimation of a figure, and a noise from the matrix, low contrast and absence of built-in flash are not an obstacle.

Below: diminished picture of the poster (the height of a "woman" is 170 cm) and a piece of a hand as it was pictured by a camera.

Due to camera setting by USB, absence of external power, work in camera-mode give the possibility of quick and rather exact setting camera for photographing of people bodies. For more details, read the description of the program (in "DOWNLOADS").

You can buy the camera in shops of PARITET-94 Ltd., tel.

Here you also can buy the graphic tablet AIPTEK 12x9'' ($140), the real alternative for WACOM or CALCOMP.