*BANDWIDTH

  • FIREWIRE A (IEEE-1394a) - 50 Mbps Max
  • FIREWIRE B (IEEE-1394b) - 100 Mbps Max
  • CAMERALINK (CL) - Over 680 Mbps
  • GIGABIT ETHERNET (GigE) - 125 Mbps Max

*MAXIMUM CABLE DISTANCE

  • FIREWIRE A/B (IEEE-1394a/b) - 5 Meters
  • CAMERALINK (CL) - 10 Meters
  • GIGABIT ETHERNET (GigE) -100 Meters
*Cable length is without repeaters or extenders

*FRAME GRABBER REQUIRED

  • FIREWIRE A/B (IEEE-1394a/b) - NO
  • CAMERALINK (CL) - YES
  • GIGABIT ETHERNET (GigE) - NO

*REAL-TIME DATA/HARDWARE TRIGGERING SUPPORT

  • FIREWIRE A/B (IEEE-1394a/b) - BETTER
  • CAMERALINK (CL) - BEST
  • GIGABIT ETHERNET (GigE) - GOOD

*RELATIVE CPU LOAD

  • FIREWIRE A/B (IEEE-1394a/b) - HIGH
  • CAMERALINK (CL) - LOW
  • GIGABIT ETHERNET (GigE) -HIGH
*Using Non Real-Time Camera

*AVAILABILITY OF TECHNOLOGY

  • FIREWIRE A/B (IEEE-1394a/b) -ESTABLISHED
  • CAMERALINK (CL) -ESTABLISHED
  • GIGABIT ETHERNET (GigE) -NEW BUT INCREASING IN POPULARITY

*RELATIVE COST

  • FIREWIRE A/B (IEEE-1394a/b) - LOW
  • CAMERALINK (CL) - HIGH
  • GIGABIT ETHERNET (GigE) - LOW

*APPLICATION OF REQUIREMENTS

  • FIREWIRE A/B (IEEE-1394a/b) -
    • Ease of Use
    • Low Frame Rate (e.g., Single-Frame Capture)
  • CAMERALINK (CL) -
    • Highest Frame Rate
    • Real-Time Data Transmission Combined with Low Latency
  • GIGABIT ETHERNET (GigE) -
    • Low Cost
    • High Frame Rate
    • Interoperability
    • Long Cable Lengths

LIST OF FIREWIRE CAMERAS HERE

LIST OF CAMERALINK CAMERAS HERE

LIST OF GIGABIT ETHERNET CAMERAS HERE