Can external illumination sources be used with OptiTrack cameras?

OptiTrack cameras, except for Slim series, already have a built-in IR LED ring around the camera lens to be used as a lighting source, and the illumination setting can be adjusted easily through the software. The LED ring usually provides enough illumination for each camera in various applications. However, it is possible to use an external illumination source to provide extra lighting for detecting passive markers.

Slim series cameras do not have the built-in LED ring. In this case, external illumination could be used to track passive markers using Slim series cameras.

Please consider the following when using an external illumination source:

• The light source needs to be placed very close to the camera lens. Retroreflective surfaces reflect the light back to its source with minimum scattering, and the camera will fail to detect the reflected light if the external illumination source is not placed in close vicinity.

• When a strobed external illumination source is used, it needs to be properly synchronized with the camera exposure time through the OptiHub or the eSync in order to fully detect the reflected light.