Ametek PHANTOM Micro C211 User manual

Miro C211
USER MANUAL
When it’s too fast to see, and too important not to.®
PHANTOM HIGH-SPEED CAMERA

Vision Research, Inc. | Miro C211 Camera Manual
The contents of this manual are subject
to change without notification.
PN: ZDOC-64078-MA-0004 Rev 1
Last Updated: December 2022
PHANTOM HIGHSPEED.COM

PHANTOMHIGHSPEED.COM
1 Introduction 1
2 Connectors 5
3 Quick Start Guide 7
4 PCC Phantom Software 11
5 Signals & Programmable I/O 21
6 Support 26
When it’s too fast to see, and too important not to.®
Miro C211
User Manual

Vision Research, Inc. | Miro C211 Camera Manual
Miro C211

Chapter 1: Introduction | 1
INTRODUCTION
The Phantom® Miro® C211 is a member of the Miro C-Series family of small, flexible
cameras designed for a large variety of applications and analyses. The C211 is designed for
Ease-of-Use. It is small, sturdy, uses a variety of inexpensive C-mount lenses, and connects
with standard Ethernet and BNC cables.
The c-mount also easily connects to microscopes, has small, densely packed pixels
to capture detail, and reaches 1,800 frames per second (fps) at full 1.3 Mpx resolution
(1280 x 1024), and over 2,500 fps at 720p HD;
The Miro C211’s small form factor, small pixels, and high frame rates make it perfect for
applications including:
• Microscopy
• Mechanical analysis
• Basic science studies
• Sports analysis

Vision Research, Inc. | Miro C211 Camera Manual
CAMERA CONTROL
Phantom cameras come wi th PCC software for Ethernet-based setup and control.
IMAGE STORAGE
The Miro C 211 has either 8GB or 16 G B of internal memory and a standard 240GB
internal, non-remova ble CineFlash. The CineFlash allows users to quickly store a
number of experiment s or shots before downloading to a PC.
IMAGE MONITORING & VIDEO OUTPUTS
The C211 has HD-SDI output from the BNC port on the back of the camera. A video
monitor or view finder can be connected to the BNC to view the image at the camera.
Stan dard video rates up to 1080 p.30 are supported.

Chapter 1: Introduction | 3
ADDI TIONAL FEAT U RES
Set new CSR default: Set a CSR in P CC with customer-selected settings. If settings are not
chang ed, the camera may be powered off and on and the CSR will remain active. Cameras
must be set in full resolution.
Programmable I/O: Assign and define signal p ara meters for each programmable I/O port.
Available signals include: Strobe, Ready, F-Sync, Pre-Trigger, Event, Memory Gate and
se veral core signals. See Programm able I/O section fo r more detail.
Data Acquisition: External sensor data im ported through a compatible Nati onal Inst ruments
DAQ model can be embedded in Cin e files sand visualized in PCC along with the high-speed
images.
Image-Based Auto-Trigger (IBAT): Trigger the camera (or a number of connected cameras)
from motion detected within the live image.
Exposure Tools: Auto-exposure, Threshold mode for the video output, PCC histogram, and
a Zebra pattern overl ay in PCC are all tools used to dial in the best exposure without over
saturation.
Multi-Cine: Support for up to 63 partit ions.
Quiet Fans: When enabled, the fa ns are stopped during captur e to eliminate vibration.
Continuous Recording: Automatically and continuously saves Cines to external storage.
DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol enables the automatic assignm ent of an IP
address when using a DHCP r outer. This method eliminates the requirement to define the
PC’s dedicated camera network. Automatic DHCP is an alternative to the secondary user-
definable IP network available in all Phantom cameras.
HV Trigger: High Voltage (HV) tr igger, when selected in PCC the camera will trigger from a
+6-32V pulse.
Detailed information about Phantom cameras, features, and software can be
found at: www.phantomhighspeed.com

Vision Research, Inc. | Miro C211 Camera Manual
Miro C211 Rear View
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Chapter 2 : Connectors | 5
CONNECTORS
BTRIGGER
DETHERNET
EAUX 1
FAUX 2
CSDI
A+16-32VDC
MIRO C211
CONNECTORS
Mini XLR connector connects to +16-32VDC
Power Supply.
Input: when a TT L pulse (rising / falling e dge) is
detected, camera triggers.
BNC connector fo r HD video.
RJ45 connector connect s via Gb Ethe rnet to a control
unit computer / laptop for camera control communication.
Strobe (Default)
Ot her signals available through Programmable I/O drop down list in PCC.
Refer to Section 5, Programmable I/O
Ready (Default)
Ot her signals available through Programmable I/O drop down list in PCC.
Refer to Section 5, Programmable I/O

Vision Research, Inc. | Miro C211 Camera Manual

Chapter 3: Quick Start Guide | 7
QUICK START GUIDE
NETWORK SETUP & QUICK START GUIDE
Phantom cameras are typically controlled with PCC software th rough a dedicated Ethe rnet
network. PCC is compatible with the 64- bit version of Windows 10 operating systems.
The latest version can be downloaded at: www.phantomhighspeed.com/PCC
ASSIGNING A Gb CAMERA NETWORK
Connecting the camera using Gb Eth ernet simply requires the computer to detect the IP
address r ange of Phantom cameras.
PCC software includes a Network Configuration Utility w h ich wil l launch a utomatica lly after
the software is first installed, o r it can be later launched from the PCC progr am itself.

Vision Research, Inc. | Miro C211 Camera Manual
The NetConfig Utility will show all network interfaces currently installed in the P C.
Identify the one that will be physically connected to the camera (this process can be done
with or without a camera con nected at the time).
Click ‘Config Adapter’, which will then adju st the IP A ddress and Subnet to the first o ne
available within the 100.100 network that all Phantom ca meras are pre-configured to
work with. Once connected, the Phantom log o will appear on the lower right with the
“Configu red for PCC operation” message.
OPTIONAL: MANUALLY ASSIGN Gb CAMERA NETWORK
Alternatively, In the Windows ‘Network and Sharing Center,’ select th e camer a
network.
Change the Ethernet IP settings by selecting ‘Properties,’ then ‘TCP/IPv4’ ‘Properties,’
then select ‘Use the following IP address.’
Enter IP address 100.100.100.1 and Subnet 255.255.0.0. Other settings should be
bla nk.
POWER ON CAMERA
Connect the camera’s dedicated power s u pply to the mini-XLR port. The camera is ready
for operation wh en the red capture light of the Trigger button is illuminated .
LAUNCH PCC SOFTWARE
Double-click the PCC ico n located on the desktop. Camera will be recognized
immediately if connected and network settings are correct.
SELECT CAMERA FOR USE
In the ‘Manager’ tab, select the Phantom camera to be us ed from the ‘Cameras’ group
folder. Click the ‘Live’ tab.
DEFINE RECORDING PARAMETERS
Click ‘Cine Settings’ and de fine the following parameters by either sele cting the value
from the pull-down selection list or typ ing a value into the respective data entry field.
1. Set ‘Resolution’ to the required Width x Height.
2. Choose the required ‘Sample Rate,’ and ‘Exposure Time’.
3. Set ‘Post Trigger’ to zero (0) by moving the ‘T’ (Trigger Positio n) slider to the right,
or enter zero (0) into the ‘Last’ data entry field.

Chapter 3: Quick Start Guide | 9
Co ver the lens and click the ‘CSR‘ button to perform a Current Session Reference. A CSR
is a black reference for that session. It is required before capturing the first c ine and after
changing any recording parameters.
With color cameras, perform a White Balance by right-clicking an area of the image th at
is neutral gray or white, as long as it is not 100 percent saturated.
SET DEFAULT CSR
For customers that rarel y change their camera settings, the “Set new CSR default” feature
provides a convenient alter native to thi s process. It is available in versions of PCC 3.77 and
higher. The ca mera must o perate at full r esolution, for example 1280 x 1024 for the C211.
The Set Default CSR is set for the frame rate and exposure t ime being used. That CSR will
rem ain through turning the camera off and on, for as long as th at sett ing is not changed.
Step 1: Enable in PCC: Step 2: Right click the CSR button in the live ta b,
and se lect “Set Default CSR”
FINE-TUNE SETTINGS
After CSR and White B alance are performed, adjust settings, ape rture and/or lighting to get a
good exposure. A CSR must be performed after any camera settings are adjusted.
‘ARM’ CAMERA
Click the ‘Capture’ button to start recording to the camera’s internal RAM memory buffer.

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SOFTWARE
TRIGGER
At the end of the action, click the ‘Trigger’ button at the bottom of the ‘Live’ panel or
provide an external trigger sig nal (TTL pulse) via the Trigger connector.
PLAY BACK AND EDIT CINE
Click the ‘Play’ tab to Scrub through the timeline or use the ‘Video Control’ buttons to
locate the first image to be saved.
Click the ‘Mark-in’ button.
Locate the last image of the Cine to be saved and then cli ck the ‘Mark-Out’ button.
SAV E TO FLASH OR COMPUTER
To save to a PC:
Click the large ‘Save Cine...’ button on the bottom of the ‘Play’ panel.
1. Navigate to the folder where you want to save the Cine file.
2. Enter a file name and from the ‘Save as Type’, s elect the ‘Cine Raw, .cine’ file
format.
3. Click the ‘Save’ button to begin downlo ading the Cine file from the camera.
To save to Flash:
Click the arrow next to the large ‘Save Cine...’ button on the bottom of the ‘Play’ panel.
Click ‘Save RAM cine to Flash’.
CONFIRM COMPUTER SAVE
Click the ‘Open File’ button. Navigate to the fol der and open the saved Cine file.
Review the playback by scrubbing through the file and viewing the playback.

Chapter 4: Control via Phantom Sof tware | 11
PRE-INSTALLATION
Phantom Camera Control (PCC) software operates wit h M icrosoft Windows 10.
The computer and cameras must be associated with the same sub-network to communi cate
with one another. Typically, the IP address 100.100.100.1 and subnet 2 55.255.0.0 are defined to
the control computer’s network card.
When multiple co mputers are used to control the same camera , each computer requires a
unique IP ad d ress.
For ex ample, 100.100.100.1 (255.255.0.0), 100.100.100.2 (255.255.0.0), and so on.
PHANTOM PCC SOFT WARE
The latest version of Phantom PCC software can
be downloaded from the Vision Research website:
www.phantomhighspeed.com/pcc
This manual covers the most commonly used
functions. See the ‘PCC Help’ file for details of
other settings.
PHANTOM CAMERA CONTROL (PC C) APPLICATION OVERVIEW
TOOLBAR
The ‘Toolbar’ buttons provide quic k access to the most fre quently use d functions.
In the program, hover over a button to display a text box briefly describing its function.
The ‘Help’ options provide valuable reference info rmati on, along with
extensive documentation, relating to the software. Online tutorials can
be found at www.phantomhighspeed.com/tutorials.

Vision Research, Inc. | Miro C211 Camera Manual
CONTROL TABS
PCC provides three control tabs: ‘Live,’ ‘Play’ and‘Manager.’
When first started, the ‘Manager’ tab is selecte d. Connected
cameras are selected for use and naming in this tab. It is
also used to manage saved Cine files.
Al l camera co ntrol and capture parameters (sample rate,
exposure time, etc.) are performed in the ‘Live’ tab.
Reviewing, edi ting and saving of Cine files, either from the
camera’s internal RAM memory, installed Phantom CineMag
V or external har d d rive, are performed in the ‘Play’ tab.
PHANTOM VIDEO PLAYER (PVP)
APPLICATION OVERVIEW
PVP can be launched directl y from t he desktop shortcut
or by the ‘Video Out’ toolbar button in PCC.
PVP controls the video outputs co nnected to a video
monitor or viewfin der only.
PVP provides the ability to view, capture, re view, edit
and/o r save a Cine rec orded into the camera’s RAM, to
a hard drive or installed Ph anto m CineMag. PVP is extremely effecti ve wh en used with
high-resolution cameras since most computers will not play captured ra w files smoothly.
The camera’s v ideo system and display setting s are also set through PVP. Th e best
video system for the project will vary based on the country you are in, what kind of video
monitor is used and the required vide o resolution.
Al l available vide o systems for the connected cameras can be found in the ‘Settings’
menu of PVP, along with production area and other video ov erlay controls.
CAMERA CONTROL VIA PCC
PCC provides the ability to select units fo r specific camera
parameters by clicking t he ‘Preferences’ button at the bottom of
the ‘Manager’ tab.
Units can be set to commonl y used values (‘Presets’) or can be
customized using the pull-do wn se lection lists. First time users
should use one of th e three ‘Presets.’
The ‘Exp’ uni t is probabl y the most important unit to be set. It
specifies what unit to use whe n setting the exposure time. The other

Chapter 4: Control via Phantom Sof tware | 13
units to set are EDR (Extreme Dynamic Range, not compatible on all models) and PTF (Post
Trigger Frames) covered later in this section.
SELECTING A CAMERA
Sel ect the camera(s) to be controll ed listed in the ‘Manager’ tab, or select the camera(s)
from the ‘Camera’ pull-down list in the ‘Live’ tab.
Once a camera is s e lected, a ‘Preview’ p anel will display to the left of the control tabs
showing the current image being captured by the camera.
IMAGE PROCESSING
‘Image Tools’ pro vides extensive control over the look of the image,
from color and contra st set tings to image orientatio n and crop
settings. The menu is acc essed by clicking on the ‘Image Tools’
toolbar button (the one that looks like an artist’s palette).
The top of the ‘Image Tools’ window displays a ‘Histogram.’ This
is a graph ic representati on of the pixel brig htness levels of the
displayed image. The left represents black, the right represents
wh ite and the height represents the proportionate number of pixels
at that particular value. Unlike a waveform, the histogram’s shape
is not representative of the content—it is simply an averaging of the
brightness values.
Below the histogram are controls which change image set tings of
the live images, recorded images and the video output.
Some of the variables include; brightness, gain, gamma, saturation,
toe, white balance adjustments (Temp (K) and Tint), individual red,
green and blue pedestal, gain and gamma values and tone curves.
At the bottom of the window is a ‘Default’ button that restores all
parameters except white balance, tone and color matrix to their
default values.
The ‘Default White Balance’ button restores white balance to the
defau l ts on color cameras.
The Tone ‘Reset’ button restores the image tone to the default values, and the Color Matrix
‘Restore’ button returns the color matri x values to their default values.
Changes made here only affect the metadata of the Cine Raw file. They are applied in
software but not “baked in.”
Image Processing settings are no longer editable after saving to a format other than Cine
Raw, so it is important to ensure they are set to values that produce the best looking image.

Vision Research, Inc. | Miro C211 Camera Manual
IMAGE DISPLAY
The ‘Zoom Actual Size’ toolba r button r esizes the images being displayed in the ‘Preview/
Playback’ panel to their actual size.
The ‘Zoom Fit’ toolbar button resizes the images to fit the panel. Images can also be
zoomed to a specific magnification rati o by selecting a number from the pull-down list to
the right of the ‘Zoom Fit’ button.
WHITE BALANCE (COLOR CAMERAS)
Performing a ‘White Balance’ should be the firs t step in color adjustment. White Balance
not appl icable to mono chrome cameras.
Right click on an area that rese mbles white or neutral area in the image, then click on the
‘White Balance’ pop-up window. It is not necessary to fill the frame wit h white—a small
target can be used.
It is recommended to perform the White Balance after a CSR and on a white or gray object
that is not fully saturated.
CAPTURE SETUP: CAMERA & CINE SETTINGS
Set Time: Synchronizes the timestamps embedded in the recorded image data to th e
computer’s clock.
Bit Depth: Most Phantom cameras operate in 12-bit mode only.
Mode: Select the desired mode, binning or standard mode.
Partitions: Select the number of desired partitions (evenly divided memory segments)
from the ‘Partitions’ pull-down menu. For ba sic camera setups, this should be set to one.
Lens Control: Available for Canon EF lenses only, for control of apert u re and focus.

Chapter 4: Control via Phantom Sof tware | 15
Backup & Restore: Allows for user and factory settings to
be saved and recalled from the camera’s memory.
Resolution: Sets the camera’s acquisition resolution. There
are several opt ions in the pull-down menu. Alter native ly,
type in a value and the closest valid resolution will be set.
Sample Rate: Sets the acquisition fram e rate in frames-
per-sec ond (fps).
Exposure Time (shutter): Sets the exposure time in
degrees, micr oseconds or percentage (this depends o n
how the PCC preferences are set).
Exposure Index: Sets the exposure index (Effective ISO) of the
image by loadin g preset tone curves. Adjusting gamma, gain
and other settings will contribute to the overall EI val ue, and this
combined value is wh at s hould be used to determine lighting.
CSR (Current Session Reference): Closes the camera’s internal
shutter and resets the black point of every pixel for optimal
image qu ality.
Image Range and Trigger Position: The slider represents the
memory buffer, with the ‘Duration’ indicated in seconds and the
total number of frames available.
The tri gger position is indicated in the ‘Last’ pull-down menu
and as the ‘T’ slider along the timeline. The trigger posit ion is
exactly when the trigger signal will be detected in the Cine.
KEY ADVANCED SETTINGS
The “Start/End of Recording Actions” section provides options of
actions that can automatically be performed at the start or end
of each shot, including:
• Auto save to Flash: This feature saves a user-specified
portion of a clip to the internal Flash immediately after
recording.
• Auto play Video Out: Begins playback after recording.
The range marked under ‘Auto play Video O ut’ affects
both playback and saving to the internal Flash.
• Restart Recording: When enabled, automatically restarts the recording process
after the ‘Auto’ actions have been performed.

Vision Research, Inc. | Miro C211 Camera Manual
‘External Sync’ instructs the camera to use one of the following options:
• Internal: Camera uses its interna l crystal oscillator to drive the frame rate.
• External: Camera uses externally supplied frame sync clock pulse to drive the
frame rate. This can be used to synchronize two cameras together via F-Sync.
• Lock to Video: Fram e rate is driven by the camera’s current video rate. Fps will
jump to the c losest multiple of the cur rent video rate (23.98, 24, 25, 29.97 or 30).
• Sync to Trigger: Instructs the ca mera to adjust its frame clock, upon detection of
a tri gger signal, to ensure all post trigger frames occ u r at the sa me moment in
time from trigger when repetitive tests are required.
FLASH MEMORY
This displays the amount of free space and size (in Gigabytes)
of the internal flash.
RECORDING A CINE
To b egin recording to the camera’s RAM click the red ‘Capture’ button.
The red ‘Capture’ button changes to ‘Abort Recording’ and the green ’Trigger’ button
is ena bled when the camera is recording. The ‘Abort Recording’
button instructs the camera to stop recording, leaving the
camera’s RAM empty.
TRIGGERING THE CAMERA
Sel ecting the ‘Trigger’ button instructs the camera to immediately stop recording when
the ‘Trigger Position’ is set to zero. If a value greater than zer o is set, the camera will
continue to record ‘post-trigger’ frames until the user-specified value is met.
Using the camera’s external trigger signal provides a more accurate trigger
to the camera. This is also referred to as a ‘hardware trigger.’
When using External Sync it is important to limit the top frame rate by ~1%
to ensure the sync period is larger than 1/max_frame_rate + 0.1% or 200ns
(whichever is larger), to account for frequency tolerance and jitter.