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Portable
Visualizer Series
VZ-8plus and
VZ-8light
Progressive
Scan |
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Features
marked with ** are only available on VZ-8plus (not on VZ-8light).
Click
on the images on this page to see larger pictures!
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State
of the Art Picture Quality
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"The
VZ-8plus, has a lot of great and unique features, but the outstanding
picture quality puts everything into the shade." - a
statement we heard very often since the VZ-8plus was released.
Now the VZ-8light
- a "light version" of the VZ-8plus - is also available.
It has the same outstanding picture quality, but reduced features.
(All features available only on
VZ-8plus, but not on VZ-8light, are marked with * in this brochure.)
The key elements
of the exceptional picture quality are:
- WolfVision's
Progressive Scan lens (A special joint venture development
between WolfVision and a leading lens manufacturer. The first
lens especially designed for a Progressive Scan camera with a
real optical 12 times zoom! The image is extremely sharp, even
in the corners of the picture. The continuous autofocus works
very well)
- WolfVision's
Progressive Scan camera (Resolution, color reproduction and
digital zoom are outstanding.)
- WolfVision's
Intelligent Electronics
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"Progressive
Scan" with High Resolution
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Until
recently all Visualizers were equipped with PAL or NTSC video cameras.
Modern
data projectors provide the ability to display higher resolution
images using its "data" input instead of its "video"
input. This is where "Progressive scan" cameras come in. They
output a "data" signal with more resolution than PAL/NTSC
"video" could provide.
Especially
the vertical resolution is no longer limited to 400 lines from
top to bottom (PAL standard) or 350 lines (NTSC standard).
VZ-8plus
and VZ-8light output a native XGA signal on RGB (15-Pin D-Sub)
outputs.
The
VZ-8plus can also switch the output mode to SXGA or SVGA
mode (at 75 or 60Hz) and offers a digital DVI output. Plus it
can also output the original Progressive Scan signal converted into
PAL or NTSC video (switchable).
Auto
Resolution: The
Visualizer recognizes units connected to the DVI and RGB output and
automatically selects the perfect output mode.
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Live-Image
(20 pictures per second)
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"Motion" used to be the weakness of Progressive Scan cameras.
Until recently they could only pick up 15, 7.5 or less pictures per
second. A low number of pictures per second often resulted in a disturbing
strobe effect on the screen, whenever something was moved in the picture
or when adjusting zoom or iris.
It
is very important for a professional presentation that motion
can be shown in good quality and without any image disturbance. WolfVision
uses newly developed Progressive Scan CCDs which can pick up 20 pictures
per second for the VZ-8plus/VZ-8light. As a result, motion looks
almost as good as with PAL/NTSC video cameras. But the resolution is
much higher!
Click
here for a comparison between 20 and 7.5 pictures per second
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"Image
turn" mode for higher resolution **
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Click
here for an animation explaining the image turn mode (731 kB)
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Picking
up a complete vertical (portrait) letter or A4 page has always
been a critical issue for a Visualizer, because the image is always
picked up in a horizontal (landscape) format. As a result, only
50% of the camera pixels could be used to pick up the vertical
(portrait) document.
WolfVision's
unique "Image Turn" mode solves this problem.
The user places the document on the working surface horizontally
and zooms in on it completely. In doing so, approximately 90%
of the camera's effective pixels are used to pick up the document.
WolfVision's state of the art electronics turn the image at an
angle of 90 degrees and output it in a vertical format with 40%
higher resolution. The margins left and right are blacked
out.
In this mode
the resolution of a complete vertical (portrait) document
is much better. Even 8-point characters are readable now.
Another advantage
of the image turn mode is that very long vertical pages (like
US legal format) can be picked up completely.
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Firmware
Updates via Internet
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WolfVision's
Visualizers are the only units on the market that offer an upgradeable
firmware. This
allows for new features and technical improvements to be added
at no cost!
Downloading
firmware updates from the internet and up-loading them onto the
Visualizer through the serial RS232 input is very easy.
WolfVision's
engineers are constantly working on new improvements and features
to keep your units up to date with the technology of tomorrow!
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Split image of
9 picture memory
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With the
VZ-8plus a user has the opportunity to store 9 images
and recall them by just pressing one of the numerical keys on
the infrared remote control.
By pressing
the "All" key, a split image with all 9 pictures
of the memory can be displayed, enabling easy selection. The
9 pictures in the memory can also be downloaded to a PC via
USB.
The
VZ-8plus is equipped with a battery backup, so pictures
remain in the memory for 1-4 weeks even when the power is disconnected.
The
VZ-8light offers a 1 image freeze function, instead of the 9 picture
memory.
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USB
output / Scanning of 3-dimensional objects in less than 2 seconds
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The USB output of the VZ-8plus and VZ-8light can be used
to transfer still pictures from a Visualizer to a computer and save
them in JPG, TIF or BMP format.
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This way the Visualizers can be used as a scanner for 3-dimensional
objects. No additional hardware is required for this.
It only takes
2 seconds until images are loaded onto the computer. This
is much faster than with any desktop scanner. In addition, the
Visualizer can also be controlled through the USB software.
The software
works under Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP and Macintosh and is fully
Twain compatible. This is important for using the Visualizer
in connection with popular graphic programs like Photoshop or
for connecting them to Smart Boards.
The USB-connection is perfect for transferring still pictures.
Live images can also be transferred onto a computer very
easily using a standard PAL/NTSC video digitalisation card (grabber
card).
Click here for a detailed description of the WolfVision USB-Software |
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24x
Zoom (12x Optical and 2x Digital)
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A large optical
zoom range is one of the most important features of a Visualizer.
It is absolutely necessary that objects in every size can
be picked up in full resolution.
WolfVision's
optical 12 times zoom offers the possibility to pick up
objects as large as an open book (370 x 276mm / 14.6"
x 10.9") and as small as a stamp (33 x 25mm / 1.3"
x 1") in full size to fill the screen.
For enlarging
even smaller objects down to 17 x 13mm (0.7" x 0.5")
the Visualizers also offer a 2x digital zoom. This allows
for enlarging objects like a very small coin.
In theory
2 times digital zoom would mean double the size and half the resolution,
but WolfVision's new digital zoom is much better than this.
Due to the
large range optical zoom, it is not necessary to have more than
2 times digital zoom.
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Unique Folding System / Set up in Seconds
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WolfVision's portable
Visualizers can be set up in seconds. A gentle tug lifts the arm and light
into working position, then turn the camera head to the desired viewing
angle.
Just as easily, it folds back into its compact size with just one pull
on the center ring, to be neatly stored during or after a presentation.
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Easy
to Use - Only 5 Buttons on the Unit
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It
is very important for a smooth presentation that a Visualizer is
extremely easy to use. A speaker does not want to deal with a lot
of confusing and unnecessary functions during his presentation.
That
is why there are only 5 buttons on the unit itself. Anyone
can work with it without instructions. |
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working autofocus recognizes all objects very quickly and precisely. As
a result, a presenter never needs to worry about focusing. For special
objects a manual focus is also available. |
Recordings
outside of the working surface
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When
objects are too big to be placed on the working surface or need
to be shown from the side (like glasses of liquids etc.), the
camera head and the light of the portable Visualizers can be turned
to accommodate them.
In
this way a Visualizer can be used like a video camera on a tripod,
for recording people, large graphics, pictures or charts in a
room.
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No blinding the audience or the speaker
The light of WolfVision's portable Visualizers is focused directly
onto the working surface. Due to the special lamp housing, neither
the audience nor the speaker will be blinded in a darkened room.
Minimum
stray light
WolfVision Visualizers are perfect for large screen projection
with a data projector. There is almost no disturbing stray light
from the unit to the projection screen.
Light swing
(illumination in front of the unit)
The light of the portable Visualizers can be turned around horizontally
at an angle of up to 250 degrees. Thus, objects in front of the
unit can be illuminated as good as items on the working surface.
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Special
Surface for Transparencies
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All WolfVision Visualizers have a special crystalline white working
surface for perfect reproduction of transparencies. The quality
of a transparency on this surface is even better than with a bottom
light, because there is more contrast and the colors are not "washed
out".
The whole
working surface has the same even color, providing a perfect background
for transparencies and other objects.
For x-rays
or oversized slides external lightboxes are available.
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Optimized
for Video Conferencing
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WolfVision's camera electronics produce a very strong and stable
picture, which is very important when a Visualizer is used as
a document camera for videoconferencing systems. The even lighting,
smooth auto iris and perfect focus are very important
features, enabling video conferencing systems to digitize and transfer
the picture from a WolfVision Visualizer much faster than
pictures from other document cameras. Furthermore there is no blinding
stray light from a WolfVision Visualizer, which could disturb
the auto iris of the room camera.
Of course
these features are equally important for live image presentations
with a data projector and for other Visualizer applications.
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Slides
can be picked up in exceptional quality without an external bottom
light by just putting them into the slide drawer on the camera head
of the VZ-8plus. |
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The Visualizer
alone weighs only 4.5kg (10lbs). Together with its carrying case
and power pack it is still only 7.3kg (16lbs).
WolfVision's
portable Visualizers come in a high quality carrying case, with
pockets for all the needed accessories.
The soft case has an expandable side pocket for a small LCD-projector
or notebook.
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For
capturing objects in a larger distance to the unit, the close-up
lens can be removed with just one pull. It can not get lost, because
it remains attached to the unit.
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Infrared
remote control **
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The VZ-8plus is supplied with a remote control. In addition
to the features described above, the remote control also offers:
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Manual focus
- Auto focus on/off
- Manual iris
- 3 user programmable Presets
- Laser Pointer
- Easy navigation for On-Screen Menu and On-Screen Help
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The RS-232 and USB input of the VZ-8plus and VZ-8light can be used
to control the Visualizer from external devices, such as a remote
control system for the whole room, a video conferencing system or
a computer. |
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Computer
Input (Loop-through)
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A computer
can be connected to the RGB input (15-pin D-Sub-plug)
of the Visualizer. With the Ext/Int switch a user can switch
between the Visualizer image and computer image to be output by
the Visualizer's RGB output (15-pin D-Sub-plug).
Thus, only
one XGA-cable to the display unit (projector, monitor, video conferencing
system etc.) is required and no separate remote control has to
be used for switching between the two image sources.
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Text
Enhancer** / Negative / Negative-Blue
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Original
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with
Text Enhancer
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The VZ-8plus offers many possibilities to improve the readability
of text.
By pressing the "Text Enhancer" button, the outstanding
contrast of the picture is improved even more. The colors are just
slightly darker than before.
Sometimes
dark text on a bright background may be easier to read if the
Visualizer is switched to "negative" or "negative/blue".
For special
applications (like analysing x-rays) the image can also be switched
to black and white.
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Negative
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Negative/Blue
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Pricing,
Availability and Additional Information
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Technical
data and listprices of these unit can be found on the Technical
Data page.
Features
marked with ** are only available on VZ-8plus (not on VZ-8light).
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