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How do I programmatically interact with a camera (photo/video) in an MS Windows environment?

Hi:

I'm new to the use of a Camera in the Windows operating system.
I've been tasked with writing a library to interact with a windows based camera.

What is the best api/library/pattern/solution for interacting with a camera in a windows environment?

Ideally, we'd like something that is common across Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Surface, and Windows based
phones (tablets?).

Is there something that is consistent across all the windows flavours mentioned above?

I've seen some mention of "Media Foundation" in several posts.
Is that the current standard for camera/video interaction?

Thanks,
JohnB

David Johnson, CD

using direct-x with the windows sdk is the most common method using the amcap library.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd373424%28VS.85%29.aspx

it is not included with the latest versions of the sdk but available from http://amcap.en.softonic.com/download (watch out for additional installers and decline them)

jxbma

ASKER

::> David Johnson ::>

Will this approach work across all windows devices including windows mobile devices?

JB

jxbma

ASKER

::> David Johnson ::>

I'm new to this and a little confused. Please be patient with my questions.
I'm assuming that in one form another, I'll be coding against the Windows SDK
either directly or using some other 3rd party library.

1) In your comment, are you referring to "Direct-X" or "DirectShow"?

2) I've downloaded AMCap (which is that actual capture application).
Is there an AMCap library which I can program against to control/access the camera
and images (still & streaming)?

3) Is your suggestion to download/examine the AMCap sample and then use that as
as the basis for accessing the camera?

Thanks,
JohnB

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

David Johnson, CD

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jxbma

ASKER

I've been doing some additional digging around and there seem to be 2 camps as how to best to proceed.
I looked @ openCV, which looks like it uses Media Foundation under the covers.

The choices seem to be to go with either Media Foundation or DirectX.
Media Foundation being the newer of the two and being supported on Windows 7 and forward.
DirectX is the older technology/approach (was MF intended to replace DirectX?).

Can anyone shed some light on the pros/cons of using DirectX vs Media Foundation?

All we really want to do is to capture video frames from a USB/Device Camera feed.
In turn we perform analysis on each frame received (so we're not just piping the frame to
a windows control)

Is one better to use than the other in terms of performance/ease of use (api)/support moving forward?

As an aside, what would be the best strategy for capturing Camera output from a web page?
(Microsoft stack or other)

Thanks in advance,
JohnB

David Johnson, CD

capturing camera output from a webpage .. depends on the methodology used i.e. flash, media streaming.. you could use vlc