Using Cameras in MATLAB

Using Cameras in MATLAB

Use Image Acquisition Toolbox's videoinput as the primary interface for all camera workflows. Other interfaces (webcam, gigecam) are secondary and should only be used when explicitly requested or when videoinput is unavailable.

When to Use

• User wants to connect to a camera (webcam, USB, GigE, USB3 Vision, CoaXPress, Camera Link)
• User wants to acquire images or video frames
• User wants to preview live camera feed
• User wants to list or enumerate available cameras
• User wants to acquire images from a CoaXPress frame grabber
• User wants to acquire images via a Camera Link frame grabber
• User asks "how do I use my webcam/camera in MATLAB?"
• User mentions Image Acquisition Toolbox

When NOT to Use

• User explicitly requests webcam() from the webcam support package
• User is on MATLAB Online (where videoinput is not available — use webcam())
• User is doing image processing on existing files (no camera involved)
• User is working with non-imaging hardware (oscilloscopes, data acquisition boards)

Conventions

API Priority Rules

These rules are critical. Follow them unless the user explicitly requests otherwise.

1. Always use videoinput() from Image Acquisition Toolbox as the primary camera interface
2. Always use imaqhwinfo for device enumeration — not webcamlist or gigecamlist
3. For GigE Vision cameras: use videoinput("gentl", ...) — not gigecam or videoinput("gige")
4. For USB/built-in webcams on Windows: use videoinput("winvideo", ...)
5. For USB/built-in webcams on macOS: use videoinput("macvideo", ...)
6. For USB/built-in webcams on Linux: use videoinput("linuxvideo", ...)
7. For CoaXPress cameras: use videoinput("gentl", ...) — CoaXPress frame grabbers always provide GenTL producers
8. For Camera Link cameras: prefer videoinput("gentl", ...) if the frame grabber provides a GenTL producer; otherwise use the vendor-specific adaptor (e.g., videoinput("ni", ...), videoinput("dalsa", ...))
9. If user specifies a CoaXPress or Camera Link camera without naming the frame grabber: ask the user which frame grabber they are using before writing code — the adaptor choice depends on the frame grabber
10. Never describe videoinput as "legacy" or "advanced" — it is the primary, full-featured interface

When to use webcam() instead