Discontinued MR Camera Systems

Spare-parts / repairs / upgrade of discontinued systems

In our strive for customer satisfaction and to maximize the service life of all our instruments, including the MR camera systems, we are happy to announce that we will continue to provide spare parts and conduct repairs of the discontinued Bartz/VSI MR systems as long as possible. Please contact Mr. Thom A. Richards @ Bartz Technology Corporation for a BARTZ-related quote.

 

VSI MS-16 (DISCONTINUED)

  • Image Size (depending on tube diameter): 31 mm x 24 mm (7 cm MR tube), 30 mm x 21 mm (6 cm tube, "BARTZ" type)
  • UI software option: cropping to 20 mm x 20 mm incl. correction for non-linearity (curvature of MR tubes)
  • Image Resolution and Format: 8 MP camera (3280 x 2464 px; 2500 dpi); *.jpg;
  • Imaging Time and Naming: <1 second per image; ICAP naming scheme
  • Illumination: 2x 3W COB LED-strips, ~160 to 230 lumen each (UI adjustable intensity)
  • Operation Unit: LCD-Touchscreen, Keyboard, RaspberryPI microcomputer (Broadcom BCM2837, ARMv8, Quadcore, 1,2 GHz, 1 GB LPDDR2, WLAN, 2x USB ports), OPTIONAL: Bluetooth remote trigger for imaging at distance to operation unit)
  • User Interface: VSI software (touch sensitive, operable with keyboard or mouse), experiments and imaging program planning (dates and locations), ICAP naming; batch picture resizing & lineralisation triggered separately
  • Image export: via USB port
  • Interface between UI and camera: HDMI cable
  • Power Supply: 12V, 3A with external charger (operable/chargeable in all power grids world wide!); (OPTIONAL: build-in, rechargeable battery pack)
  • Camera Module Material / Dimensions / Weight: Robust aluminium housing, anodized / 170 mm long, diameter depending on MR tube dimensions (ca. 52 or 62 mm) / ca. 420 g
  • Indexing Handle Material / Dimensions / Weight: Aluminum / 25 mm x 25 mm x 1000 mm / approx. 670 g; up to 5 indexing handles can be combined; distance between indexing positions depending on selected picture size (w/o overlap), standard: 20 mm
  • Turning Indexing Head Material / Dimensions / Weight: Aluminium / 100 mm x 175 mm / ca. 1.2kg
  • UI Module Dimensions: 345 mm x 285 mm x 105 mm (l x w x h)

MS-16 (Discontinued)

Bartz MR Camera systems (DISCONTINUED)

Since 1984, the MR imaging systems BTC-2 and BTC-100X of Bartz technology Corporation set the standard for MR imaging. The robust design, the unique and effective positioning system ("Smucker handle") and the reliable video camera were used world-wide in a plethora of research projects addressing root depth distribution, root turnover and hyphae development to name a small selection of topics. The software ICAP helped to structure experiments and to capture and annotate images in a consistent way and remains until today a reliable tool for beginners and experienced users alike. However, as imaging technology, especially digital camera and lighting systems develop, production of the the BARTZ camera systems has ceased and are replaced by the new MS-190 MR system. This is reached in close collaboration between Bartz Technology Corporation and Vienna Scientific Instruments - keeping reliable, long lasting and manifold field-tested features such as the positioning system while reaching new dimensions in terms of image quality. We hope researchers world-wide will find the new minirhizotron systems developed in this joint-venture as useful as the BTC MR systems. 

In the name of both companies we wish to express our gratitude and sincere thanks to the many researchers for there feedback on the MR systems -- improving the minirhizotron technology (and thus knowledge on the hidden half) significantly. Happy root imaging!

Classical Bartz Mr systems (BTC-2, BTC-100X) - Details (DISCONTINUED)

Selected readings on PIONEER Root imaging with Minirhizotron cameras

  • Box, J. E., A. J. M. Smucker, and J. T. Ritchie. 1989. Minirhizotron installation techniques for investigating root responses to drought and oxygen stresses. Soil Science Society of America Journal 53:115-118.
  • Ferguson, J. C., and A. J. M. Smucker. 1989. Modifications of the minirhizotron video camera system for measuring spatial and temporal root dynamics. Soil Science Society of America Journal 53:1601-1605.
  • McLean, M., G. S. Howell, and A. J. M. Smucker. 1992. A minirhizotron system for in situ root observation studies of seyval grapevines. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture 43:87-89.
  • Patena, G., and K. T. Ingram. 2000. Digital acquisition and measurement of peanut root minirhizotron images. Agronomy Journal 92:541-544.
  • Smucker, A. J. M., J. C. Ferguson, W. P. Debruyn, L. R. Belford, and J. T. Ritchie. 1987. Image analysis of video recorded plant root systems. Pages 67-80 in H. M. Taylor, editor. Minirhizotron observation tubes: methods and applications for measuring rhizosphere dynamics. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, USA.
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