Practical Methods for Characterizing the Optical Performance of Digital Camera-Based Imaging Systems

Abstract

In this paper, practical and simple methods for characterizing the optical performance of a digital CCD camera equipped with a zoom lens using test targets projected by a Newtonian collimator coupled to an integrating sphere and a halogen light source are presented. The presented methods include the evaluation of the CCD camera system modulation transfer function (MTF), uniformity, dynamic range, linearity, and signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) properties in the visible region of the spectrum. Through out this work image processing for the recorded target images is performed using ImageJ. In addition, the paper presents a comparison between MTF measurements collected with a 1951-USAF resolution test target and a slanted edge test target. Finally, simple mathematical expressions for the measured optical system performance properties are provided. The presented optical system characterization methods can provide researchers with the needed data when a CCD or CMOS digital camera is integrated with a lens system.