Camera calibration under optimal conditions

Different methods based on photogrammetry or self-calibration exist to calibrate intrinsic and extrinsic camera parameters and also for data pre- and post-processing. From a practical viewpoint, it is quite difficult to decide which calibration method gives accurate results and even whether any data processing is necessary. This paper proposes a set of optimal conditions to resolve the calibration process accurately. The calibration method uses several images of a 2D pattern. Optimal conditions define the number of points and the number of images to resolve the calibration accurately, as well as positions and orientations from where images should be taken. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America