Optimal aperture settings for generic camera calibration

Abstract In this paper, we present a method for finding optimal camera settings for a lens with an infinitely variable setting for aperture size to be used in conjunction with generic camera calibration. We achieve this by devising a setup for gauging the cameras aperture opening using an integrating sphere and a light source. A measurement series was conducted with various aperture settings. We could show that there is an optimal range for the camera’s aperture setting. Cameras adjusted to this setting confirmed to be suited for positional measurement tasks by estimating the distance between two spherical calibration targets.