Jabami,
IMAQdx is ported through DirectShow, so as long as the device driver implementation allows for certain output formats and modes, IMAQdx will replicate these. I can confirm these myself, as I have had the misfortune to test multiple horrid webcams with both pure IMAQdx capture, and VisionExpress.
In addition, APIs seem to have a role in the availability of actual extra controls (via either property nodes or VisionExpress), although these are, to say the least, not trouble free to control programmatically. Doing so via VisionExpress manually almost always works absolutely fine - in rare cases when a control does not work, settings are simply ignored, with no effect on capture, therfore these are non-critical in terms of robustness of operation, at least.
I have tried to contact Codelaboratories today with my enquiry regarding multi-cam support provided as a ported DirectShow DRIVER within the Platform Pack (as opposed to API only, which the SDK seems to provide), although I had to PM / email an apparent guru, as both the support html form fails with a connection failure, and my direct email is rejected by their server, based on server IP (even though it’s just a regular commercial ISP in the UK).
We’ll see what they say, but I am 98% confident that if the Platform Pack supports access to multple PS3 Eyes via any other third party software that refers to DirectShow (as I am sure most video editing stuff does), then it will be working just fine in LabVIEW, too (as the IMAQdx method is no different to these I believe).
If the above proves to be the case, I will be one of their happiest buyers, probably generating a lot more in the engineering / scientific community, as fully controlled IMAQdx / LabVIEW capture availability of such inexpensive USB cameras (bought a pair today for GBP 7.49 each), combined with their features almost resembling lower machine vision grade (fixed frame rate was my absolute priority), will certainly trigger interest. Multiple cameras must be guaranteed to work on a DirectShow basis though. If so, I’ll get back here, as well as the LabVIEW forums where I have also already re-engaged the infamous topic of multiple identical USB cameras / webcams used simultanously within LabVIEW (and due to its DirectShow dependence, out of LabVIEW, too).
For the record, I have identified 6 models confirmed to work so far, of which the PS3 Eye will by far be the best IF multi-cam access is supported by the Platform Packs, primarily for the availability of fixed frame rates (a strong motion analysis relevance), and the 36um^2 sensor pixel size (relatively high sensitivity range) even if I have to buy the otherwise acceptably priced CL Platform Pack.
Perhaps one thing is cause for concern for some: as referred to earlier, while the image quality is fine at 640x480:75fps in the PS3 Eye Test App provided with the free single cam driver v5.1.1.0177, the DirectShow ported IMAQdx VisionExpress acquisition in the test window shows considerably more sensor noise, mainly colour. I do not yet know whether it is an DirectShow issue per se, or perhaps related to the DirectShow implementation of the CL driver (assuming that the test app uses a dedicated capture method). In any case, this difference only appears above 30fps, and may not appear at all with the Platform Pack. We’ll find out as soon as I can make an informed purchase.