diff --git a/examples/pybullet/examples/testrender.py b/examples/pybullet/examples/testrender.py
index 55eecd07c..a7aad9b47 100644
--- a/examples/pybullet/examples/testrender.py
+++ b/examples/pybullet/examples/testrender.py
@@ -1,48 +1,56 @@
-import numpy as np
-import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
-import pybullet
 
-pybullet.connect(pybullet.GUI)
-pybullet.loadURDF("plane.urdf")
+#testrender.py is a bit slower than testrender_np.py: pixels are copied from C to Python one by one
+
+
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt 
+import pybullet
+import time
+
+pybullet.connect(pybullet.DIRECT)
+pybullet.loadURDF("plane.urdf",[0,0,-1])
 pybullet.loadURDF("r2d2.urdf")
 
-camTargetPos = [0.,0.,0.]
+camTargetPos = [0,0,0]
 cameraUp = [0,0,1]
 cameraPos = [1,1,1]
-yaw = 40
-pitch = 10.0
+
+pitch = -10.0
 
 roll=0
 upAxisIndex = 2
 camDistance = 4
 pixelWidth = 320
-pixelHeight = 240
+pixelHeight = 200
 nearPlane = 0.01
-farPlane = 1000
-lightDirection = [0.4,0.4,0]
-lightColor = [.3,.3,.3]#1,1,1]#optional argument
+farPlane = 100
+
 fov = 60
 
-#img_arr = pybullet.renderImage(pixelWidth, pixelHeight)
-#renderImage(w, h, view[16], projection[16])
-#img_arr = pybullet.renderImage(pixelWidth, pixelHeight, cameraPos, camTargetPos, cameraUp, nearPlane, farPlane)
-for pitch in range (0,360,10) :
+main_start = time.time()
+for yaw in range (0,360,10) :
+    start = time.time()
     viewMatrix = pybullet.computeViewMatrixFromYawPitchRoll(camTargetPos, camDistance, yaw, pitch, roll, upAxisIndex)
     aspect = pixelWidth / pixelHeight;
     projectionMatrix = pybullet.computeProjectionMatrixFOV(fov, aspect, nearPlane, farPlane);
-    #getCameraImage can also use renderer=pybullet.ER_BULLET_HARDWARE_OPENGL
-    img_arr = pybullet.getCameraImage(pixelWidth, pixelHeight, viewMatrix,projectionMatrix, lightAmbientCoeff = 0.3, lightDiffuseCoeff = 0.4, shadow=1, renderer=pybullet.ER_TINY_RENDERER)
-    w=img_arr[0]
-    h=img_arr[1]
-    rgb=img_arr[2]
-    dep=img_arr[3]
-    #print 'width = %d height = %d' % (w,h)
-    # reshape creates np array
-    np_img_arr = np.reshape(rgb, (h, w, 4))
-    np_img_arr = np_img_arr*(1./255.)
-    #show
-    plt.imshow(np_img_arr,interpolation='none')
-    
-    plt.pause(0.01)
+    img_arr = pybullet.getCameraImage(pixelWidth, pixelHeight, viewMatrix,projectionMatrix, shadow=1,lightDirection=[1,1,1],renderer=pybullet.ER_BULLET_HARDWARE_OPENGL)
+    stop = time.time()
+    print ("renderImage %f" % (stop - start))
+
+    w=img_arr[0] #width of the image, in pixels
+    h=img_arr[1] #height of the image, in pixels
+    rgb=img_arr[2] #color data RGB
+    dep=img_arr[3] #depth data
+
+    print ('width = %d height = %d' % (w,h))
+
+    #note that sending the data to matplotlib is really slow
+
+    plt.imshow(rgb,interpolation='none')
+    plt.show(block=False)
+    plt.pause(0.001)
+
+main_stop = time.time()
+
+print ("Total time %f" % (main_stop - main_start))
 
 pybullet.resetSimulation()
diff --git a/examples/pybullet/examples/testrender_np.py b/examples/pybullet/examples/testrender_np.py
index 9f84fbed9..88da27fc1 100644
--- a/examples/pybullet/examples/testrender_np.py
+++ b/examples/pybullet/examples/testrender_np.py
@@ -1,37 +1,48 @@
 
-#make sure to compile pybullet with PYBULLET_USE_NUMPY enabled, otherwise use testrender.py (slower but compatible without numpy)
+#make sure to compile pybullet with PYBULLET_USE_NUMPY enabled
+#otherwise use testrender.py (slower but compatible without numpy)
+#you can also use GUI mode, for faster OpenGL rendering (instead of TinyRender CPU)
 
 import numpy as np
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import pybullet
 import time
+from pylab import *
 
-pybullet.connect(pybullet.GUI)
+ion()
+img = standard_normal((50,100))
+image = imshow(img,interpolation='none',animated=True,label="blah")
+
+    
+#pybullet.connect(pybullet.GUI)
+pybullet.connect(pybullet.DIRECT)
+pybullet.loadURDF("plane.urdf",[0,0,-1])
 pybullet.loadURDF("r2d2.urdf")
 
 camTargetPos = [0,0,0]
 cameraUp = [0,0,1]
 cameraPos = [1,1,1]
-yaw = 40
-pitch = 10.0
+
+pitch = -10.0
 
 roll=0
 upAxisIndex = 2
 camDistance = 4
-pixelWidth = 1024
-pixelHeight = 768
+pixelWidth = 320
+pixelHeight = 200
 nearPlane = 0.01
-farPlane = 1000
+farPlane = 100
 
 fov = 60
 
 main_start = time.time()
-for pitch in range (0,360,10) :
+while (1):
+  for yaw in range (0,360,10):
     start = time.time()
     viewMatrix = pybullet.computeViewMatrixFromYawPitchRoll(camTargetPos, camDistance, yaw, pitch, roll, upAxisIndex)
     aspect = pixelWidth / pixelHeight;
     projectionMatrix = pybullet.computeProjectionMatrixFOV(fov, aspect, nearPlane, farPlane);
-    img_arr = pybullet.getCameraImage(pixelWidth, pixelHeight, viewMatrix,projectionMatrix, [0,1,0],renderer=pybullet.ER_BULLET_HARDWARE_OPENGL)
+    img_arr = pybullet.getCameraImage(pixelWidth, pixelHeight, viewMatrix,projectionMatrix, shadow=1,lightDirection=[1,1,1],renderer=pybullet.ER_BULLET_HARDWARE_OPENGL)
     stop = time.time()
     print ("renderImage %f" % (stop - start))
 
@@ -44,8 +55,13 @@ for pitch in range (0,360,10) :
 
     #note that sending the data to matplotlib is really slow
 
-    plt.imshow(rgb,interpolation='none')
-    plt.pause(0.001)
+    np_img_arr = np.reshape(rgb, (h, w, 4))
+    np_img_arr = np_img_arr*(1./255.)
+    #show
+    #plt.imshow(np_img_arr,interpolation='none',extent=(0,1600,0,1200))
+    image.set_data(np_img_arr)
+    #draw()
+    plt.pause(0.0001)
 
 main_stop = time.time()