Camera System - Page 2

chris123 · 27 June 2007, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

If you get an E80 I would be very tempted to get a camera that is good in low light as well. Then you can have an IR illuminator and drive around at night and still see where you are going!!! Also a camera that is waterproof so you can chuck it over the side and see/record what's under you.

MAYBE something like this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CCTV-Sony-Fish...QQcmdZViewItem

You would struggle to get an IR illuminator with a good enough range to make it worthwhile (IME). The cameras with IR LEDs built in are typically no good for more than about 5 metres. Typically with this type of budget camera you gain low light performance at the expense of 'normal' light performance.

Waterproof camera is a must for any use on a RIB, but again for a budget camera I would not expect it to be reliable underwater for anything more than short periods.

Cheers

Chris

Tony · 27 June 2007, 19:34

I found this site, and they use the aiptek as a recorder
http://www.bulletcam.com/

codprawn · 27 June 2007, 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris123

You would struggle to get an IR illuminator with a good enough range to make it worthwhile (IME). The cameras with IR LEDs built in are typically no good for more than about 5 metres. Typically with this type of budget camera you gain low light performance at the expense of 'normal' light performance.

Waterproof camera is a must for any use on a RIB, but again for a budget camera I would not expect it to be reliable underwater for anything more than short periods.

Cheers

Chris

Yes I know you have pretty limited range - what you need is a 55w halogen with an IR filter over it - then you can see on the screen but no light to blind you.

If you want the ultimate to connect to your E series get one of these.

http://www.cvs.flir.com/maritime/products/mariner.cfm

Watch the video - they look pretty impressive - same FLIR view that you see on the Police helicopter!!!

chris123 · 27 June 2007, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

If you want the ultimate to connect to your E series get one of these.

http://www.cvs.flir.com/maritime/products/mariner.cfm

There are also UK companies manufacturing similar units - for example Vector Developments in Wool on the south coast:

http://www.seamoon.co.uk/15801/index.html

Hard to justify the cost though unless you do a lot of night passages in difficult locations.

Cheers

Chris

codprawn · 27 June 2007, 20:15

I have no doubt those are better cameras -= the one I posted is supposed to be at a new price point - about £1200 - not cheap but compared to the rest of the stuff out there...............

chris123 · 27 June 2007, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony

I found this site, and they use the aiptek as a recorder
http://www.bulletcam.com/

Difficult to know what sort of performance you will get out of it, but my expectations would not be very high. It gives a video resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, so not really worth having a camera with more than 480 lines. Bit rate is relatively low, but MPEG4 gives better compression than MPEG2.
Again, it depends on what you are going to do with the output - playback in a window on a pc should be ok, but if you wanted to make a DVD you would end up needing to convert MPEG4 to MPEG2, which is likely to give you lots of artefacts.

I'd have a surf and see what people are using it for, and how they rate it. Better still if anyone has posted video from one you will be able to see exactly what you will get.

You didn't say what you disliked about the Action 2000 camera?

Cheers

Chris

chris123 · 27 June 2007, 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I have no doubt those are better cameras -= the one I posted is supposed to be at a new price point - about £1200 - not cheap but compared to the rest of the stuff out there...............

TBH, I thought they were more than that, but it was a fair time ago we spoke to one of the UK suppliers. There is a new generation of uncooled thermal imager modules on the market that is reportedly giving very good performance at a good price.

Tony · 30 June 2007, 06:59

i found this today, do you guys think it would work ok as a recorder from a bullet cam?
thanks
Tony
Sandisk V mate

chris123 · 30 June 2007, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony

i found this today, do you guys think it would work ok as a recorder from a bullet cam?
thanks
Tony
Sandisk V mate

I think it will be pretty close to the same video spec as the Aiptek and will have the same limitations. Plus it looks like you need a 5 vdc supply and to start / stop recording via the remote control.

It does look like a very neat bit of kit though.

Cheers

Chris

Cookee · 03 July 2007, 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony

i found this today, do you guys think it would work ok as a recorder from a bullet cam?
thanks
Tony
Sandisk V mate

Found that a while back - it looks more like something you would have attached to your TV at home rather than in a boat ............... buy one and let us know how you get on!

v666 · 03 July 2007, 20:27

Maybe worth your while looking at FastFilms website.

It's a company run by a guy who I know of from a car forum I used to use. He has been filming from cars and bike for years now, so should know what he is talking about (he does group discounts too

)

Web Site

Shop

Tim

Tony · 06 July 2007, 10:29

How waterproof are the marine housings for cd players/radio's?
I had a new thought!!

I found this on ebay... it has a av in on the back and would be good to monitor the bullet cam.
Thanks Tony

Cookee · 06 July 2007, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony

How waterproof are the marine housings for cd players/radio's?
I had a new thought!!

I found this on ebay... it has a av in on the back and would be good to monitor the bullet cam.
Thanks Tony

In a nice dry cockpit maybe!

Tony · 06 July 2007, 10:47

Unfortunately no dry cockpit, smack bang in the middle of the console!!
Ooh i have bought the sandisk v mate thingy!
should be here soon