Barrel/gun mounted camera?

[ScatterPlot]

So... like the title says... a barrel, gun, or mask mounted camera. What do you think? It would be cool to see a game from a mask perspective to see what the player could see while he played. Course it might make your mask really topheavy. Anyways, what do you think? Any ideas on how it could be done? This would be very useful for seeing what you might've done wrong in a game. Problems I see are weight, expense (cause you can't use a stinkin VHS caamcorder on your head now can you, gotta be one of those pocket mounted thingies), and possibly a VERY shakey video. You might could isolate the actual lense part of a camcorder and put the recording part in your pack or something. If it could fit in a tube or something it wouldn't really get in the way, wires might a little though. Powering a wireless jobbie would require more weight than saved convenience of wireless. So...
whatcha think?

[SuiciDal Sn Y p ER]

forget it!

i had the idea also. i could have done it except it costs about $400 for the mini camera and the thing to mount it onto the barrel.

[jknospe]

Cheaper solution...

Check out:

http://www.hkentrust.com/

They have a cheaper solution for a remote camera using a radio AV receiver. Some have audio and infered options. I purchased one for an RC project and worked great.

Hope this helps!

[ScatterPlot]

Dude, where were you looking? Those cameras are nowhere NEAR that much money. Try ebay

[SuiciDal Sn Y p ER]

lol im searching on google. but the cameras on that website...i can't really figure out what they are in their range and how to operate them

[jknospe]

Yeah, their website is realitively new and not every link is working. I purchased their Model ET-811A on eBay a few months ago. This link will take you to its specifications if your interested:

http://www.hkentrust.com/product/camera/camera50mw/811a/811a.htm

However, they have other models with different options. Do a search for "wireless camera" on eBay and you'll find them.

[SuiciDal Sn Y p ER]

how much does that cost? and how does it work? i get the mount the camera on the barrel part...but where does the video go? some thingy that you connect to a tv? and from there can you hook up a vcr to the tv and record the images?

lol then from there how do i get it onto my computer for editing?

[ScatterPlot]

Now that I think about it, you wouldn't have to have a big heavy recorder thing on you. You could use something like that and beam it to someone else off the field. Also, I think it would be better if you put it on your mask, that way you can see what the player sees in game. On the barrel, a lot of time would be spent looking at the ground or an empty bunker, or even the bunker in front of you. There is one problem though, and that is that those kind of cameras have either no audio or very crappy audio. The very crappy kind I'm reffering to means useless, so it might as well not have it. Oh yeah, DON'T get an X-10 camera!!! I have one of those and they don't have much range at all, and are really fuzzy when they get moved. I got it before they really got their world's-most-obnoxious-pop-under-crappy ad campaign going, so no flames please .

[jknospe]

The model I have doesn't have audio; so I don't know about the audio quality. I was only looking for video at the time. It was only $40 + shipping. Its a small wireless camera that runs off a 9v battery. It comes with a mounting bracket that mounts to a flat surface. You maybe able to use a U clamp or something if you want it on your barrel. You will also need to mount a 9v battery or power it off a Revy or egrip. Radio shack has some 9v battery mounts if you need them.

The receiver also uses a 9v battery for power, and has an RCA jack for video that connects to a TV or VCR. Its a very simple camera... no autofocus (just manual focus), no stabilizer, nor zoom. However, I was impressed quality of picture for something so small and cheap. And according to the specs, you can have the camera up to 150 meters (about 500 ft) away from the receiver.

Look around and compare the specs. I wasn't able to find anything else that size for the price. But if you do find something else, please let us know!

[SuiciDal Sn Y p ER]

can anyone link me to a good camera?

[SuiciDal Sn Y p ER]

jknospe

can't you just wear something on your back or something? like have it stored digitally?

[ScatterPlot]

Well the digital recorder would be expensive and cumbersome, it would be easier to transmit elsewhere. Are you wanting this for like a screen in your mask so you don't have to pop your head out to shoot or something?

[jknospe]

It sounds like your looking for something 2 piece. Like a a small camera remoted (by wire) to a recording pack. The older style beta cams used to be 2 pieces; but they are rare and too bulky. Sorry, I have not seen anything like that lately.

Maybe a small camcorder mounted on your shoulder? However, I wouldn't recommend subjecting a good video camera to the abuse of paintball. It wouldn't last long.

[ScatterPlot]

I think what would be the best (after reading everyone else's posts reminding me of the $40 wireless cameras) would be to have the really tiny wireless camera say, where your visor on your mask goes, remoted wirelessly to an off-field recorder.

[Redkey]

I have done this....

I put a small camera under my barrel and ran the power and signal wires down through my coil remote hose. The camera was powered by a 12v battery in my pod pack. The video signal was sent to a small hi8 camcorder stored in a small pack on my stomach (fanny pack twisted 180). It worked perfectly... however... I would never do it again. Watching the video is nearly unbearable. Since the camera is pointing where ever the gun is... there is a huge amount of movement. Most of the time when you shoot you don't hold the gun on target any longer than necessary.

So the video looks like this...

standing around waiting for the horn to blow.
"honk"
run run run... ferns, dirt, trees, roots, feet.
"find cover"
plywood, plywood, plywood
"find target"
flash of plywood, trees, bushes, TARGET!
"pop pop pop pop pop"
paintballs flying away, paintballs flying towards
"duck"
plywood, plywood, plywood

in general 4 hours of play can be reduced to less than 10 minutes of interesting stuff.

My next version will have the camera mounted to the right side of my mask so it sees what I see. I'd also like to not carry the camera around since it limits my playing style. I've looked at using a transmitter but good ones are pretty expensive. Cheap ones have a limited distance an don't usually work very well with lots of tress. Now if you were just interested in using on a speedball field where the receiver was close it would probably work quite well.

go here for cameras...

https://www.supercircuits.com

you should be able to get a decent camera for 100 bucks.