Tell me about your 5v camera

[Derek_S]

I always seem to have trouble finding good, inexpensive 5v cams it seems. I am talking about $50 or less, in that range. I realize there are nice ones for about 80-100 out there, but that is just a bit much for me.

So tell me if you have one you like a lot. A night mode capable one would be a big plus. I have looked at the Foxtech ones like FH18c, but the $20 shipping and CMOS sensor puts me off a little bit (since I am interested especially in putting it on a multi)

[volto]

I got this one (http://www.ebay.com/itm/150635512608?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649), mostly because of the price and size - they are a little more expensive now. I have only tested it breifly but it seems very high quality and the low light capabilities seem to be pretty good. Hopefully I will be posting videos from it soon, waiting on a couple more parts.

[aaron_gx]

the cx-161 is decent:

http://www.vimeo.com/15673532
and they're dirt cheap. Not a standard thread size lens though.

[Keith]

Tell me about your 5v camera

Well, lets see... It's black, square on the back, has a little round lens on the front. It's got three wires coming out the back, a red one, a white one, and a black one. It's a little heavier than some because it's got a metal lens holder, but it works fairly well... ;)

Sorry! Had to! :D

Seriously though, I've got one of those CX-161s sitting here that I will more than likely never use again. Everything I fly is wired for 12V these days. Mine is one of the first ones with the "good" larger wider angle lens on it. It does OK later in the evening, but you won't be doing any night flying with it... ;) You want it?

[SENTRY]

5v > 12v. Just sayin'

[Keith]

With 12V I have 5 and still have 7 left over... :P

I like 12 to keep it all simple, all my video transmitters and mics run on 12V, except the Lawmate that's getting replaced real soon... ;)

[SENTRY]

LMFAO. Nice math.

12v is fine - until you start pushing battery and range limits. 12v systems w/ 5v gear I can run down to 3-4v and still be in the game. So I have a range of 3 - 13v (12.6) to play with. That's abusing the pack - but at least you make it home. 12v systems - by 9v ur gear starts dropping off -which is sad bc that's a LOT of v still left.

[Derek_S]

Not really, with a buck inverter you can go pretty low as well. I havent tested that low, but I have tested down to 6v, and it can still hold out a 1w lawmate and a osd cam @ 12.25 volts or so consistently.

12v simplifies things a lot when you are not on 2400. 5v tx and cam selection is just so narrow, 12v open up a big realm of options.


I want 5v really just for micro/mini projects, I run them off the rx for less clutter and such...

[brosius85]

if you run your 3s lipo down to 9v you dont deserve to get it back...

[SENTRY]

if you run your 3s lipo down to 9v you dont deserve to get it back...

I can't wait until you start attempting long range. LOL. 10v is when "most people" say "okay I need to head back". It's not uncommon to land on less than 10v in range attempts.

But if you haven't ran your plane down on the bench to see what volts gear starts to drop off you're doing it wrong. Yes, it's punishing a pack - but it's critical need to know information.

[aaron_gx]

^ thats me. 10.2v - "oh, lets start heading back home, into the wind" "wait, im not going to make it, #$%@!"

[SENTRY]

^^ Me too - but sometimes... ummm... well... you know...


http://vimeo.com/25351911

[SENTRY]

Derek- you can try this one.

http://www.nghobbies.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_8_71&products_id=698

I do like that NGHobbies separates the cameras by voltage requirements.

[SENTRY]

This is probably the winner Derek - it's a few bucks more. Why? Bc it's like my RMRC 420XV --- it operates from 5v - 15v. No guesswork - and will prob run down to 3.3vish.

http://www.nghobbies.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_8_72&products_id=548

It also looks okay at night - prob would look even better with a night lens. This cam w/ a night lens would make it VERY versatile.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UztxSwumQiY

[roberto]

that is one of the most amazing things I´ve seen around... i would have crapped my pants right away.. BTW, i found out a friends CEOSD works without the camera.



^^ Me too - but sometimes... ummm... well... you know...

[SENTRY]

that is one of the most amazing things I´ve seen around... i would have crapped my pants right away.. BTW, i found out a friends CEOSD works without the camera.

I did.


..



..


twice.

[Vitamin J]

Perfect timing for a thread! I'm putting together a mini FPV set-up and need a 5v camera but don't want crappy quality.

What's the best way to get the 3S lipo voltage regulated down to <5v for the vtx/cam? It's gonna be a small project where weight is everything so I want to do single battery with minimal clutter.

[SENTRY]

^ The "best" way to do it is w/ a camera that doesn't care - like the one I posted. You can feed it 5v - 15v, and will work prob down to 4v. 5v Vtx will either have its own regulator - if not, you can use the quiet BEC from RMRC, or the BEC on yoru ESC if it can handle it.

[volto]

I can't wait until you start attempting long range. LOL. 10v is when "most people" say "okay I need to head back". It's not uncommon to land on less than 10v in range attempts.

But if you haven't ran your plane down on the bench to see what volts gear starts to drop off you're doing it wrong. Yes, it's punishing a pack - but it's critical need to know information.

You don't need to punish your batteries to get that info, just use an adjustable regulator and keep lowering the voltage until stuff drops. Or do like Derek and I, and put a regulator on your plane, cheap insurance. I like the dpcav adjustable regulator.

I have my 5v camera on it's own BEC, need to find a 5v mic.

[Vitamin J]

^ The "best" way to do it is w/ a camera that doesn't care - like the one I posted. You can feed it 5v - 15v, and will work prob down to 4v. 5v Vtx will either have its own regulator - if not, you can use the quiet BEC from RMRC, or the BEC on yoru ESC if it can handle it.
Sweet! Thanks for the info! I keep forgetting that the BEC gives off 5v!

The vtx and camera only take a fraction of the BEC's output and I only have 3 servos, 2 are 4.7 grams so I should be ok. Should I tap in parallel to the BEC line or should I use an empty spot on my RX for the power? I will use an LC filter inline as well.

[SENTRY]

I don't see it as punishing a pack. Lipos "learn". Fly a pack to 11v a hundred times - and then take the long way home from work one day and need it to go to 9. The conditioning is just not gonna be there and the volts will fall very fast. I'm happy with "flying" my packs down on the bench. You don't learn how quickly the drop in voltage is from xVolts to xVolts w/ a regulator. You only learn at what voltage which component will drop. You also don't learn how quickly the pack bounces back when you kill the throttle w/ the regulator. A controlled test on the bench with the actual packs you plan on taking long range is the only way to know (in my mind). I've only done this twice with my D~Zee but I will def be doing it with the new wing before I stretch her legs.

Another prob with the buck is that vOUT must be greater than vIN. So in my scenario - where everything is on 5v but powered at 12v it's really uneccessary.

[SENTRY]

Sweet! Thanks for the info! I keep forgetting that the BEC gives off 5v!

The vtx and camera only take a fraction of the BEC's output and I only have 3 servos, 2 are 4.7 grams so I should be ok. Should I tap in parallel to the BEC line or should I use an empty spot on my RX for the power? I will use an LC filter inline as well.

I'm unfamiliar w/ your ESC. So it may or may not be able to handle it. But here is the BEC I used on the Gunfighter: http://www.readymaderc.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_15&products_id=124 - output is 5v or 6v.

Here is a 5v mic Volto : http://www.readymaderc.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_15&products_id=52

[SENTRY]

Derek - here you go : http://www.hobbywireless.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=578

No?

[Vitamin J]

The BEC on my ESC is 2amps. Is it best to tap into a free RX port or to tap in parallel to the BEC power lines?

[SENTRY]

The proper answer is to tell you to get the external BEC. I hate recommending things that could cause others to lose their planes. The BEC is quiet - cheap. The rx route could have you where you need a power filter anyway and introduce noise into your video. That is the PROFESSIONAL FPV'rs answer. LOL.

However....

[Derek_S]

VJ, yes, you can pull right off the RX. There may be some noise on that line depending on the servos ans esc, so a filter might be necessary (but BECs alone can be noisy, too). And like Sentry says, a bec might be a little safer but, but I am using this approach on planes that are really cheap and really dont matter (and have only 2 servos like wings) and on a multirotor that has no servos at all.

[Derek_S]

Derek - here you go : http://www.hobbywireless.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=578

No?

that one really has my attention. It looks lightweight, and that video looks good.

Here is a night video, but looks a little out of focus...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nK6cFApjDQ&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Light handling looks poor though in this video, especially at takeoff and landing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52WhGAWGEw8&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

[Derek_S]

but much better here, although it is a really sunny day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uACxqyOHLK4

[volto]

Here is a 5v mic Volto : http://www.readymaderc.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_15&products_id=52

At the risk of sounding like a cheapass, that is a bit expensive for a mic.

This is more like it, but I am gonna try an old computer mic first
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Arduino-Sound-Sensor-Module-Sensor-Shield-C63-/270777427890

It's also a little cheaper directly from dpcav http://www.dpcav.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16199&cat=0&page=1

[SENTRY]

^ Yeah - I was just letting you know that there are out there and have a variable input voltage. :) I don't use audio on the planes - they tend to take a TAD bit of clarity from the video.

Derek - that cam should be fine - doesn't look too bad for the price. If you plan to have an HD cam on board go for it. If it's the only source of video though might wanna increase the budget and get something better.

[Derek_S]

welll, hd cam maybe. The real issue it this:

For me 5v cams usually only go on 'disposable' planes, and not because they are 5v but because the cheapo 2.4 modules are 5v and I can run everything off the ESC's bec for simplicity and less parts, complexity, and cost. If it is a rig with DOSD, LM1W 1280, and all the whistles, It gets my only surviving OSD camera and a 12v system (and only because 1280 is hard to do on 5v; 5 would be my first choice for versatility.)

A disposable plane gets flown like I stole it, in trees, in the ground, into cars, and etc. This means keeping it cheap is nice, but also means that it is closer to objects. This is where light handling is so important, because in reality if a plane is gonna be low and fast, it really needs the better cam so I can see the obstacles better. So you are right, it might be worth while to try a better cam on such aircraft since object avoidance is more critical (an put my super cheap cams on high alt LR planes? lol)

[volto]

I would seriously consider this one, same specs as mine but standard size 3.6mm lens, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-520TVL-CCTV-SPY-security-camera-0-008Lux-/150605212084?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2310c529b4#ht_3770wt_1163

In fact I may get that one for another plane.

[Derek_S]

I would seriously consider this one, same specs as mine but standard size 3.6mm lens, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-520TVL-CCTV-SPY-security-camera-0-008Lux-/150605212084?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2310c529b4#ht_3770wt_1163

In fact I may get that one for another plane.

Did you notice that is apparently the exact same cam that Sentry posted from hobbywireless? At $33.88 shipped it is cheap enough to try. Only $10 more shipped from hobbywireless if you want to deal with a us company.

[Derek_S]

Just noticed it is a CMOs, too. Not a huge fan of those, especially since I want it for a Quad...heh

[Derek_S]

Anyone for this? Cheap as shii, but no idea on much of the details.
http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs/422965434-Free-Shipping-Mini-Digital-Miniature-Style-Color-CCD-Camera-384-wholesalers.html

[volto]

Yeah I have noticed several FPV vendors selling them for a lot more, at least I am assuming it's the same exact camera.

[volto]

Anyone for this? Cheap as shii, but no idea on much of the details.
http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs/422965434-Free-Shipping-Mini-Digital-Miniature-Style-Color-CCD-Camera-384-wholesalers.html

It's 12v though.

[Derek_S]

You are right, I missed that. I just looked at the top spec sheet which was really sparse on info.

have you had any vibration trouble on your other CMOS? I want a 5v for my upcoming quad build in particular, and I am afraid the image will never look that good with the vibration, even after really trying to isolate everything.

[volto]

I haven't flown it, but I did test WOT and the video looked fine. Make sure and balance your prop and you shouldn't have a problem. CCDS or CMOS, doesn't really matter. Some CCD are better and some CMOS are better.

[volto]

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs/469429345-Free-shipping-520TVL-Mini-Camera-0-008Lux-10-120-degree-view-angle-MC495A-with-audio-wholesalers.html

[brosius85]

range to me is 5km. any further and there is no way of getting close to the ground, and that is no fun (IMO) to be honest i would abuse my lipos more... if i could afford to bin them every few months.

of course it all depends on the location. i can understand trappy needing 15km as there is so much more to see in those mountains. where i am 5km and you have seen it all.

[SENTRY]

^ Yeah my primary site sucks for getting low (we got 100+ foot Georgia pines to try to get the RF over). But I am experimenting lower and further - and can fly comfortably at 900ft 3 miles out. I'm sure I could go lower. How low can you go at 5km? And are you launching from an elevated position? Raising my arms just 2 feet up shoots my RSSi through the roof - so that tells me that a few feet of elevation is night and day.

[Keith]

Kinda the same deal here... The land here is so flat there are no elevated areas to launch from... haha I tend to stick to flying south, as there's a tall tree line to the north of my field. That said, there are flood levees in the area that I could fly from... Hmm...

[Derek_S]

Quit polluting my thread a-holes!

Naw, jk, but I think I am gonna try that CMOS 520tvl. See whats up.

[Derek_S]

Guys, here is what I think is that same camera that volto posted and Sentry posted from HobbyWireless.

What I wonder about is that even while he is holding it, you can see the lines in the video as he moves it. I was wondering what you though. Is that normal?

http://exposureroom.com/members/glassfox/bb8583e57fce46f0b5d9e26f730e33b2/

Sorry but exposure room wont seem to embed.

Retailer link;
http://www.foxtechfpv.com/fh18c-520tvl-mini-camera-ntsc-p-255.html

[volto]

That's just video interlacing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interlaced_video).

[Derek_S]

So are you telling me it is his recorder/compression/magic box stuff and i wouldnt likely notice in flight?

[volto]

Correct. I didn't attempt to explain it because I don't understand it well enough, but it seems to me that every standard def camera does it, and no one notices it unless it's recorded and watched on a computer. That's why there are deinterlacing filters in most video editing programs. I am close to flying my phoenix 2000 which has this camera and will be sure to post the video in this thread. So far though, I can recommend it especially at that price.

Jerrod

[Keith]

LOL He called us assholes and told us to stop polluting his thread, and there were no posts for 4 days! :D

For the record, I did not take offense to that! :p

[brosius85]

he followed with JK so... im pretty sure it was a joke.
sentry i have no osd so i dont actually know how far i'v been. somewhere around 4~5 km i think. i have not tried to test how low i can go at that range either :D. at least 900ft.

[Derek_S]

Yeah I really dont care. Check out my track record, I am pretty talented at polluting threads. See Airbagit's multiwii thread, for example. heh

[Keith]

lol I know, I was joking too! All in good fun!

[Derek_S]

NO.

[Derek_S]

Just ordered this one to try out...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150605212084?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_3958wt_1037

[Danub]

WOW that is cheap. . . on my PMQ I got a fatshark 5v cam ($80) and there is no OSD adjustments. In hindsight I should of probably gotten one of the 420 5-15v cameras that Tim had, but he was out of stock. I just threw that out there cuz I did not see any OSD controller on that one but for that price who cares you got an awesome price/deal if it is good to fly with. :)

[Vitamin J]

Thanks for the link Derek, just grabbed one myself. Looks just like the CCD Killer 420 line CMOS that most shops sell, but it says it's 520 lines so that pretty a nice upgrade.

The lens looks to be the same too, it's pretty narrow. The CCD Killer is really good in low light so hopefully this one is too.