Best mini/action Cam to film close-up work? Opinions please. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2015, 01:39:23 pm
content: Hi folks,I am looking for a small camera to mount to my forehead or between my eyes (on magnifying loupes or protective glasses) to film close-up work that I do with my hands. Any suggestions?The only catch is I would prefer to get it from BestBuy (Canada) because I have a gift receipt and want to make use of it. I am not sure about the Go Pro, I have seen other cams that are shaped like barrels and smaller, so I can attach to my glasses between my eyes. I don't need it to have a display, I can calibrate the angle and check footage later. But it should be able to focus at 30-40 cm and not have some huge FOV... I don't want a fish eye because the idea is to film an area about 10x10cm or 15x15cm at a working distance of your hands doing some fine detail work.Any thoughts or suggestions?

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2015, 09:14:14 pm
content: I've had a look around at various offerings from Sony, JVC, etc... and they have the GoPro Hero (the "original" most basic model) which I assume I can strap on to a head-mount.GoPro Hero:http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/go-pro-gopro-hero-waterproof-hd-sports-helmet-camera-hero-edition-chdha-301/10322915.aspx?path=3b8567c51114ab2933d6157c8e8b59a5en02Headmount:http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/go-pro-gopro-head-strap-with-quickclip-achom-001-achom-001/10274401.aspx?path=0c0ddfcaf1c8df598bafe63be231e63den02I could possibly use this set up with a glasses-mounted light. The only thing is I need to attach a macro or zoom lense to the GoPro. I have some surgical "loupes" like these which I may be able to rig to the front of the GoPro to get what I need:Does anyone have the GoPro Hero 1 and any major deal-breakers? I saw the other Go Pro's and they look like they have nicer features but I don't think I need all of the extras. I plan on using the mini-cam for shooting point-of-view video while I wear a glasses-mounted "loupes" with LED light, to basically shoot a small field at about a hands-working distance doing detailed assembly and crafts.I think I found a solution... I need to duplicate this setup:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Goprodental-LTS/763642423708622?fref=tsI just realized the cheap GoPro Hero entry-level doesn't let you remove or attach lenses.. It is fixed to the case and it can't be modified like the other GoPros. Oh bummer! Back to the drawing board.

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2015, 01:09:00 am
content: It's primarily for dental use, I wonder if the patient should wear it on their head and have it point back towards them. That way the dentist can move everywhere but the shot always stays stationary as the camera moves with the patient's head? Usual thinking is mount it on head of dentist, but perhaps doing it backwards may actually work?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 28, 2015, 01:28:13 am
content: I suspect it's going to be pretty crap footage with having a moving head and a decent zoom lens.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2015, 01:32:56 am
content: Consider one of the chinese knock off like the ones from sjcam. Pretty good quality, easy to take the front cover off and unscrew the lens (thread locked and or set screw so be careful). The lens' are a standard security type and easy to get.This is a zoom lens and would probably do what you want. She is wide and that could mean trimming the front case if you have to screw it in all the way. In my experience that is not needed.http://www.ebay.ca/itm/NEW-1-3-2-8mm-12mm-Manual-Zoom-Manual-Focal-MTV-Lens-for-CCTV-Security-Camera-/181672830194?hash=item2a4c8b64f2Better if the cam is mounted to the patients head.

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2015, 04:54:26 pm
content: I'm going to consider mounting the GoPro to the patient's head and point "back" towards their face (like a head-mounted "selfie stick"), instead of on the dentist's head. As the patient moves around, the camera will always track with the patient's mouth. It just has to be comfortable enough and not in the way of the dentist working. Then I can attach "telephoto" lenses to zoom in and focus.I may need to attach a "laser sight" (or even 2 lasers that will converge at the focal point) to momentarily activate to set it up properly. This will help center the GoPro frame (since the cheaper one has no LCD display to confirm what you are filming) on the subject of interest. The 2 lasers converging will be optimized for the beams to cross at the focal point, so when the 2 laser dots merge it will be the right distance from the subject of interest.The main problem is that I can't access the front of the lens to attach anything, because it can't be removed from the case. So I will have to rig something up myself. That is the main concern with the cheapest GoPro Hero entry model.

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2015, 02:37:54 pm
content: Hi everyone,It has been > 1 month since last posting and here are the updates. I looked at GoPro options at BestBuy and the cheapest option was $179. That is the GoPro that comes housed in the waterproof case and you can't remove it. So if the plastic gets scratched or the mounting plastic gets broken off, you are screwed. Somehow you have to find a way to pry the camera out of the plastic housing and see if it can still be used or inserted into another housing. A more expensive GoPro or other camera may provide better options, but I can't afford it on my budget for this experiment.So I found the SJCAM 4000 which eBay started promoting in their deals....Anywhere from $50-65, free shipping. I know there are a lot of fakes out there and issues bricking firmware during updates, but the seller claimed it was ORIGINAL. Either way, I figured it was worth a chance and so I received it yesterday and here are my first 2 videos.First the UNBOXING:And there are the menus:I'm going to play around with the camera and see if I can use it as I described previously. It will take some experimentation and I hope to have some future updates on how my experiment went. For now, I consider SJCAM 4000 a cheaper alternative and built down to a price, but hopefully a good beginner entry price into a market that is bound to change over the next few years. There are issues about the USB plug getting loose, and other issues. It has to be handled gingerly it seems, but as far as performance it fares ok for the price.