Friends,
We have all seen the videos online where a modeller has attached a miniature camera to a wagon and then made a short video of their layout?
I am interested in the possibilities, therefore can anyone recommend a mini video camera that will not bust the bank and is easy to use?
I have tried a search but nothing was shown as being relevant.
Regards, Peter.
Have you seen this ?
Video Recording N gauge camera truck 'CamTruck' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS_Z9P17eic#)
And this earlier forum thread....http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=1634.0 (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=1634.0)
Bit pricey though for what it achieves in my opinion but each to his own !
Quote from: port perran on January 10, 2014, 07:03:35 PM
Have you seen this ?
Video Recording N gauge camera truck 'CamTruck' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS_Z9P17eic#)
Now
that's posh!
Just got one of these, £43 off fleabay. It is brilliant!
http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2013/7/8/the-mobius-camera-the-do-it-all-mount-anywhere-1080p-micro-c.html (http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2013/7/8/the-mobius-camera-the-do-it-all-mount-anywhere-1080p-micro-c.html)
I have the Mobius camera as well but it is too wide to sit on a flat car :'(
These Lighter Spy Cameras do not give as good a picture as the Mobius but are a lot cheaper and will sit on a flat car to go round your layout :claphappy:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Mini-Spy-Lighter-Camera-Video-Recorder-USB-DVR-SpyCam-upto-32GB-/390695563155?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item5af7452f93 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Mini-Spy-Lighter-Camera-Video-Recorder-USB-DVR-SpyCam-upto-32GB-/390695563155?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item5af7452f93) :ngfemailsign:
cheers John.
Quote from: scotsoft on January 11, 2014, 02:31:00 PM
I have the Mobius camera as well but it is too wide to sit on a flat car :'(
These Lighter Spy Cameras do not give as good a picture as the Mobius but are a lot cheaper and will sit on a flat car to go round your layout :claphappy:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Mini-Spy-Lighter-Camera-Video-Recorder-USB-DVR-SpyCam-upto-32GB-/390695563155?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item5af7452f93 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Mini-Spy-Lighter-Camera-Video-Recorder-USB-DVR-SpyCam-upto-32GB-/390695563155?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item5af7452f93) :ngfemailsign:
cheers John.
These Lighter Spy Cameras do not give as good a picture as the Mobius but are a lot cheaper and will sit on a flat car to go round your layout :claphappy:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Mini-Spy-Lighter-Camera-Video-Recorder-USB-DVR-SpyCam-upto-32GB-/390695563155?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item5af7452f93 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Mini-Spy-Lighter-Camera-Video-Recorder-USB-DVR-SpyCam-upto-32GB-/390695563155?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item5af7452f93) :ngfemailsign:
cheers John.
Ive just read this topic with interest. Early last year I bought a couple of pen cameras and 2 lighter ones. The project has been sideswiped by the building of new board and layout but it looks like the lighter camera will be best for my purpose as it will need very little or no modifications. The pen ones require a fair amount of
butchery...hand crafting bo be a viable option.
The Mobius is to wide for N gauge use I`m afraid.A pity it looks a great little tool :(
Quote from: scotsoft on January 11, 2014, 02:31:00 PM
I have the Mobius camera as well but it is too wide to sit on a flat car :'(
These Lighter Spy Cameras do not give as good a picture as the Mobius but are a lot cheaper and will sit on a flat car to go round your layout :claphappy:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Mini-Spy-Lighter-Camera-Video-Recorder-USB-DVR-SpyCam-upto-32GB-/390695563155?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item5af7452f93 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Mini-Spy-Lighter-Camera-Video-Recorder-USB-DVR-SpyCam-upto-32GB-/390695563155?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item5af7452f93) :ngfemailsign:
cheers John.
Hi John,
I've just bought one of these, a few questions please,
What type of wagon do you suggest to mount the camera on ? I know you model US which tend to have larger wagons, I model UK.
Do these cameras need any remodelling to fit wagons ?
What size Micro SD card would you recommend ?
Thanks in advance John,
Cheers,
Rob.
I bought on of these USB memory stick camera's
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spy-Camera-USB-Flash-Drive-Memory-Stick-Hidden-Motion-Detection-Video-Cam-/370824651705?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item5656df23b9 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spy-Camera-USB-Flash-Drive-Memory-Stick-Hidden-Motion-Detection-Video-Cam-/370824651705?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item5656df23b9)
Takes a standard micro SD card I put in 8gb. By itself it was two big but it was easy to remove the outer case and at £11 no big risk. It was still too big to fit say in a coach but would fit on a flat bed wagon of some sort. Only tried it a couple of times but it did work
Quote from: Robmag on January 11, 2014, 03:53:13 PM
Quote from: scotsoft on January 11, 2014, 02:31:00 PM
I have the Mobius camera as well but it is too wide to sit on a flat car :'(
These Lighter Spy Cameras do not give as good a picture as the Mobius but are a lot cheaper and will sit on a flat car to go round your layout :claphappy:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Mini-Spy-Lighter-Camera-Video-Recorder-USB-DVR-SpyCam-upto-32GB-/390695563155?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item5af7452f93 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Mini-Spy-Lighter-Camera-Video-Recorder-USB-DVR-SpyCam-upto-32GB-/390695563155?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item5af7452f93) :ngfemailsign:
cheers John.
Hi John,
I've just bought one of these, a few questions please,
What type of wagon do you suggest to mount the camera on ? I know you model US which tend to have larger wagons, I model UK.
Do these cameras need any remodelling to fit wagons ?
What size Micro SD card would you recommend ?
Thanks in advance John,
Cheers,
Rob.
Ive just dug my project box out to see what Ive got lined up
I`m going to be using a GF 377-551 drop sided wagon. Its fractionally shorter than the lighter camera but with a slight overhang at each end it will work out ok.I may remove the deck etc from the chassis and make a slight cradle for the camera to sit in.I could even run a flat truck behind the 377-551 infront of the designated loco. I think a 2 axled truck will be slightly better than an articulated
Time will tell but its way down my waiting to do list
Quote from: Robmag on January 11, 2014, 03:53:13 PM
Hi John,
I've just bought one of these, a few questions please,
What type of wagon do you suggest to mount the camera on ? I know you model US which tend to have larger wagons, I model UK.
I use a flat car so if you have a conflat then you could use some double sided tape to stick the lighter cam onto the conflat. However you could pick up a second hand US flat car and use that as you camera car.
Do these cameras need any remodelling to fit wagons ?
The lighter cam is 23mm at its widest, but you could offset it if it fouls platforms etc.
What size Micro SD card would you recommend ?
A 1Mb would do as you will not be videoing for a long time, you might have one in an old mobile phone. I have a 2Mb in mine as that is what I had lying about.
Thanks in advance John,
Cheers,
Rob.
There has been a video posted on the forum somewhere taken with a lighter cam and although it is not HD it is OK for what it is. The more light you have on your layout the better the video will be.
I hope this answers your question satisfactorily, if not please feel free to ask more ;)
Here are a couple of videos taken with the lighter camera, albeit on a larger scale than ours :-[
On board Conrad's first HO layout using a 'disposable lighter' spy cam. :) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpCotEKGCgE#)
New mini video camera (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o1YpTEvp-4#ws)
cheers John.
Quote from: scotsoft on January 11, 2014, 02:31:00 PM
I have the Mobius camera as well but it is too wide to sit on a flat car :'(
These Lighter Spy Cameras do not give as good a picture as the Mobius but are a lot cheaper and will sit on a flat car to go round your layout :claphappy:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Mini-Spy-Lighter-Camera-Video-Recorder-USB-DVR-SpyCam-upto-32GB-/390695563155?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item5af7452f93 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Mini-Spy-Lighter-Camera-Video-Recorder-USB-DVR-SpyCam-upto-32GB-/390695563155?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item5af7452f93) :ngfemailsign:
cheers John.
Thankyou John,
I had purchased one of these and it came from Hong Kong but it hjas been on charge for 5 hours and still the light is on!
According to instructions it should do and I quote "Light off go when charge is fully finished"!
Methinks I will have to spend a little more (Mine cost £3.99) and have an English based seller and one years warranty, according to the blurb!
Regards, Peter.
I think the Branor camera is expensive for what you get, as most of his stuff is, and if you are talking about the GoPro for a bike helmet camera then yes those are very expensive, but very good cameras. They can give broadcast quality video as proved with their use by the BBC and other television companies. However there are many videos on You Tube where people have attached much cheaper cameras to their bike helmets, namely the 808 #16 Keyfob camera and subsequent versions up to the Mobius, which give very good quality videos.
In my opinion, it helps a layout when viewed from a camera mounted on a flat car as you can see where improvements could be made and the simple, inexpensive option that the lighter cam offers is ideal.
cheers John.
P.S. As a Global Moderator there is no force field powerful enough in the known Universe that can withstand the power my mouse button has >:D :nerner: :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing:
Quote from: petercharlesfagg on January 11, 2014, 05:37:23 PM
Thankyou John,
I had purchased one of these and it came from Hong Kong but it hjas been on charge for 5 hours and still the light is on!
According to instructions it should do and I quote "Light off go when charge is fully finished"!
Methinks I will have to spend a little more (Mine cost £3.99) and have an English based seller and one years warranty, according to the blurb!
Regards, Peter.
Hi Peter,
I am sure the light blinks when it is on charge and then remains on when it is fully charged. So I think you may have missed it blinking when you plugged it in and should find it is fully charged and ready to go.
cheers John.
^^^^ It depends on the view of the role of Global Moderator. Either the maintenance of standards of discipline and facilitating open discussion - or the absolute power to impose ones own personal views as the only right ones. There are both types - but I haven't seen the second type on here - yet
Quote from: ParkeNd on January 11, 2014, 05:47:56 PM
^^^^ It depends on the view of the role of Global Moderator. Either the maintenance of standards of discipline and facilitating open discussion - or the absolute power to impose ones own personal views as the only right ones. There are both types - but I haven't seen the second type on here - yet
.... and you never will see the second type on here, we do our best to take everything with a sense of humour ;)
cheers John.
Even when ........
Quote from: scotsoft on January 11, 2014, 05:59:35 PM
Quote from: ParkeNd on January 11, 2014, 05:47:56 PM
^^^^ It depends on the view of the role of Global Moderator. Either the maintenance of standards of discipline and facilitating open discussion - or the absolute power to impose ones own personal views as the only right ones. There are both types - but I haven't seen the second type on here - yet
.... and you never will see the second type on here, we do our best to take everything with a sense of humour ;)
cheers John.
I only have to look in the mirror each morning and think how the rest of the human family must suffer!
Me, I'm perfect!
In the words of the song:- "Oh Lord it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way"!
Yikes! I've just hijacked my own thread! Wee Wah! Wee Wah! Peter.
This was shot with a "cheapy" camera, about $10 I seem to remember. The camera was just blue tacked to a flat car and pushed by a loco (yes I kknow its fast). Not brilliant but ok for the purpose.
http://youtu.be/bxWInfnPHKo (http://youtu.be/bxWInfnPHKo)
Quote from: trainsdownunder on January 11, 2014, 10:47:40 PM
This was shot with a "cheapy" camera, about $10 I seem to remember. The camera was just blue tacked to a flat car and pushed by a loco (yes I kknow its fast). Not brilliant but ok for the purpose.
'A plugin is needed to display this content.'
It doesn't say what plug-in, and it doesn't offer a link to get the plug-in, so I seem to be un-plugged!
(Running Firefox v26.0 on Windows Vista.)
Sorry, Pete.
It plays just fine for me using Internet Explorer on Windows 7 :confused2:
Quote from: newportnobby on January 12, 2014, 02:35:32 PM
Sorry, Pete.
It plays just fine for me using Internet Explorer on Windows 7 :confused2:
Ditto.
Fine with IE but asks for the install with Gargle Chrome :confused1:
Dave G
I am using Chrome but cannot view video neither does it ask for codecs etc?
Peter
My mind says that a cheap camera to use for your own use and memories is fine but if your reckoning on flaunting the results on U tube etc maybe something better might be an option.
For me its for my own fun....rule1 ish :laugh3:
The video played fine for me and I did not think blue tack was as strong as that, the G forces going round the corners must have put NASA to shame :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing:
I think the quality is fine going along the straights, even for posting to you tube, the corners are a blur and do have the tendency to make you fall off your chair :D
For something that was not available a few years ago and now to be able to readily buy it for a few pounds, I think these video cameras are allowing us to shoot video we could only have dreamt of not so long ago :headbang:
cheers John.
I think the on-board camera is a brilliant idea and looks great fun, esp on the larger layouts.
Dave G
I concur, though it might show up shoddy workmanship etc ! I fancy getting one and putting
it on the dog's collar to get a dog's view of the world.
:laughabovepost:
Not such a bad idea, although some things ya might not want to see..... ;D
By the way, Pete33, I'm getting the same message. I'm running Firefox on Vista as well, so it is probably a Vista thing.
George
Quote from: Bealman on January 12, 2014, 09:51:30 PM
:laughabovepost:
Not such a bad idea, although some things ya might not want to see..... ;D
By the way, Pete33, I'm getting the same message. I'm running Firefox on Vista as well, so it is probably a Vista thing.
George
Or possibly a Firefox thing, George. And Chrome. I think they share similarities in their core programming, although I may have misremembered that.
Peter
It's all computrickery (as NPN would say) to me, Peter! :uneasy:
George
Hi guys
Have reloaded video to YouTube should now be watchable without issues
Sorry for early problems
Colin
Yep - it's working fine now, Colin. Thanks!
I love the speed! Reminiscent of a fairground ride! Doesn't always have to be scale speed... we can have a bit of fun now and then!
That's Rule 1.5 :D
George
Viewed with pleasure, many thanks!
All I have to do now is mop up the tea!
Peter.
You've got it cheap and easy, mate. I'm moppin' up me Guinness! ;D
Perhaps one of these may be of help, guys?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/OXO-Tot-325-Sippy-Aqua/dp/B0038JDU1Q/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1389607405&sr=8-19&keywords=toddler+training+cup (http://www.amazon.co.uk/OXO-Tot-325-Sippy-Aqua/dp/B0038JDU1Q/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1389607405&sr=8-19&keywords=toddler+training+cup)
Cheap camera ordered. :camera:
Worried how bad the layout will look now! :worried:
Dave G
this may seem alot, but i thought its worth a shot, along with the lighter spy camera, iv bought one of these...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-DV-U9-Spy-USB-Flash-Drive-U-Disk-HD-Hidden-Camera-Motion-Detection-1280-960-/231046508333?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item35cb71ef2d (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-DV-U9-Spy-USB-Flash-Drive-U-Disk-HD-Hidden-Camera-Motion-Detection-1280-960-/231046508333?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item35cb71ef2d)
at 25mm wide, it should shrink a little bit once the case is removed, and being HD hopefully it will be good, find out next week!
Looking at the spec is seems the same as the one I bought, same resolution etc, supposedly HD but don't think it is. ???
is yours 1280x960?
just i know the other spy cameras are smaller than that arent they? like 720 or something
The lighter cam only has a video resolution of 720x480 which is 0.35 mega pixels, so nowhere near HD quality.
That one you have bought Paul is 1.2 mega pixels, so should be better.
With all these little cameras the video quality does improve slightly when there is plenty of light, they do not do well in darker conditions.
cheers John.
Quote from: portland-docks on March 28, 2014, 04:56:31 PM
is yours 1280x960?
just i know the other spy cameras are smaller than that arent they? like 720 or something
Just checked the camera output and these are the stats.
Photos at 1280 x 1024
Video MJPG 720x480 30fps
ah there you go, mine is:-
photos: -1280x1024
video: - 1280x960
Just checked on the website where I bought mine and it gives the following, camera 5M pix with resolutions 720*480 1280*720 720*480 640*480 VGA not sure how to get the higher 1280 x 720 to work.
Have you actually got it yet, be interested to see the quality as paying the extra may be worth it.
not yet just bought it earlier, should arrive tuesday. which when it does i will strip the body off it, and send it for a test on the test track as i dont have a fully working layout yet
well unbelievably i ordered the HD camera after 5pm yesterday and it arrived today, so had a little play with it before attempting to put it on a flatbed or even take it apart, and the quality seems really good! tomorrow after work i will place it on a flat bed and send it round the circular test track i have, and see what its like and show you lot, looks good to me though!
waiting in expectation :)
yes I am to
I to want one of these cams I don't have any scenery yet but but love the idea to get a drivers view
well heres the first video from teh HD camera...
unfortunatly my test track isnt working properly, so i did the next best thing, took it off and filmed some football on sky sports :D
as you can see though i had the camera upside down so i quickly flipped it over in movie maker :P
still seems alright though, sounds good!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PT0zZl4RBI&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PT0zZl4RBI&feature=youtu.be)
Looks sharp enough, in your PC can you check the properties of the video and see what size you get, is it really HD?
how would i check that? is says HD on the box and that its 1240x940 res or something like that
When it's plugged into your PC, navigate to where the video is, right click on it and select properties, should give you the necessary info and confirm size. :)
when i do that, it is all blank, only info there is the size of the file which obviously varies dependant on how long your video is.
i can tell you though it saves all files as AVI files.
instructions (which have been badly translated i may add!) say:-
video format: - avi
video encoding: -m-jpeg
video resolution: - 1280*960
video frame rate: - 30fps
then all the picture stuff which i wont go into as we arent interested in stills lol
well here is the camera car in action this weekend at Bowes Railway open weekend.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgrnS2TFu0OQdD_FQGEA97JOaMh9fC89v&feature=mh_lolz (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgrnS2TFu0OQdD_FQGEA97JOaMh9fC89v&feature=mh_lolz)
p.s.
the videos play absolutley fine on my computer, video quality is good and audio is good, dont know why they seem alot worse on youtube!