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Posted: 10/2/2014 12:50:45 PM EDT
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I've been looking for a good way to record night vision video while out hunting, hiking etc. that doesn't require lugging around a DSLR with a dedicated NOD. My ideal setup would be something like the Wilcox MHRS (Mission Helmet Recording System) Wilcox MHRS, but I don't have an extra $6,000 laying around so that will have to wait.
Since I like to tinker, I've been experimenting with a DIY night vision recording setup inspired by some of the features on the MHRS (Modular, helmet-mounted, uses existing NOD), but at a much lower cost. Rather than use my brain and plan things out, I prefer to use trial and error (mostly error) until I find something that works. The camera I'm using is a Panasonic HX-A100 
I initially had it connected to an extra PVS-14 which was mounted to the rail on my helmet with a standard weapon mount. I think this setup will actually work pretty well, as long as you have the neck of an NFL linebacker. 
My ultimate goal is to use a beam splitter/prism (like on the MHRS) and connect the camera to the eyepiece, so I can dispense with the additional PVS-14. Since I know absolutely nothing about beam splitters and prisms, I spent some time aimlessly browsing through the products on Edmund's optics. I ended up ordering an elliptical plate beam splitter. Since then, CJ7Hawk has alerted me to some much cheaper sources for beam splitters and prisms and has also suggested using a beam-splitting prism rather than the plate type. I plan to order a few of those eventually, but in the meantime I have been fooling around with the one I have. 
Last night I built a housing out of PVC pipe and bondo. I was partially able to get it to work, but I need to mess with it more because it doesn't show the full field of view. I removed the splitter from the housing and I'm now using some velcro to experiment with different angles and spacing. 
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Very nice work! What mini DVR is that, it certainly has a heavy duty cable hookup and minimal chances for getting caught on branches and such. Quoted:
Very nice work! What mini DVR is that, it certainly has a heavy duty cable hookup and minimal chances for getting caught on branches and such. Thanks! It's actually just part of the camera unit. The cable doesn't look as heavy duty in person, but it still seems fairly durable. The camera is advertised as waterproof, albeit only 5ft, but it should at least survive a little rain while mounted on top of the helmet. Quoted:
Subscribed! When it's done, I especially want to know what you would have or will do differently. I'll poach v2.0 and let you do the bleeding on the edge for me.  Haha. I'm always happy to be the guinea pig. I'm already wondering whether I should have tried to find a smaller camera. I considered getting a button/spy camera like this: Mini Spy Cam, but I have no idea what the video quality is like. It would be awesome if someone could tell us what camera module the MHRS uses 
The Panasonic has some good features though. It has built in wifi which allows you to control the camera and view video in real time with your phone. I may try taking it apart to see if I can reduce the size a little. |
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Not sure what cameras Wilcox use but you can search the RC airplane / FPV forums for reviews for camera's. They use what appear to be the same kind of camera found on the MHRS. Good idea! When I was doing a lot of car stereo stuff I learned from the RC Forums how to make a high current 12v power supply from old computer server parts. Cool stuff! |
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Check out this micro camera. It can focus at 1" away and super small profile. There's others on this site that also looks like it may work. http://www.supercircuits.com/ultra-small-color-micro-video-camera-pc208-2#qa[cT0zNTU=] Quoted:
Check out this micro camera. It can focus at 1" away and super small profile. There's others on this site that also looks like it may work. http://www.supercircuits.com/ultra-small-color-micro-video-camera-pc208-2#qa[cT0zNTU=] You were on the right track! So close! Check this one: http://www.supercircuits.com/security-cameras/specialty-security-cameras/hi-res-low-light-color-snake-camera-pc229xp 
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2 beam splitters and 2 cams edited together would make some cool 3d NV footage. I have a hunch that Goteron can tell you whether that would work or not 
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You were on the right track! So close! Check this one: http://www.supercircuits.com/security-cameras/specialty-security-cameras/hi-res-low-light-color-snake-camera-pc229xp https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5600/15243858030_1b9c078b60_o.png Quoted:
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Check out this micro camera. It can focus at 1" away and super small profile. There's others on this site that also looks like it may work. http://www.supercircuits.com/ultra-small-color-micro-video-camera-pc208-2#qa[cT0zNTU=] You were on the right track! So close! Check this one: http://www.supercircuits.com/security-cameras/specialty-security-cameras/hi-res-low-light-color-snake-camera-pc229xp https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5600/15243858030_1b9c078b60_o.png Gonna try it? |
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Gonna try it? Quoted:
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Check out this micro camera. It can focus at 1" away and super small profile. There's others on this site that also looks like it may work. http://www.supercircuits.com/ultra-small-color-micro-video-camera-pc208-2#qa[cT0zNTU=] You were on the right track! So close! Check this one: http://www.supercircuits.com/security-cameras/specialty-security-cameras/hi-res-low-light-color-snake-camera-pc229xp https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5600/15243858030_1b9c078b60_o.png Gonna try it? I don't know. Possibly. I have it on good authority that GoPro is the way to go. |
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:) - It is pretty cool. Keep an eye out on this thread. Quoted:
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2 beam splitters and 2 cams edited together would make some cool 3d NV footage. :) - It is pretty cool. Keep an eye out on this thread. Sweet!!! I knew back in the glory days of SilencerTalk when you made that IR Unimax for me that you were going places. I didn't know that you'd be putting Wilcox out of business!!!! 
Off topic, but I picked up one of your slides from TNVC for my 19. I let my mother shoot it. And then she stole it. Nothing like helping old ladies shoot! |
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Nice setup, I have been thinking about setting up a TTL (beamsplitter) setup for recording video in HD looks like you are on the right track.
Check into the HD car dvr setups with the HD cameras built in, one might fit the task, or even a cell phone with HD recording. If needed videopad editor with a virtualdub filter plugin added will allow video rotation +90 degrees -90 degrees or 180 degrees So the camera can be mounted in any position, you will just have to edit the video afterwards to correct it. Or you can just turm the TV on it's side or flip it upside down to watch the video unedited
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I wonder if this will work? http://www.spygadgets.com/5mp-hd-clear-spy-camera-glasses/ Was just thinking this myself today. If you could fit a small enough camera between the eyepiece and your face in the exit pupil of the NV device you could have a method for recording that doesn't affect the use of the NV at all. This might work for all the units with better optics, but for say GT-14 there is no chance because the exit pupil and eye relief are so small that the camera should basically be where your pupil is. Blue lines are the edges of exit pupil: 
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Sweet!!! I knew back in the glory days of SilencerTalk when you made that IR Unimax for me that you were going places. I didn't know that you'd be putting Wilcox out of business!!!!
Off topic, but I picked up one of your slides from TNVC for my 19. I let my mother shoot it. And then she stole it. Nothing like helping old ladies shoot! Quoted:
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2 beam splitters and 2 cams edited together would make some cool 3d NV footage. :) - It is pretty cool. Keep an eye out on this thread. Sweet!!! I knew back in the glory days of SilencerTalk when you made that IR Unimax for me that you were going places. I didn't know that you'd be putting Wilcox out of business!!!!
Off topic, but I picked up one of your slides from TNVC for my 19. I let my mother shoot it. And then she stole it. Nothing like helping old ladies shoot! Oh the good ole days of Silencertalk... Glad you like your ATOM slide! Have you shot it under NVG's yet? ________ In Post, you will also need to do a Horizontal Flip of the video if using a beamsplitter |
| Keep in mind that the camera that was posted is just the camera, it does not include a recording device or power supply. As with everything they do Wilcox put a TON of engineering into the recording module and the system itself. That camera also does not have a microphone. The MHRS has one built into the recording module with a remote mic. |
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On Goteron's advice, I returned the Panasonic HX-A100. I am still considering the GoPro, but I thought I'd give the iPhone a chance. I've always liked the iphone video quality. Definitely seems promising: https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3936/15462931665_ff8a427b1e_c.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/15276066679_cf03574396_c.jpg Nice! You give good tube
Looks like some time in the field will see if the I phone fits the bill, size and weight looks like it should be good to go. |
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That is great!
Having Silence of the Lambs flash backs. Question why is the field of view changing a little? Is there some movement in the mounting set up? I know nothing of iphones, so is the screen illuminated as it is recording? If someone was looking at you while recoding would they see a walking dim light and wonder what the heck is that? |
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That is great! Having Silence of the Lambs flash backs. Question why is the field of view changing a little? Is there some movement in the mounting set up? I know nothing of iphones, so is the screen illuminated as it is recording? If someone was looking at you while recoding would they see a walking dim light and wonder what the heck is that? Thank you! Yes, the mount was loosely thrown together so there is some movement as I walk around and turn my head from side to side. I wanted to make sure it actually functioned first and then I will refine things a bit and tighten everything up. Yep, the screen is illuminated while it's recording. I plan to cover the screen with an IR filter and will try to find a Bluetooth/wireless remote to control the camera functions. IR Filter: 
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Theres gotta be a smaller device than an iphone! Though having the iphone do the recording is pretty cool, and alloes for other capabilities too.
How about a lightning cable to USB camera cable, attached to whatever USB camera has the most promising camera module. Alternately you could buy the iphone replacement camera and ribbon cable, and try to extend the ribbon enough to put the camera on the beam splitter and your iphone in the counterweight pouch. |
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Could use the parts from these to record? Has sound, decent res, and has on board speaker and battery. It also stores video on a micro SD card. My thought were to disassemble them and us the parts? Just a thought...
http://m.qmuniforms.com/i-kam-xtreme-video-sunglasses?utm_source=GooglePLA&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=CA126&PMSRCE=31470060&gclid=CNqnhdrwmsECFUs2aQodFlMAhA |
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Theres gotta be a smaller device than an iphone! Though having the iphone do the recording is pretty cool, and alloes for other capabilities too. How about a lightning cable to USB camera cable, attached to whatever USB camera has the most promising camera module. Alternately you could buy the iphone replacement camera and ribbon cable, and try to extend the ribbon enough to put the camera on the beam splitter and your iphone in the counterweight pouch. Yea. There are definitely smaller and lighter options. The hard part is finding one that is comparable to the iphone for video quality. GoPro would be one. The actual MHRS camera would be another. Iphone and GoPro are nice since you don't need to buy and additional DVR unit. iPhone replacement camera sounds interesting. I'm not sure how you would attach it to the iPhone though. If you could connect it directly to a DVR that would be cool. |
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My first thought was a flexible borescope type device for an iPhone. If you google image search for that you see some options. It looks like the flexible tubed ones use wifi or bluetooth to connect to the iPhone. http://www.amazon.com/Inspection-Endoscope-Borescope-attachment-Magnetic/dp/B00KV7BYQG Cool project. CHRIS EDIT: Oh, I have some of the 1/16" IR pass plexiglass filter if you need a piece. |
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Thank you! Yes, the mount was loosely thrown together so there is some movement as I walk around and turn my head from side to side. I wanted to make sure it actually functioned first and then I will refine things a bit and tighten everything up. Yep, the screen is illuminated while it's recording. I plan to cover the screen with an IR filter and will try to find a Bluetooth/wireless remote to control the camera functions. IR Filter: https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3931/15227015630_6a0f2fa6be_c.jpg https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/15227155997_8f59215ffa_c.jpg Quoted:
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That is great! Having Silence of the Lambs flash backs. Question why is the field of view changing a little? Is there some movement in the mounting set up? I know nothing of iphones, so is the screen illuminated as it is recording? If someone was looking at you while recoding would they see a walking dim light and wonder what the heck is that? Thank you! Yes, the mount was loosely thrown together so there is some movement as I walk around and turn my head from side to side. I wanted to make sure it actually functioned first and then I will refine things a bit and tighten everything up. Yep, the screen is illuminated while it's recording. I plan to cover the screen with an IR filter and will try to find a Bluetooth/wireless remote to control the camera functions. IR Filter: https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3931/15227015630_6a0f2fa6be_c.jpg https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/15227155997_8f59215ffa_c.jpg Theres an app for that (screen filter) it works with my galaxy tab. The screen can't be seen without night vision |
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