Camera's For Low Power Rocketry

[Justin Pederson]

What you guys using for Cameras in the Low power Rocketry area (mostly estes stuff).

 

[mbeels]

Keychain camera #808. Not all are created equal, some versions are better than others.

 

[Nytrunner]

Agree with Mbeels the 808 is nice and light, although I wouldn't put it on anything smaller than a BT55 with a D in the pipe.

 

[mbeels]

If you're brave, you could probably split the plastic shell and remove the internals to save a bit of weight and space.

 

[Justin Pederson]

Agree with Mbeels the 808 is nice and light, although I wouldn't put it on anything smaller than a BT55 with a D in the pipe.

Im Guessing anything smaller then a bt 55 will lean towards the way of the camera? Also what you guys using to mount (two sided tape, velcro, or tape)?

 

[mbeels]

For larger tubes, you could use one of Apogee Components camera hoods:

https://www.apogeerockets.com/Build...or-1-6in-BT-60-Size-Tubes-WHITE?cPath=42_178&

I see some people just tape them on with wraps that go all the way around the body tube, strapping it on.

 

[JERRYR708]

Im Guessing anything smaller then a bt 55 will lean towards the way of the camera? Also what you guys using to mount (two sided tape, velcro, or tape)?

I put the 808 camera on my Estes Patriot and halfway up, it started to lean toward the weight of the camera and started flying sideways. I put the same camera on my Estes Magician (smaller BT) with both D's and E's and it flew beautifully.

 

[Justin Pederson]

Has anyone used this camera? If so compared to the 808 is there allot of difference?

https://www.apogeerockets.com/Electronics-Payloads/Cameras/U-838-HD-Video-Camera

 

[K'Tesh]

Any one of the Estes AstroCam 110 variants including their Snapshot RTF kit. Then there's the Camroc. If you've got the bucks you could go with a Cineroc... I'm still working on the CinerocDV project (a 3D printed Cineroc digital video clone).

 

[Justin Pederson]

Any one of the Estes AstroCam 110 variants including their Snapshot RTF kit. Then there's the Camroc. If you've got the bucks you could go with a Cineroc... I'm still working on the CinerocDV project (a 3D printed Cineroc digital video clone).

I was looking for more of something that I can attach on to the side of the rockets kind of like the one I have linked above, just not sure if it is worth 50 dollars more then the keychain 808 camera.

 

[K'Tesh]

I was looking for more of something that I can attach on to the side of the rockets kind of like the one I have linked above, just not sure if it is worth 50 dollars more then the keychain 808 camera.

oh... Now you specify

In the OP, you stated

What you guys using for Cameras in the Low power Rocketry area (mostly estes stuff).

 

[DaveW6DPS]

808 cameras are about as small as you can get. You save very little weight or volume by removing the case. I have done so for a high altitude balloon package, but that was mainly to change to a larger battery.

I couldn't find the photos, but I have seen an 808 camera built into the nose cone of an egg-lifter. That flew very well, and I have been thinking of replicating.

 

[BBowmaster]

Wow. Had no idea that this small and cheap was a thing. I’m going to get one and challenge the kids in my 4H Rocket Club to design launchers for it.

 

[Nytrunner]

Yup. I got one for 30$ (plus an SD card) a couple years. Just checked and that listing is now 80$, so I searched around and found this string vv

Search for on Amazon:
MATECam 16GB 808 Keychain Camera 1080P 120 Degree Wide Angle protable Camera Motion Detector Activated Sport Action Camera


Video example below (switch to 1080)

 

[Zeus-cat]

Masking tape works well. I flew one taped to the side of a 4 inch rocket on an H motor. Probably went 350 to 400 mph. Wrap the tape around twice.

 

[BABAR]

Masking tape works well. I flew one taped to the side of a 4 inch rocket on an H motor. Probably went 350 to 400 mph. Wrap the tape around twice.

I have taped them to the sides on C and D motor rockets with electrical tape. Done one and two stage flights.

Haven’t had any problems. I attach a backup Kevlar thread “just in case” but never had the tape fail.

Bring a laptop computer to your launch and the appropriate microSD adapter and you can check your flight vids between launches.

They really add a nice dimension to flights.

 

[Zeus-cat]

Electrical tape stretches so that can be an issue with high speed flights. Some people use electrical tape and then masking tape over it to minimize stretch.

 

[mbeels]

Painters masking tape works very well (the blue or green stuff). It sticks, is strong enough with a few wraps, and comes off cleanly.

 

[Nytrunner]

Electrical tape stretches so that can be an issue with high speed flights. Some people use electrical tape and then masking tape over it to minimize stretch.

3 vertical strips running from top of camera to airframe, makes a little aero-slope. Add that to the horizontal wrap, and electrical tape 808s have stuck through M1.5 flights

 

[GlenP]

I have flown an 808 taped to the side of a Viking, Crossfire, and Amazon, at the top end of the body tube. The smaller rockets remain stable, but they spin so fast the video is not very good. The Amazon flight was more well behaved and spun at a slower rate. I have a bigger three stage rocket that I was planning to try it out on, but have not done that one yet.

If you could mount a similar sized lump on the opposite side of the rocket, it might help avoid some of the spinning on the smaller rockets.

 

[Rex R]

look at the fin nearest the camera, that is piece of 3/4" wide painters tape(for delicate surfaces) hanging off the tip of the fin(the last 1/4"). it got there while I was doing the engine 'starter' on the pad, it was still there after the rocket landed , painter's tape hangs on quite well.
Rex

 

[Ez2cDave]

Has anyone used this camera? If so compared to the 808 is there allot of difference?

https://www.apogeerockets.com/Electronics-Payloads/Cameras/U-838-HD-Video-Camera

Yeah . . . $100 for the Apogee . . . LOL !

 

[James Harechmak]

I have 2 of these, one on my lightflite bug and the other I swap between rc cars. Never had an issue with them and the video is fairly good.

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/hd-wing-camera-1280x720p-30fps-5mp-cmos.html

 

[gwh]

^ That hobby kind camera looks awesome.

In place of the 808 keychains, any USB memory stick style camera will work well as they aren't as wide as the keychain style.
For example:
https://www.amazon.com/Loveboat-Dig...drive+camera&qid=1551637640&s=gateway&sr=8-13

For some of them if you pop the case off you'll find the lens is on a small flat cable and you can actually stick the camera inside the rocket with just the lens poking out.

 

[GlenP]

The typical LPR rocket on a chute will also spin like crazy on the way down. I was thinking that you could get better video on the descent if you use an external cord to one fin with a streamer or small drag chute, in addition to the main chute. That might help the rocket weathervane on the way down and not spin like crazy. Also, using a swivel on the chute might help as well.