Sony Bullet/Helmet Camera
OLD BLOG - Written 6-15-06
I purchased a Sony 520 line resolution Bullet Camera, with an included microphone. The camera is water tight, and shock resistant. Measuring approximately 3" long and just under 1" diameter. The camera will be used primarily as a helmet cam while I am ATV riding. But it can be adapted to many things, and mounted in many ways to record unique shots, and hard to get angles. Here is a photo of the camera and microphone.
Here are the Specs for the camera:Image Device: SONY 1/3" SUPER HAD CCD
Effective Pixels: NTSC / 768(H) x 494(V) 380K, PAL / 752(H) x 582(V) 440K
Total Pixels: NTSC / 811(H) x 508(V) 410K, PAL / 795(H) x 596(V) 470K
Sync System: Internal
Horizontal Resolution: 520 TV Lines
S/N Ratio: More than 50dB
Low Lux Sensitivity: 1 Lux / F2.0(@30 IRE)
White Balance: Auto
Gain Control: Auto
Back Light Compensation: Auto
Electronic Shutter: NTSC 1/60-1/50,000sec Auto, PAL 1/50-1/50,000sec Auto
Power Supply: DC 12V (±10%)
Storage Temperature: -20C ~ +60C
Operating Temperature: -10C ~ +50C
Diameter: 23mm
CCD Board Lens: f2.97 The system cost about $185, and comes with pretty much everything you need to get started. All you need is a video recording device to plug the camera and mic into. I am using my new Sony HC90 miniDV Digital Camcorder.
The camera itself has two connections, one for video, and one for the power. The mic also have two connections, one for audio, and one for the power. The setup came with an 8AA battery holder to power both the camera and mic. But it can be powered by just about any 12V source. I will be using a Li-Ion rechargeable battery pack that I made. The pack consists of 3 18650 Li-Ion cells, making the pack about 12.4V hot off a charge, with a 2400 mAh capacity. The camera only draws about 200 mA, so the pack should easily power the camera all day.
There is quite a bit of wiring involved, so I did my best to bundle it all up, and make it easier to handle. The mic was taped, and then heat shank to the camera, and the wires for both were taped together. This made alot less bulk, and kept things more streamlined.
As with just about every other piece of gear I have, I bought a Pelican case for this setup. The "pluckin foam" makes it really easy to shape the protective foam to the exact shape you need to secure the gear inside the case. As long as nothing shakes and rattles inside, the Pelican case will protect your gear from very heavy abuse.
The camera has interchangeable lens, and was provided with two. A 2.97mm lens that has a 127 degree field of view, and a 3.6mm lens that has a 92 degree field of view. I still need to experiment with the lens, I am not even sure which one can pre-installed. It has a much wider viewing angle than the Sony HC90 though, so I am guessing it might be the 2.97mm lens.
I did some preliminary testing with the camera mounted on my helmet. Mainly to determine where it needed to be positioned, and how the viewing angle was. The camera angle and position is just about right, but I am not happy with how high it sits up off the top of the helmet. I need to devise a better mount for it, to make it lower profile.
