Panasonic point and shoot camera - inputs/outputs?

euser1984

I want to get a camera for mounting on an rc helicopter....I have an unused camera which has a very good sensor and lens....

Has anyone ever pulled one of these apart to see what inputs or outputs might be available on the pcb?

Thanks.

ozmo

1. They are very squashed into the case -access is tricky.
2. very heavy for a helicopter
3. there is often a jtag or serial but the protocol would not be published.

I had the protocol from Canon once a long time ago for one of their cameras - you just had to ask them nicely for the sdk - it allowed you to take photos etc. from an electronic device by sending commands over the cable.

You could of course activate the existing buttons by soldering in a transistor/mosfet switch etc. but you might have issues knowing the current device state - times out and switched off

euser1984

I'm actually thinking of putting it on a large scale petrol rc car now.

It's a device like this that I would need to connect the camera to. http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Boscam-5-8GHz-200mW-FPV-Video-Transmitter-TS351-Compatible-With-RC305-UK-/171822991158?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item280172c736


The camera is an S90 if that makes any difference. http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/digital_cameras/powershot_s_series/powershot_s90

I suppose the connector cables pictured could be changed to use any type of connector, even soldered directly I suppose....

ozmo

euser1984 wrote: »

I'm actually thinking of putting it on a large scale petrol rc car now.

Ah - alive feed. The older of those cameras had an AV out - so that would be compatible with the AV in of that transmitter - but not if the camera is HDMI only.

We had great fun with one like this in our house:

http://www.banggood.com/Wholesale-1_2G-Wireless-Color-CMOS-CCTV-Security-Kit-Security-AV-Camera-And-Receiver-p-58460.html

We taped it on electric trains and rc cars. This one needs an av monitor.

Only thing was the battery life was short win 9v and the range is not very far (but enough to go all around the house).


The Playmobile toy is quite good - not very high res - but great battery life and range - a friend picked up one in a charity shop for a couple euros and it works very well... you might get one cheap on ebay.

http://www.amazon.com/PLAYMOBIL-Spying-Camera-Set-Toy/dp/B003AQBWN0




you can also get those keyfob cameras for a fiver - not live feed - but they record very well to sd cards and are tiny and light - we put one on a water rocket.

euser1984

Check this out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypE3JhKm4-0

I think there is a video around where somebody has driven one in an urban area (with some traffic) including stopping at traffic lights. lol

ozmo

euser1984 wrote: »

Check this out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypE3JhKm4-0

I think there is a video around where somebody has driven one in an urban area (with some traffic) including stopping at traffic lights. lol

Thats very cool-would love do that myself- you would need some good transmitters for the video to do that-the ones above would not be powerful enough- have a look at what the drone guys use- I spoke to one drone builder whose video could go several km.