underwater cameras

[bilili_3]

I am seriously looking at purchasing an underwater camera for viewing the fish while I am attempting to catch them. While seaching the web for information about the different types of cameras, I came upon 2 sites for a "build your own camera for under $100". This looked interesting and I was wondering if anyone has built there own, how it works, what it actually costs, and where the site is that the blueprints were ordered. This info would be very much appreciated at bilili_3@yahoo.com or here..thanks!!!!

[ESOX]

We've got a member who's building one this wekend, I'm sure he will answer all your questoins when he sees this.

[Byron]

Bilili_3,

I have a kit & plans on the way to me for the Lunkercam2. I'll be building it this weekend, and will definitely post results. I have bought everything I need to build it, and it's going to cost about $120 plus a monitor/TV (I picked one up on Ebay for $10 plus s/h) and a battery, if you don't have one. This camera was the most sensitive (0.03 lux) and the smallest (2.25" dia. x 2.75" long) of all the ones I found on the net. The guy who runs the business has been very helpful in responding to my questions, and sent my kit out the very next day. Same thing applies to SpyTown, the company you order the camera from.

If this works well, I have a feeling a lot of members here will be interested in building one for themselves, so feel free to post questions here for all to see. I'm really excited to get this thing put together and try it out!

Best Regards,
Byron

PS - The website for Lunkercam2 is www.mninter.net/~boardman/ (http://www.mninter.net/~boardman/) There are even video captures from the camera you can download from the site. Pretty neat.

[chad 1]

It may be cheaper then the others but how bulky is this. The aquaview,atlantisand vista cam all are pretty compact and easy to take along. just wondering and good luck with it. chad 1

[Byron]

Chad1,

The only thing bulky would be your monitor/TV and battery, and those choices are up to you. If you find a super compact TV and a small battery, you could build a box to store everything in that is close to the size of the commercial camera units. The only thing that is necessarily larger on the Lunkercam2 is the camera itself, but it's only 2.25"x2.75" - still pretty small.

I'll let you know more as more pieces arrive and it starts coming together.

Best Regards,
Byron

[Byron]

I just checked, and both the camera and the kit are due to arrive tomorrow, Friday. I'll probably start building tomorrow evening if all goes well. Will post results.

Best Regards,
Byron

[This message has been edited by Byron (edited 02-22-2001).]

[hypox]

Just wondering what kind of input you need for the monitor? I just had a crazy idea, that you could take a laptop out to plug in the camera. I know you wouldn't want to do this all the time, but if you did that, you could record catching the fish. That would be really cool, then you could share the video with everyone on the net!! Crazy idea, but I'd be willing to try it, I think that would be neat.

[Byron]

hypox,

I believe you would need an adapter to convert the RCA type output to a digital signal to put into a laptop. I am planning on looking into this type of adapter, but I plan on using it in a little different way. I plan to take my camcorder out and record longer periods of camera time, then selectively saving the best cuts to digital format for sharing on the web. Also, I'm not sure it's the best thing for the laptop to be out in the cold temps. We'll find a way to share the video somehow.

Best Regards,
Byron

[The Whale]

What an oustanding idea. I for one will be extremely interested in hearing the results from these camera "builds". At the current market prices for the "pre-made" units, I can in now way justify forking out $300. 00 or so for one but I can most likely come up with around a hundred to purchase a kit to complete. I'm just a working dude with not too much throw away $$$. (I know, in my eyes it is NOT throwing $$$ away when spent on fishing/hunting gear, but, the wife has another point of view !, must be considered if peace is wanted. ) Hope this type of thing works out for you all. Good Luck.

[hypox]

yeah...a camcorder will definetly work, but you need a digital camcorder. Or, at least a analog to digital converter...those are kinda salty. I just thought it would be cool to do it right on a laptop. The cold would not hurt it but water would. As long as you were in a shanty it would be no big deal.

[jpollman]

Hello,
I'm thinking of picking one up myself when Byron's is up and running. I'm planning on using my camcorder to record some of the video for later review. Just have to find a monitor that has separate A/V in and out jacks so that I can see on the monitor and record at the same time. I see no need for a digital camcorder for this type of setup. You might need a digital to input to a laptop but don't know why. Never used a laptop but I used to plug my camcorder into my Mac and put video directly into the computer with no problems. Well, Byrons kit and camera should be in tomorrow and he's bringing it over and we plan on assembling it this weekend. Don't know how long it will take but I'm sure he'll post the results ASAP. Take care and good luck out there folks.

Budster

[bilili_3]

Thanks for all the replys. My father lives in florida and he is also looking into different plans too. For examble there is a plan at: microlinx.com/~camera and another one at a site called :askJeeves.com Once on the second site you type in the question: Where do I find information about underwater fishing cameras? and 2-3 sites will pop up that have plans along with a few sites where you can by the cameras like auquview. I will keep checking this site to see how Byron's turns out! thanks again

[hypox]

jpollman, That's a Mac....totally different ball game.

[skinne]

i just picked up a atlatis for 225 with 5" screen battery the whole 9 yards used it for the first time today worke great. i ordered it from www.sportsmansguide.com. (http://www.sportsmansguide.com.)

[Byron]

This pic shows the actual size of the camera housing and the camera itself for the Lunkercam2. Parts kit should arrive tomorrow. I'll update then.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1545979&a=11721752&p=41817732&Sequence=1&res=high

Regards,
Byron

[jpollman]

Ok folks,

We're gettin' close !:D :D

Just thought I'd bring this post back to the top again. There's been some talk about u/w cameras lately. Byron and I built them last year and they work pretty well. All in all, we built them for about $120 total for the camera unit. A monitor and battery will be a little extra but not much. In fact, I have an extra monitor I'd be willing to sell cheap.

If anybody wants more info, contact me and I'd be more than happy to help with any questions. Heck, if you're in the area and would like some help, I'd be glad to offer a hand too. Just let me know. ICE ISN'T FAR OFF !!!

I can't wait !

[ice fishin' nut]

Goodmornin' John,

Been thinking about the u/w camera, how well does it work at night?????? The reason I ask is because those crappies I told you about at stoney start to bite when it gets dark...... Have you ever tried it?????


IFN:D

[jpollman]

Hello IFN.

I've never actually used the unit at night. But, it does have infra-red LEDs on it. After Byron and I finished building them, we put them out in my garage in TOTAL DARKNESS in a bucket of minnows. We turned on the IR circuit and it lit up like it was daylight ! We did the same with the camera out of the water too.
The IR really makes a difference. The camera is quite sensitive and works pretty well. I can't wait to try it out this year. Hopefully another 6 weeks or so and we'll have ice.

[ice fishin' nut]

I'm hoping for the ice too!!! How far were you able to see underwater with the camera????? I realize that water clarity has something to do with it, but on average?????

IFN:D

[jpollman]

Hi IFN.

It's really hard to tell. It was way late in the season by the time we finished them and only got out with them one time before the ice got rotten. Conditions were lousy and we didn't have a chance to get much good use out of them. But I'd imagine you should be able to see for a good 10' if the water is clear enough.
That's just a guess though.

[ice fishin' nut]

That should be very handy, cause we have to find the dropoff, and where on the dropoff they are holding,,,,, I know where the dropoff is, but the camera should help us avoid making swiss cheese out of the ice!


IFN:D

[outdoorsman69]

I see by the dates the first posts were made that you should have had ample time to assemble and work out all the bugs with this device. My question is how long did it actually take to assemble? How difficult? I myself dont have the cash to throw around on one of the store bought models but would like to have one. Should be hardwater second week january cant wait.

Thanks in advance.

DCG

[jpollman]

Hi Outdoorsman,

Byron purchased one kit and we assembled it and got it working.
We didn't get a chance to use it very much though. We came up with some modifications and I purchased a unit and he purchased a second one. We built those with the mods and they seemed to work fine. As I said before, it was late in the season before we got the modified units assembled and working so we really didn't get a chance to give them a thorough test. If memory serves me it only takes about 2-3 hours to build the unit. The modifications we made were simply adding some switches to control the infra-red system. It's been a LONG time since I even looked at the unit. I'll be getting it out and setting it up to get it ready for the upcoming season shortly. I can't wait to give them a good workout.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

For those of you who plan on making your own system, ABC warehouse by lakeside mall has a 9" black and white TV. with a jack for video and is also an AM-FM radio along with regular tv stations. Works on a small 12v battery or 10 alkaline batterys. I have this set up with my Vista-cam system. Its easier to see than a 4 or 5" screen. Sells for $49.95.