Tiny USB camera?

[Peter "Sci" Turpin]

I've been making myself a wearable computer, but I'm having difficulty
sourcing a small camera for it.
I recently picked up a small batch of laptop cameras, which while small
have the cameras mounted on the front of thin but long pcbs. Sadly none
are attatched by flex so can't be readily moved relative to the board.

Mobile phone cameras tend to have a small flex that'd allow this, but
even information on interfacing them is scarce.

My only current option for an unobtrusive usb camera seems to be
attempting to de-solder the camera module from the laptop pcbs and run
flying wires to it, presuming the BGA isn't too dense.

Does anyone know of any other tiny camera options? Ideally cheap ones.

[David Murphy]

Something like this?

http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-new/ehow/images/a07/bn/17/use-oker-webcam-powerbook-g4-800x800.jpg

or this

http://www.amazon.com/20-0-Pixel-Webcam-Laptop-Camera/dp/B005E3U5X0/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1350397624&sr=1-5&keywords=mini+webcam

how small are you talking?

[Adrian Godwin]

Or this :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-USB-Laptop-Camera-BNIB-Webcam-For-Still-Or-Video-/200832951800?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_Webcams&hash=item2ec293a5f8

I've got a still smaller one, if I can find it you can have it - but
the quality is awful.

-adrian

[Toby Catlin]

Is this any interest to you: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11418

[930913]

Have you considered watches?

E.g.: £32 for http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-8GB-1080P-2-0MP-HD-Spy-Watch-Camera-Hidden-DVR-IR-Night-Vision-Waterproof-/170897780595 

"

• Video record, Take photo. Supports IR camera
• Video frame rate: 30 fps
• Video resolution:1920*1080P
• Photo: 12 Mega pixel 4032*3024
• HD PC webcam function
• Video, take pictures with real time clock display
• Supports voice recording
• Uses HD9712 illumination photosensitive chip
• Night Vision

"

"It is only waterproof in daily work and life." I think they mean showerproof D:

[tim_n]

There's a small camera on fleabay MD80 - about 9 quid.  Does a good job and is pretty small, there's a lot of casing on it but houses a battery, USB and SD reader.

On Tuesday, October 16, 2012 3:22:21 PM UTC+1, Sci wrote:

[Peter "Sci" Turpin]

I actually already have one of those. They don't operate as a webcam,
and you can't access the storage card while it's being recorded to. :(

[Peter "Sci" Turpin]

The first is still far too big. I really need something that will only
present maybe 12x12mm when forward-facing, hence the idea of having a
phone camera module since it'd have the tiny sensor & lens mounted on a
short flex and let me mount it at right-angles to the interface board.

Also that second camera is one I tested and tore down on my youtube
budget webcam review. It was one of the worst. Literally like 5fps,
horrendous noise, buggy behaviour. :/

[Mat Burnham]

I managed to get my MD80 to work as a webcam. You need to press the right buttons in the right order to set the mode. Also found it often hung after disconnecting and needed resetting with a paperclip. So not great but should 'work'.

[Yuan Gao]

Tiny flexible webacams? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-30M-USB-2-0-flexional-Webcam-Camera-Web-Cam-For-Portable-PC-laptop-TE012-/180834793449?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Medical_Equipment_Instruments_ET&hash=item2a1a97f7e9

USB Endoscopes? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2M-5M-Mini-4LED-USB-Waterproof-Endoscope-Borescope-Snake-Inspection-Video-Camera-/300688642390?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Medical_Equipment_Instruments_ET&var=&hash=item4602709156

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-ENDOSCOPE-BORESCOPE-VIDEO-INSPECTION-CAMERA-/320641865864?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item4aa7be9888

[Peter "Sci" Turpin]

Hmm, much better options! Will have to look for some reviews to see if
the video quality's there.

On 17/10/2012 22:23, Yuan Gao wrote:
> Tiny flexible webacams?
> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-30M-USB-2-0-flexional-Webcam-Camera-Web-Cam-For-Portable-PC-laptop-TE012-/180834793449?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Medical_Equipment_Instruments_ET&hash=item2a1a97f7e9
>
> USB Endoscopes?
> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2M-5M-Mini-4LED-USB-Waterproof-Endoscope-Borescope-Snake-Inspection-Video-Camera-/300688642390?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Medical_Equipment_Instruments_ET&var=&hash=item4602709156
>
> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-ENDOSCOPE-BORESCOPE-VIDEO-INSPECTION-CAMERA-/320641865864?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item4aa7be9888
>
>
>
> On Wednesday, October 17, 2012 12:26:55 PM UTC+1, Mat wrote:
>
> I managed to get my MD80 to work as a webcam. You need to press the
> right buttons in the right order to set the mode. Also found it
> often hung after disconnecting and needed resetting with a
> paperclip. So not great but should 'work'.
>
> On Oct 17, 2012 1:40 AM, "Peter "Sci" Turpin" <s...@sci-fi-fox.com

[Peter "Sci" Turpin]

Footage on those endoscopes looks okay, though fairly narrow FOV. I
suspect that can be altered though!

Will probably grab one of the flexi webcams and the endoscopes over the
next few weeks and have a hack around with them. Webcam, if an okay
quality, would probably build into a nice perminant setup. The endoscope
leaves the idea of just clipping it in place so it can still be used as
a 'scope too.

On 17/10/2012 22:23, Yuan Gao wrote:

> Tiny flexible webacams?
> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-30M-USB-2-0-flexional-Webcam-Camera-Web-Cam-For-Portable-PC-laptop-TE012-/180834793449?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Medical_Equipment_Instruments_ET&hash=item2a1a97f7e9
>
> USB Endoscopes?
> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2M-5M-Mini-4LED-USB-Waterproof-Endoscope-Borescope-Snake-Inspection-Video-Camera-/300688642390?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Medical_Equipment_Instruments_ET&var=&hash=item4602709156
>
> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-ENDOSCOPE-BORESCOPE-VIDEO-INSPECTION-CAMERA-/320641865864?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item4aa7be9888
>
>
>
> On Wednesday, October 17, 2012 12:26:55 PM UTC+1, Mat wrote:
>
> I managed to get my MD80 to work as a webcam. You need to press the
> right buttons in the right order to set the mode. Also found it
> often hung after disconnecting and needed resetting with a
> paperclip. So not great but should 'work'.
>
> On Oct 17, 2012 1:40 AM, "Peter "Sci" Turpin" <s...@sci-fi-fox.com

[Yuan Gao]

I shudder to think what kind of webcam session the designers had in mind when they made a USB endoscope webcam...

[Peter "Sci" Turpin]

Judging from the YouTube videos; classic motorbike restorers. Quite a
few folk showing off the state of their bores.

On 18/10/2012 03:41, Yuan Gao wrote:
> I shudder to think what kind of webcam session the designers had in mind
> when they made a USB endoscope webcam...
>
> On Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:39:52 AM UTC+1, Sci wrote:
>
> Footage on those endoscopes looks okay, though fairly narrow FOV. I
> suspect that can be altered though!
>
> Will probably grab one of the flexi webcams and the endoscopes over the
> next few weeks and have a hack around with them. Webcam, if an okay
> quality, would probably build into a nice perminant setup. The
> endoscope
> leaves the idea of just clipping it in place so it can still be used as
> a 'scope too.
>
> On 17/10/2012 22:23, Yuan Gao wrote:
> > Tiny flexible webacams?
> >
> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-30M-USB-2-0-flexional-Webcam-Camera-Web-Cam-For-Portable-PC-laptop-TE012-/180834793449?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Medical_Equipment_Instruments_ET&hash=item2a1a97f7e9
> <http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-30M-USB-2-0-flexional-Webcam-Camera-Web-Cam-For-Portable-PC-laptop-TE012-/180834793449?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Medical_Equipment_Instruments_ET&hash=item2a1a97f7e9>
>
> >
> > USB Endoscopes?
> >
> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2M-5M-Mini-4LED-USB-Waterproof-Endoscope-Borescope-Snake-Inspection-Video-Camera-/300688642390?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Medical_Equipment_Instruments_ET&var=&hash=item4602709156

> <http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2M-5M-Mini-4LED-USB-Waterproof-Endoscope-Borescope-Snake-Inspection-Video-Camera-/300688642390?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Medical_Equipment_Instruments_ET&var=&hash=item4602709156>
>
> >
> >
> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-ENDOSCOPE-BORESCOPE-VIDEO-INSPECTION-CAMERA-/320641865864?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item4aa7be9888

[Ian Henderson]

I have a 10 mm endoscope camera which I poke down my plug hole - on my Harley Davidson MT350...

I think it's fixed focus over a fairly short range - so it may not be suitable for your purposes

Let me know if you want any tests done

[Peter "Sci" Turpin]

That'd be very helpful!

Question #1 do they actually get 30fps at 640x480?

Question #2 the pictures of the camera elements look like they use the
tiny (6mm?) screw-on lenses (like some webcams/mobile phones/spycams).
Does the lens look screwed-on to you?