I would like to create a video pod for a rocket and I would like to use a gum video camera, which I will abbreviate (in the spirit of NASA) as the GVC.

Where are reputable vendors of said items and what should I look for? Any tips welcome.

Greg

The gum cameras are passe' .

The keychain cameras are da bomb.

My vendors on ebay were for-easy-life, and sgostore.
No problems with either. The first camera I got from sgostore was DOA, and they simply sent me another, no extra charge.

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Roy
nar12605

That's helpful Roy. Thanks.

Looks like I need to change the acronym for GVC to KVC!

Have you used yours on a flight? If so, how did it turn out?

Greg

The keychain cameras have gotten really cheap too. Here's one for sale on ebay for 10 bucks with no shipping charge: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I have a keychain camera and it's excellent. It even rode my Aerotech G-Force straight into the ground from 800 feet plus and I was able to dig it out of the ground where the rocket had dug a hole, turned it on, and recorded the aftermath. I found later that it had also recorded the entire flight. It's still working fine today.

I'm also looking at the lighter cams now since you can easily strap those to the side of a rocket since the camera is at the end of the lighter. I don't know much about them yet, but here's one selling cheap on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT

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I plan ahead that way I don't have to do anything right now.

Oh by the way, I'm not here just for the "olde" rocket discussions.

FWIW, I've been reading the threads on RCGROUPS about the various cams, (keyfob, gumpack, lighter, sunglasses, pens, etc) and basically the consensus seems to be that the video quality from the keyfob cams surpass that of the gumpack cams and is a LOT better than from the lighter and pen cameras. The sunglasses cams are somewhere in between.

For an ultra-lightweight setup, probably hacking a pair of the sunglasses cams would be the best bet... but the keyfob cams are easier...

Later and good luck! OL JR

http://www.chucklohr.com/808/

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1115052

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The X-87B Cruise Basselope-- THE Ultimate Weapon in the arsenal of Homeland Security and only $52 million per round!

here, I taped it to the side of my old Estes Saturn 1B: (first half is ground video from another camera)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MpKWj7r524

and this video by Tom Binford, using a similar camera, is one of the best high power videos I've ever seen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4NAVBjuCQk

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Roy
nar12605

Cool vids Roy! I was amazed that you could see the flexing in the 1B's airframe and hear the commentary on the PA on descent.

The HPR one was pretty cool, too. It got above the clouds in a hurry.

Greg

Any talk about liberating the circuit board of the keyfob from the housing for an even smaller and lighter camera?


Bill

The side of the case that doesn't have the buttons is easy to pry off.

The circuit board and lens piece are glued to the other side.

That's all I've done, so far.

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Roy
nar12605

I just received 4 of these little keychain cameras for my Birthday this past weekend.

What's the best size card to use inside?
Will I need to install the battery(ies)?
Do I need a 'driver' for the computer to run the vids?

Obviously, I have done nothing with them except read the instructions briefly.

Allen