Simple digital camera with no LCD or optical zoom.

March 21, 2006 8:23 PM

I'm searching for a very specific type of digital camera. I want a camera without a LCD preview/review screen, along with a few other things...

I'm really looking for the bare minimum in a camera but with high quality. I want a camera without zoom, without a LCD, but with good resolution (4 megapixels good, more than 4 better) and, here's the kicker, I'd like to be able to control it via USB (i.e., have a program on the computer control the camera to take pictures on demand).

For example, I can use my Powershot A95 in this manner hooked up to my computer: from the computer I can see a preview, control focus, take pictures, etc...

I've found cheap camera with no displays and no zoom, but they are toys. I do not want a toy. I want an honest-to-god quality digital camera.

This camera will be for aerial photography... yeah, that's right, I'm gonna hook it to a RC airplane and launch it into the sky! Trust me, this is much cooler than it sounds.

posted by killThisKid to technology (9 comments total)

There are helmet cams made for purposes similar to yours, but they are generally focused on video recording. The "lipstick camera" shape is popular. There was some discussion of using these for aviation at Jeremy Zawodny's blog.

Can you explain why you don't want a zoom lens or a display? Is it weight, cost, ruggedness, other factors? Would you be willing to use an ultracompact digicam like the Canon SD400 even though it has LCD and zoom, if it met your requirements for weight/cost/etc?
posted by mbrubeck at 9:00 PM on March 21, 2006

One option might be something from someone like this who makes USB imaging elements and associated optics. I think there are actually standards for the optic mounts, so you may be able to mix and match. I don't know what the prices are like though. I think in large enough quantities the cameras + a basic lens can be had for $40 or so, but those quantities are well into the thousands. On the other hand, you might be able to talk yourself into a reasonably priced development kit.

Omnivision looks like they have a similar set of offerings but I'd guess that there are dozens of companies out there with similar offerings.

You might also see if you can't get a high-res webcam and removing it from its housing.
posted by Good Brain at 9:52 PM on March 21, 2006

Try Forestry Supply. They sell stuff made specifically for aerial photography like this. If they don't have it call them and ask who will or try a surveryors or geology/ aviation supply place. There are a number of specialtiy suppliers in this field.
posted by fshgrl at 10:48 PM on March 21, 2006

Yes, weight and robustness are the primary concerns. I guess I should mention that I'm willing to hardware hack should I need to.

Thanks for the links thus far.

mbrubeck: yeah, the sd400 is a primary contender atm.
posted by killThisKid at 5:56 AM on March 22, 2006

If you haven't already, you may want to check out Make Magazine. They have a few articles that I know that explain how to hack digital cameras for applications similar to what you have in mind. For your requirements, you are probably better off hacking to get the specs you desire.
posted by JJ86 at 6:01 AM on March 22, 2006

I've been on the prowl on ebay for a slightly broken (ie, broken screen) camera for quite some time. That will probably be round one.

I'm doing this as part of a college project, so getting at a dev kit probably won't be hard. First I'll hack it but ultimately I'd like to do it right.

You guys have been a good help thus far... anything else to add?
posted by killThisKid at 8:22 AM on March 22, 2006

Are you putting these phootos into GIS? You want to look into things like cameras that can superimpose grids, coordinate with a Trimble tracking via computer etc. before you make your final decision.

The more I think about it I'd have to recommend you think about an SLR, the lenses are so much bigger that you get a lot more light in there and the images are way better in low light conditions. The dinky little lenses on a P&S just can't compete nor do they have known controls for adjusting edge distortion like the SLR lenses do. More high end Nikon cameras are all totally controllable and programmable via remote computer, I assume Canon are too. Maybe buy a Nikon SLR and a digital back that allows you to control the camera via remote and capture the images from the digital back? If the resolution is good enough that would be my recommendation. There should be a lot of those available used.
posted by fshgrl at 12:51 PM on March 22, 2006

And a 50mm lens, 1.0 lens.
posted by fshgrl at 12:52 PM on March 22, 2006

Just some more info for you fshgrl.

Yes, they will ultimately get geo-referenced.

I will do a profile of what ever lens/camera combo I decide to use to compensate for edge distortion.

I have a circuit I'm working on that goes something like:

rc reciever->pic->usbWiz->camera

So I will be able to control the camera.

I'm proably going to start with a canon sd200.
posted by killThisKid at 9:54 AM on March 23, 2006