Webcam for 10-10

[ranger3]

That is neat, I can get my Logitech camera to within 32 1/2 inches and it still focuses. C615 model

 

[JimSC]

That is neat, I can get my Logitech camera to within 32 1/2 inches and it still focuses. C615 model

don't you mean 3 1/2 inches ?

 

[SteveOak]

I tried that, the logitechs etc do not have a manual focus, the camera has to be about 5 or 6 inches away from the scale if you go that route.

I Googled "manual focus webcam" and, among other returns, got a posting on the Logitech site, with instructions on how to focus Logitech manual and autofocus webcams.

http://support.logitech.com/en_us/article/27005

I have not read the whole thing but it looks as though there might be a Logitech solution in addition to your solution.

 

[JimSC]

I Googled "manual focus webcam" and, among other returns, got a posting on the Logitech site, with instructions on how to focus Logitech manual and autofocus webcams.

http://support.logitech.com/en_us/article/27005

I have not read the whole thing but it looks as though there might be a Logitech solution in addition to your solution.

no need, the Amazon 6 dollar cam works fine with my android tablet. It can focus down to less than a half inch. The way I have it rigged in that pic I adjusted it when installed and have not touched the focus since.

The other thing that is needed no matter what cam you end up using is a adapter to go from full size USB to the tablet. They are called OTG adapters.


https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=electronics&field-keywords=OTG+cable&tag=accuratescom-20

 

[ranger3]

don't you mean 3 1/2 inches ?

Sorry, yes I do.

 

[JMayo]

here is my 8" pad with a fancy holder I made myself !

 

[JimSC]

here is my 8" pad with a fancy holder I made myself !

Now you need to do the needle mod http://forum.snipershide.com/threads/beam-scale-precison-part-2-video-added.30956/

 

[JMayo]

Now you need to do the needle mod http://forum.snipershide.com/threads/beam-scale-precison-part-2-video-added.30956/

I like that.
it just may happen !

 

[TerryH]

View attachment 1050473 View attachment 1050474 View attachment 1050475

oh well. that is a trident case. I can zoom in on any level i want and dont need a computer or a webcam. You can do the same with a phone. Take the info as you will i guess!

View attachment 1050470 View attachment 1050471

Great. Now I'm hungry.

 

[The German]

Why don't you get a larger magnifying glass for a few bucks at the local flea market? No batteries and no need to spend tons of money.

 

[JimSC]

Why don't you get a larger magnifying glass for a few bucks at the local flea market? No batteries and no need to spend tons of money.

Using a fixed view from a camera you eliminate any parallax error that could be incurred by viewing from different angles

the needle mod helps with seeing very slight movements of the beam. My personal rule of thumb is if the needle is "touching" the black of the line it is good enough. It may be 1 kernel of Varget high or low but I can live with that

 

[SteveOak]

I dug around in my box of computer parts and found a Logitech Pro 900 webcam.


It does not have all of the characteristics I am looking for. It does not have a particularly stable base and it is not the correct height, it is a bit low so the camera is slightly angled up, but it does have the ability to be manually zoomed and it will focus close. Here is a pic at 1.4"



The pic displayed on my laptop using the Logitech software is pretty small. I am going to look for some other software. I believe that some was recommended earlier in this thread. Nope, it was this thread http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/webcam-for-my-beam-scale.3911289/

Thanks for the great responses!

 

[1066]

I dug around in my box of computer parts and found a Logitech Pro 900 webcam.

View attachment 1051034
It does not have all of the characteristics I am looking for. It does not have a particularly stable base and it is not the correct height, it is a bit low so the camera is slightly angled up, but it does have the ability to be manually zoomed and it will focus close. Here is a pic at 1.4"

View attachment 1051035

The pic displayed on my laptop using the Logitech software is pretty small. I am going to look for some other software. I believe that some was recommended earlier in this thread.

Thanks for the great responses!

There's a free one here that works well with no adverts or other rubbish attached. There's loads of options to zoom, change resolution etc.
https://www.sharpcap.co.uk/

 

[SteveOak]

Here is some cool software. It is intended for astronomy so it is orders of magnitude more powerful and complex than needed for reading a powder scale but it has a cross hair that can be superimposed on the vid.



I got to thinking about using phones. If I remember correctly, because of the small sensor and the tight packaging in a phone there tends to be a heat problem if the camera is on too long.

I know this is a problem with some compact and DSLR cameras and they limit the video to 20 minutes to avoid overheating the sensor.

A webcam, on the other hand, is designed to be run continuously.

 

[JimSC]

Here is some cool software. It is intended for astronomy so it is orders of magnitude more powerful and complex than needed for reading a powder scale but it has a cross hair that can be superimposed on the vid.

View attachment 1051041

I got to thinking about using phones. If I remember correctly, because of the small sensor and the tight packaging in a phone there tends to be a heat problem if the camera is on too long.

I know this is a problem with some compact and DSLR cameras and they limit the video to 20 minutes to avoid overheating the sensor.

A webcam, on the other hand, is designed to be run continuously.

nice effect do they have a Android version ? I am using a webcam and a android tablet now but for a month or two I used my phones camera. My biggest issue was incoming calls and buggy software. Some of my reloading sessions lasted an hour and I never experienced overheating, but then that is in a air conditioned environment. I have seen IPads overheat from direct sunlight many times. Some of the match directors where I shoot use them for data input at IDPA/USPSA matches, works great unless it is a sunny mid 80's plus day

 

[jrb572]

Found the picture of my old set up

 

[walker2713]

I couldn't make the iPad work because it wasn't at the right level.....

Here's my set up using a $20 usb webcam bought from Amazon.

 

[SteveOak]

..Some of my reloading sessions lasted an hour and I never experienced overheating....

Virtually all phone cameras use CMOS (Complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor) technology. In the semiconductor world there is a phenomenon known as thermally induced poly-silicon migration.

In simple terms, electrons passing through the poly-silicon cause heat. This heat induces the poly-silicon to migrate. As the poly-silicon migrates the performance of the device degrades. When enough poly-silicon has migrated the device fails.

It is my understanding that due to cost, packaging limitations and expected use, cell phone cameras are not designed to and are not expected to be operated in continuous video mode for long periods so doing so will cause them to fail prematurely.

Think of shooting long strings rapidly. This will cause your barrel to erode faster and to lose accuracy sooner.

Webcams on the other hand are expected to be operated in continuous video mode for long periods so at least some consideration as to thermal operational aspects has been made.

To make it even simpler, which would you rather burn up, a $20 webcam or a $500 phone?

I am especially aware of this phenomenon as it is an important consideration when designing and testing critical electronic systems for commercial aircraft for immunity to lightning. The FAA testing protocol is 10 strikes positive and 10 strikes negative at not greater than 1 minute intervals for damage effects testing and not greater than 5 minute intervals for upset/damage effect testing. We wait as long as we can between strikes to allow the components to cool in between strikes. Not waiting can and has caused artificially induced failures

 

[jrb572]

I used th same iPhone for three years on mine. Never had one problem with it. It was my daily phone for two years and became my reloading camera after that for another year.

 

[jpx2rk]

I use a 8 or 10" Lenovo (droid) pad, and a desktop organizer weighted down with a 20 rd box of 223 ammo to hold the Lenovo so I can view my scale with ease. Just use the camera function, with auto focus, it is less than 6" from the scale.