Cheap Digital Camera Seems Perfect for Rigging to a Plane
 

I've been wanting to try taking some pictures of the field I fly out of without investing a ton of money in aerial photo equipment. I found a very cheap digital camera on eBay from a seller going by Discounttoys. I got the thing in the mail a few days ago and it seems to take decent pictures. Brightness/Contrast seem to be the weakness but since I'll probably mount on belly or under wing the brightness shouldn't be a problem. I post some pictures of the set up (once I build it) and the pictures I get out of it Sunday (8/22/04) night. If it works this will probably be the cheapest/easiest way to get some perspectives from the planes point of view. With my bid together with shipping was only $17.00.

RE: Cheap Digital Camera Seems Perfect for Rigging to a Plane
 

thats cheap cant wait to see pictures

RE: Cheap Digital Camera Seems Perfect for Rigging to a Plane
 

Well, I did work on the contraption that will eventually be mounted on the plane. I connected a servo to the retracts channel and did an experiment (I haven't ever used retracts before). That will be the channel that operates the camera contraption. I made an arm that closes on the camera when the retracts switch is closed and releases when it opens, which is perfect since this camera can be set to take a movie if the button is held down. I didn't get this mini project done in time to use it but I took some pictures with the camera at the field. The pictures aren't the best quality but the camera WAS only 17 bucks shipped. These pictures will give you an idea how good the camera is...