So.... instead of me filling this thread with questions, where do i start my research to make my own cameras? there are tons of websites out there, but i was hoping you could narrow them down, to useful /non spam so that i could do some research. I would love to make my own cameras. where did you get the case and mounting hardware for you cameras?
I am by no means an expert but I have built several homebrews so let me edumucate you a little. Two really good sites for homebrews are camtrapper.com and hagshouse.com. If you go to those sites and start asking questions, there are alot of guys that will help. The cases are pelican micro cases. Usually Pelican 1010, 1020, 1030, or the most popular; Pelican 1040. I'm not sure where the builder in PY HUNTER's post got that mounting system, I'd be interested in that myself. The cost is not always neccessarily less than you can buy a commercial cam but picture quality is light-years ahead of most store-bought cams. Another advantage is if it does break down, you built it and you can repair it. The three main components to building a homebrew are the camera, usually an older model Sony, although there are others you can use. The board that operates the camera. There are basically three makers for boards; Yeticam.com, BFoutdoors.com, and Snapshot sniper.com. These sites also sell most of the other supplies you will need, except the cameras. And of course the Pelican cases I mentioned earlier. Probably the four most popular cameras used in the builds are; Sony P41, Sony P32, Sony S600, and Sony S40. There are many others but these are the most popular. The Sony P41 and P32 require no soldering at all. I know this is alot of info but it's really not as hard or complicated as it sounds. If you have any more questions, just ask. Here are some pics of the steps in a homebrew build. This is a Sony P41, probably the fastest camera in the homebrew world. The components The view after assembly without the camera The finished product Blessings......Pastorjim
thanks for the information, looks like it will be a little while before i have the cash to play around with, but i will start researching now. Im only using cheapo walmart cameras right now, and im already hooked. got 300 pictures of deer in 1 week. pretty amazing to see the deer in their natural habitat.
Mostly depends on the price of the camera you use for the build but I average about $125.00 per build. But understand, MY reasons for building my own has nothing to do with money. Blessings.....Pastorjim
It all depends on how much $ you want to spend on the cameras. They are getting pretty advanced now with IR technology and and how may batteries you want what type of boards you use. I have a good friend that is building my cameras.
Dig cameras are not cheap and i cant see how to do all your doing for 125.00 Can you guys break it down for me a little.
You are using mostly older or discontined models. The best and probably most expensive is the Sony S600. These can go for anywhere from $75-$150 on ebay. The next most popular, and the fastest, is the Sony P41. They are about in the same price range. You have to be creative in where you look for the cameras. Craigslist, rummages, pawnshops, and flee markets are really great places to look because you aren't bidding against others who might want them for the same reason and are pushing the prices up. Just last week I acquired a Sony W7 from one of my secret spots for $9.00. This same cam on ebay could easily go for over $150. The boards that run the cams cost anywhere from $39-$59 so if you get the camera cheap you can see how the cost could actually be less than $125.00 The cases for mounting the cams are about $15-$20. You do have some other costs but they usually aren't more than 20 bucks. I try to pay $50 or less for the actual camera but you have to be patient and not get in a bidding war. If you are thinking of building one, let me know and I can help you find alot of the info. A few things you should know going in. Homebrews can be finicky. Until you learn about setting them up in the right way, they can be frustrating. Also, no matter how good you are at building them, you can never build all the features into one that the commercial makers can. Also, the battery life will not be as good as most commercial cams. The thing that sets them apart is the picture quality. It is absolutely second to none, many trimes it is poitrait quality. I also get a certain amount of satisfaction out of doing it myself and then getting a great pic. Blessings......Pastorjim
