Jim, I was talking even more basic $5 cam modules and designing the SD card storage and such around it. I always thought a very basic cam (still only with time stamp), IR but HUGE battery life (over a year on 4 AA alkaline) and TOP QUALITY would be great. Workhorses, not Cadillacs. ALl the current sub $50 cams have c batts and life of 10 minutes.
somebody has been playing with this: http://www.electronics123.com/kits-.../DVR9230-9-MP-DVR-Module-With-TV-Display.html which doesn't really fit your idea of a 'workhorse not cadillac' but it is using a module....I know I got into homebrews for pic quality and longevity, along with being able to fix it myself and not wait for weeks for a replacement if something did go wrong. IMO the 5$ modules is what you get with the cheap commercials anyway and the reason the battery life is poor is the light arrays use lots of power. I think the flash is where you have to look to reduce battery consumption more than anything. Jim and a lot of other guys have a TON more experience than I but I believe most of the focus has been on better pics, faster cameras, smaller builds, better videos and sound, and longevity/performance of the builds. JMHO again but I think commercial companies are already doing what one would be doing to design what you are looking for, but someone has to pay for all that research and development, therefor you pay 150$ for the camera you described as opposed to say 50$ for what it cost to make it. Guys have done things with Garage door openers, cheap little mini cams, very basic cheap little trigger boards, but the consistancy didn't work out and the cost still came out over 50$ once you add in cost of a case, glass, and miscelanious materials(as adhesive), I'd imagine...not to mention the time in labor and testing. I can think of one example of a homebrewer going the direction somewhat similiar to what you speak of for example...ended up being Predator trailcams - they ended up costing well over 200$ - then to compete, they had to move production to China, and then quality control failed, and the company followed. I guess I am not saying it can't be done but why would someone want to spend thier time doing what is already being done largescale, and going to result in cameras that are what we were trying to get away from.
You can have your cake and eat it to.. Dlc red 40 I looked into making a home brew on the sites but the$$ would be way over 150 bucks and not close to quality,battery life,size of my dlc cams.
I am an electronic design engineer (or was at one time) and owned a U.S. based contract manufacturing company (sold it several years ago). I am VERY familiar with what the pitfalls are. However, they are not insurmountable. Plus, the "research and development" would be very low cost. What I would be looking at are very basic cams that just have very long battery life, true scouts, if you will, that are low cost (without being the JUNK that is low cost now). Spread em out. If they get stolen, eh, who cares. When you find some interesting action, you move in a cam capable of video or sound. The biggest thing would be cams that are low features but fast on initial trigger, cheap to buy, and cheap on batteries. Last, but not least, tiny. In any case, Jim, I'll try to post a link. But they are simple bare bones cam modules. Yes, Chinese. However, these modules are generally very good quality as they are simple. Adding SD storage is a snap.
