AR rail mounted USB micro camera [VIDEO]

[esheato]

I've always wanted to capture video while I was shooting. Unfortunately, I had to wait for technology to get small enough and, more importantly, cheap enough.

A few weeks ago I thought I had found the solution. I picked up some I-Kam USB sunglasses for $99. Unfortunately, while my eye was looking through the ACOG the camera was pointing at the side of the optic. Video was quite jittery too...you don't realize how much you move your head around.

While trying to come up with ideas on how to do this, I remembered seeing a video clip a few months ago showing a key fob camera mounted to an AR rail.

I started googling and came upon this website: The Micro Camera (http://www.themicrocamera.com/).

I ordered the HD version for $59 and mounted it with epoxy to an extra ACOG QD mount I had laying around.

Finished it looks like this:

http://esheato.smugmug.com/photos/1260567503_W82t7sV-L.jpg

I took it out today and stuck it two different ARs. First was my standard mid-length AR, 16" bbl, ACOG TA33G-H, PWS FSC556 brake and Larue 13.2 rail.

Dumping a bunch of 223 on a steel target. Distance 20 yards.
http://esheato.smugmug.com/Family/Video/223onsteel12rounds/1260541467_F8zDNWh-L.jpg (http://esheato.smugmug.com/Family/Video/12930083_98qQG#1260541467_F8zDNWh-A-LB)

Two cardboard targets (mozambique) then steel.
http://esheato.smugmug.com/Family/Video/mozambiquethensteel223/1260540133_HRBJ9md-L.jpg (http://esheato.smugmug.com/Family/Video/12930083_98qQG#1260540133_HRBJ9md-A-LB)

Triples on cardboard while moving, then steel.
http://esheato.smugmug.com/Family/Video/moving223/1260540658_vQk9szh-L.jpg (http://esheato.smugmug.com/Family/Video/12930083_98qQG#1260540658_vQk9szh-A-LB)

Next gun was my 9mm AR carbine, 16" bbl, Smith Vortex brake, 32 round mags, EOtech XPS3.

Magazine dump on steel.
http://esheato.smugmug.com/Family/Video/32rounds9mm/1260542332_GKv2zpk-L.jpg (http://esheato.smugmug.com/Family/Video/12930083_98qQG#1260542332_GKv2zpk-A-LB)

And finally back to the 223 and a miss on the steel.
http://esheato.smugmug.com/Family/Video/1-2-3-miss/1260539695_B8SW2FZ-L.jpg (http://esheato.smugmug.com/Family/Video/12930083_98qQG#1260539695_B8SW2FZ-A-LB)

The unit came with a USB cable to charge it and I opted to buy a micro SD card for extra storage. Operation is super easy....only two buttons are actually functional on the fob, one for power, one to start/stop recording. The two rear buttons are fake. Video is 1,280 x 720 HD, the battery lasts 40 minutes and with the extra SD card, you can record for an hour. With most competition stages lasting well under a minute, this is more than enough for a match.

Directions state to occasionally charge for 90 minutes.

All in all I'm quite happy. Lightweight, easy to use, video quality is adequate (especially considering the muzzle brake is inches from the lens), and moveable between guns with rails. I can't wait for the next competition with a rifle stage. ;)

Enjoy,

Ed

[Skang]

That is pretty decent tiny camera. Nice job!

[rob_s]

Nice job!

[ALCOAR]

Really, really nice job:)

Damn, such a nice job that I think the op just cost me some damn money. I wonder if I should think about getting the HD upgraded model...any thoughts on that?

Pretty impressive posting for only your second reply...keep it up:)

eta...I see yours is the HD one...The link however took me directly to the $24 model...wonder how it compares w. the HD model?

[Col_Crocs]

Nice! Im really digging how it's such a small, non-obtrusive package.
Rob, could this possibly be of any use to your flash hider/comp testing? Looks like it could be mounted as high as an absolute or lower 1/3 co-witness optic and be used to take shots of operator visible flash...

[rfscheer]

Thanks! Gotta get/make one myself! I love how the date string had you shooting tomorrow. Could come in real handy if you think about it.

[VLODPG]

There goes my debit card again!

[foolcrzy]

There goes my debit card again!

This! Damn this looks cool.

[RD62]

Can you post some picks of it mounted to the rail.

Id like to see it in relation to the irons/front sight.

Looks interesting, thanks for sharing.

[Wormydog1724]

Here are some videos of my hat cam rifle cam thingy. Its a Veho Muvi DV camera. I mount it to my hat when I am shooting pistol or multiple firearms (3 gun) or I mount it to my rifle when shooting rifle matches.

There are alot more vids on my youtube channel. Enjoy. ;)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tnwtILJH3g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqEiGKjh6yI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BydCgzCcSF8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWahvUaoQqQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTQhDeUGi7c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOjkUrae29M

[esheato]

I'll get some pics with the camera on the gun tonight after my son goes to bed...

[CLHC]

That's cool! Now if there's a way to have the HD Camera looking through the scope/RDS, that would be something.

[kywaterfowler]

That is awesome!! Worth picking one up.

[tuck]

Thats a pretty slick setup. It takes some damn good video for being so small too.


Heres a few vids I did with my Tachyon XC HD helmet cam, in their gun cam rail mount:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOXbSIOpKz4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skChrh5b9zQ&feature=related

[novaDAK]

Very cool!

[apexcncshop]

Wow! We built some adapters a while back for rail mounting the Contour helmet camera, but this one is way lower profile. Very nice.

[bjw182005]

I'll get some pics with the camera on the gun tonight after my son goes to bed...

Did you ever get some pictures of this setup on your rail? Id like to see what kind of space it takes up and what kind of bulk, or lack there of there is with the unit. Thanks.

[Nobody_Special]

very nice

[miamitj]

Very nice. Im going to use your idea for something similar.

BTW, you can get them on eBay a little cheaper if you don't mind waiting ...

http://tinyurl.com/3p4x226

[MCS]

Nice find... That's one cool littler camera!

[Robb Jensen]

Very damn cool. I think I'll pick one of those up!

[uwe1]

Ed, that's a great find! Good shooting as well!

[rob_s]

Very nice. Im going to use your idea for something similar.

BTW, you can get them on eBay a little cheaper if you don't mind waiting ...

http://tinyurl.com/3p4x226

Thanks for the link.

[Tiny86]

Thats freaking cool! Nice job man.

[twobanger]

I bought one last year to mount on my bow. These two links have a huge wealth of information on getting the best out of the camera: http://chucklohr.com/808/ and the last few pages of this huge thread on Archery Talk (http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1338276).

[Surf]

Very cool, just ordered. ;)

[BH321]

I am curious to see how that holds up over the long haul, as that thing can not have been designed to handle 5.56 recoil. Great looking vid for something that small though, and if I ever get an AR with a rail I may just get one of those (Stupid college tuition :().

[Wormydog1724]

Because 5.56 recoil is so severe?

My little Veho Muvi has held up to 2,000+ rounds with zero problems. I have definitely got my money's worth. More vide on my YouTube channel.

[5cary]

I am curious to see how that holds up over the long haul, as that thing can not have been designed to handle 5.56 recoil.

I thought the same...right after I thought how cool it would be to watch a string of fire from the POV mounted under an M&P or Glock (the camera would take more of a beating, I imagine). I wonder how well this would attach to a larue QD x300 mount for a pistol. I have an extra lying around.

[148259]

Everything you want to know about the keyfob cameras
http://www.chucklohr.com/808/

[ReaperAZ]

Very cool. Something like that could be very handy in many applications.

[markm]

That beats the shit out of my Gun Cam!! DICK!! :p

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb201/trixiebud/CIMG3511.jpg?t=1303739726

[ReaperAZ]

That beats the shit out of my Gun Cam!! DICK!! :p

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb201/trixiebud/CIMG3511.jpg?t=1303739726

Heck yeah! Is that the Ultra HD Flip Video?

[markm]

Heck yeah! Is that the Ultra HD Flip Video?

Yes... non HD version though. The upside to the flip is that the editing software is in the camera.... that's huge.

[ALCOAR]

I like your style Mark...the advantage to rigging a larger cam to the rail is that you can bring aspects like zoom, on board software, on board viewing to edit or perfect a particular shot, etc. I hated to go with a Larue mount, however ADM didn't offer a mount for my needs:D

http://i53.tinypic.com/23mwrgi.jpg

"Aimpoint Vision"....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwvHBlHehww

[markm]

That is slick.

[ReaperAZ]

No kidding, talk about point of view shooting!

[ALCOAR]

Yeah it was slick as hell until I got half way through a 3rd pmag on my initial time testing it this last Sat., and the damn thing was about to pop off under the recoil and was just barely attached at that point.

I know folks say .223 recoil is anemic and while I agree it is to the actual shooter, it's still plenty enough to rattle shit to pieces...kinda why we all use vibra tite and loc tite. So anyways I spent the last several days getting it secured and what I think to be thoroughly tested to be shock proof on at least a .223/5.56 gun.

[148259]

I had one of those cameras that I use on RC aircraft, so I just quickly attached it my my AK47 SBR to see if I could get a picture through the optics. Turned out pretty good.
http://www.hobbyhorse.com/RPD/ak47.wmv (http://www.hobbyhorse.com/RPD/ak47.flv)

[militarymoron]

true POV through the optic has always been a challenge, but here's one option (albeit expensive) - the accutact angle sight - scroll down a bit to see the vid camera setup.

http://www.militarymorons.com/weapons/ar.optics3.html#accutact

i mounted my flip to the side, but the image was washed out in bright sunlight the one time i tried it. it might work with a better camera or setup. but, it's true POV without having the camera in-line between your eye and the sight.

[M4A34U]

Great Thread!!!!

[ReaperAZ]

true POV through the optic has always been a challenge, but here's one option - the accutact angle sight - scroll down a bit to see the vid camera setup.

http://www.militarymorons.com/weapons/ar.optics3.html#accutact

i mounted my flip to the side, but the image was washed out in bright sunlight the one time i tried it. it might work with a better camera or setup. but, it's true POV without having the camera in-line between your eye and the sight.

That too is a pretty trick little setup.

I'd be affraid to even think of doing this, as too many people would see how crappy of a shot I am. hahaha

[markm]

I'd be affraid to even think of doing this, as too many people would see how crappy of a shot I am. hahaha

That's what the editing software is for! :cool:

[ReaperAZ]

Ah yes, very good point.:laugh:

[VLODPG]

Finally pulled the trigger on one!

[Surf]

Forgot about this thread. I actually purchased one awhile back and it can be seen on my rifle in my Redback One carbine drill video. Damn thing is I cannot get the files converted from quicktime to Windows video to be compatible with Windows Movie Maker. Of course I haven't tried to hard and in reality even though I have a youtube channel I am very behind the times when it comes to video stuff. :(

Oh but hey the quicktime video came out great! :p