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View Full Version : eDVR USB Thumb Drive Video Camera First Look Flown on Blade CX 2 R/C chopper


barnstorm2
02-08-2008, 03:35 PM
In another thread ( http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15719&highlight=oregon ) various video cameras are being discussed for use with gyro flying.


This week I ordered both a eDVR USB Thumb-drive camera and the Oregon camera. Both arrived and today I did some testing of the eDVR.

The eDVR camera is about $60 on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230220627100&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BIN_IT&refitem=230218793518&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget&_trksid=p284.m183&_trkparms=algo%3DCRX%26its%3DS%252BI%26itu%3DUCI%2 52BSI%26otn%3D4

Here are my first impressions:

1. The resolution is 640x480 @ 30 fps. It does seem to keep about 30fps.

2. It is fixed-focus but it still manages to be reasonably clear even at distances less then 1 meter.

3. The quality drops in low-light (such as indoors) but not as bad as I had expected.

4. The quality outside is of course nothing like what you would get from a Sony Handy-Cam BUT the small size of the camera and it's light weight and low cost allow you to get footage you could not with a camcorder.

Here is a 3 minute video I took with it attached to the runners of my Blade CX-2 electric Helicopter:

http://gyrowiki.com/Video%20Library/Forms/Video%20View.aspx?RootFolder=%2fVideo%20Library%2f eDVR%20video%20Camera%20footage&FolderCTID=&View=%7b4EBC17B6%2dD653%2d4DB3%2d965C%2dC31262C018 72%7d

(Right - Click and choose Save Target As... to download to your Desktop)

I found that while the electric R/C chopper could lift the camera it did make the heli much more difficult to fly. I think I am going to have to adjust the servos to give them more throw.

http://gyrowiki.com/Main%20Photo%20Library/Forum%20Photo%20Posts/2007/eDVR%20cam.JPG

Gyro_Kai
02-09-2008, 10:06 AM
That is an impressive video. A bit white noise when it is too dark but great looking when the light is right.

Impressive house and section too, by the way ;)

Kai.

barnstorm2
02-09-2008, 01:49 PM
Thanks!!

When I was flying across the back yard and by the pond I was flying into the sun. A big no no for good photography. It did give a good demo of the white balance of the camera though!

I made a new one today, this time using a FULL SIZE rotorcraft!

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15954



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