Bore Scope Help

[zp3design]

Fellas,

I need some help with my bore scope set up. I currently view and capture images through the bore scope using an older digital camera with one of those screens you can twist all around. It all sets on a sled of sorts which makes the whole process of examining a barrel much easier and I can record images as needed. I zoom the camera lens all the way out, bump up the zoom to 10x and the bore scope image fills the screen.

This works fair but what I really want to be able to do, is view and capture images on the lap top. So far my attempts to do this using a web cam have been unsuccessful. The webcams won’t focus on the bore scope image and I don’t know enough about this to solve the problem. I have tried three different web cams, all with manual focus. Haven’t yet been able to even get an image through the webcam just a small white circle.

Obviously I could spend a bunch on a dedicated setup but trying to keep the cost down.

Would appreciate any help,
Zp3

 

[alinwa]

So, I'm a Luddite but how does the camera store/transport images?

al

 

[zp3design]

Al,

I'm assuming that the technology digital camera and webcam have some things in common i.e. some kind of board mounted grid panel that the image is projected onto/receives the image and turns it into bits of info that can be saved or transmitted. Like I said in the first post using the digital camera is working, but a larger image would be nice, snap shots could be saved more efficiently and wouldn't have to deal with the camera that times out periodically and I have to re-zoom etc..

I think the problem in using a webcam is focal length or focusing problem...

zp3

 

[JerrySharrett]

Al,

I'm assuming that the technology digital camera and webcam have some things in common i.e. some kind of board mounted grid panel that the image is projected onto/receives the image and turns it into bits of info that can be saved or transmitted. Like I said in the first post using the digital camera is working, but a larger image would be nice, snap shots could be saved more efficiently and wouldn't have to deal with the camera that times out periodically and I have to re-zoom etc..

I think the problem in using a webcam is focal length or focusing problem...

zp3

I don't think the built-in web cameras are the best for what you are trying to do. I have a couple of laptops that have built-in web cameras and a couple of iPads that have really neat photo quality, but they don't have the ability for the operator to focus the image.

Try using the USB connection that most digital cameras have to transfer the images instead of memory-card swapping.

 

[AZUARO]

Fellas,

I need some help with my bore scope set up. I currently view and capture images through the bore scope using an older digital camera with one of those screens you can twist all around. It all sets on a sled of sorts which makes the whole process of examining a barrel much easier and I can record images as needed. I zoom the camera lens all the way out, bump up the zoom to 10x and the bore scope image fills the screen.

This works fair but what I really want to be able to do, is view and capture images on the lap top. So far my attempts to do this using a web cam have been unsuccessful. The webcams won’t focus on the bore scope image and I don’t know enough about this to solve the problem. I have tried three different web cams, all with manual focus. Haven’t yet been able to even get an image through the webcam just a small white circle.

Obviously I could spend a bunch on a dedicated setup but trying to keep the cost down.

Would appreciate any help,
Zp3

zp3design:

You need to use a camera that has MACRO Focusing capabilities...
Web cameras DON'T have this feature because it is not needed for general use of these kinds of cameras.

Google: "Web Cam Macrophotography"

Some helpful links:
http://blizzard.rwic.und.edu/~nordlie/microscopy/webcam_macro/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Super-MacroMicroscope-Webcam-Conversion/


Regards,

azuaro

 

[RJM]

I've had good luck with a ordinary point & click digital camera. You just have to watch the screen on the back as you center & focus the image. If you choose a camera with a 1/4" threaded hole for a tripod, you can fabricate a bracket to fasten the camera to the eye piece to keep the camera & eye piece in alignment.

Regards,
Ron