Camera spotter to phone app

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gunsmoke77802
Posts: 33
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 8:36 pm
Location: Bryan, TX

Camera spotter to phone app

Post by gunsmoke77802 »

SO I use a 50mm Kowa spotting scope to shoot indoors (10m)which is ok but would rather look at a screen or my phone. Is there any camera set up you guys are using for this? How can I find out about this or get one of my own going?

thanks

Jay
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SamEEE
Posts: 505
Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 7:48 am
Location: Aotearoa/NZ

Re: Camera spotter to phone app

Post by SamEEE »

You could make an eyepiece to fit the phone in with your favourite manufacturing technology.
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SteveT
Posts: 282
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 8:17 pm
Location: IL
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Re: Camera spotter to phone app

Post by SteveT »

I have no experience with any of these, but have seen them online.

https://targetvisioncam.com/

https://www.bullseyecamera.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Caldwell-Ballist ... B01B7OYN1Y

Or do a search for Spotting Scope Camera Adapter or Eyepiece.
400driver
Posts: 121
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 7:15 am
Location: Barcelona , Spain

Re: Camera spotter to phone app

Post by 400driver »

https://www.barska.com/wifi-digital-mic ... -2182.html

This is a wifi eyepiece for your scope that send the image to your phone or tablet. I have been thinking about it.....but waiting to hear if anyone has any experience with it.
Xman
Posts: 326
Joined: Tue May 18, 2010 1:53 pm
Location: Tyler, TX

Re: Camera spotter to phone app

Post by Xman »

This post might help with some info. I think it is a great idea, but illegal in ISSF shooting, Maybe others too. Also camera functions do switch off over time so you would have to keep touching your phone screen to view target. The debate got a little word splitting and what the meaning of is..is.

http://www.targettalk.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=53483
Gwhite
Posts: 3188
Joined: Sat Sep 04, 2004 6:04 pm
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Camera spotter to phone app

Post by Gwhite »

A guy on my bullseye league team uses the TargetVision device on a small scope (Barska?) & likes it.
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SlartyBartFast
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Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2016 11:04 am
Location: Montreal, Québec, Canada

Re: Camera spotter to phone app

Post by SlartyBartFast »

I was experimenting with my old digital camera. With the optical and digital zooms maxed, I could almost clearly see the holes being shot on my target. Biggest problem seemed to be the lighting at the range.

However, I my research I did find a couple of free USB camera apps for Android. So anyone with a good digital camera with a telescopic lens should be able to be up and running for free (if your camera supports USB out) or cheap (with a video to USB dongle).

If money were no object, and as I said in the linked thread, I`d love to buy something like the Optex Redtail.
http://www.optexsys.com/redtail

I`m now thinking that the most straight forward solution is to use the range scopes with a USB or wifi digital eyepiece as suggested by 400driver.

If someone finds a good inexpensive one, I`d love to hear about it. I don`t think whether the eyepiece comes with an Android app is of much importance. There are many apps available for USB and wifi camera access.
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DFWdude
Posts: 186
Joined: Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:10 pm

Re: Camera spotter to phone app

Post by DFWdude »

Based on this spotting scope thread... http://www.targettalk.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=54470

...I thought that spotting scopes were no longer permitted at 10m events. I don't know why it should matter, and would like to use one, myself, especially as my club membership status (none) does not allow me to shoot on an electronic target with shooting line display. But I am trying to conform to the ISSF rules.

The solutions offered would mimic electronic displays well. But they could be expensive and not very useful if not permitted widely.
theruleslawyer
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2017 12:01 pm

Re: Camera spotter to phone app

Post by theruleslawyer »

If its just your own range you could always get a cheap IPcam and put it right next to the target. Just open whatever app or webpage it normal displays on.
400driver
Posts: 121
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 7:15 am
Location: Barcelona , Spain

Re: Camera spotter to phone app

Post by 400driver »

Found only 1 review of the wifi spotting scope adaptor, it gave it 2 stars only. They are Amazon for 65$ so its not too expensive a gamble. The owner said the resolution was poor, but he was using it to take pictures of the stars!

I would hope that it had enough resolution for looking at a 10M pistol target!
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SlartyBartFast
Posts: 579
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2016 11:04 am
Location: Montreal, Québec, Canada

Re: Camera spotter to phone app

Post by SlartyBartFast »

Still from my perspective of being pretty unknowledgeable about cameras, scopes, and lenses:

For the same price as the Optex Redtail, it might be possible to get a WiFi or USB c-mount camera and a suitable lens for a similar price or cheaper.

A GoPro, modified with a c-mount, and a c-mount lens would be about the same as the Optex and offer the same functions but with more versatility (could still be used any way a GoPro can be used).
Last edited by SlartyBartFast on Mon Mar 13, 2017 2:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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hundert
Posts: 252
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2015 4:40 pm

Re: Camera spotter to phone app

Post by hundert »

webcam, a tripod, 12m usb cable extension, laptop

the reason is that most people already have some of these things. Fast to set up, cheap... Wouldn't work in a club where lots of people shoot, they may not let you go to the targets

I happen to have all of these things
Scap
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2016 12:20 pm

Re: Camera spotter to phone app

Post by Scap »

https://www.amazon.com/Gosky-Universal- ... B013D2ULO6


Have not tried it but this should work well and is cheap enough to give it a try.
jenrick
Posts: 158
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2009 2:16 am
Location: Central Texas

Re: Camera spotter to phone app

Post by jenrick »

I'm wondering if anyone makes a baby monitor with enough resolution to use at 50 m's that's cheap. Would be an ideal turnkey solution for sport/standard pistol and free pistol.

-Jenrick
dulcmr-man
Posts: 280
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:07 pm
Location: Prescott, AZ

Re: Camera spotter to phone app

Post by dulcmr-man »

When shooting practice at home I simply use my Kowa 50mm spotting scope set up on a stand. Take the shot, call the shot, then lean over a few inches and verify my call. Cheap, easy, and straightforward. I realize it's not legal in ISSF competition, but for practice I value the feedback I get from verifying my call. Is there some advantage gained from the expensive camera options (especially at 10 meters) that I am missing? Or do some folks simply like high tech solutions?

Dennis in the PRK
Soon to be an Arizonan
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