Decent quality outdoor timelapse camera?
Discussion
If I wanted to record the view of our house as it's built over the next year or so, I'd imagine using some sort of outdoor camera set to take a photo every hour or so during daylight. Now I don't want to spend hundreds of pounds on the kit, so does anyone have any suggestions?
I've found various security webcam type things, but they only do TV resolutions, so the quality is not so good. Would it be a better idea to find a weatherproof enclosure for an old digital camera (I have a 4 megapixel Fuji S602 lying around that produces a fairly good picture)? Should it be tethered to a PC, or is there something a little more reliable for doing this sort of job?
I've found various security webcam type things, but they only do TV resolutions, so the quality is not so good. Would it be a better idea to find a weatherproof enclosure for an old digital camera (I have a 4 megapixel Fuji S602 lying around that produces a fairly good picture)? Should it be tethered to a PC, or is there something a little more reliable for doing this sort of job?
I wonder how you would set the camera to take one pic per hour?
In terms of using your old camera there should be nothing to stop you using a kitchen tupperware type box, camera goes in that cut out in the box for the lens / connection leads all nicely bodged with gaffer tape to reseal around the holes and you get a relativley cheap weather proof-ish cover. I have used a similar type of operation to do outdoor stuff for wildlife with wide angle lenses.
The way i got round the issue of setting the camera to take a pic only when I wanted was to use a Zigview, not sure if you can connect one of these to your camera but it could be worth a bit of research.
HTH
Chris
In terms of using your old camera there should be nothing to stop you using a kitchen tupperware type box, camera goes in that cut out in the box for the lens / connection leads all nicely bodged with gaffer tape to reseal around the holes and you get a relativley cheap weather proof-ish cover. I have used a similar type of operation to do outdoor stuff for wildlife with wide angle lenses.
The way i got round the issue of setting the camera to take a pic only when I wanted was to use a Zigview, not sure if you can connect one of these to your camera but it could be worth a bit of research.
HTH
Chris
Many years ago I did a timelapse project for Blue Circle. I used four Olympus SLRs in weatherproof housings and the shutter was fired mechanically by a solenoid connected to a specially-built timing board. They fired once an hour during the hours of daylight, then stopped for the night (as there was no point in wasting film taking black frames). Power was from car batteries and muggins visited twice a week to change film and check the batteries! The project lasted three months, was edited into a 90 second video and paid for my first Jaguar 
ETA I still have the housings if you're interested - they're about 18" x 10" x 10" with glass fronts and hinged lockable backs.
ETA I still have the housings if you're interested - they're about 18" x 10" x 10" with glass fronts and hinged lockable backs.
Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 15th May 17:52
Well there's loads of ways you can do it, but quality will be a problem at that price.
This would do it if you have a phone line on site (and indeed would give you hi res pics 24/7... but at a price http://www.stardot.com/netcamxl/index.html?source=...
This would do it if you have a phone line on site (and indeed would give you hi res pics 24/7... but at a price http://www.stardot.com/netcamxl/index.html?source=...
GetCarter said:
Sorry for the thread hi-jack Tuna 
Don't worry, I'm perfectly capable of derailing my own threads. Here's my first attempt at a HDR picture. It's using a trial copy of Photomatrix and I suspect the foliage is giving the software a bit of a workout. I should make time to set up a better shot and combine images by hand rather than software.
Edited by Tuna on Thursday 15th May 22:40
Simpo Two said:
ETA I still have the housings if you're interested - they're about 18" x 10" x 10" with glass fronts and hinged lockable backs.
If you weren't so far from Cambridge, I might take you up on that, but maybe I could make a weather proof-enough enclosure with some glass, timber and bathroom sealant.. just need some software to drive it all, and a spare PC. Hmmm... For anyone that's interested, I've researched a bit more and come up with a plan.
This software appears quite good: http://www.granitebaysoftware.com/Product_gbt.aspx
It can do timed captures (including sleeping overnight) from Canon cameras via USB, storing to hard disk. I can get a pretty decent (5mp) Point and shoot from Ebay for a reasonable price, and a mains adapter for it so it doesn't need batteries. I need to set up a PC running XP, which shouldn't be impossible, and build or find a glass fronted box to keep the camera in.If I run the whole thing from an old UPS it should be moderately reliable(!) if rather clumpy.
Here's a rather nice example of what's possible http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyyCcjbrWOM
This software appears quite good: http://www.granitebaysoftware.com/Product_gbt.aspx
It can do timed captures (including sleeping overnight) from Canon cameras via USB, storing to hard disk. I can get a pretty decent (5mp) Point and shoot from Ebay for a reasonable price, and a mains adapter for it so it doesn't need batteries. I need to set up a PC running XP, which shouldn't be impossible, and build or find a glass fronted box to keep the camera in.If I run the whole thing from an old UPS it should be moderately reliable(!) if rather clumpy.
Here's a rather nice example of what's possible http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyyCcjbrWOM
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