Question for those that have webcams setup on their tank

[chopper320]

I would like to get a webcam setup on my tank. The technical stuff isn't much of a problem for me but I'm wondering how you physically set it up so that it doesn't look junky.

I haven't found too many pics of people's cameras mounted but the few I have found are pretty rough aesthetically(i.e. taped to tank or suspended by a wire from above tank)

[chopper320]

Anyone? It would be nice to see a few pictures of how people have them mounted.

[Mikelush78]

Tagging along, would also like to see this setup!

[RFLKPTR]

My initial thought was to have a go-pro sort of rig. If you've ever seen Go-pro cameras, they have an adhesive strip on the bottom of an articulated mount.

http://gopro.com/camera-mounts

You could put together a series of joints to get the angle just right.

You could mount that camera with an adhesive strip to anything stationary. In my situation, I'd have the camera mounted to a stool, or even attached to the side of the tank. You'd then be able to adjust the angles from there.

Just an idea. I know that your webcam probably won't fit this exactly, but this may just get your creativity going.

[rrasco]

This has been my delay in setting up a web cam too. My tank is in the living room, so it can't just be a cam sitting in the middle of the room. I was actually thinking of getting a small camera from adafruit and building a water proof acrylic housing for it so I could submerge it in the tank.

[username in use]

Why not set up something like this.

It doesnt take all that much effort to run some wires through a ceiling and mount everything nice and clean

[chopper320]

Originally Posted by username in use

Why not set up something like this.

It doesnt take all that much effort to run some wires through a ceiling and mount everything nice and clean

That looks pretty cool. Are you able to get a good shot of your tank from that far away? I just assumed it needed to be pretty close. I'm in the same situation of having my tank in my living room so a camera couldn't be an eyesore.

[username in use]

That's just an image I pulled off a site that sells stuff for web conferencing. It holds a camera that produced 720p and full 1080p depending on setup and is able to pan tilt and zoom to get what you want in the image. Should give you a much better image than a $30 logitech camera.

But then again the wife's don't like a cheap camera taped to a wall, but this looks ok.

[scuzy]

If you really want to set one up get a nice pan/tilt/zoom up can and your all set.

[worm5406]

Plus the kids/spouse will be minding their p's and q's more once they see it, espc when they see it tracking them walk around the room.

[scuzy]

I just got a dericam m801w that has 3x optical zoom for a true ptz cam compare to those foscam and stuff it's a great cam

[Jeff000]

Originally Posted by username in use

Why not set up something like this.

It doesnt take all that much effort to run some wires through a ceiling and mount everything nice and clean

A good camera like that will run you $600+ 1080p isn't cheap in a camera like that.
A non pan tilt will still run you 450+

You want at least 720p otherwise it's useless. The lens is what's important. You are not going to be able to find what you want at best buy.
A better bet would be a super wide lens on a camera mounted to the front or side of tank.

I set up a couple of the cheap web cams for when I go on vacation, one for the tank, and one for the sump. Well the sump one I leave set up.

[rrasco]

Originally Posted by scuzy

I just got a dericam m801w that has 3x optical zoom for a true ptz cam compare to those foscam and stuff it's a great cam

Please define "true ptz".

[scuzy]

A lot of cams that say ptz in the sub 200 range only has pan, tilt but no zoom. The dericam offers 3x optical zoom at $110 that's what I was referring to.

[rrasco]

Gotcha. I was hoping that is what you were referring to.

[tektite]

Check out this series of cameras, this is what I have. 300 degree pan, 120 degree tilt, wireless IP, motion activated, 2 way audio, night vision. Their $160 camera has 720p as well. Has very good reviews.

http://foscam.us/wireless-ip-cameras...ip-camera.html

[chopper320]

Thanks for the suggestions. Anyone else have any pictures of their camera mounted?

[scuzy]

Only problem with the foscam is that it doesn't zoom, I have a foscam setup now it's ok but I wanted to be able to zoom so I just bought the dericam. I have a foscam fi8910w for sale after the dericam arrives. Actually I have two.

[Jeff000]

Originally Posted by tektite

Check out this series of cameras, this is what I have. 300 degree pan, 120 degree tilt, wireless IP, motion activated, 2 way audio, night vision. Their $160 camera has 720p as well. Has very good reviews.

http://foscam.us/wireless-ip-cameras...ip-camera.html

I use those for my security. They are ok camera's. But for enjoyment viewing of my fish tank, I would not pick them.

[worm5406]

SO... lets get some ideas out here and see what we can determine.

I mean PTZ is good... but how much are you going to actually move it.

[scuzy]

Well my cam acts as a security cam as well it monitors my front door walkway.

[rrasco]

If you want quality you could always buy Axis

[scuzy]

Not sure if I can justify 1000 for a cam to my wife

[Raptor72]

That's why I just went with the DropCam.

[o2manyfish]

I have the Axis 214. It's a great cam.

PTZ with 26x zoom. Someone asked why you need PTZ - with a 400g tank and the ability to zoom in and see the polyps on any coral, PTZ is pretty valuable.

Plus the Axis does auto white balance, which helps alot with our blue lit tanks.

Check out my Axis 74.62.193.110 -- Lights turn on at 5PM PST

Dave B