Be that as it may, today's invention proves that shooting in the infrared spectrum can be done with a budget GoPro action camera. How is this possible? Let's figure it out.
Device Description
Of course, our invention does not have an electronic infrared converter, as in full-fledged night vision devices - a complex device inside which an electric field is created in a vacuum that converts infrared rays into electromagnetic ones. But then it wouldn’t cost mere pennies.
Our device is based on the lens of a regular camera, which is capable of shooting not only in high resolution, but also in Ultra HD and 4K. It is equipped with a ready-made infrared flashlight, powered by a battery.All elements are mounted on plastic glasses in such a way that the device can be freely used without additional means - tripods, clothespins, clamps, etc.
Required parts and tools
In order to assemble a night vision device at home we will need:
- Inexpensive action camera Go Extreme Pro Cam;
- Flashlight with infrared LED;
- Lens for virtual reality glasses;
- Safety plastic glasses for construction work;
- PVC pipe collar with socket;
- Two clips for PVC pipes 25mm;
- Half a meter of paracord or nylon rope;
- A small piece of foamed PVC sheet, thickness 3-5mm;
- Plastic glue or superglue, masking tape, nylon ties, bolts, nuts.
The necessary tools are quite modest: a screwdriver with a core drill, a paint knife, pliers, wire cutters.
Let's get started
First, we need to prepare the action camera and configure it correctly, at the same time making sure that it still sees infrared rays.
Set the exposure to +2 mode and disable automatic screen shutdown. This way we can shoot video continuously.
To focus on an object directly in front of you, you will need a special lens for virtual reality glasses. In fact, it will serve as our viewing lens.
To install it, take a dark plastic bottle from a cheap energy drink and cut it off at the neck. Since the distance to the lens will have to be selected empirically, it is better to trim it with a margin.
Let's try our lens on a piece of bottle. Now we need to secure it somehow. We cut off the bottom of the cap from the same bottle and press it against the lens. Ready!
In order to combine the camera's LCD screen with the lens, and mount them on the glasses, we will need to make a body for it.To do this, we take pieces of foamed PVC for prototyping, and cut them into parts of a small box. It is most convenient to cut them directly to the size of the camera.
We make the viewing window on the camera screen rectangular. It is best to work with this material with a paint knife. We assemble the body of our device using superglue or some other type for PVC products, and glue the neck of the lens bottle.
We make small slits on the body so that you can easily pull out the camera when necessary.
It's time to attach our camera lens to the body of the safety glasses. The plastic on them is thin and fragile, so you need to be very careful when drilling with a core drill. The author advises not to drill to the end, but to finish the hole with a paint knife. Masking tape, which should be used to cover the drilling area, will also help to avoid cracks.
Due to the radial tilt of the glasses, the installed lens and camera are directed with a large deviation to the side. This can be corrected by cutting the PVC sewer pipe to 32mm. You will need a collar with a bell and a rubber seal.
We cut it at the desired angle, clean the hole with zero sandpaper, and glue it in place with an overlap with superglue. For greater reliability, the author chose to tighten this element with several nylon ties.
The next step is to secure the flashlight. We take two 25mm PVC clips and mount them on the bolts on the opposite side of the camera.
Once assembled, this device is quite heavy, so you will need a limiter on the temples of the glasses. The easiest way to make it is from paracord, nylon twine or an elastic rubber band.
With such a night vision device you will never get lost in the dark!
