Homebrew Trailcameras

[Bones]

  I use Sony W series cameras in my homebrew cameras. I also use a control board from Yeticam, and this is all mounted in a Pelican 1040 micro case. This case is about 5 inches wide, 7 inches tall and 2 inches deep. The camera is mounted to the lid of the Pelican case. It is secured to a piece of one inch aluminum angle that is bolted to the case lid. A 1/4 inch thumbscrew attaches the camera to the aluminum angle. This screws into the tripod connector on the bottom of the camera. There is a three wire servo mounted to the side of the camera. A three wire cable plugs into this servo, and connects the camera to the control board. The cable can be disconnected from the camera, and the thumbscrew removed from the bottom of the camera. Then the camera can be used outside of the trailcam case like an ordinary camera. When I check my cameras in the field, I open the case. The camera's LCD is in view, and all I have to do is push the play button on the camera. The camera then powers up with the last picture taken on the LCD. These cameras have a large 2 1/2 inch LCD. I can manually look at my pictures by pressing either the left or right arrows on the camera control, or I can click on slide show and watch  my pictures. Being able to view pictures in the field is a very important feature on any trail cam. You can see if you need to adjust the aim of your camera. And it is also exciting to see that your camera took a picture of a large bear just before you arrived.
 When the camera powers up,  the top left corner of the LCD tells how much battery power remains. The top right corner of the LCD tells how many pictures were taken. And the time and date that each picture was taken is in the bottom right corner.
  The camera is powered by an internal Sony lithium-ion battery and I get about 750 pictures on a charge. The control board is powered by a 9 volt battery like goes in a smoke detector. The 9 volt battery lasts for about three months. The camera's battery door can be opened to change the battery and memory card without removing the camera from the case.
  The Yeti control board has a walk test light. This red LED lights up every time the board senses motion. This walk test cycle lasts as long as you want it to so that you can check the aim of the camera. After the board does not sense motion for 30 seconds, the LED blinks five times. Then the camera is armed and ready to take pictures at the next motion event. This board's motion sensor is very good and you rarely get false triggers. The board has nine dip switches that allow you to program the board for the settings you desire. The delay settings vary from 15 seconds to an hour. There is also a rapid pics mode. This is usually the setting that I use, but when I use this, I have to check my camera every day because it takes a picture every three seconds as long as it senses motion. Two weeks ago, I has 755 pictures in five hours.
  I am not some electronics genious. The first camera that I took apart, I figured it would never work again, but it did. Now, I buy broken cameras and take them apart and repair them.
  Here are some pictures of my last camera build, This is a Sony DSC-W200 (12.1 mega pixels)
I apply Bondoglass to the case with a small stick to make the 3-D tree bark pattern. Then I paint this with craft paints from Wal-mart and the seal this with Clear Matte Finish

[Bones]

A few pictures from my homebrews

[PacificNWhunter]

WOW! those are really nice pic's....that's cool you make your own.

[archery288]

Those are some nice pictures!  How hard is it to make that type of camera?  I have a couple W series sonys layin around here.... Hmmmm.... 

[bucklucky]

Awesome post! Ive been wondering how hard they were to set up correctly.  Awesome pics!!

[NW-Eric]

those are great pics, i think i might have to make one

[Bones]

  Building these cameras is not hard at all, and you cannot damage the camera. Just take your time when you are doing the first one.  You will be able to make any repairs if you ever have problems with the camera later on. I will post later tonight what you need to get started, and some precautions. There is nothing more satisfying than getting these great pictures from a camera that you put together yourself.. I will also post a list of cameras and tools that you need. You probably have most of the tools needed already.
Bones

[Craig]

Great pics and camera. Makes me want to go smash my cameras on the ground and make some like those.

[bigdave]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and pics. I am anxiously waiting your next post. 

[bigdave]

Bones,

Will you include a parts list?
OK, I'll be patient......

I checked out the yeticam website. Looks doable, but I would like to know exactly what I will need to build one over my Christmas vacation. You've got me all fired up.

[fc2038]

Those are some nice pics. Very clear. Thanks for sharing

[WonkyWapiti]

Bones very cool.  You are the Boneaddict of the trail camera world! 

[coonhound]

You ever think about selling some of our handy work?  I would be a taker...You sure can't buy a factory camera that performs that good.

Coon

[Bones]

Parts list from Yeticam.com

(1) Black 1040 Pelican case - $16.00
(2) .65 focal fresnel lens - $2.50
(3) Power switch - $2.00
(4) Three wire servo - $6.00
(5) Control board - Horizontal with front mounted controls set up for W35 or W80  (this works for ALL W series cameras.  $39.50
(6)Two wire connector for board power ( connects 9 volt to board) $1.00
Shipping - $6.00
Total bill from Yeticam  $73.00
  I don't recommend the cameras older than the W80. Starting with the W80, Sony introduced a new image processor. It is faster and conserves battery power. And also the W80 and newer cameras are full 1080 HD ( high definition).

Cameras on ebay

Sony DSC-W80 7.2 mega pixels  about $50 or $60
Sony  DSC-W90 8.1 mega pixels  about $50 to $75
Sony Dsc- W200 12.1 mega pixels  any where from $80 to $130

The recent cougar pictures that I posted were taken by a W90. The 4x4 winter scene whitetail buck above was a W80, and the golden eagle was a W80.  All are great cameras.

 Necessary tools are a drill, and a soldering iron. I use a 15 watt soldering iron from Radio shack.
$7.95

 a glass cutter  $3.95
A belt sander and dremmel tool speed thing up a bit

A few things that you need that are bought locally. A 1" X 1 1/4" PVC reducer for the case extension for the cameras extending lense. $.79.
Scraps of single strength glass- usually free from glass shops
Two 1/4" eye bolts, a 2 1/2 inch piece of 1' X1 " aluminim angle. And a 1/4" thumb screw.

Bondo glass
craft paints
Krylon clear finish (matte finish)
   I am getting ready to build another camera in the next couple of days. I will post pics of the steps. The only mistake you can make is to not get started. I thought about doing this for two years before I finally got the lead out of my butt.
Bones
  Don't hesitate asking questions

[Machias]

Your awesome!  Thanks!