Turn a single-use camcorder into a recording nightvision scope

Why shell out $200 for a set of Soviet-era nightvision goggles when you can make one yourself from a $30 video camera? That's what Everett Bradford did, taking a CVS single-use video camera and combining it with a set of 20-cent infrared LEDs. Okay, it took a little more work than that, including some circuit-board mods and the addition of a salvaged camcorder lens. In the end, though, Everett estimated that his night-vision setup, which can record infrared footage that can be downloaded to a PC, cost about $35, compared to about $80 for the cheapest off-the-shelf night-vision scope. Who said you can't find anything worth buying in the corner drugstore?

[Via Hackaday]

[Heath Stahl @ Feb 23rd 2006 3:26PM]

In Splinter Cell 4 when Sam Fisher is old and broke he'll have to wear these goggles. How the mighty have fallen.

[Mandarin @ Feb 23rd 2006 3:32PM]

That thing says Stalker all over it...

[pbase @ Feb 23rd 2006 3:39PM]

All jokes aside, this is really clever. I've always wondered how you can take a circuit board manufactured by someone else, determine what each little chip, resistor and capacitor does, and repurpose it to your own design.
If no one else here does, I'm going to give this kid his props.

[inlimbo @ Feb 23rd 2006 3:43PM]

Very nice hack. I like how he's got it head mounted too. Very innovative.

[YourTechSupport @ Feb 23rd 2006 3:58PM]

CVS Disposable Camcorder: $30
Infared LEDs and assorted crap: $5
Proving to the world your not just a dork, but a dork with mad hacking skillz: Priceless.

[Alex @ Feb 23rd 2006 3:58PM]

This kid goes to my friends school(RPI) and he's a freshman...

[Ray @ Feb 23rd 2006 4:09PM]

Any help on how to add the USB? He doesn't detail it in the description.

[Jen @ Feb 23rd 2006 4:16PM]

Yeah, ok, it costs $35 for materials, but the $80 off the shelf model costs that much because of the labor that went into making it, marketing, and R&D.

[tiuk @ Feb 23rd 2006 4:26PM]

Nobody's knocking more expensive solutions, Jen. The point is that when you're a poor student and want a kickass night vision toy, this is the ticket.

As for adding USB, Ray, google "CVS camera".

[Andy @ Feb 23rd 2006 4:36PM]

And it's so sexy!

Meep
http://www.gopulls.com/meep.htm

[zer0her0 @ Feb 23rd 2006 4:36PM]

Pretty sad I knew this was RPI(my alma mater) just from the furniture/room layout in the background and I haven't been in a freshman dorm in 4 years.

[Unit Zero @ Feb 23rd 2006 4:36PM]

That's a really cool hack and I don't want to lower the tone of the conversation but an important question needs to be answered here...

In the 3rd picture fromt the bottom, is that porn I can see on the TV? Having a camera strapped to your face isn't the only thing that can cause bad eyesight...

[Jeff @ Feb 23rd 2006 5:08PM]

I see a great future in the technical field for this guy...either that or a fine and possible jail time for stalking the girls dorm at night as a peeping tom. Either way this is very clever indeed.

[whiteguysamurai @ Feb 23rd 2006 5:28PM]

I'm sure the girl he's stalking is flattered.

[Everett Bradford @ Feb 23rd 2006 6:14PM]

Relax guys, I'm not stalking anyone. I actually built it mostly as an easy way to film parkour at night.

[rautiocination @ Feb 23rd 2006 7:02PM]

An impressive hack, but I doubt it produces similar results to a proper starlight scope, with the photon to electron tube and phosphorous screen etc. Those suckers cost $$$, we need a pringles can + CVS camera version of that! :D

[Frangible @ Feb 23rd 2006 7:15PM]

That's pretty cool. It should be about as good as gen 1 night vision technology if you're using IR illumination. I'm afraid gen 2/3 and thermal still probably have the edge, though.

I'd recommend ditching the LEDs and using either developed-but-unexposed film or a better IR filter over an incandescant flashlight for even better output though. LEDs like that are just too short range. An IR laser might work with the right optics setup too.

And BTW, even the military headmounts look really dorky.

[Dull @ Feb 23rd 2006 7:52PM]

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

[Wry Cooter @ Feb 23rd 2006 8:37PM]

Any one know where i can find a motion activated InfraRed critter cam?

[bumber @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:47AM]

you can just make an remove the IR filter of a regular critter cam and add the same LEDs

[CJ @ Feb 23rd 2006 10:35PM]

I seem to remember seeing the exact same thing on attack of the show a couple months ago.

[Spiro M Telegadids @ Feb 24th 2006 5:49AM]

WE ARE BORG. . PREPARE TO BE ASSIMILATED.

[John @ Feb 24th 2006 12:59PM]

Ummmm.... Been done for a very long time. Attack of the show even stole it.
http://camerahacks.10.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=787

people need to quit taking credit for stuff thats already been done. In fact, I did this hack a couple of weeks ago, and I first hacked the camcorder last year.

nice.

[Everett Bradford @ Feb 24th 2006 7:56PM]

You guys are just nasty. The thing on the tv is a guy with a surfboard during the movie 'Orange County.' Also, attack of the show may have made an infrared camera, it's been done for years by all kinds of people. I'm not taking credit for doing anything other than building my rig from scratch and by my own design. Furthermore, I didn't ask to be featured on Engadget, nor was I even told when they wrote the article. Don't bash me for putting up a project that some people think is interesting.

[Banana Monkey Marshmello @ Mar 4th 2006 2:42AM]

Jealousy... Very cool Everett. Bring it camping!

[phil @ Mar 19th 2006 10:02PM]

So if you don't want to record, can you get by without the usb hack?

Also, does this one work on the newer models?