1.3 MP camera, $11 (requires a little work)

[unclebud]

"no trolls please)"
a troll is a lazy person who bothers typing three lines why a deal isn't so hot to him. sound familiar? bet it does.
instead of posting a weak opinion on why something isn't worth blah blah time, why not think about what time isn't worth posting -- that it isn't worth it

 

[beatniks3]

so I've read through all the information and I guess I'm a little confused about the connection between the camera and the usb cable. Could someone break it down for me? What pieces would you need to make the connection? This seems like a fun little project. I've got one of those palm pilot cables, would that work without mods? Thanks.

 

[Tronoman]

Seems like a fun project to me to, so I'll be looking for one of these cameras this weekend. As far as the connection, from my interpretation the palm pilot cable needs the plastic on the ends shaved off a little and then it should fit right in and work.

 

[beatniks3]

Originally posted by: Tronoman
Seems like a fun project to me to, so I'll be looking for one of these cameras this weekend. As far as the connection, from my interpretation the palm pilot cable needs the plastic on the ends shaved off a little and then it should fit right in and work.

Thanks for the response. looks like I might be off to the mall to check to see if I can get my hands on one of these.

 

[CTho9305]

I think you just need ANY usb cable - I didn't get the impression that the palm connector will actually fit. Get the cheapest USB cable youc an find, and then connect it to the correct 4 pins.

 

[beatniks3]

Originally posted by: CTho9305
I think you just need ANY usb cable - I didn't get the impression that the palm connector will actually fit. Get the cheapest USB cable youc an find, and then connect it to the correct 4 pins.

after you connect it then what, you've got a usb cable that will stick out at all times? That is where I am confused.

 

[Tronoman]

"or (best) find a connector that already fits the edge connector with no soldering required. I have not found such a connector, but have heard that a Palm hotsync cable will fit with minor modifications."


To me that sure sounds like he is saying the palm cable fits. If not then yeah you would either have to create your own connection or you would just have a usb cable hanging out.

 

[MattressTester]

Just picked up one of these today. The dealer (Wolf Camera) said they would have another model in next week ($18) with a LCD on the back that allows a view of the last shot. Price seems to be everything on this deal though so I went for the $10.99. I've got an old USB backplate slot from a dead computer. Plan on taking one of the USB jacks and wiring it to the camera board. Looks like there is room to mount near the existing slot. Not elegant but cheap!

 

[TekDemon]

I think the cable is the hard part...someone with access to those 99 cent palm cables who happens to have like 50 $1.25 compgeeks USB cables should mass produce like 50 of them then sell em here for like $5 =P

That would make it so much easier. Of course then they might go DMCA on your butt =P

 

[nebula]

Originally posted by: beatniks3

Originally posted by: CTho9305
I think you just need ANY usb cable - I didn't get the impression that the palm connector will actually fit. Get the cheapest USB cable youc an find, and then connect it to the correct 4 pins.

after you connect it then what, you've got a usb cable that will stick out at all times? That is where I am confused.

Yes you would, otherwise find yourself a 4 pin onnector that will fit in there, then you can have a detachable cable. I saw a pic that looked like they used a 4 pin header from a sound card. You know, the cable that comes from the CD-ROM. You'd have to do some splicing work.

 

[ICantAffordIt]

There are no Ritz stores around me, otherwise I'd give this one a shot. After reading some of the articles, it also says you can call Ritz and order it, but I tried that and the guy said they are out of stock.

 

[nebula]

Originally posted by: ICantAffordIt
There are no Ritz stores around me, otherwise I'd give this one a shot. After reading some of the articles, it also says you can call Ritz and order it, but I tried that and the guy said they are out of stock.

I was trying to call a couple of local Wolf's to see if they had it. I found out that they are all now Pro-Ex and they do have it. I haven't gone there yet to verify if it's the right one, but she said it was the same was as Ritz. (Ritz owns Pro-Ex) So maybe check that route.

 

[ICantAffordIt]

Thanks for the info... there are no Wolf or ProEx stores here either... I'm about 1.5 hours north of Los Angeles

 

[beatniks3]

well none at the ritz's in the westowne mall in madison,WI. lady said they could order from milwaukee. I went to walgreens and picked up their digital camera for 9.99 and took apart. it looks the same on the outside but on the inside the pcb layout is different. the connectors don't seem to be numbered either. i guess I'll have to wait on modding it until someone figures out what is different about it. i held my palm cord up to it and it seems like it would fit with some of the plastic shaved off. i'll be watching this thread for developments.

 

[dchakrab]

Hmmm. Ok, so i've never done anything like this before, but i'm game. Let me get this straight...to make this work, i would have to buy the camera and buy a palm cable that almost fits it, and then shave the cable a little to make it fit? Then what...i buy a USB cable, cut both cables in half, and connect them in the middle somewhere (just twist the right pairs of wires together and tape?) and then download the right program for Windows? And i'm done?

Apologies for the clueless questions, but like i said before, my experience just about extends to crimping a decent ethernet cable, and that's about it. If someone could explain this, i'm on it this weekend, and will post back with results.

Dave.

 

[nebula]

dchakrab

Yep, that should be it.

beatniks3

Why not mod the cable, get the software, and give it a try? Here's some info on the Walgreen's version, link. Looks like the USB pinout is the same so you shouldn't damage anything. The commands may just be different and hence not work.

EDIT: According to that link, looks like there are no drivers for it yet.

 

[beatniks3]

nebula, that link has exceded its bandwidth. i will probably try and do the mod tonight but I was just gonna wait until i hear more about the walgreens one. I'll keep searching the internet for links on the walgreens unit.

 

[tomcas1]

Here's a Google cached link for the Walgreens version.
http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:ekw9GXIn7EcJ:earth.prohosting.com/puredig/+Pure+Digital+Technologies&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

 

[venk]

iConcepts Digital Camera for $15 with a $5 Rebate

Of course you get what you pay for, but I can't imagine it being any worse than this cut up disposable camera without all of that extra work.

 

[CTho9305]

Originally posted by: venk
iConcepts Digital Camera for $15 with a $5 Rebate

Of course you get what you pay for, but I can't imagine it being any worse than this cut up disposable camera without all of that extra work.

Based on this, it looks like the 1.3 MP one is $50. The one you're referring to doesn't LIST megapixels.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: pxc

Originally posted by: GroundZero

go buy a barbie digicam for about 15 bucks and you got a better deal than this pos...
but to each his own, so have fun wasting an enormouse amount of time trying to monkey with this thing

Congratulations, that's the most ignorant thing I've heard all day.

A barbie camera with a 320x240 CMOS sensor is a better deal than a 1.3MP CCD camera and 10 minutes of modifications? Please don't feel you have the need to post in every thread. Thanks.

well i wouldn't be that sure. the pics i've seen look like 640x480 resized to 1.3mpix size. the lack of detail is stunning. i have an old kodak 50 dollar 1megapix cam i bought a while back that looks better.

 

[pxc]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
well i wouldn't be that sure. the pics i've seen look like 640x480 resized to 1.3mpix size. the lack of detail is stunning. i have an old kodak 50 dollar 1megapix cam i bought a while back that looks better.

The kodak 1MP camera has a CCD and probably a better compression algorithm. The pictures on this camera have been varying quality, but all look vastly superior to 0.3MP pictures.

 

[Tronoman]

Here is a page with a lot more info

More dakota info

 

[zoboomafoo]

Here is where you can order one from Ritz 1-877-690-0099. The catalog number for it is #542043310

Cheers!

 

[ICantAffordIt]

I called that number and was told they were out of stock... did you actually call?