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Changing the field of view for a Logitech 9000 Pro webcam

Hi all:

I'm trying to turn a logitech pro 9000 webcam into something that I can use to do a weekly time-lapse video of my garden as it grows this year. The pro 9000 has a 'real' 2megapixel sensor (1/7") and an auto-focusing lens that has a roughly 70' (diagonal) field of view. At the distance to my garden from my office window (about 20 feet) I'm stuck with really, really terrible resolution; somewhere down in the 4.5x4.5mm per pixel range... I ran the calculations and I'm looking for a replacement lens that will give me around 20-25' field of view; this will bring my entire garden into view and still leave me with a ~1.7x1.7mm - to - pixel resolution, or, about what I get right now at 5 feet.

I'm trying to keep the camera relatively intact; opening it up and switching the lens unit = good; taking the whole camera apart and building a mounting platform for a regular lens from my 35mm camera = bad. Anyone have thoughts on what would happen if I replaced the adjustable lens with a simple fixed focus lens; maybe stolen out of a disposable camera? I think the Konica's use a 17mm 2-element plastic lens; I've never torn apart a disposable camera to see the lens structure to know whether I can make a replacement mount easily. I have access to a high-precision machine shop, so if the lens assembly is easy to pull, I should be able to come up with a precise lens mount. With a 17mm lens, and the 3.5Xmm CMOS sensor; that'd leave me with only 12' for field of view...dang... what I need is a lens with an 8-10 mm focal length. Does anyone know where I can salvage/steal a lens like that? Remember, small form factor is important!

I'll try doing the replacement with the disposable camera lens to see if I've got my theories straight! If anyone has questions/criticisms/concerns please let me know,

-J

Jack F.
Thu, 22 May 2008 21:20:46 +0000

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