phone as night vision cam?

[bytewarrior]

hi,

i've noticed that there's webcams out there that use infrared led's to see in the dark, and also that my phone's camera can see infrared light from a TV remote, and I was wondering if anyone has experimented with using a infrared illuminator torch to get night vision footage on a camera phone.

sounds like fun! has anyone tried this, or can test it?

cheers

[h4x0r]

When I read your post, I thought that you must be mistaken. Normal cameras don't pick up infrared. But when I checked, you were right! It's really amazing, and I'm pretty sure that the infrared flashlight on some videocameras which allows them to make movies at 0 lux is going to work, but the only catch is that the video will come out all red and pink :P

[perish]

which phone do you have??
is this going to work on my n7610??
because it would be fun, although picture would be wierd....

[bytewarrior]

which phone do you have??
is this going to work on my n7610??
because it would be fun, although picture would be wierd....

I've also got a 7610 but I think I originally noticed it on a SE P800, so I'm guessing it's standard for all cheapo digi-cams. :-)

dunno what wavelengths it'll pick up, how bright it has to be, what kind of light source (led or bulb - narrow/wide band). I don't wanna spend £25 (http://search.ebay.co.uk/infrared-torch) on a flashlight unless it works and I can see some pics. I've asked someone selling illuminators on eBay if they can test it out and put up some pictures, if there's no joy I'll just buy one and try it.

[Musicb0ffin]

I don't think the output would be redish, althought theoritcally it should be. If you point your tv remote into your fone cam, it comes out bright white, just like if you light somthing up with the tv remote. I think you will end up with black and white pictures.

[twr7cx]

I don't think the output would be redish, althought theoritcally it should be. If you point your tv remote into your fone cam, it comes out bright white, just like if you light somthing up with the tv remote. I think you will end up with black and white pictures.

I agree. I tried it today with a 3650 camera and found the camera picks up the light as white.

[smpballa240]

Wow I tried it and it works. Incredible. Someone please find out what wavelengths a standard TV remote operates on. If you could buy an infrared flashlight that operated at the same wavelength, we'd all have night vision cameras for the 15 dollars the flashligt costs. I'm really amazed this works, military night vision goggles cost around 500 dollars, so it's amazing to me how similar this effect is. Someone please do more research into this.

[Musicb0ffin]

I'd expect the phone to pick up infra red from the end of the spectrum closest tro visable light, sort of around 850 - 1050nm. I think if you got a hunting flashlight, it would do the job perfectly.

[bytewarrior]

IRDA is 850 to 900 nm (if I remember correct)
I've tried using a TV remote to light up a piece of paper in a dark room (phone in night mode) with no joy - got a completely black image. I'm guessing the infrared light will have to be bright to get a decent picture. also fyi it shows up blue/white on my 7610

I've asked someone selling illuminators on eBay whether they work with camera phones, and got a reply saying he didnt have access to a camera phone to test it. now surely this would be in the sellers interest, cos an auction like "turn your phone in to a night vision cam" would shift loads of overpriced illuminators.

despite that, I got paid today, so I'm going to bite the bullet and buy one. :-)
I'll post my findings in a couple of days

[twr7cx]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15241&item=7108926192&rd=1
Get something like that going! :grin:

[twr7cx]

Or this: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20589&item=5927744404&rd=1

[yuppo]

I hadn't noticed the that it shows ir but my mate has a uv torch which gives off hardly any light but if you look at it through the phone it's a deep blue beam.

[bytewarrior]

torch arrived this morning, and now it's dark enough I've had chance to play with it.
Problem is the beam is too narrow. it's too bright up close, so to get any kind of picture I need to hold the light way back in one hand, and the phone up close.
also, it turns out the torch has a normal bulb - everything but infrared is filtered out by, well, a filter believe it or not... so i google for filters and find a place selling filters for maglites (http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/for_sale.htm) and a completely free alternative (http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/text-infrared-filter.html). bah. /me slaps himself

I think I'll be making a film filter for my maglite and try again, at least i'll be able to focus the beam, maybe even get some better pictures. (i've resized these pictures, cos they look crap and are a waste of space)

[iamkapilb]

This has been a really informative read! A real eye opener :eek:
Some good description along with gr8 picture posting. But, the pics seem to be unsatisafactory.
Is anyone working on it to check if the image quality can be increased? Maybe using different IR Flash light..
I jus got an idea... does anyone have a night vision camcorder? u can use its IR and try to see wit ur phone... anyone havin access to such camcorder pls check..
Hoping to get a reply..

[bytewarrior]

I've been playing experimenting some more with the ir stuff, So far I've modded my phone so there's a light on the outside (maglite bulbs!) - I'm waiting to get hold of some infrared transmitting filter. it makes a great torch!!

I'm documenting on an unlinked page on my site (http://www.bitplane.net/infrared.htm) - it probably won't be finished for a few days, but I thought I'd better tell you lot anyway :smile:

It works with two bulbs, so I'm guessing it'll work with three or four.. if that's still not enough light for a decent picture I'll admit defeat - but the new piccies look promising (and I like my phone with a light on it...)

[bytewarrior]

bah the bulbs popped, so I'mleft with a stupid looking hacked apart case w/ wires hanging out of it and a switch on the back.
I'm investing in some 3.6v backlight bulbs from maplin.. will post results in a few days