Scope Cam Evolved: A Hajimoto & Side-Shot Collaboration

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Can anyone help me with a focusing problem? In video, my crosshair is in focus and sharp but my target is not, even though the view through the scope looks perfectly focused to my eye.

I have a Side Shot and GoPro Hero7, Peau Productions 8.25mm lens, and Athlon Argos scope. I've focused the lens to my crosshair and made the changes to the GoPro protune mode that Hajimoto posted here earlier.

Any suggestions? Thanks!
 
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@Slothy I would recommend setting a target up at 25 yards, set your scope zoom to half its range, focus the target through the scope so it is absolutely crystal clear to the eye and then begin your lens adjustments using a video feed to a tablet, Smartphone or computer monitor so you have a larger review image to guarantee you have the image in the camera as sharp as it can be. I would recommend you review my other post that details GoPro settings and speaks to the Shutter and ISO settings. That post is located HERE it is on page three of the thread we are currently in.

The lens adjustments are very very small, no large twists just little nudges and review, nudge and review until the target is as clear as the crosshair. It takes patience to find that sweet spot but once you have it, the video image will be glorious!

Good luck!👍
 
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May I suggest to use a piece of double sided tape to hold the lens in place once you have found the sweet spot. Not sure what your setup is like, but for mine, the lens will tend to rotate freely and it would get out of focus. Mark your lens with a line to the body so you can see where it needs to be. If you don't have a locking ring with the lens. Good luck.
 
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After doing a lot of research on the GoPro and side shot I decided to follow the advice of Hajimoto and I ordered the SideShot scope mount for the GoPro 567. I also ordered a GoPro 7 black as I didn’t want to mess with the GoPro 4 as my son uses it for videos. I haven’t ordered a lens yet because I have gotten some different options on what’s best, Hajimoto recommended that I get the following 8.25 mm lens

https://www.peauproductions.com/products/8-25mm-f-3-0-41d-hfov-16mp-br-no-distortion-hero-5-6-7

when I spoke to SideShot they told me on their 5,6 and7 GoPro they got the best results with this 12mm but they may of been using it on back bone modified GoPros.

https://www.back-bone.ca/product/12mm-m12/

i had also read were Hajimoto in the past said you should only use 4 to 6mm lens so it seems that Whats best is always changing. Currently I am leaning towards the 8.25 that Hajimoto most recently recommended to me as I have questions on the 12mm properly fitting in the camera when the sideshot is locked on it.

i got the sideshot 7 black for $300 that’s $50 less than most other stores but I have to wait a week for it to be shipped, I’m assuming the store has them in route to them. Because of this delay I’m going to wait a few days to order the lens as I’m waiting for a few sources to reply to questions. I will share any new info I get with all as soon as I have something.
 
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@Brian10956 I have the 8.25mm Peau lens on my Hero 7 and it works pretty well. From what I gathered while searching for alternative lenses, the Hero 5/6/7 aftermarket lens selection is very limited unless you get the modified Back-Bone GoPro which will allow you to use M12 lenses. Just out of curiosity and thinking I could potentially modify the lens I tried using this M12 lens on the Hero 7 and I couldn't get it to thread in beyond a few turns. I believe the thread pitch is different.

Here are two video grabs (so please don't mind the image quality) just so you can get an idea of how the scope picture from the 8.25mm Peau lens fits in the frame. The 12mm lens would probably bring the scope picture all the way to the top and bottom edges of the image. More ideal, but for me not worth double the price. Hope this helps.

1557333658_16348954585cd3069a2e5fc3.19759789_GPTempDownload 2.jpg


1557333673_10837354895cd306a92d27e9.96552138_GPTempDownload.jpg

 
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Art,

thanks for the info, my research which has been extensive these past few days has led me to the same opinion in lens choice. I just put my order in for the 8.25 lens that was recommended by Hajimoto. I had contacted Cvivid who sells the 12mm lens and was told the same thing concerning the threads.

here is the info I got from Cvivid lens


The 12mm lens doesn’t work with a GoPro Hero 7 Black because the thread size of GoPro 5/6/7 lens is M12 x 0.35 while most replaceable S-mount lenses(such as 12mm lens) are with M12 x 0.5 thread size. So most of them won’t be fit for GoPro 5, 6 or 7 without using a ribcage.

So I couldn’t see going with the rib cage body either as $500 more for a custom camera faceplate is a bit too much. I’m not a machinist but too bad someone doesn’t make a sleave that can go in in place of the lens and you could drill and tap the insert for the lens thread. But that’s assuming there is enough material on the threaded part of lens that can be taken off without ruining it. 

so far I’ve spent $143 for the lens, $325 for the 7 black, $279 for the SideShot I probably spent around $50 for extra batteries that would be needed with either setup. That’s a total of $747 vs $1250 with the rib cage version. A roughly $500 savings over the rib cage version. In the cuter if the demand is there I feel more lens will become available or someone will invent a better mousetrap.
 
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If the camera is in the sideshot scope cam can the cable be connected? I haven’t yet received my side shot for the 7 black so I don’t know if the camera compartment has an access port to the camera.
Click to expand...

By default there is not any access or opening in the case, I modified my cases to allow for the cable connection. I used a Dremel. Please keep in mind that I only use the 7" screen when in night vision (IR Mode) and for that, I have a dedicated GoPro Hero4 Black with an installed IR filterless lens.


 
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I picked up a field monitor with a focus peaking feature to help set the GoPro's focus with the new lens. The door for USB and HDMI on the Hero 7 can be removed. I drilled a hole in the waterproof housing to allow a cable to be connected while the camera's in the housing. Just temporarily mounted on top of the scope with a GorillaPod for convenience while testing, it's not secure enough for field use like this.

1557404338_5892576035cd41ab2ccf684.59762946_IMG_8479.JPG

 
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I was going to order the monitor that Hajimoto posted on from eBay. At the top of the page it said the vendor was not around so I looked for something similar as there are manythat look like they came off the same assembly line.

the one I found cost about $10 more $44 total or best offer I just put in an offer for $40 . What I like about it it’s a higher resolution 1080 vs 640 and it also has an option for power via a standard 5v 2a usb Charger plus the AC 12 volt adapter, that way I can run it off my power supply battery when I’m away from ac. Other than that it looks the same.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-7-LCD-CCTV-Monitor-USB-Power-5V-2A-1080p-AV-RCA-VGA-HDMI-BNC-HD-PC-Screen/253936249865?hash=item3b1fc7ac09:g:AmoAAOSwSZBbhRJZ&autorefresh=true

one other difference is on the 1080 monitor the hdmi port is a mini so you need a micro to mini hdmi cable to connect to gopro 7

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019BVUKVM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


 
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I decided to hold off on getting the usb monitor I found. It just seems like to much to bring to the range . Since I just want to use it to get a better view of what I’ve photographed I was thinking of getting a Amazon Fire tablet that way via USB from the GoPro 7 my old eyes can see what I’ve done. It will also make it easier to fine tune the new lens. 

The Fire is only $59 and it’s battery is good for up to 10 hours.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0794RHPZD/ref=s9_acsd_al_bw_c_x_2_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-1&pf_rd_r=WKM3HPCVP63RMHH6SDNT&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=6c02ecab-994c-4544-86d8-59f13872d22e&pf_rd_i=6669703011


 
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