Lightest camera suggestions for very special application?

[CharlesGordon]

I could use a little advice here. I would like to try aerial photography from a model airplane. Typically this is done with a regular compact camera (around 200g or 6 oz) in a airplane weighing about 2kg or 5 lbs.

My plane is much smaller, which is great for flying out of smaller areas.

What I need is a camera below 100g, and with decent quality (don't want one of those $50 ones sold in bubble packaging).

I think what I'd like to do is find a $150 compact that I can take apart and use just the guts of it. Any suggestions? Anyone take apart a camera or know of one that has an all-plastic construction?

BTW, the camera database feature on this site doesn't quite go as low in weight as I need, but I do notice that the Casios seem pretty light to start with.

 

[WD40]

What you need is one of the "Pure Digital" disposable digital cameras. They're sold at Rite Aid, Ritz/Wolf, CVS Pharmacy, etc. The ones with the display run around $20, the ones without are like $12.

Designed to be cheap, they have no moving parts other than a shutter. The lens is tiny and fixed focus, and the camera is very compact and very durable. People mount these things to just about anything, and without the case, they are just a single lightweight circuit board.

Check out this site for a bit more info.
http://www.maushammer.com/systems/dakotadigital/lcd.html

• David

 

[Bob Blount]

How do you plan to trigger the camera? I would imagine any camera with a remote control would be much heavier with limited range for the remote control.
--
Bob,

'Sometimes I get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter.' Ansel Adams

Sony R1
Canon Pro1
Casio Z750
Nikon 3100

 

[CharlesGordon]

Very interesting. Not quite what I was thinking, but I may have to pick one of these up anyway and try it out.

What you need is one of the "Pure Digital" disposable digital
cameras. They're sold at Rite Aid, Ritz/Wolf, CVS Pharmacy, etc.
The ones with the display run around $20, the ones without are like
$12.

Designed to be cheap, they have no moving parts other than a shutter.
The lens is tiny and fixed focus, and the camera is very compact and
very durable. People mount these things to just about anything, and
without the case, they are just a single lightweight circuit board.

Check out this site for a bit more info.
http://www.maushammer.com/systems/dakotadigital/lcd.html

• David

 

[CharlesGordon]

Most likely a mechanical servo arm to depress the shutter. These days servos weigh as little as 3 grams!

How do you plan to trigger the camera? I would imagine any camera
with a remote control would be much heavier with limited range for
the remote control.
--
Bob,

'Sometimes I get to places just when God's ready to have somebody
click the shutter.' Ansel Adams

Sony R1
Canon Pro1
Casio Z750
Nikon 3100