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Beam scales - A new App.
Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 5:29 pm
by 1066
I know I'm not the only one who likes their beam scales, and I know a good many of you are using the webcam or smart phone trick to eliminate parallax error.
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/201 ... martphone/
I've now found an even better/easier way to get the same results. With a new free app you can now plug a £5 webcam straight into your tablet or smartphone which makes it very practical and cheap.
The app I use is "camerafi" for android but it's available for a few pennies for Apple users.
You can see it in action on my scales here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2PF2xv_OPs
Re: Beam scales - A new App.
Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 7:57 pm
by Alpha1
Super dooper thanks for the heads up.
Re: Beam scales - A new App.
Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 9:11 pm
by HALODIN
It seems to be an Android only app. There is an app of the same name, but it looks to be a different developer in the iStore.
Re: Beam scales - A new App.
Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 10:11 pm
by HALODIN
I've had a good hunt around and it seems you can't get a direct attached USB webcam to work with an iPad.
Re: Beam scales - A new App.
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 6:14 am
by Dahonis
What a clever idea
Re: Beam scales - A new App.
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 12:34 pm
by AlieN
Hi 1066,
Will any £5 USB webcam do. Most of the webcams suggested by the camerafi website are expensive Logitech ones. What do you use?
Ta,
AlieN
Re: Beam scales - A new App.
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 12:52 pm
by 1066
AlieN wrote:Hi 1066,
Will any £5 USB webcam do. Most of the webcams suggested by the camerafi website are expensive Logitech ones. What do you use?
Ta,
AlieN
I've tried it with these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Portable ... 51cff346b2
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-5mm-USB-End ... 3aa73b3f44
and they both work with no problems.
For use with the scales you will need a camera with an adjustable lens to focus it down to 2" or so. The camera in the first link works well as a scale cam. The lens is a bit stiff to turn at first but it will turn, you need to unscrew it just a couple of turns.
Re: Beam scales - A new App.
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 12:53 pm
by 1066
HALODIN wrote:I've had a good hunt around and it seems you can't get a direct attached USB webcam to work with an iPad.
You're quite right - I can't find one that works with Apple. I've seen new droid tablets for £35 at times.
Re: Beam scales - A new App.
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 1:13 pm
by HALODIN
Yep it's a bit of a shame, that would have worked really nicely for me. I have an Android tablet as well, but the battery life is awful. Not to worry I still have an old laptop.
1066 wrote:You're quite right - I can't find one that works with Apple. I've seen new droid tablets for £35 at times.
Re: Beam scales - A new App.
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 6:29 pm
by 1066
HALODIN wrote:Yep it's a bit of a shame, that would have worked really nicely for me. I have an Android tablet as well, but the battery life is awful. Not to worry I still have an old laptop.
1066 wrote:You're quite right - I can't find one that works with Apple. I've seen new droid tablets for £35 at times.
I would be inclined to dedicate the droid tablet just to that job and sort a power supply - either keep it charging from the mains or one of those external power packs - my local garage had some 2.4AH phone power packs that recharge from the PC USB port for £7.00