DEAD Canon VC-C4R cameras

[dacflyer]

i thought i got a good deal at the flea market this weekend..
found 2 Canon VC-C4R PTZ cameras, i got them both for $30.00 2 cameras, 2 power supplies and a
USB video capture device.
well both cameras seem to be dead, the power supplies are good.
i read in the manual that the cameras should come to life when plugged in..they are controlled by a remote control. i am not sure if the cameras were turned off with the remote control, and need the remote to turn them back on or not.
i do not have the remote for them.
does anyone know anything about these cameras?
they do look like nice cameras, i'd hate to think they are junkers.
i'd like to know more about them before i decide to tear into them and see what's possibly wrong.

[Janitor Tzap]

I found a PDF file on it.
http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/STARIN ... 0VC-C4.pdf

These cameras are not cheap!!!!

I'm seeing some higher end units that are listing for $770 on Ebay!!!

Also, Canon seems too still have replacement remotes.
And still has support for them.

I read a bit of the manual, and it mentions something about Drivers for it.

I'll do some more digging, and see if I can find out anything more.


Signed: Janitor Tzap

[dacflyer]

ok, thanks..
i read in the manual, the cameras should at least come to life when plugged in.
but they don't.

thanks if you find any info on them..

[jwax]

Canon should be able to assist in getting those going dacflyer.
I bought a top-of-the-line Ethernet camera on fleabay a while back. Built by a defunct English company. Thing has a hard drive, memory, and pc boards I never thought I'd see in a "camera". Without the software, it's just a high quality color video camera. I wish I could get it to work as an IP camera, but no software to make that happen.
Yours, from Canon, should be fixable! Have you opened them up yet?
John

[dacflyer]

i cannot see how to open them up..hidden screws somewhere..i took the bottom mount plate off the bottom, seen 4 screws that i thought held the case together, but something is still hanging it up.
i might call canon and see if they have a service center that i can send them to.
i just wonder how much they'd charge.
also i wonder if it is possible to make/convert the cameras from ceiling mount to a base mount
(flip over switch or something.)

even cooler would be if it had "follow you software" when you move the camera would also..via the rs232 port but i am sure that's asking too much..lol

[dacflyer]

UPDATE - i got time to dig into these cameras more.. figured out how to get them apart.
anyway i got to digging into them..
i found a small SMT fuze 2.3A closest thing i had was a 2.5A
i soldered it in , then reassembled..powered it up and it came to life..
the cameras are unreal in quality..it can give a excellent view of the yard, and it also can go into macro..example, i got my tongue about 1/4" from the lenz... i could actually count my taste buds..lol
i am gonna order the remote control for them now..

i wish there was a way to flip the video so that i could use the cameras on a tripod or desktop.
this model as it is.. is only designed for ceiling mount.
i may order the 9pin DSUB to 8pin mini-DIN
or if i just get the 8pin mini DIN itself, i could put a and on it and then connect with Ethernet cable.
i have the software, so i could control up to 8 cameras if i had them..lol
later i may use these cameras for front yard and back yard surveillance.

[jwax]

Nice fix dacflyer! Did both cameras have the same bad fuse issue?

Those are super quality cameras! Can use perhaps use a mirror to flip the image?

[Janitor Tzap]

Cool,

Here's the Canon Site.
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/p ... ndSoftware

Nice fix dacflyer! Did both cameras have the same bad fuse issue?

Those are super quality cameras! Can use perhaps use a mirror to flip the image?

Yeah,
They should at least have software with the flip the image ability.

If not....
Open up the camera, and rotate the CCD pickup imager 180 degrees.
That is, if the CCD can be rotated.


Signed: Janitor Tzap

[dacflyer]

yes, both cameras has the same issue..

[Janitor Tzap]

Sorry,

I see you already got the software.
I have got to stop skimming over pages.

I found this image while hunting for info.

Not 100% certain this applies too the cameras you have.
But it seems that once you have access to the Camera Menu.
There is an option; Direction Mirror.

See if the Software you have allows you too adjust the settings.
Or get the Remote which has the Menu Button on it.
So you can adjust it that way.


Signed: Janitor Tzap

[dacflyer]

the mirror image feature just flips the image horizontally..

so if you see a word, it would be reversed in the image, not flipped vertically.

i did find out that the cameras i have...they have better image quality than the standard camera.
zooms in better also.. since it is ceiling mounted.

[Janitor Tzap]

I did some web hunting and came up with this....

You could make a similar camera mount.
But so it could be attached to a tripod, or stand.


Signed: Janitor tzap

[dacflyer]

ya, i was thinking of the same thing of sorts
i ordered the remote for it the other day and i am making up a cable for it also to control it via laptop software. for when and if i use it out of IR range.

[jwax]

Or flip your monitor upside down.

[dacflyer]

naa, if i do then my other programs would be upside down.