Night Vision Monocular

[Builder_Of_Bots]

I am building a night vision monocular and I have a low lux camera that has a NTSC video format. For the part you look into I was going to get a old camcorder with a viewfinder. The problem is that I risk paying for a camcorder that doesn't work or has really low video quality. My question is if there is any kind of display similar to the viewfinder on an ~1990 camcorder that is < ~$50. I am going to mount this on a airsoft gun so I need something that doesn't shine on my face and give away where I am hiding. An old viewfinder has a rubber eyepiece that keeps light from coming out. Thanks for any help.

 

[FedericoTheIncompetent]

Ok I'm trying to build the same thing in the same way I guess; there is a youtuber that build one of this monocular

sorry for the nazi grammar I'm not english, the video is the first of two It is in Italian, if you want I can translate it but I raccomand you to watc you don't have to understand what hes saying pictures speak for themselves

 

[FedericoTheIncompetent]

Now let's talk about those viewfinder, i ripped off mine from my old dad's camera an old sony, I have to say: the viewfinder is an awesome thing, It's a cathode ray tube of the dimension of a glue stick and the quality of the immage is amazing

 

[FedericoTheIncompetent]

There are other options like using cheap actioncam with incorporated screen 70+-€ or attaching an lcd screen to a low lux

Buy an old camera, the immage is good and you can find them for 15€ try hard and one more thing can you send me some pics abou you're project if you are constructing it?? Sorry again for errors hope you understand

 

[Builder_Of_Bots]

Now let's talk about those viewfinder, i ripped off mine from my old dad's camera an old sony, I have to say: the viewfinder is an awesome thing, It's a cathode ray tube of the dimension of a glue stick and the quality of the immage is amazing

I just got one a few days ago and powered it on for a few minutes to see what it looked like. I tried to solder some wires to it but when I did the viewfinder didn't power on. I suspect I ripped the little pads you solder to right out of the circuit board. I then found the ground and the 5v somewhere else in the circuit and it powered on. But I have absolutely no idea where the video is in the circuit board. Anybody know? Is there anyway I can fix or decode the circuit board?

 

[FedericoTheIncompetent]

Ok first danger doc (the first link) "there is 2 type of viewfinder 1 with the power cable in the viewer 2nd the type that recive energy from the main circuit bord of the camera" if you're viewer is the second type you threw money in the fire the viewfinder shoukd work at dc 5-12 volt/100 mA and read composite video signal

 

[FedericoTheIncompetent]

After powering up the finder you touch the remaning cable (2) (4 cable-2 (ground and +12volt) with a metal screw driver, if you see some tv statics this means you found the video cable

 

[FedericoTheIncompetent]

!WARNING! You have to solder an electric resistor between the output video of the low lux and the imput video of the viewfinder (75~200 ohm)

 

[FedericoTheIncompetent]

The resistor will probably solve you're problem, it removes the majority of statics

 

[Builder_Of_Bots]

Ok, I found a old security camera and tested video out on a VGA screen. It worked so I went to testing it out on my viewfinder. After about 30 minutes I found a lead that made a red indicator light go on. Does this mean I'm getting video or something else?

 

[FedericoTheIncompetent]

" After about 30 minutes I found a lead that made a red indicator light go on. Does this mean I'm getting video or something else?"
By lead you mean maybe a LED light? Like this

I think the red LED means "power on" (I don't understand what lead means i nthis contest you mean a path. way? An LED light or the poisonus lead metal

 

[Builder_Of_Bots]

Ok hear is some pictures. First is the viewfinder without video. Second is viewfinder with video coming in. And third and fourth is the circuit board.

 

[FedericoTheIncompetent]

How many cables exit from the viewfinder? 4? I mean not all the cable, just the output one, they should be ground, 5V the video IN and the high pulse. The high pulse is useless, you should seal it with insulating tape.
So after powering tge viewer you touch the 2 remaining cabe with aafpiece of metal. If something appeares on the screen it means you found the video in, try both cable

 

[Builder_Of_Bots]

How many cables exit from the viewfinder? 4? I mean not all the cable, just the output one, they should be ground, 5V the video IN and the high pulse. The high pulse is useless, you should seal it with insulating tape.
So after powering tge viewer you touch the 2 remaining cabe with aafpiece of metal. If something appeares on the screen it means you found the video in, try both cable

There are 6 pins where the cable connecting the viewfinder to the camera was. I think I might have torn the soldering terminals right out while de-soldering the connecter on the circuit board. I think its toast. I'll just buy another old camera. Thanks for everybody's help.