Set up a camera to record high quality images automatically

Question

I want to setup a camera to record high quality images automatically, the images should captured at various times per day outside, sent somewhere for storage, and it should run for years with hopefully very little input from me. Outside in my situation is at my house, I live in Denmark so in the winter cold, lots of rain all periods of the year. I have some old digital cameras that I could theoretically use (high quality ones but about 13 years old), I also have some cheap gopro-like competitors.Any advice on setting up such a system, projects you can direct me to for inspiration - guidance. I would like to not go over 1000 dollars but don't let the price guideline deter you from making the best suggestion.

totalZero · Accepted Answer

I'd probably start with a headless Raspberry Pi and one of their camera sensors. This one is nice: https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-high-quali...
The main challenge would be setting up a weatherproof enclosure.
It's unlikely that you will be able to beat the weatherproofing of a GoPro, but you would have less ability to customize the automation if you go that route.

cclark00 · Answer

I have run a Raspberry Pi Zero W with 5mp camera and MotionEye software outside for 3 Christmas seasons to control an animated display. I trigger on movement and capture still and video images to the SD card and automatically upload them over WiFi to my ftp server. I can monitor a live stream anytime too. MotionEye does everything.This setup runs in a small waterproof enclosure and runs a bit warm (35-45C) that dissipates any condensation or rain on the fisheye lens. This might help you with snow accumulation.

hajmo97 · Answer

Take a look at this project https://www.nyctimescape.com/. In this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xQ3vrmPNfw he (Joseph DiGiovanna) explaines his setup.

tgflynn · Answer

It's not clear to me what you mean by "high quality". Do you just mean capturing images at the highest resolution the camera supports or do you have some other criterion for quality ? Also are the images to be taken at random times, at some specific predetermined times, or when something interesting happens to capture ?As I currently understand the question I would say that the solution mostly depends on what interfaces the cameras provide for remote operation, so without more information on the specific cameras you want to use your question isn't really answerable.

azalemeth · Answer

A bit more detail would really help here&ndash; do you have wifi in the target area? Electricity? GSM service? [I know that the sim cards are horribly difficult to buy in Denmark cheaply &ndash; they are tied to CPR numbers I think beyond 30 days]Are any of your old "digital cameras" dSLRs capable of running Magic Lantern? Is the 1000 USD (&asymp;6500 DKK?) budget for the duration of the project, or just the set-up? Will you be able to visit it periodically once running? Are you trying to do a timelapse photo, CCV, or watch some specific event?

mackatsol · Answer

Can you elaborate a bit? Would the cameras connected to power? USB? WIFI?
If they were connected to power and USB you could have a computer inside the house that tells the camera to take a picture at a certain time and then copies that picture to some online storage. My guess is that there are timelapse apps that can do that already.
As for the outdoors part there are lots of weatherproof enclosures available.

brudgers · Answer

What do you mean by &rsquo;high quality&rsquo;?

supperburg · Answer

I would buy a new gopro to solve weatherproofing, add some kind of heating element to the case in front of the lens to prevent frost/condensation, put a shield above it to keep the rain and snow off as well as the sun, just for good measure.