Hi All! (first post)

I'm a 55 y/o disabled/retired industrial technician and a hunter. And that's where the problems begin. LOL.

Last year I suffered a stroke in my right eye and lost vision in that eye. If I were left handed, that wouldn't be a problem, since when shooting I would use my left eye. The problem is that I'm right handed. For my crossbow, this isn't an issue, but with my bolt action rifle it is a big issue. For those of you who don't know, if you shoot a bolt action rifle with the wrong hand, you will end up eating chicklets (teeth) as the bolt will knock them out for you.

What I've done so far is I purchased a system on Amazon that has a camera and 3.5" LCD monitor that attach to the scope. IF this system worked the way it was advertised, it would be great. It doesn't. There is no way to securely attach the whole get-up to the scope or picatiny rail without major modifications. Plus the LCD screen doesn't take the recoil of the rifle being fired. The camera holds up just fine.

What I'd like to do, if at all possible, is attach the camera to a smaller screen, something like the 1.4" round screens from Amazon, and make it into an eye piece I can wear over my left eye. Preferably something I can flip up and down....otherwise I'd find myself walking around staring down my rifle at everything! lol

I don't know anything about cameras, their formats, the interface or how to program a Raspberry Pi or Arduino. I was wondering if anyone has any ideas to help me out here.

The camera has a micro USB connector that plugs into a battery pack with (2) 18650 Li ion batteries. From the batter pack a cable goes to the monitor via a 3 wire, 2.4mm stereo jack/plug. The only form of ID on the cam is around the lens where "1/2.5" 16mm IR 3MP" is written.

Basically, the idea is to make a headband of some sort with a flip-down, small screen that plugs into the battery box and gets its feed from the camera mounted on the scope.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I could accomplish this at a reasonable price? If need be, I can add images of what I'm working with.

Thanks!

 

I am trying to understand what you are doing. Is the camera viewing through an existing optical scope?

 

I am trying to understand what you are doing. Is the camera viewing through an existing optical scope?

Yes. The camera will be mounted to look through the scope.

 

Interesting idea.

Your flip up screen will need a lens as well since the eyes can’t focus that close.

Can you find a camera / lens combo that is designed to be separated like that? That would simplify it a lot.

 

An interesting option would be VR headset that you slide a phone into and a wireless camera that can talk to the phone. This could be a cheap alternative.

 

Maybe I’ve misunderstood, but typically the front and rear sights of a rifle are aligned along the centre of a barrel, and a telescopic sight is the same, but if you want to use a rifle with the butt against your right shoulder looking down the sights with your left eye then you need a mechanical arrangement which places both front and rear sights to the left of the barrel by almost exactly equal amounts, ideally a distance equal to the distance between your eyes? Maybe an arrangement along the lines of a periscope to allow the left eye to look down the barrel would also work? Using a scope, the same applies - mount the scope to the left of the barrel. So long as it’s parallel with the barrel, you will miss the target by the distance it’s away from the barrel, so the focus setting of the scope will provide the necessary adjustment needed to move the scope slightly out of parallel with the barrel, similar to the up/down adjustment needed for distance

 

Ok. It might help if I show you what I'm working with. @BobTPH I already have the camera....trying to DIY this to make it work.
@Jerry-Hat-Trick follow the attached amazon link.

https://www.amazon.com/BESTSIGHT-Di...-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

 

That link shows the cam/LCD combo I have on hand. The way it attaches to the scope doesn't work; it can't handle the recoil. So I figured out a way to secure attach the camera to the scope.

Now I need something that will sit in front of my eye that the camera can feed to.
That's the part I'm trying to figure out. I tried mounting the LCD screen off the side of the camera/picatiny rail and that was just a disaster. The screen doesn't much care for the recoil either. If you've ever watched Star Trek Next Generation, I'm kind of thinking of something like the Borg eyepiece. Or like a pilot's head's up display in a helicopter (Apache) where it only covers one eye. That way I can still shoot my rifle right handed.

 

@BobTPH I already have the camera....trying to DIY this to make it work

I understand that. Sometimes it is not worth the effort to use something you already have. We all fall into that trap sometimes.

 

I understand that. Sometimes it is not worth the effort to use something you already have. We all fall into that trap sometimes.

Well, in this economy, on a monthly SSID check, I can't afford to simply scrap parts I have on hand in favor of buying something else.

 

I’d say the suggestion of scope mount will keep you hunting, while a camera could fail in so many ways. Might have to take that kick in the teeth.

 

Well, in this economy, on a monthly SSID check, I can't afford to simply scrap parts I have on hand in favor of buying something else.

But you need to buy another screen that can be simply connected to the camera. Have you found one yet?

 

56 years ago I learned how to shoot a right handed rifle aiming with my left eye. Not a bolt action type, though. Then there was a prism device that became part of the site and made that a lot simpler.
But to do that with what you already own, I suggest a shock mount to support the LCD monitor an inch or two above the scope and a bit towards the left. That way you can still have a view of the area you are shooting at. any other scheme would be rather dangerous to others in the area.