Previous posts for this project:
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - Index
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - Week 0: Project Description
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - Week 1: EnOceanPi and Sensors
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - Week 2: Elro CoCo and Pi Cam with OpenHAB
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - Week 3: Data persistence and charts with OpenHAB
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - Week 4: Arduino-OpenHAB communication
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - Week 5: Getting familiar with EAGLE
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - Week 6: Getting to know the TBS1052B-EDU oscilloscope
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - Week 7: First tests with RPiSoC
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - Week 7 (2): More testing with RPiSoC
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - Week 8: Water dispenser and temperature
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - 3D Printing: EnOcean sensor bracket
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - 3D Printing: EnOcean rocker switch and magnet holder
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - 3D Printing: Food dispenser prototype
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - 3D Printing: Weighing scale
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - Security: Some basic tips
- [CaTS] ForgetMeNot - Minion: Dave, the gassy minion
Introduction
A tiny update to end the week with, while I am away enjoying Maker Faire in Rome ...
I wanted to increase the visibility of the Pi camera used in my project and came across this clip-on wide angle lens.
The lens seems to be made for mobile phones, but fits the Pi camera very well.
Lens
I came across the lens via ThePihut.com and thought this would be ideal to increase the viewing angle of the camera in my application. This lens would allow me to see the cats and their surroundings when eating or drinking.
The price was reasonable at 5GBP, so I ended up buying one. Worst case, I could use the lens for my smartphone. A few days later, the lens arrived.
It came with a cap for the lens, and a little pouch to store it in.
The lens gently, but firmly holds the Pi camera in place using the big clip. It is unfortunate though that the clip itself does not have any mechanism to be attached to something else, while holding the camera.
Effect
Below are two pictures:
- on the left, the original picture, without using the extra lens
- on the right, same view using the wide angle lens
I find the amount of added information incredible. Even though things are a little bit distorted due to the lens, it serves its purpose well in giving a better view of the surroundings.
I can see this being very practical in other applications such as smart doorbells, where you would want to have full visibility of who's at the door.
Have a nice weekend!
