Cameras on my RV8
Here are some pics and Web address for the Daytime Cameras I have on my RV8. Rear & Upward facing camera is mounted on a Backseat head rest I built.
Fuselage cameras are Repurposed Car Back Up Micro Cameras, but they come with the ability to Flip & Reverse the video which allows mounting several different ways and avoids confusing picture.
https://www.amazon.com/GreenYi-1280...words=rear+view+camera&qid=1635458215&sr=8-86
Underwing Cameras Forward/Down & Rear/Down (Same Type) on Access Plate.
My HUD Camera which is recorded on a Micro DVR. Camera is a FOXEER T-REX (Normally USED In FPV Racing Drones), These cameras all come with wide FOV Lens, so for the HUD I had to experiment with several different Lens until a found a 25MM Lens that would align with the HUD FOV. Good thing this camera has a changeable Lens.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/165378806784?hash=item2681585400:g:cMgAAOSw9S5h4ncg
Fuselage cameras are displayed on my MGL EFIS in the Front & Back Seat. And I built a selector switch which allows front or back seater independently select which of the 4 cameras to display.
The FLIR 640x480 Pixel Video Camera is going on my next plane. Purchased off E-Bay from a volunteer fire department. I haven't built the Servo actuated Door yet but it will swing down from under the right wing. I will also have to make an basic aerodynamic shell for the camera, but it wont be in the airstream continuously so it will be pretty simple.
Possible Cheaper but lower resolution IR Camera available soon?
https://store.hudway.co/nv_camera
IR cameras can't see through normal glass or plastic so mounting it like through a canopy doesn't work. 99% of the cheap IR cameras require an IR LED Lamp to work correctly. Of no use in an aircraft. I haven't found any affordable Low Light (Star Light) Video Cameras yet. To build your own FLIR Video system My recommendation is to look for a FLIR company product and get 640x480 pixel resolution. Used prices on E-Bay have been between $2K - $3K, And camera has to be small enough you can build a mount for your aircraft of some kind. There is a growing market for IR Camera equipped small drones so there is some neat IR cameras and remote turrets available from that market, but again they can be costly.