Turning a Hawkeye FPV Camera Into a High-Quality Cinema Camera
Curious Scientist built this custom camera for filming hardware on his workbench.
First-person view (FPV) cameras, which are usually intended for RC aircraft and similar applications, have improve dramatically over the years. A decade ago, most of them output grainy standard definition video. Now, models like the Hawkeye Firefly Split V6 Pro offer extremely good video quality, thanks to a large 1” 20MP Sony sensor. That is so good that it is useful for much more than just the usual FPV applications. Curious Scientist proved that by converting the Hawkeye Firefly Split V6 Pro into a cinema camera for recording on his workbench.
Hawkeye markets the Firefly Split V6 Pro for use with drones and RC aircraft, as well for industrial imaging — tasks like machine learning and scanning. It comes with the Sony sensor, a C-mount lens adapter, a main control board connected to the sensor with a cable, and a keypad interface connected to the control board with another cable. It is up to the user to put those pieces together with other components, like a power source and monitor, to create the complete camera configuration they require.
Curious Scientist originally tested that with everything loose, but ended up stripping the C-mount threads on the provided plastic adapter. That led him to this project, in which he repackaged everything for everyday use.
He started by trying to find a replacement C-mount adapter, but was unable to source anything suitable and mass-produced. That led him to an alternative: an enclosure meant for CCTV cameras, which had an appropriate C-mount on the front. He took that C-mount and attached it to his own 3D-printed enclosure with room for all of the Firefly Split V6 Pro components. That enclosure also has a mounting point for an external monitor: a 3.5” HDMI display kit in its own 3D-printed enclosure.
This new packaging lets Curious Scientist use any C-mount lens (there is a massive selection of affordable lenses out there), including microscope lenses. He can see a live preview on the attached display and feed video out for recording. He’ll be using that for filming hardware on his workbench.
This is a pretty niche camera setup and most people would probably benefit more from a conventional mirrorless camera. But it is cool to a custom-made camera like this, which should serve as inspiration for those of you who need a camera that simply can’t be found at Best Buy.