FPV Lenses: Focusing, FOV comparison and IR Filtering

Is your FPV picture just a little soft, or looks not quite right. Try turning that lens a bit.

I also wanted to look at different FOV's and important considerations when changing lenses. I've tended to find that *most* lenses are IR sensitive (i.e they don't have the filter) and instead it's on the sensor, but as we found out, this is not always the case so check first.

Banggood were nice enough to send me two RunCam lenses to play with, so here are their (affiliate) links

[scoutworks]

I have been looking for a video like this for ages thanks CK 😁😁😁😁👍👍👍👍👍 didn’t understand the IR thing now it’s clear as day bud

[TobermoryCat]

Never had the ir screen explained before. Thanks.

[GenesRCAddiction]

Thank you very much. I just might be able to use my eachine goggles for more than just a dvr. I look forward to seeing you post new video's very VERY informational. Thanks again

[EnglishTurbines]

Fantastic Tutorial Wayne....I never understood the difference between an IR blocked Camera and a blocked Lense.
For me, it's a 2.1mm Lense, I have always liked a wide angle view.
I can give you a Tip about Lense locking, those rings are notoriously difficult to lock without disturbing the exact focus, so what I do is use a tiny bit of pink Loctite on the threads, I stress here tiny amount only. I measure the gap between Lense ring and Camera body first, so I can set it quickly. Loctite is anaerobic and will set when air is prevented from entering the joint. You can soften it again though by careful, gentle heating.
My pet hate : Lenses with sod all written on them.

[dragnhrt]

Lol... I thought it was just my eyesight. I adjusted my lens just a turn or 2 and I can see a whole lot better. Thank you for the video.

[elementmagic]

Hey! I am looking for an affordable 100 deg lense to install together with a raspberry pi or some other computer to look over an indoor farm growing greens to optimize growth. Could you guide me in a good system of the ones you have used? Thanks, Albert

[ktmjay]

Hope it helps. It helped me a few times.

[gmivisualsjason]

Excellent I noticed the purple tinge on one of the DJI fpv cameras I had. (A quad I later sold) but now on the identical camera in low light I dont see so much purple. I wonder if they've made some changes?

[derekdvorak]

great info!! I run the runcam swift 2 cameras so when I replace the lens I don't need to buy a lens with a ir filter on it as the sensor has the ir filter on it. as for lens size, I love the 2.1mm. i'v tried the 1.8mm lens but for me just a little to much fish bowl at the corners and sides.

[samzilla]

Trying to get a lens for my cheap action camera the current lens is 170 degrees however it has really bad fish eye affect. Would like a M12 lens most close to a gopros fov, I don't know which mm lens to go with would love some help

[gitech]

Very nice! Tnx for the overview! Cheers :)

[jolovid]

You state in the vid that the IR lense is slightly out of focus. In the old film days IR focus was set differently to normal film. Some cameras had a small red dot against which to set the focus.
Perhaps the digital sensor also has a different IR focus point still?

[joycelodrago]

I either ran a CAM nano v3 HDzero or lost the lens in flight and couldn't immediately find the original lens or purchased one that a dealer recommended to me but it doesn't focus

[BrigzyFPV]

Good video, I always learn something watching your vids, thx!! Quick Q for you, I have a Caddx Turtle V2 in my Diatone GT R349 HD, I just rebuilt it but tightened my camera more than usual as I didn't want screws to vibrate out. I went to tilt it up a bit for next flight, it was tight but I got it to move, I had to force it a bit, bad idea everyone! Now I can't focus my camera/lens at all, I am pretty sure it's because the lens is not 100% perfectly perpendicular to the sensor board now, it has to be bang on. Do you think I need a new lens or could I do something with the sensor board to fix? I find it hard to focus with goggles, a monitor would help. It was crystal clear before, just beautiful. Not sure how to test and what to try?

[Barbaric_Iron]

Hello CK, Thanks for the info on the proper way to use micros cams. My problems is, trying to find the right video editor, so if you can direct us on which video editor to use, [and i mean totally free for newbees], it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all you do and happy flying!!!

[Gosuminer]

Thank you, that's an important topic that has not been covered much on the youtubes (at least I have not seen much yet). Is there anything different with micro cameras that don't have a locking ring?

[dittobimaputra]

Hi Sir, so....if we want to change the existing cam lense... -> beware of this IR lens? I used to change foxeer lense (no ir lens) on my generic 1170 cam which the existing lens have ir on it. And the colour like a BW. :)). Maybe I should change to the new lense that have IR on it on my generic 1170 cam.

[rebeloftheskyfpv]

Hi is there a difference in lens for the cmos cams ccd cams as I’m trying to upgrade a fat shark v2 700tvl witch has 2..8 lens and would like to swop with a 2.3/2.5 lens if you could point me in the right direction if this is possible ? Thanks 👍

[dittobimaputra]

Hi...thanks. This is very clear explanation.... But can i install runcam 2, 1mm lens on my foxeer hs1190 / 1170? What do u recommend sir.? Since i like the wide fov of runcam lens and they have the same M12 thread

[ahmedelsafy]

My m8 Lens is glued I think cause I do not have a locking ring and it’s pretty stuck in there, should I just force with a pillars or there is way to do it?

Also the parrot doesn’t want to give me the lens specs to replace the broken one, should I look for something that just with the same FOV ?


Thanks