Digital camera technology continues to open up previously unexplored worlds for study and exploration. For avid fishermen, it may even help them to catch 'The Big One.'
Shenzen, China-based Mustech Electronics is helping to popularize portable high-definition camera gear, beginning with its new Video Fish Finder. Designed for open sea fishing, the Wi-Fi controlled device operates by cable lowered into the water, offering a 360 rotational view of the surroundings, aided by on-board LED bulbs. Images are displayed on a monitor aboard the ship to help fishermen locate and identify their quarry.
The deluxe version of the kit includes a seven-inch display monitor with 800×480 resolution, video and photo capture abilities, and up to 150 meters of 2.8mm thick cable rated at 80kgs. Onboard sensors relay water depth and temperature, as well as current latitude and altitude, to an LCD screen. A micro SD memory card allows for easy PC image transfer. The unit comes with a built-in rechargeable battery and USB charging cable.
The Video Fish Finder serves a different purpose than common sonar-driven fish finding devices which first appeared in the 1980s and 1990s. These days, serious fishermen make use of high frequency scanners that take an MRI-like image through the water. But while they provide awe-inspiring detail levels, readings can be adversely affected by seawater, bottom formations, biological material (algae and plankton) and suspended particulates, along with water density and salinity.
"The Video Fish Finder is more of a fish catching helper than a true 'fish finder' per se; it shows where to put your hook for a more efficient catch," says Mustech representative Sophia He at the April Hong Kong Electronics Fair. "It's like being able to see in the dark. But you still need to know how to fish."
Mustech's 2016 product lineup includes other interesting digital video gadgets, such as high density multilingual hunting cameras with infrared features for low-light and nighttime use, magnifiers to aid reading obscure texts, 600dpi color high-speed portable handheld scanners, USB digital microscopes, and head-up displays (HUDs) that mount on car dashboards.
The firm does OEM (original equipment manufacturing) and ODM (original design manufacturing) work, and aggressively courts partners to develop new products.
Mustech's high-end UM018G 1080P/5M Wi-Fi Digital Microscope was one of the more impressive items at its expo booth. It offers full HD clarity and 12 megapixel resolution, while bringing magnification of 10X to 230X (down to 0.001 meters) in either video or still camera capture format.
A downloadable app allows for PC interface and image display at a range of up to 20 meters on Android, iOs or Windows operating systems. The entire unit measures 165mm x 118mm. Other models feature HDMI connections for piping images to TV monitors. Wholesale prices range around $100.
"Schools find that the high definition microscopes offer far more than traditional 'scopes, and therefore benefit the educational process by bringing the nano-world to life," says Ms. He. Meanwhile, materials experts find the portable units advantageous for inspecting circuit boards, paintings, diamonds, coins, skin, and hair, she adds.
