Camera 397 only B&W

[donkjr]

I bought the 397 camera and the 910 NTSC TFT display to build a camera-display system.
I have connected them up like the tutorial suggests.
Everything works fine except the display is B&W only.
I hooked my Sony camera to the display and got color so it seems the camera is not putting out color....

Any ideas what is wrong .....

[adafruit_support_bill]

Have you tried adjusting the image properties via the Comm Tool? The default saturation is relatively low on my copy of this camera. In low light it can appear almost monochrome.

[donkjr]

I haven't tried programming the camera, the material (tutorial) says it should be color out of the box???
I don't have an arduino set up to do this ...

[adafruit_support_bill]

It is color 'out of the box'. But the default saturation is on the low side (This is also mentioned in the http://learn.adafruit.com/ttl-serial-camera/using-commtooltutorial). This is a simple adjustment in the COMM tool. If you have access to an Arduino or an FTDI cable, it is not hard to make this adjustment.

[donkjr]

Ok, so I finally got back to this project after traveling Sandy etc....

I got the camera hooked up to the comm tool and adjusted the saturation as the tutorial suggested.
The captured image is color and the saturation did increase the color ...

The display (# 910) still is in black and white???? See from previous posts I already tested the display.

Either the display is not working (tested previously) or the camera is not outputting color on the composite video output?

I will go test both again but I could use some ideas, or do I have a bad camera?

[donkjr]

Follow up:
The display is working properly and color with other sources.
I think there is some weird setup on the camera or it is not outputting color..
since day one it has never been color and the saturation was not the problem?
I have been through all the docs and the comm tool many times.

HELP please, should we replace the camera?

[tastewar]

I suspect at least part of the reason there's been no response here is that you stated in your previous update, "The captured image is color and the saturation did increase the color ..."

I don't personally know anything about the device, but I was confused earlier when you posted this, as it sounds to me like you had satisfied yourself that the camera was working.

[donkjr]

Sorry for the confusion.

The key statement in the last post is:
"Either the display is not working (tested previously) or the camera is not outputting color on the composite video output?"

Seems to me the camera is not working properly, now what?

[adafruit_support_bill]

Contact support@adafruit.com with a link to this thread for a replacement.

[donkjr]

Thanks I sent them the link you suggested.

[donkjr]

I finally got back to my camera project (over the holidays).

Thanks Adafruit for the replacement camera.

The configuration:
I am using the 397 connected to the NTSC/PAL (Television) TFT Display - 1.5" Diagonal - ID: 910.
The composite (CVBS) is of the camera is connected to the composite signal on the display (yellow wire)

Testing:
I tested the new camera using the tutorial and the VC706comtool.
I was able to set up the camera and indeed this time it captured in color.
I also could change settings in the control software and see the changes on the display.

....the captured image on the VC706 is in color BUT the image on the 910 is in B&W.
The configuration of power and wiring is the same under all conditions.

this is driving me nuts ....

I clearly got color out of the camera when using the serial connection and test software ...
.... but the camera is still not outputting color on the composite CVBS connection.

More testing using the exact same circuit:
Connected a video player to a big color tv: full color using the composite video out (this was the control test)
Connected the 910 display to a video players composite out: Excellent color video.
Connected the camera to the TV's composite in: full video but in B&W????

Its clear that the camera can capture and output on the serial port COLOR.
Its also clear that the camera CVBS is not outputting color.

I noticed that the two cameras that I have, are slightly different in configuration.
Looking at the 397 from the lens side with the connection pins on the left....
.... in the upper right corner near the hole,
.... there appears to be a smd transistor that is missing from my first camera but installed on the second one I was sent.

Could not get picture to upload???

______

Any ideas on what I should try next??
Is it possible that some configuration is a messed up, a jumper on the camera ?
Has anyone tried this configuration??
Are there schematics etc for the camera board....

[pburgess]

Just curious...what's your power supply?

[donkjr]

The system runs on a 9v battery.
The display runs on it directly,
the camera runs on 5v regulated with a 7805 from the 9v.