Hello everyone, a few hours ago, professionals used an endoscope to inspect the wastewater pipes in our house. They had a professional-grade device.
This service will cost several hundred euros... but it was successful (an overview of which pipe goes where, which ones are no longer in use, a small root ball that needs to be removed, and similar findings).
I liked how well it worked, and I would like to have such a camera myself... of course, it won’t be nearly as perfect, but it might still be very helpful.
Prices start at 30€ and can go up to — of course — very high amounts.
I would be willing to spend around 100€ if the difference to a 30€ device is clear, but without being able to compare them directly, I can’t really tell.
What I know so far:
There are devices with and without a built-in screen.
It seems sensible to me to buy just the camera with a cable and use a smartphone or tablet as the display. Devices without a screen usually seem rather basic (also in terms of camera technology).
Cable lengths vary a lot. Today, 4 meters (13 feet) would probably have been enough, but that was needed as well, and often they only have 1 meter (3.3 feet) length.
I think 5 meters (16 feet) would be ideal.
What is rarely mentioned in the descriptions is the flexibility or controllability of the cable. With the professional device, the camera could be rotated at the end. With simple versions, I assume you can only try to turn the camera by twisting the cable from the back end. That probably won’t work very well, but you have to live with it.
Some devices have two cameras: one facing forward and one to the side (alternatively usable). That might help compensate for camera rotation.
The longer the cable is, the more cumbersome the device is probably to use?
What functions should be electronically controllable? (Brightness? Lens focus?)
My question to the group is:
Does anyone have experience with this and can give me some tips on what to look out for?
This service will cost several hundred euros... but it was successful (an overview of which pipe goes where, which ones are no longer in use, a small root ball that needs to be removed, and similar findings).
I liked how well it worked, and I would like to have such a camera myself... of course, it won’t be nearly as perfect, but it might still be very helpful.
Prices start at 30€ and can go up to — of course — very high amounts.
I would be willing to spend around 100€ if the difference to a 30€ device is clear, but without being able to compare them directly, I can’t really tell.
What I know so far:
There are devices with and without a built-in screen.
It seems sensible to me to buy just the camera with a cable and use a smartphone or tablet as the display. Devices without a screen usually seem rather basic (also in terms of camera technology).
Cable lengths vary a lot. Today, 4 meters (13 feet) would probably have been enough, but that was needed as well, and often they only have 1 meter (3.3 feet) length.
I think 5 meters (16 feet) would be ideal.
What is rarely mentioned in the descriptions is the flexibility or controllability of the cable. With the professional device, the camera could be rotated at the end. With simple versions, I assume you can only try to turn the camera by twisting the cable from the back end. That probably won’t work very well, but you have to live with it.
Some devices have two cameras: one facing forward and one to the side (alternatively usable). That might help compensate for camera rotation.
The longer the cable is, the more cumbersome the device is probably to use?
What functions should be electronically controllable? (Brightness? Lens focus?)
My question to the group is:
Does anyone have experience with this and can give me some tips on what to look out for?
N
nordanney4 Sep 2020 11:04manohara schrieb:
I liked how well it worked, and I would like to have such a camera myself.For what purpose, especially since the pipes have just been inspected? If you know your intended use, you can purchase the right product or get appropriate advice. For example, I wouldn’t know what to use it for inside the house.Z
Zigenpeter864 Sep 2020 11:22Hello,
I personally bought a very cheap endoscope for 35 euros.
Specifications:
5-meter (16.4 feet) cable
Fixed lens
No display
Conclusion: Not usable. Once it’s inside a pipe, you can’t control it and you rarely see what you want to see. Getting around bends is even more impossible. The cable just does whatever it wants. The image quality is not very impressive, and the light doesn’t provide the needed brightness in the dark.
I also use a professional endoscope with a swiveling camera and display for work. The cable is only about 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) long, which is sufficient for the purpose.
The downside is the price, around 1000 euros.
I would advise against the cheap endoscopes. It’s better to call in a professional when needed.
I personally bought a very cheap endoscope for 35 euros.
Specifications:
5-meter (16.4 feet) cable
Fixed lens
No display
Conclusion: Not usable. Once it’s inside a pipe, you can’t control it and you rarely see what you want to see. Getting around bends is even more impossible. The cable just does whatever it wants. The image quality is not very impressive, and the light doesn’t provide the needed brightness in the dark.
I also use a professional endoscope with a swiveling camera and display for work. The cable is only about 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) long, which is sufficient for the purpose.
The downside is the price, around 1000 euros.
I would advise against the cheap endoscopes. It’s better to call in a professional when needed.
nordanney schrieb:
Why, if the pipes were just inspected? That’s a typical forum response. Actually, I’m not interested in hearing why I don’t need the device at all, but rather what I should pay attention to when buying one...
No offense.
Since it’s not that important, we didn’t inspect a pipe opening in the garden, but now I would like to know if I can just fill it in or if it still serves a purpose.
Zigenpeter86 schrieb:
Call in a professional if needed.I definitely won’t do that—at least not for this “untested” pipe. It’s not that important, but if the camera is already available and costs less than a professional’s visit for 15 minutes, it would be practical. I’ve read your description. I can well imagine that with simple endoscopes it’s like that—but it might be possible that there’s a meaningful quality difference between €35 and €100...?
I probably won’t go much above €100...
So far, I don’t have a camera because I couldn’t think of a use for it. After seeing the professional and his results, I definitely feel it would be great to have one (if it works reasonably well).
I looked into this a while ago and concluded that there is no significant improvement between 30 and 100 EUR. At 1000 EUR, things start to get interesting again, and the professional devices mentioned are probably in the mid four-figure range. These also offer interchangeable lenses, GPS, video recording, and much more.
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