# HUD Gun cam **URL:** \ **Category:** Projects\ **Created:** [March 10, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265 "2020-03-10T20:55:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RebelRoshak](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/rebelroshak/32/6518_2.png) [@RebelRoshak](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/RebelRoshak)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/1 "2020-03-10T20:55:10Z")
Hello. I’ve had a project in mind for a over a year now. Rather simple. But I’ve no idea where to start and or what parts i need. So I’ll explain the project. As from the title. I’m looking to have a four inch or maybe smaller screen displaying footage from a camera placed near the the end of my BB rifle. (I play airsoft). And I’d like the screen placed over my right eye. If I’m able to do what id like. I’ll have a friend construct me an adjustable frame to house the screen. I’ve no idea what Pi or parts or what screen would be best to use. Keeping in mind this all needs to be powered from a powerbank I’ll have in a pouch on my tac-vest. I’ve had a look at a HyperPixel 4.0 and from what i can work out it connects to a Pi 4 using a GPIO? Connecter which then sits on top of the pi 4. If this is true. Is there a way to house the Pi 4 in a pocket and have say a MiniHDMI cable connected from one to another? And then have a long enough cable to attach a camera. One that i can at least unplug when taking my kit off. Or would it be better housing the Pi 4 on the gun somewhere with the camera attached and a cable to screen? Any suggestions and help would be very much appreciated. Thank you. Andy ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 11:27am UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/2 "2020-03-11T11:27:10Z")
The GPIO connector is that 40 pin connector across one edge of the Pi, opposite the power and HDMI ports. And the Hyperpixel uses pretty well every GPIO pin. It does not use an HDMI cable and doesn’t plug into the HDMI jacks. > **[Raspberry Pi GPIO Pinout](https://pinout.xyz/#)** > > The comprehensive Add-on boards & GPIO Pinout guide for the Raspberry Pi > **[Hyperpixel at Raspberry Pi GPIO Pinout](https://pinout.xyz/pinout/hyperpixel#)** > > A high-resolution 3.5 The Pi 4 is the most power hungry Pi yet and thus isn’t really a good choice, IMHO, for a battery powered setup. A Pi 3A+ might be a better choice as its lighter and will use less power to run. [https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/faqs/#pi-power](https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/faqs/#pi-power) I hesitate to recommend a Pi Zero as it might struggle to display a continuous video stream. I tried one with Motion Eye OS and it just didn’t have the oomph to keep up. If you go with HDMI from Pi to display your likely looking at a 5 inch or bigger screen. Go with a PiTFT that plugs into the GPIO and you can go smaller. This may work though if its big enough. It probably is if up close in front of one eye. > **[1.3" SPI Colour LCD (240x240) Breakout – Pimoroni Store](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/1-3-spi-colour-lcd-240x240-breakout)** > > Crisp, high-res, with great viewing angles (IPS), this 1.3" square, 240x240 pixel, colour LCD will add some pizzazz to your Raspberry Pi or Arduino projects. You’d only need a cable with 7 wires in it to remote mount the display away from the Pi. It uses GPIO but only the SPI part. There would be a fair bit of codding to get it to display the video feed though. That won’t happen automatically it only shows what you tell it to show. ---
**Author:** ![RebelRoshak](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/rebelroshak/32/6518_2.png) [@RebelRoshak](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/RebelRoshak)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 11:42am UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/3 "2020-03-11T11:42:40Z")
Thank you for getting back to me. I’m assuming you can’t get like a 1meter GPIO cable to go from whichever screen I use from the position of my head down the back and into a pocket to whichever Pi I use. The have another cable down my body and arm to a camera. Also guessing the cameras don’t have very long cables? I’m not sure if there is a screen say 4" or maybe a bit smaller that uses miniHDMI or something that I can easily unplug. When taking the kit off. ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 12:03pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/4 "2020-03-11T12:03:43Z")
Usually to extend the GPIO you use a ribbon cable. > **[GPIO Ribbon Cable (2x20 pin) for Raspberry Pi Model A+/B+ – Pimoroni Store](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/gpio-ribbon-cable-for-raspberry-pi-model-a-b-40-pins?variant=1005871341)** > > This 175mm long GPIO (general purpose input/output) ribbon cable lets you extend the reach of your Raspberry Pi's pins, bridging them out to other boards or PCBs. You’d need a female to male version to extend a display though, and as you say a long one. Adafruit have a 5 inch HDMI screen. I personally haven’t seen anything smaller that uses HDMI. > **[HDMI 5" Display Backpack - Without Touch](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2232)** > > Its a mini panel-mountable HDMI monitor! So small and simple, you can use this display with any computer that has HDMI output, and the shape makes it easy to attach to a case or rail. This ... You can roll your own cable for a GPIO connected screen. You’ll need some soldering skills to pull it off. ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 12:21pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/5 "2020-03-11T12:21:11Z")
The simplest in terms of cables and or wiring the display would be to go with a PiTFT plugged right into say a Pi 3A+ [https://www.adafruit.com/?q=pItft](https://www.adafruit.com/?q=pItft) It will be heavier than if you had just the display though, there are always tradeoffs with these types of projects. Then just a power cable and cable to your camera. If you did want to remote mount the display your looking at something like this maybe. > **[Pico HAT Hacker – Pimoroni Store](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/pico-hat-hacker)** > > The Black HAT Hacker in bijou form. It's Pico HAT Hacker! One on the Pi with a female header and one on the display with a male header. Then a cable soldered to the pins in use between the two. ---
**Author:** ![RebelRoshak](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/rebelroshak/32/6518_2.png) [@RebelRoshak](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/RebelRoshak)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 12:23pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/6 "2020-03-11T12:23:28Z")
> **[Waveshare Raspberry Pi 4inch HDMI LCD Resistive Touch Screen 800x480 High...](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M07K5QQ/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_8DnAEbHVKVEHA)** > > Waveshare Raspberry Pi 4inch HDMI LCD Resistive Touch Screen 800x480 High Resolution HDMI interface IPS Screen Compatible with any revision of Raspberry Pi: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories Would this work to a Pi 3A+ ? ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 12:38pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/7 "2020-03-11T12:38:45Z")
Yes, it “should” work with a Pi 3A+. The 3A+ has a regular size HDMI which appears to be what that display uses. It comes with a HDMI dongle bit. The touch works though the GPIO header. It’s only a 26 pin header but thats not an issue as the those 26 pins match the pinout of the first 26 or a 40 pin header. You’ll just have a power cable and your camera cable. Keep in mind that the 3A+ only has one USB device port. Not the 4 like other full sized Pi’s. You may need a USB hub to do your setting up and configuring. I use this one with mine. > **[Three Port USB Hub with Ethernet – Pimoroni Store](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/usb-multi-function-lan-adaptor)** > > The perfect way to add USB ports and network connectivity to your Raspberry Pi Zero or Model A+. We've tested heaps of these adapters and this one is by far the best! I plug it in to setup motion eye, then remove it when I’m all done. My Motion Eye Pi 3A+'s are used as surveillance cameras. I have 4 setup so far, two have pan tilts on them. ---
**Author:** ![RebelRoshak](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/rebelroshak/32/6518_2.png) [@RebelRoshak](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/RebelRoshak)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 1:11pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/8 "2020-03-11T13:11:11Z")
Brill. Si I’ve got a screen. Got a Pi 3A+ What camera would be best to use. It would need to be placed on the rifle. With a cable that’s I guess 1.5m long. Again I’d need to be able to unplug it and have it go down the rifle and to the Pi 3A+ in a pocket? ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 1:23pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/9 "2020-03-11T13:23:58Z")
I’m using the Pi foundation V2 camera, thats likely not going to work for you as it uses a ribbon cable. If you used that camera you’d need something like this > **[Raspberry Pi Camera HDMI Cable Extension – Pimoroni Store](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/pi-camera-hdmi-cable-extension)** > > A set of connectors to extend the Raspberry Pi camera cable with a standard HDMI cable. Or a long ribbon cable > **[Raspberry Pi Camera Cable – Pimoroni Store](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/raspberry-pi-camera-cable?variant=10312200583)** > > Cables for your Raspberry Pi camera module! The other option is to use a USB webcam [https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/usage/webcams/](https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/usage/webcams/) ---
**Author:** ![RebelRoshak](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/rebelroshak/32/6518_2.png) [@RebelRoshak](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/RebelRoshak)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/10 "2020-03-11T13:36:22Z")
I couldn’t use the hdmi extension cable for the camera as the hdmi socket would be in use for the screen. ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/11 "2020-03-11T14:27:58Z")
It doesn’t plug into the Pi’s HDMI port. It goes something like this Pi’s CSI \> Camera ribbon cable to HDMI plug adapter \> HDMI Cable \> other adapter back to the camera ribbon cable \> Pi camera ribbon cable connector. It’s two adapters that go between the Pi’s CSI connector and the camera. ---
**Author:** ![RebelRoshak](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/rebelroshak/32/6518_2.png) [@RebelRoshak](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/RebelRoshak)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/12 "2020-03-11T14:50:42Z")
Ohhhh. I see. Sorry. Totally new to all this. Ok so do I need a small ribbon cable to go between the pi and the hdmi extension cable? That solution would be brill as I can just unplug it when I’m not wanting to use it. And I’m guessing I can easily swap cameras. Like if I wanted to swap to like a thermal camera. Ok so I’ve been looking at this camera. Not sure if this would work to the extension cable you linked? > **[Raspberry Pi Camera v2.1 – Pimoroni Store](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/raspberry-pi-camera-module-v2-1-with-mount?variant=19833929735)** > > The Raspberry Pi Camera Module v2 is a high quality 8 megapixel Sony IMX219 image sensor custom designed add-on board for Raspberry Pi, featuring a fixed focus lens. And can you get anything to attach to a camera for like a zoom? ---
**Author:** ![Caperjack1953](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/caperjack1953/32/7923_2.png) [@Caperjack1953](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/Caperjack1953)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 3:52pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/13 "2020-03-11T15:52:25Z")
these ones meant for smartphones ,will work if you have the room to fit it,[https://www.amazon.ca/Telephoto-Fisheye-Samsung-Smartphone-Shutter/dp/B07F8682Q8](https://www.amazon.ca/Telephoto-Fisheye-Samsung-Smartphone-Shutter/dp/B07F8682Q8) ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 6:37pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/14 "2020-03-11T18:37:38Z")
The extension kit I linked to above comes with two short ribbon cables and two HDMI adapters. Plus the nuts and bolts to mount the camera to one of the adapters. Pi CSI \> ribbon cable \> adapter \> HDMI cable \> adapter \> ribbon cable \> camera The camera you linked to will work. ![Kit_-_half_1024x1024](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/pimoroni/original/2X/7/71f8561e0a36e8528dc9023c94f6977f93a7a256.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 6:44pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/15 "2020-03-11T18:44:26Z")
I have one of these, and it clips to the camera. It’s fixed focus though, you can’t Zoom in and out. It has an adjustment ring but thats just to get the picture in focus. I had to build a makeshift support for mine to keep it nice and level and hold it up. > **[Telephoto lens – Pimoroni Store](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/telephoto-lens)** > > Get in close with this telephoto lens, an excellent accessory for the Raspberry Pi Camera module. ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 7:03pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/16 "2020-03-11T19:03:12Z")
Be very very careful opening those camera board ribbon cable locking bars. Both on the camera and the Pi and adapter boards. Be gentile or you may break one. Also pay attention to how the ribbon cables go in. Get it wrong, with the contacts on the wrong side and its the same as having no cable plugged in. Nothing bad happens, the camera just doesn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![RebelRoshak](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/rebelroshak/32/6518_2.png) [@RebelRoshak](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/RebelRoshak)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 8:44pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/17 "2020-03-11T20:44:52Z")
Got most of the parts today. Just setting up Raspberry now on an SD Card. ---
**Author:** ![RebelRoshak](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/rebelroshak/32/6518_2.png) [@RebelRoshak](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/RebelRoshak)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 7:35pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/18 "2020-03-13T19:35:53Z")
Evening. So got the Pi up and running on my computers screen. Got everything working. Camera works fine. And my small 4inch screen I linked has just arrived. Problem I’ve got is when I plug it into the 4inch screen. It’s doing this. ![20200313_193140](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/pimoroni/original/2X/e/ef471c0fce7013d0d58d01a1384c7e8ba62b9f22.jpeg) And I’m not sure what I need to do to fix it. ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/19 "2020-03-13T19:49:49Z")
Plugged in before booting up? Have a look see in your config.txt file `sudo nano /boot/config.txt` for disable\_overscan=1 If it says disable\_overscan=0, try changing it to 1. ctrl + x, y, enter to save the edit. If that doesn’t help change it back to what it was before you changed it. ---
**Author:** ![RebelRoshak](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/rebelroshak/32/6518_2.png) [@RebelRoshak](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/RebelRoshak)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265/20 "2020-03-13T21:24:46Z")
This is what it’s set to at the moment. Phone grab from my monitor. And yes it’s all connected before I powered the Pi up. ![20200313_212315](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/pimoroni/original/2X/b/bcd8c50fc594421b71493263032aa48ac8374739.jpeg) [Next page](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/hud-gun-cam/13265.md?page=2)