[Success] Adding A Camera (WebCam) To TP T410

[nikki605]

This is a follow-on to this topic, but since I'm dealing with a T410, I thought it better to start my own topic.

I'm thinking of adding a camera (WebCam) FRU 0Y9402 $55 from this eBay seller to my T410. I've removed the bezel and found that the cable is indeed there as shown in this pic and on page 141 of the HMM.

My 1st question is does anyone know if the silver M2 × 3.5 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (1) mounting screw is included with the webcam FRU? (I've also sent this question to the eBay seller).

Second, I don't think the camera will come with the clear plate (dust cover) as discussed in other topics. But in looking at the list of parts included in the Miscellaneous service parts FRU 60Y5461, I don't see anything that sounds like the camera clear plate. Is there any reason that I couldn't just drill a hole in the existing solid black cover plate to match the hole in the bezel as shown in this pic? I know that would expose the camera lens to dust & dirt, but I'm really careful with the TP so I don't think it should be a major problem. Or does anyone know of a better source to get the right clear plate?

Thanks for any help!

[rsutoratosu]

I'm in the process of doing this for my t500, i order the parts off ebay.. i figure ill drill the hole instead of getting a new bezel... if it doesn't look good, ill end up buying a bezel for like 15 bucks..

[nikki605]

You shouldn't need to replace the whole bezel. The plain black cover plate used when no camera is installed just has a sticky back and simply peals off. I assume the "clear plate" just has a small circular, clear plastic area that lines up with the camera lens.

The problem for me is finding the "clear plate" since I don't see it listed in the misc. parts. The misc parts may be different for your T500, I don't know.

EDIT: The eBay seller I linked to in my original post just replied and said that there was no screw included in the camera packaging, but that he could include one at no charge.

[Colonel O'Neill]

A piece of clear tape would probably work too.

OT: That's a lot of services you have running, nikki605!

[nikki605]

I'll try to look for a good quality piece of clear tape/plastic that I can place under the current solid black filler/cover plate after I've drilled the hole. I don't want to use a material that would distort or cloud the image.

I've never really studied the running services... any suggestions which ones you think aren't necessary

[nikki605]

I'm waiting for the camera to arrive and have a favor to ask of the members. Could someone with a T410 that has a factory webcam in it please measure the diameter of the "hole" for the lens? I don't want to drill a hole any bigger than necessary. Is there actually a piece of clear plastic (clear plate) over the lens? Never having seen one, I'm just trying to get an idea what a T410 with a factory camera installed looks like. Has anyone seen any good, closeup pictures of the camera area of the lid, maybe in some technical info or advertising?

Thanks in advance!

[nikki605]

Success Got the camera late yesterday & installed it this morning with no problem. I was able to drill 2 small holes with my Dremel Tool, one for the camera lens and the other for the green activity LED, in the solid black filler plate.

The only other thing I did was to run Lenovo's System Update and let it install the driver/software (ver 1.1.0.42) since none was previously installed.

Fn+F6 brings up the new camera settings along with the camera image window. I even made a few quick videos with Windows Live Movie Maker, including sound from the internal microphone.

The process was really quite simple.

[Aiwi]

I had similar success adding a webcam module on a Thinkpad T400s,

All T400s Screen bezels seem to be compatible, there's just a black sticker covering the webcam hole. On the T400s there's already a stereo microphone chip located where the webcam is supposed to be, so after buying a webcam chip with an included sticker on taobao
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=7533264297& all I had to do was to follow the HMM:
Unscrew two screws
Snap loose the screen bezel using a credit card
Unplug interface cable
Move thinklight
Unscrew microphone chip
Remove microphone chip
Add webcam chip
And then follow the previous order in reverse

[puma]

I have a question when you guys installed the webcam, how did you cover the holes? Or did you just leave them uncovered by a lens of some kind? I would be interested to know if I can find the little black piece of plastic to cover the webcam with the clear holes for the cam and led. Any one know?

[nikki605]

I couldn't find just the clear plate, so yes, I drilled 2 holes in the black plate. If you find a source for just the clear plate, please let us know - thanks!

[nikki605]

Just found a seller on eBay who has the webcam clear plates for the T410 & T410i and bought one. Coming from China, but he has a good feedback rating, so we'll see how this turns out.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWNX:IT

[puma]

That's great keep us posted. I wonder if they will fit a t420s

[nikki605]

I will. I have no idea if the T420s uses the same clear plate or not.

[nikki605]

Received the clear plate today. Peeled off the blank one I had drilled 2 holes in and replaced it with the "regulation" version - 30 seconds and done. Fit like it was made for it.

I'm a happy camper. I have a "factory installed" looking webcam.

[ss08x]

This is a great thread! I just bought a used T410 and didn't realize there was no webcam. A quick search brought me to this thread where I found that adding one was simply buying the module and lens cover and installing. I ordered a webcam and cover and installed it successfully today. Looks like a factory install!

I also wanted to warn others from buying a knock off camera - that's what I did, and the quality of the video is poor. The factory webcam in my W500 is significantly better. I bought this kit:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/180900348114?ss ... 1497.l2649

When the quality bugs me enough, I will purchase a genuine camera module.

Thank you Nikki605! Very helpful thread!

[nikki605]

Glad you found the information helpful and were able to get it installed and working.