Cheap alternatives to a vid camera

[DocSavage]

Hey,

I've been thinking about the possibilities of being able to hang a camera over the decks at my local club and using that as my live video feed. Now here's the question: As a cheap alternative to getting an actual camera, would I be able to use a webcam? This would probably be piped through Resolume.

As well, does anyone have experience using those cheap security cams they pimp out all over the internet?

Ryan

[MoRpH]

Yep try a webcam or one of the little mini spy cams... can be had for about AU$120 - radioshack/dick smith/jaycar

[elbows]

Ive found theat good security cameras are usually better than webcams. NOT that one thats pimped all over the net though, apparently it sucks.

Find a CCTV supplier or electronics supplier near you and look for small cameras in the sub $100 / ?100 range.

The level of lighting in the club is probably the biggest limitation, but a cheapo black & white camera can give good results especially if you are processing t into colours in some VJ software anyway. Seems to handle low light better than colour cams.

[vjrei]

Mmmm, The security video camera is the best option. I have been doing a very extensive research and test.

I have a powerbook G3 500 with firewire imput. I used Rythmic Circle Fuse to edit the video imput and is way too slow.

I got today a Videonics MX-Pro mixer and at the store I saw a $200 wirless black and white security video camera with a 300 feet range (I'm in Venezuela so the camera would be cheaper in the US).

That wireless camera in color would be the perfect solution, just need to be pluget to an outlet for power, it looks heavy and very well made with a 2.4Ghz transmission rate (include audio).

I was looking for usb or firewire cameras, they are good but you will find problems with the cables lengh.

I'm going for analog cameras, the resolution is above average for the use.

Right now my set up consist in:
The G3 powerbook with Fuse and MotionDive3.
A JVC S-VHS with audio dub that I saw without use in a friend of mine studio
The MX-Pro console. I didn't get the DV version because 90% of the equipmnet is analog or s-vhs compatible. So, even I could conncet a DV camera, I can do it to with the s-vhs video connector of the same camera and I'm saving $1000 at list. The quality is not that different, there are a lot of variables involved that will degenerate the signal and the DV connector won't resolve 98% of them.

I preffer to spend that ammount of money in security video cameras or another VHS.