Re: Camcorder as video source for 24x7 monitoring?

["Bob La Londe" <usenet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Jeff Sutter" <lurkeroo@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1136922158.759979.308830@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Greetings.
>
> I need to videotape activity (vandalism) some 200 feet away, 24x7, for
> about two months, from two camera positions.  Standard mini-DV
> camcorders with 20x zoom lenses would provide the best image, but I
> wonder if I'm asking for trouble - has anyone tested the duty-cycle on
> such camcorders?
>
> Would there be a more practical way to obtain a 10-20x zoom setting on
> a security camera?
>

Your camcorders might hold up that long under continuous use, if they don't
have an auto shutdown feature.

All kinds of lenses are availble for CCTV cameras though.  I typically buy
2.8 to 12 mm lenses and then jsut adjest them for the application.  I also
keep a few 5.5-33 mm lenses on hand and of course there are others in oth
fixed and varifocal.  If you do a search on-line there are a couple lens
calculators available where you can plug in the distnace and field of view
and it will tell you which fixed focal length lends will suit your needs.
Then you don't even need to go the expense of a varifocal lens.  Just order
the one you need at the same time you order your cameras.

--
Bob La Londe
http://www.YumaBassMan.com