Venue Webcam Dilemma

[welby]

Hi all,

my residency has asked for a webcam to display on the big screen to add a "wow" factor during the evening.

I took along a small webcam last night and was a failure as the light levels are far too low for a decent picture.

Can anyone recommend a webcam or cctv cam that would do the job?

Has to be in colour and easily mountable and not cost the earth.

Many thanks.

[Vectis]

I tried a number of webcams for "live dancefloor action" through R4 and was disappointed due to quality, light levels and latency.

Eventually I hooked up an old video camcorder via the firewire port and was blown away with the difference. No need for a tape or to record anything.

[spin mobile disco]

Find an old sony cam with night vision. It will have colour and will pick up movement 100x better than any webcam on the market.

[welby]

I tried a number of webcams for "live dancefloor action" through R4 and was disappointed due to quality, light levels and latency.

Eventually I hooked up an old video camcorder via the firewire port and was blown away with the difference. No need for a tape or to record anything.

Thanks for the reply - do you have a model number - I might check out fleabay for a suitable second hand one or I am due an upgrade on my old tape cam - that has dv and usb out, so I am assuming I could use this?

[welby]

anyone?

[DJWilson]

Do you have a video recorder lieing around at all? Hook that up and Bob's ya uncle :)

[welby]

Do you have a video recorder lieing around at all? Hook that up and Bob's ya uncle :)

can you get video recorders with cameras now? :what:

I have a feeling you mean a video camera that records? yes?

[DJWilson]

can you get video recorders with cameras now? :what:

I have a feeling you mean a video camera that records? yes?


Sorry, my bad. Video camera, yeah. Hook that up to your laptop and it should work, it does with quite a few.

[Vectis]

anyone?

No idea... and it's at the bottom of a big heap of kit and raining outside :)

It's nothing special ... just a pretty standard Sony mini-DV handycam type thing with a firewire port which I connect to the laptop and run through R4.

[ppentertainments]

If using a camcorder, does it not go onto standby after so long.
I used one once for a regional Darts final so everyone could see, but had a tape 'recording' so to prevent it 'turning off'

[Vectis]

Mine does if you run it on battery and on pause.

It doesn't if it's on mains power. It'll pause forever. Well, at least the 4 or 5 hours of your average gig :p

[OllieJames]

I believe to use a Video Camera 'LIVE', it has to be FireWire, nothing else. My Canon XL2 works live as it's FireWire, but my Canon HG10 doesn't as it's USB.

[DJMaxG]

Your Options are :
1. IR CCTV Camera
2. Camcorder via Firewire
3. Decent Webcam

http://www.kinetic-cctv.co.uk/images/products/ir_night_vision/kccir36bvf-front.jpg

a Camcorder seems the best option as you can zoom, and will get a HD image (straight out the box)

[welby]

hmmm I have a panasonic with s-video/usb and dv - wont this do?

[Vectis]

hmmm I have a panasonic with s-video/usb and dv - wont this do?

DV isn't an interface standard. I suspect you mean Firewire / IEEE1394, probably with a 4-pin mini plug, yes?

[DJMaxG]

hmmm I have a panasonic with s-video/usb and dv - wont this do?

Yes, it will work.

Whether the picture is satisfactory in low light is dependant.

;)

[DJMaxG]

Are you planning to connect the camera directly to a Television Screen, or to a computer?

[welby]

Ha got it sorted....

you are spot on Vectis - the socket marked DV out is an actual a firewire out. So I have connected this to the pc and loaded the drivers from the cd that came with the camera.

I can now goto the DV/USB menu and put it into webcam mode.

And hey presto I can get a picture in Virtual DJ.

I also have a night/low light setting and I have the option of putting the led light on (that might blind some folk).

All I need to do is stop it shutting of after no activity - must be a setting somewhere...hmmm I think if I put it in a single shot camera mode as opposed to video record mode it might do it.

Nearly there...thanks all.....again!

[ppentertainments]

Ha got it sorted....

you are spot on Vectis - the socket marked DV out is an actual a firewire out. So I have connected this to the pc and loaded the drivers from the cd that came with the camera.

I can now goto the DV/USB menu and put it into webcam mode.

And hey presto I can get a picture in Virtual DJ.

I also have a night/low light setting and I have the option of putting the led light on (that might blind some folk).

All I need to do is stop it shutting of after no activity - must be a setting somewhere...hmmm I think if I put it in a single shot camera mode as opposed to video record mode it might do it.

Nearly there...thanks all.....again!
Excellent news. When you do start using the camera, can you post the results. A 'new' idea has sprung to mind :)

[welby]

yup single shot camera mode doesn't drop to standby - thanks all - sorted