The right camera for this application?

[Graham Munro]

Hey Guys,

Well, this is not really pertaining to the Scarlet (which I will buy for my company whenever it comes out). But maybe someone can point me in the right direction:

I am starting a new company that requires a video camera that will do the following:

1. Can record for up to 10 hours with a large battery pack.
2. Records 720P
3. Has a 170 degree lens
4. Can somehow accept data to code the video so when you upload it will separate individual clips based on the code.

I have been looking for days and so far no luck. A lot of those POV cameras would work but the battery/coding is an issue. Any help would be appreciated.

Graham

 

[Justin Armstrong]

You can make your own battery pack

 

[Alexander Ibrahim]

Your requirements arean't clear.

I think you could take any camera with an appropriate video output (HDMI or SDI, though my recommendation is SDI) and hook it up to a computer with a very large disk capacity suited to ten hours of recording.

Ta Da.

The one thing that throws me for a loop is this idea of separating clips based on a code you somehow attach to the video.

Most solid state recorders will just have a bunch of clips.

If you really want an unobtrusive notation in a single 10 hour media file, then I suggest abusing external timecode.

If you pick a Sony EX3 or some other camera that can sync to external timecode, (Or if the recorder you choose offers that ability) then you can occasionally reset the timecode during your take.

Now some TC generators will allow you to simply reset to zero. I think you can get some TC generators to set specific start values. The thing is that I don't know if you can reset/resynch camera clocks while recording. Normally you'd want to avoid that, as it will cause discontinuous TC... but in this case it seems to be what you are after.

If what you really want is to set metadata at each clip, there are easier ways to do that... for example just altering the clip metadata as you go. Especially if the metadata in question is a clip name or scene-take combination, etc etc.

Another option is to use a TC synched note system. The simplest is probably to just record an audio track of the director... or whoever has the proper information you want to use.

Good luck

Still... the problem makes no sense. I can't understand why you'd want to do what you are asking.

 

[David W. Jones]

Hey Guys,

I am starting a new company that requires a video camera that will do the following:

1. Can record for up to 10 hours with a large battery pack.
2. Records 720P
3. Has a 170 degree lens
4. Can somehow accept data to code the video so when you upload it will separate individual clips based on the code.

Graham

You never did say what the application was, or your budget.
Two very important factors!

 

[Aaron Newsome]

Data can be encoded into a standard audio track.

 

[Graham Munro]

Without letting the cat completely out of the bag....

These cameras would be mounted at sporting events (similar to how you have high end residential security systems). We would order 000's of these and would like to be around $150-$300 per unit. I really like those Vrhold extreme sports cameras but they don't fit two of our main issues: The first is they need to be able to record for 10 hours without a plug-in power source (swapping batteries once would work but not perforable). The second issue is they need to be able to record 10 hours of data internally (again, swapping data cards once would work but not perforable).

I am not sure if I have the right terminology with the coding. We want to be able to press a button on the camera so it logs a break. Instead of us cutting the raw data we want to design a program to cut the video into sections based on that log.

 

[Alexander Ibrahim]

Without letting the cat completely out of the bag....

These cameras would be mounted at sporting events (similar to how you have high end residential security systems). We would order 000's of these and would like to be around $150-$300 per unit. I really like those Vrhold extreme sports cameras but they don't fit two of our main issues: The first is they need to be able to record for 10 hours without a plug-in power source (swapping batteries once would work but not perforable). The second issue is they need to be able to record 10 hours of data internally (again, swapping data cards once would work but not perforable).

I am not sure if I have the right terminology with the coding. We want to be able to press a button on the camera so it logs a break. Instead of us cutting the raw data we want to design a program to cut the video into sections based on that log.

Well, I think you may have already sort of let the cat out of the bag.

Check this out:

http://www.ri.cmu.edu/events/sb35/tksuperbowl.html

You may also note that CBS declined to deploy a version when the SuperBowl went high definition.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2007/02/keeping_and_eye/

So, if you are looking to do the same sort of thing, in high definition, then expect to spend a LOT more than $300 per camera.

Even if you have something else in mind, you need to be able to feed an external signal into the camera, so if you are looking to buy off the shelf then you'll spend a bit more for your cameras.

If you are really looking to buy thousands of cameras, then you should design a prototype and have something custom manufactured. It will still cost a lot more than $300 per camera, but at least you'll get exactly what you need.

Best of luck.

 

[Graham Munro]

We are doing something totally different than the links you posted. I agree that I will most likely have to do something custom.

Thanks,
GM