Remote lens for video cam

[MVZ944T]

Anyone have any info on where to purchase a remote lens that will work with a mini-dv camcorder? How do they connect to the camcorder?

Thanks

[Dan Chambers]

Mike:

Talk with Bob Brand, Tom T. or Jad D. about that. I think you're looking for a "lipstick" adapter ..... a "remote eye" that you mount elsewhere and plug in to your Mini-DV recorder. These guys have them, and they work well. Bob has even put his on the outside front of his RS America at A-X's. Apparently, they plug right into your mini-cam.

I'm looking into this also, so let me know what you find out. My understanding is, you can go to an electronics store (most likely with your mini-cam) and see what kind of off-the-shelf lipstick cam adapters they have for your specific mini-cam brand ("lipstick" for the size of the remote camera lense). I'm planning on talking with "Good Guys", "Best Buy" and other electronics stores.

Let me know what you learn. 944 guys want to know .

[Jad]

Fry's is the only place I found with a cheap one, $29 or so. It plugs into the A/V input of SOME video cameras. Each camera is different, so read your instructions to find out if you camera takes an analog input. I have one that does, one that only takes digital inputs and one that doesn't take any.

[gulf911]

Fry's?? I suppose you shop for computers there as well??

Go on ebay, do a search for lipstick camera, or helmet cam. There are several excellent companies that sell a complete product including cables and power for the lipstick cam. They range in price but I found mine for $189.00. Its usually a sony low light camera 480line. You can get cheaper 380Line but the resolution is noticeably better with 480. I posted a compressed video of Pahrump here somewhere, I thought the quality was better than my actual Sony HC30 DV camera lens.

[ttweed]

He's not the cheapest, but one of the local SCCA autocrossers, Randy Chase, sells a whole line of these: http://www.chasecam.com/bulletcam.htm with mounts, cables, microphones, etc.
His latest one is 580 lines and is $275 without a microphone. He has 380 line units w/microphone for $178. Remember, if you want sound, you need an amplified microphone input for these cameras as well.

TT

[ttweed]

Fry's?? I suppose you shop for computers there as well??

Hey--I resemble that remark! I got my last computer at Fry's for less than I could have built it myself out of components. It's still running strong, no problems.

They can have smokin' deals on some of the specials.

TT