video camera for use on big screen in pub

[dwents]

Can anyone reccomend a low light colour camera for putting images of people dancing up on to the big screen in a pub enviroment.

at one of my venues they had a cctv camera that worked fantasticially in low light conditions and didnt flair up much when the disco lights hit it.

 

 

I know this is a bit amature for the Blue room but any advice either on specific brand model etc would be appreciated.

or just a few guidelines on what to look for spec wise.

[dwents]

Can anyone offer some advice on this subject

I know it's a bit heathcliffe but it's what the client want's. they had it at there old pub ?

 

If someone can give me a idea on what features lighting levels etc I should be looking for I can search for the right camera I just dont know where to start

[paulears]

The problem I suspect is that we've not posted because no camera is perfect. That said, virtually all, even the cheaper ones do it quite well. They hate having lights pointed at them, shutting down the exposure to compensate - but very few are rubbish. CCTV cameras tend to have different implementations of iris control for security purposes - so they don't shut down when headlights appear - the headlights just burn out. Cameras designed for recording, have a more averageing system, and close down a little, but not completely.

 

If you want a brand new one, then the type that record onto SDHC cards are quite cheap and very light. The only thing to watch is that some have video output linked to the power supply system, so when running on battery, you cannot use some of the outputs. A trip to currys is the simplest. I buy quite a few domestic cameras each year to use as breakable ones, and as models seem to change so frequently, I just buy Panasonic or JVC, and have not had a problem yet.

[dwents]

Thanks Paul

From speaking to the manager the old pub had a dome type colour cctv camera that worked very well and was always on so they could show the bands and people dancing on the tvs around the pub

 

what she wants is simmilar thing a camcorder isn't the right thing but a point worth mentioning for other events.

 

Can anybody give idea on what Lux levels im going to be needing to look for as the spec on various low light cameras

vary dramaticially.

 

any advice would be great

I appreciate placement of the camera would be criticial to avoid the problems Paul mentioned

[billy bobinski]

Hi There,

 

As far as your question goes for this camera, I know of a superb unit which has just come out on the UK market. It is called a Shadow View ultra low light and will provide excellent colour images in low light. Only problem is that it will blind out if lights are directed at it. It will go down to 0.00045 lux, which, believe me, IS good. It,s available from a company called COP (www.cop-eu.com). The only problem being that these are trade only, so you may have to ope4n an account with them. OR have a trail round ebay and look for that spec of camera.

 

You should be looking at around the £150 to 175 mark inc Vat.

 

Hope this is of some use.

 

Billy

[dwents]

Hi Billy

That was exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for I'm going to call them in the morning

thanks for your input

[emsgeorge]

Cop are an excellent supplier - adata is another one, still needing the same trade info as cop though.

[paulears]

I would pay little attention to claims of X or Y lux, making the assumption that the lowestest figure is best. The specs never say what kind of picture you will get at low light levels. So a really sensitive camera can give pictures in moonlight. Great for security, but not much use for saturated decent colours. Increase the gain, and increase the noise. If low light performance is critical, try before you buy (which wipes out eBay or second hand purchases).