Maxima

I just need to be able to manually zoom and not have to think about touching the focus, much like a camcorder. Does such a lens exist for a box camera?

I was just looking at that exact camera. I guess I was assuming from the pictures, they were the same size as my hand-held Sony Handycam hard drive camera. But after doing some more checking, I think they are just over 3in long and 2in high and wide. I think that is going to be the best solution for me at this time. Thanks.

Yeah, it would have the plug for auto iris. I figured if it could provide power for the auto iris, auto focus would be no big deal, but it appears the options are limited. I planned to use this for a front camera in a vehicle setup. There are units that are basically like what I want, but they are the camera and lens combined, almost like a camcorder with a harddrive and only an output. They are fairly large though, and look like a camcorder (worried about theft), and most are no name junk. I was hoping I could just get a good small box camera so I could manually zoom in on something I needed quickly without having to deal with the focus.

For one of my cameras in my system, I'm looking to put it in a bird house mounted securely to a tree. The camera is a Bosch LTC 0355/20 with a Bosch 5-50MM lens. First of all, if the box camera is in a water tight wood birdhouse, will there be heat problems? I'm also thinking of adding a separate IR illuminatior inside the bird house. I've never worked with these before; will they create a lot of heat? I'm really just trying to avoid buying a real outdoor enclosure cause it will look goofy mounted in my tree since it's close to the side walk and may make the neighbors wonder.

Well I think I'm going to be going without the Illuminator and just have the camera, but I'm looking at having 3 cameras in the same box. Truthfully after using my first real camera with high res and low lux, I don't know if I could ever consider anything but a real box camera again unless it was in my vehicle setup or something. I seriously can't wait until I get home again tonight to play with the camera and look at the clear picture.

UH OH. I was really hoping it was going to be okay in the heat. I've never used an outdoor type enclosure, but could never understand how a fan would work. Won't it being open to air, allow moister in? Thanks for the reply.

Camera is marked 24VAC, but isn't this connection a 12VDC?

True. Like in my city, not only do you have to pay the monthly monitoring fee, but also a fee to the city. Get 2 false alarms, and not your paying even more. More work too, with setting and disarming all of the time. I don't think I've ever seen "CCTV system" listed in a home for sale ad though. Any of the pros ever thought of using it as a selling tool?

I'm getting ready to install a 6-8 camera system at my house and would like to know what every one thinks a CCTV system does to home value. I live in a bigger city that does have crime problems (normally #1 each year in the country), but I live in the better part. There still is a decent amount of property crime though. I've looked, and I've not seen one other other house in the area with a camera system. Will putting in a system at my house affect the home value in any way?

Do you think a majority of buyers would feel the same? Do you think having a system installed, for people not likely to pay to put one in, might increase the chance of them buying? Maybe unknowingly spend a little more for the house? Or do you think people will see it as an eyesore (even nicely done) and spend less or avoid the house all together.

I'm kinda working on a mess around project and need the cheapest quad that has motion which auto switches that camera to full screen on a call type monitor. I'm looking to spend less than $100. I found some on ebay that claim motion detection, but I don't know if they switch to full screen or not. What other reason would you have the motion part then? Just some examples. http://cgi.ebay.com/Quad-for-Security-DVR-system-Video-CCD-Camera-CCTV-c43_W0QQitemZ190252957052QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item190252957052&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318 http://cgi.ebay.com/3P61-Mini-4-CH-Real-Time-Color-Quad-Processor-w-Remote_W0QQitemZ270318245150QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item270318245150&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Looking good man! Glad to see you got it up and working.

I thought these questions would be best suited for this section of the forum. So I finally got my 7 hidden cameras for the car. I started some of the basic wiring last night, but then starting doubting myself. All the cameras (2 types) run off of about 100mA. Is that seriously only .1A? They came with 400-500mA AC power supplies though @ 12 volts. The Quad processor is like 200mA and the Microphones are near 20mA! Is it going to be okay if I give them more power than they need?

Yeah, the DVR has a cable that goes to the start ignition wire so it won't try to run on some crazy start up voltage. I'm going to be using the wire that finally does give power to the DVR, with a relay so it turns the cameras on once the car has safe voltage. You guys really have me wanting them on all of the time now though. I could probably hook them up to a car alarm motion sensor so any action would kick the DVR and cameras on and record it. That wireless transmitter would be awesome!

Yeah, I'd like to be able to keep them on all of the time, but I just don't think it's going to be possible without really working the battery. I think the Mobile DVR is 10A. So that plus everything else, and it wouldn't take too long to run it down.

Okay. Thank you. That's what I thought, but wanted to check with you guys. I've got three 1/3" sony CCD 4.3MM lens cameras and four 1/3" Samsung CCD B/W cameras. I think the mobile DVR takes 10A too. The cameras and video will only be on when the car is on, or when triggered by hidden switches/remotes or when the alarm goes off. About how long do you think it would take before it makes the vehicle unable to start? I can have my 15Amp radio on for 5-6 hours before I can't start the car anymore.

How many amps are you putting to each camera?

Hey guys. I'm so glad I found this forum. Like before any project, I try to find a forum about it so I can get honest options from real people and not the normal BS from the makers of products. I'm looking to put a 4 hidden camera system together for my car with a DVR. I'm a little concerned about heat and cold with the DVR though in the trunk. Any ideas or other links about similar projects are much appreciated. Thanks again, and I'm going to get started reading.

Thanks so much. I'm going to PM you since I don't want to alert the local LEO that are watching to too much.

Unfortunitly you need video to prove your side in court vs. the cops so that's what I've got to do. Also, another question. With a 3.6MM 1/3in lens, I was expecting to get about a 90 degree view. Is this about right? And will this make the shot look strange?

Hey guys, I have a few more questions I need the system more than ever. I've still have been having some problems on what to get. I've found a Mobile DVR with 4 channels that record at 30FPS per channel and has one audio input. I am looking at two Sony Ex-view cameras with a Lux rating of .01 for the front and back. I'm pretty set on those. Do all the Ex-views have a mechanical IR cut filter? I've found another Sony board camera that should work well for the interior. The problem camera I've having is the speedometer camera. It will be about 4 feet from the speedometer and all the hidden cameras I can find have wide angles. I need a tight angle so I can see the speedometer better and I've got to be able to see it during the day and it night when it lights up. With the mono audio input, can I use 2 microphones and put them thru a stereo-to-mono converter cord and have them work ok or will that cause interference? --------------------------------- Why I need this system more than ever... I got stopped again the other night and got a ticket. Video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2370992900576659750&hl=en The same cop who arrested me when I was arrested for assault on a drunk police officer that attacked me 2 years ago, saw, followed, and stopped me. She then issued me a traffic ticket and lied about it. Thankfully I had my camera going. Unfortunately, I don't have me new hidden camera system in yet. I saw this unmarked green new Impala following me, but they were way back for several turns and thru an alley. I then made a LEGAL U-turn according to the St. Louis City Statutes. I already saw what I thought was a cop so I wouldn't have done any illegal and know our local laws very well. You can see her in my rear view mirror at 4 seconds coming from the alley. Once I make the U-turn, you can see the cop still coming the other direction (16 seconds into the video). Then you can see her making a U-turn if you look at my rear view mirror (20 seconds). She doesn't even use her turn signal. She then tries to pull me over with flashing headlights only. No Red or Blue lights at all. I stopped anyway since I didn't want to get shot at. She yelled at me to put my hands on the steering wheel even though they were already on there. I was a little confused about the stop and tried to be polite to figure out what was going on. I didn't recognize her as my arresting officer at that point. Another officer showed up so now there were 3 there since she had a partner. They laughed and joked (I assume about me and when she arrested me). She then came back to the car about 15 minutes later. She said she was giving me a ticket for illegal U-turn because I interfered with her and she had to brake. She then lied once again and said she was 50 feet of less behind me which the video clearly disproves. As I'm leaving, she just stands there and smiles at me until I'm out of sight. Here is the picture of the first charges when I was arrested 2 years ago with this officer's name on it: http://img379.imageshack.us/my.php?image=page3b5td.jpg BTW, all the charges were dropped by the Grand Jury, but to the police, an arrest is as good as a conviction. Having the camera where I do now, they know to watch what they say to me. Here is a picture of it.

OK and thanks for asking. I'm at the end of college finals for the year, so they has paused my research for about a week. I'm actually typing a 3500 word paper right now that is due in a few hours. I plan to have some things ordered by the end of the week though. I'll let you know how it goes and I'm sure I'll have more questions for you guys.

No typo.... MDVR-4-60 Mobile DVR System 60GB HDD $1525 MDVR-4-80 Mobile DVR System 80GB HDD $1625 WAY too expensive MDVR-4-100 Mobile DVR System 100GB HDD $1850

I got some quotes.... 4 channel from linovision is $780 and 4 channel 60GB (MDVR-4-60) from zepco $1525 Those are just too much for what I need.

I thought all devcies could handle the power difference? My battery, while the car is turned on, puts out 13.6Volts When it's off, it's about 12.