Using a camcorder as temporary CCTV?

[TUS 373]

I have concerns over something that will be happening close to my house this coming Saturday . Last time there was an 'event' like this, it caused us and neighbours some grief so we had to have the Police up.

Forewarned is forearmed. So, I was wondering, is there any way I could use my digital camcorder with a laptop to work as a time lapse style CCTV or record to hard disk overnight. Therefore if there is any bother, we can catch the perp? My camcorder is the digital mini tape variery (JVC) with Firewire output. My laptop has Firewire input.

Any ideas on how this could be done and what I may need in the way of software (preferably something that can be dowloaded where possible to do this).

Ta very much,

TUS

[Wildfire]

Don't think you'll be able to, I don't think Mini DV cameras can do real time writing to the HDD. Best thing you can do is Long Play. How about web cam?

[road2ruin]

Whilst it is theoretically possible to do what you suggest it is very hard to set up and the amount of disk space that would be required for a few hours of recording is huge. To make a succesful go of it you would need a video recording program (you can find a few of these on the internet free or shareware). You need to set your camera up in that software so it will record pictures from it (this is not usually easy as often it needs some complicated third party drivers). You will then need to set it up and running and just leave it as time lapse or time programmed recording will not be possible with this setup. The amount of disk space it will use it enormous, somewhere in the region of 5GB per hour of video as it is uncrompressed data. It would ne far easier to sit up all night with your camcorder then just video the bits you need.

There is however an easier solution. A lot of webcams nowadays come with security software that is ideal for this purpose. The web cams themselves have a low resolution and lowish frame rate so that disk usage is much lower and often they come with movement detection software that just records when something moves past its field of vision. The sensitivity can be ajusted but I am not sure over what kind of distance it will work. www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/159551/art/creative/live-motion-webcam.html
This is am expensive one but they can be had much cheaper. I bought one years ago for about £30.00 this one I notice though will even follow the action!

Hope this helps a bit.
Peter