Need a camera (webcam?)

Bluemandrew · Post by **Bluemandrew** » Sat May 09, 2009 8:52 am

So I've been working on this little time lapse project of mine since September '08 off and on, but earlier this week I realised "Oh Shit, it's May and I basically have nothing working"

So I come to the eplaya for guidance...
My project is basically a time lapse video that will span our entire trip to the burn, starting in New Hampshire, and not ending until we get back nearly 2 weeks later.

Logistically I have everything hashed out. For the majority of the burn the camera will be on a 40 foot mast looking over the event. I have power figured out, I have digital storage figured out, my only problem is I need a camera, and can't seem to find one that works.

I plan on running this project off of a laptop using a usb powered webcam. Unfortunately every one I have tested becomes white washed outside. Someone suggested a usb connected video camera or photo-camera, but then I have a whole other layer of electric power to worry about.

TL;DR
Anyone know what webcams can handle outside, most likely with a significant glare? Doesn't have to be a webcam, but it needs to run off of usb. Linux drivers are a bonus, but I will deal with M$ if needed.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Sat May 09, 2009 9:22 am

Here's an interesting alternative that many might find appealing.

http://lifehacker.com/387380/turn-your- ... per+camera

Complete with a timelapse video someone shot utilizing the software on a bike trip.

If it works as advertised, it would eliminate the need for the laptop as a recording device as the picture data would all be stored on the memory card. The list of supported point and shoot Canon cameras is pretty extensive and many of those models are available used quite inexpensively.

A few days of testing would reveal how long the battery life would be in time lapse mode and give you a good idea of when to swap batteries. I would be surprised if you did not get at least 2 days out of each battery. Do a battery and memory card swap each day at a prescribed time, put the battery on a charger and download your pictures. You could probably have an almost finished video by the time you left. the event since you would be doing daily downloads and review.

The point and shoots made by Canon are some of the best available and your image quality would be much greater than utilizing any usb powered web cam for the purposes of making a video. Can you say DVD quality instead of craptastic Youtube quality? An older style 6 to 7 megapixel model should be in the $100 to $150 range and would be more than enough to create a high quality video.

If it were me, I'd have 2 cameras with one as backup. At least 4 batteries to cycle through and several memory cards. There are also a number of cheap easy housing methods that can be utilized to protect the camera on its mast.

Bluemandrew · Post by **Bluemandrew** » Sat May 09, 2009 4:01 pm

CapSmashy wrote:Here's an interesting alternative that many might find appealing.

http://lifehacker.com/387380/turn-your- ... per+camera

Complete with a timelapse video someone shot utilizing the software on a bike trip.

If it works as advertised, it would eliminate the need for the laptop as a recording device as the picture data would all be stored on the memory card. The list of supported point and shoot Canon cameras is pretty extensive and many of those models are available used quite inexpensively.

A few days of testing would reveal how long the battery life would be in time lapse mode and give you a good idea of when to swap batteries. I would be surprised if you did not get at least 2 days out of each battery. Do a battery and memory card swap each day at a prescribed time, put the battery on a charger and download your pictures. You could probably have an almost finished video by the time you left. the event since you would be doing daily downloads and review.

The point and shoots made by Canon are some of the best available and your image quality would be much greater than utilizing any usb powered web cam for the purposes of making a video. Can you say DVD quality instead of craptastic Youtube quality? An older style 6 to 7 megapixel model should be in the $100 to $150 range and would be more than enough to create a high quality video.

If it were me, I'd have 2 cameras with one as backup. At least 4 batteries to cycle through and several memory cards. There are also a number of cheap easy housing methods that can be utilized to protect the camera on its mast.

You sir are a a genius. I just went out and bought one of the cheaper cannon models and am working on this now. It may require extra effort but the quality is going to be so much better.

Gracias

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat May 09, 2009 5:47 pm

http://www.chasecam.com/

Canon is okay, but my Fuji is much better, especially at night.
F10/ Elph.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Sat May 09, 2009 7:35 pm

Fuji makes a great point and shoot, but the hack software I found only works for Canon.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Sat May 09, 2009 7:36 pm

Bluemandrew wrote:You sir are a a genius. I just went out and bought one of the cheaper cannon models and am working on this now. It may require extra effort but the quality is going to be so much better.

Gracias

No worries. I am going to download it and try it out on my old SD630 tomorrow.

And I'll probably be stealing your idea if it works out.

Bluemandrew · Post by **Bluemandrew** » Sun May 10, 2009 5:45 am

I picked up an A470 yesterday at Wal*Mart fo r 79 bucks. I picked up a set of energizer rechargables too.

Looks like it only lasted 5 hours though

I had it taking a pic every 5 minutes, and had the screen shut off every 10 seconds (lowest it goes)

I've come up with two issues with this setup, 1st the batteries, which I can fix with a 12v adapter and some deep cycle batteries I guess.

The other issue is I won't be able to see what I'm shooting once it's on the mast :-/ Too bad it won't charge it's own batteries through the usb port on it lol.

This software is pretty sweet though, and the cameras are cheap enough to buy an extra or two, for spares and also to make some time lapse videos around the event to splice into the video to break things up a bit.

Bluemandrew · Post by **Bluemandrew** » Sun May 10, 2009 12:09 pm

*RCA cable works as a viewfinder without screwing up the scripts, also kills the lcd which saves more power

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Sun May 10, 2009 12:20 pm

I wonder how long the new super mondo AA's like th einfo lithiums and such, would last.

I didn't even think about traditional batteries as my 630 uses a dedicated battery pack.

Good to know on the RCA cable. I'll be loading it on mine this evening and playing with it.

Post by **mdmf007** » Sun May 10, 2009 7:21 pm

CapSmashy wrote:I wonder how long the new super mondo AA's like th einfo lithiums and such, would last.

I didn't even think about traditional batteries as my 630 uses a dedicated battery pack.

Good to know on the RCA cable. I'll be loading it on mine this evening and playing with it.

Theres a time lapse project out there already that does BM yearly, I am digging in my favs files, and cant seem to find them., They obviously have the hardware that works well day and night.

[youtube][/youtube]
[youtube][/youtube]