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LORT

High quality CCTV camera

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I'm in search of a very high quality color CCTV camera. By high quality I mean the quality of a MiniDV camcorder. The reason I need high quality is because we're using it to shoot certain scenes for a movie. These scenes are through the eye on the CCTV camera, so we need to get the sharpest, best color saturation picture possible that a CCTV cam can deliver.

Thanks, LORT

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It is called video assist. I used to have a distributing company in Glendale, CA and we helped many of the local video assist companies with their product requirements. The best source for these cameras is Watec and here is a link to their web site. They are very high quality, extremely small, and work on 12 vdc. You'll also need an appropriate lens and that may take some experimenting so try and find a dealer close to you that carries the product.

 

http://www.lclusa.com/

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It is called video assist. I used to have a distributing company in Glendale, CA and we helped many of the local video assist companies with their product requirements. The best source for these cameras is Watec and here is a link to their web site. They are very high quality, extremely small, and work on 12 vdc. You'll also need an appropriate lens and that may take some experimenting so try and find a dealer close to you that carries the product.

 

http://www.lclusa.com/

 

Hi Alan, what kind of prices are (were) they please, thanks.

 

Also, i dont see anything special on their site as far as higher resolution than others, do you have a link to it plz?

 

Rory

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They are pretty expensive, if I remember correctly the color was in the $600 range. I'd only use them for special applications such as video assist.

The resolution isn't better than a good hi res conventional camera, it is their size that counted since these had to be mounted on a movie camera.

The camera would have a prism inside that split the image and was picked up by the video camera and then wirelessed back to the directors chair so he could see what the camera was seeing while it was being filmed.

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Thanks for the info AVCONSULTING, but I just found out that they want to use a Panasonic WV-CP240 style camera for this movie (they like the way it looks). We've only seen this camera in pictures on the internet and based on the specs it can do 480 lines of resolution. If need be, would it be possible to remove the inside electronics from the Panasonic and replace it with a small high quality camera from LCLUSA, or do you think the quality of the Panasonic is close enough or as good as LCLUSA camera?

LORT

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Thanks for the info AVCONSULTING, but I just found out that they want to use a Panasonic WV-CP240 style camera for this movie (they like the way it looks). We've only seen this camera in pictures on the internet and based on the specs it can do 480 lines of resolution. If need be, would it be possible to remove the inside electronics from the Panasonic and replace it with a small high quality camera from LCLUSA, or do you think the quality of the Panasonic is close enough or as good as LCLUSA camera?

LORT

 

They are all pretty much the same, i would imagine panasonic would be somewhat better. I wouldnt take that other and put it in the panasonic though! Also, they actually like the look of panasonic cameras?? If your really want high resolution check this out from sanyo: ugly but 1.5 megapixels:

 

http://www.sanyo.com/industrial/security/cameras/digital/index.cfm?productID=152

 

 

OR, something like a machine/medical camera, used for videa also:

http://www.toshiba.com/taisisd/indmed/iktu51.htm (800 TVL)

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The Panasonic would be fine. I guess they aren't using it for video assist since there is no way that camera would fit on a Panavision film camera. Must be some other use.

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Thank you guys very much! The information you guys provided me is invaluable. Also I guess there was a little confusion for the use of the CCTV cams. What we're planning on doing is shooting certain reality-based scenes using the CCTV cameras only. These scenes will take place in an enclosed cabin with the CCTV cameras being the only ones collecting the footage. That's why we need high-quality CCTVs, so that facial expressions and gestures can be caught with the best clarity available from a CCTV type cam, which will be placed in the upper corner of the ceiling. I wish I could tell you guys more about the movie since you guys took the time to answer my questions but I am bound by a Confidentiality Agreement. But I can tell you this...it's gonna be a SciFi!!!

LORT

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I used to sell cameras to local movie companies that wanted to use them in actual scenes. A very popular brand was Extreme CCTV since they looked very futuristic. You might want to check out some of the items they carry. Are you in the Los Angeles area? If so I can give you a couple of places to go to check them out.

 

www.extremecctv.com

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I used to sell cameras to local movie companies that wanted to use them in actual scenes. A very popular brand was Extreme CCTV since they looked very futuristic. You might want to check out some of the items they carry. Are you in the Los Angeles area? If so I can give you a couple of places to go to check them out.

 

www.extremecctv.com

 

I luv the ExtremeCCTV Ex82 cameras, they are great, just for the record. Though id only use them if there is little or no lighting at night in the area as the IR can glare when the lights are on. Other than that, great daytimg color image and sees up to 100ft or more in the pitch dark. Easy set up and very corrosive proof, i have them only a few feet from the ocean here. Not too impressed with thier domes yet though, had better results with cheaper brands, but if its Infrared you want, their domes are some of the best for that and thats what they design them for.

 

Hey i see the UK is using ExtremeCCTV cameras all over London City now.

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YES! I've been scouring the internet looking for a CCTV store in or around Los Angeles that I could go to an check out cameras. Please let me know any places that I could visit especially if they carry a large selection so I can begin to fimiliarize myself with these types of cameras. Thanks again! RORY and AVCONSULTING, you guys made my day!!!

LORT

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YES! I've been scouring the internet looking for a CCTV store in or around Los Angeles that I could go to an check out cameras. Please let me know any places that I could visit especially if they carry a large selection so I can begin to fimiliarize myself with these types of cameras. Thanks again! RORY and AVCONSULTING, you guys made my day!!!

LORT

 

no problem, i hope to open a CCTV store here in the new year, been wanting to do so for a whole now. WIll have mainly demos and a catalog, some stock on cameras etc, and maybe one or 2 DVRs, but mostly catalog order. Demos is the most important thing, myself i like to see something working before I buy it, and that is a big selling point to having a catalog store with demo equipment. Orcourse cwont carry ALL products for demos, just the most popular ones.

 

Good luck, wish i was in Cali! Freezing cold here in the Bahamas right now actually, for us Bahamians anyway, i think its in the 50's tonight, we arent use to this, dug my ski jacket out of the garage tonight, and oh ohh, i need a blanket, but dont have one, normally we just sleep with AC or sweat the whole night out ) Everyone has a cold orflu now too, we are so soft here! :-0

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Here is a link to a very good source in the Burbank area which is near most of the studios. They have a showroom, but I don't know how many Extreme's they actually have on display, although Extreme does have a showroom display board with many of their cameras. The link will have their address and also a list of the people there in case you want a name to contact before going over. Let them know it is for use in a movie. They also carry all the Panasonic cameras in case you decide to go that route.

 

www.vsscctv.com

 

Rory - the guys in NY must be laughing right now about your weather being cold but I completely understand from the Los Angeles point of view. If it isn't in the 70's I don't even want to go out. Come to Los Angeles and do CCTV installations out here, but brush up on your Spanish and Korean first.

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Here is a link to a very good source in the Burbank area which is near most of the studios. They have a showroom, but I don't know how many Extreme's they actually have on display, although Extreme does have a showroom display board with many of their cameras. The link will have their address and also a list of the people there in case you want a name to contact before going over. Let them know it is for use in a movie. They also carry all the Panasonic cameras in case you decide to go that route.

 

www.vsscctv.com

 

Rory - the guys in NY must be laughing right now about your weather being cold but I completely understand from the Los Angeles point of view. If it isn't in the 70's I don't even want to go out. Come to Los Angeles and do CCTV installations out here, but brush up on your Spanish and Korean first.

 

I know what you mean, i used to be the one laughing when I lived in NY for 3 years, then came back here and saw everyone wearing thick 'down jackets', scarfs, and woolly hats in 60-70 degree weather! I guess the bloods to warm now!

 

I would come there if I could, but i cant get a work permit or green card, not that easy. I actually just sent in my application for the US Green Card Lottery, but that doesnt come through (if i am picked) until the end of next year.

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Hello there,

I seem to be back at square one. I called up Video Security Specialists (www.vsscctv.com) and they told me they're only open to dealers and I don't have a dealer license. Is there some other way I can go about looking for these CCTV cameras?

LORT

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Hello there,

I seem to be back at square one. I called up Video Security Specialists (www.vsscctv.com) and they told me they're only open to dealers and I don't have a dealer license. Is there some other way I can go about looking for these CCTV cameras?

LORT

 

try www.spytown.com, search by manufacturer, or email them direct, They have wholesale pricing. I 'think' they will sell to non dealers.

 

Rory

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