[zwixxx]

Question to any "youtube video people in the know" out there:

What video camera would you use to make something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV0WT7t5F64&feature=related

Overhead view, no zooming in+out during clip, picture area on table ~A3, not interested in any speeding up foolery, video length max 10mins, Cheapest option <£100 is the aim. Audio/microphone not a factor as I wouldn't be speaking (you know the saying "he has a face for radio", well I've a voice for, erm, not radio)

Has the maker simply postioned his webcam overhead, thus any reasonable quality webcam would do the trick ?

btw: I've enough gumph around the flat to fudge together something to keep the camera in the overhead position, so no expensive tripod/stand thing required.

btw2: With the distance between table and camera being ~1m, would this mean "any old camera" would work fine, including a webcam ? I've never film anything nor have experience with a webcam so am kinda shooting blind.

[edit] following a link from the above youtube vid I arrived here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFeUyfo8x6o&feature=watch_response_rev

where he (and I quote) "I securely hung a tripod from the top book shelf, to which I mounted a simple digital pocket camera with video capabilities and a 4GB SD card. Not quite what the people of Panasonic had in mind when they designed this model."

So am I able to answer my own question with something such as this eBay item:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Digital-Video-DV-Camcorder-Camera-Can-Mini-New-/250925788109?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics

or even the Panasonic HX HX-DC1 80 MB Camcorder - Anthracite:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Panasonic-HX-HX-DC1-80-MB-Camcorder-Anthracite-/251110442148?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_Video_Camcorders&hash=item3a775944a4

[Chris Frost]

Webcams focus at fairly short distances, so for what you want to do then that might be the ideal choice.

Camcorders might need a bit more distance to focus. Alternatively you can use Macro (close-up) mode, but the focus can hunt a little meaning fuzzy pictures just at the wrong moment.

Did you notice how much the picture improved in sharpness and definition when the lighting changed? Good lighting really does help.

[zwixxx]

Originally Posted by Chris Frost

Webcams focus at fairly short distances, so for what you want to do then that might be the ideal choice.

Camcorders might need a bit more distance to focus. Alternatively you can use Macro (close-up) mode, but the focus can hunt a little meaning fuzzy pictures just at the wrong moment.

Did you notice how much the picture improved in sharpness and definition when the lighting changed? Good lighting really does help.

Around the 1:40 mark, yeah, thing DID come markedly more clearerer. - luckily I'm blessed with great sunlight thru window + a big lamp

+ it WOULD be a good idea to ensure sure the camera DOES let you put it close to the object being film (sure there is a technical term for that distance) - though maybe, rather than paying for an expensive "can put it in close" camera I can get away with a cheap one with zoomability and just position it higher.

Merci.

[Orbitalzone]

I think a webcam is all you need, suspended on some tripod or stand. The benefit of a webcam is that you can easily view the image on the PC screen while you use it rather than having to look at a small viewfinder on the camera.

I've had a couple of webcams and they both focus from close (12 inches or less) out to almost infinity. I even found on one that I could modify the focus ring so it had a super macro and stay focused at a few mm's from an item.

Goog lighting makes a huge difference of course.

[zwixxx]

Originally Posted by Orbitalzone

I think a webcam is all you need, suspended on some tripod or stand. The benefit of a webcam is that you can easily view the image on the PC screen while you use it rather than having to look at a small viewfinder on the camera.

and here was me all set on buying a vidcam. ..............

a quick eBay search turned up a bunch ~£10 with the most useful focus info (5cm to infinity) which is great.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20-Megapixel-Webcam-with-Microphone-for-PC-Laptop-Skype-With-6-LEDs-Web-Cam-/170855017427?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_Webcams&hash=item27c7c0abd3

I've had a couple of webcams and they both focus from close (12 inches or less) out to almost infinity. I even found on one that I could modify the focus ring so it had a super macro and stay focused at a few mm's from an item.

sounds like webcam is the way to go, though with eBay prices being so darn cheap for both, methinks going both ways might just be the way to go as having a vidcam around for emergencies could be a good thing - like a fire extinguisher or spare freeview box.

Goog lighting makes a huge difference of course.

naturally.

[chrisjr]

Just out of idle curiosity why wrap URLs in Code tags? Does make it a tad harder to follow the link. Why not just leave them as clickable links?

[Orbitalzone]

I'd probably get a branded webcam and not some unknown ebay special.... you can get Logitech or Microsoft webcams pretty cheap and some are HD should you want that option.

[GreenVisual]

To me that looks like a consumer dv camera, but yeah any webcam would do I have a Logitech C270 and its great £17.49 or £12.49 depending on how you feel about a floral print...

[zwixxx]

Originally Posted by chrisjr

Just out of idle curiosity why wrap URLs in Code tags? Does make it a tad harder to follow the link. Why not just leave them as clickable links?

My bad, bit hard to shake the "don't you ever post clickable links" rule that other forums have.

re: branded webcams vs. cheapoknockoffs - yeah, probably best to stick with the former.

[Orbitalzone]

Originally Posted by zwixxx

My bad, bit hard to shake the "don't you ever post clickable links" rule that other forums have.

re: branded webcams vs. cheapoknockoffs - yeah, probably best to stick with the former.

It's the driver support I always find lacking with no name branded peripherals, at least MS or Logitech will likely have a driver for the next year or two.