Hi--

> The cameras I'm familiar

> with are Mini-DV, which can be connected to a computer through

> analogue or FireWire (digital) means (the latter is a fixed-quality

> system, so the former may serve your needs better...).

By using this method is is possible to record video for up to one month by perhaps using an 80 gb hard drive?

This would be determined by your choice of compression - but the image

quality may be rather low. At 51 compression, Mini-DV takes up about

12.5 gigs/hour of HD space - compressing it enough more to record

about 720 hours on 80-gigs means over 1001 further compression, which

can be reduced by reductions in the frame rate (4 fps would make the

compression a bit under 201, still high on top of the original 51

for getting good images...).

Could a mini-DV be placed in a weatherproof housing and placed outside a house? I have no experience with mini-dvs except I do tend to see tourists using them (in the type where the screen flips open).

Yes, though you are paying for unused features - though maybe not

more than for specialty cameras...

If there was an ordinary camera that could take still images, say every second, and if such a camera could be mounted outside and operate in a night-time suburban street or with the aid of infra red light, then this also might be a possible solution and avoid the need to record video.

Yes - low-res digital-still cameras could probably be modified to shoot

IR, and could keep up with this low frame-rate... This sounds like a better

solution, and cheaper.

But I am willing to try using a mini-dv if it can be attached to a computer via a firewire connection and if continuous monitoring can be made for say up to one month (or even 2 weeks) using a large hard drive. Ideally the software would need to capture the video in manageable file sizes (say 5 minutes duration) to enable one to reveiw a recording relatively easily.

The Canopus Raptor will capture a sequence of files and automatically

number them - but FireWire capture is a rigid hi-res, high data-rate system.

Some video editing software can capture "time-lapse" from FireWire

(Adobe Premiere 6 can do this, I think - but it is not cheap [about

$250 bundled with a type I FireWire card is the cheapest...])

What video capture card and camera would be suitable if one is needed and can mini-dvs be used for the aim I have in mind?

Almost any that can do PS-mode suitably (see earlier email), probably

with a decent type I card (the Canopus is type II...) - the "keys"

are in the software...

If I can assist further please let me know. These questions are quite important for people to tackle and if a recording solution can be found then crime would reduce.

Yours faithfully,

JOHN AIDINIANTZ