Advice on a good surveillance camera

[DAK]

Hi I am just getting started in the investigative industry and I was just wondering if I could get some advice on what would be a good surveillance camera to start off with?

[Catzeyes]

This is a question for the people who are tech savvy (not I).  However, I personally still use a Sony camcorder, a NIKON for still shots and my PV900 for the tricky up close ones.  Have used them for three years and still get successful results (when I do surveillance/follows/etc. which isn't often now).  The market has changed and there is nothing you cannot buy now and I guess it all depends on what type of jobs you are doing.  

Your best bet would be to have a good look around and also check with others (as you are doing now) and what type and brands the majority of others are using.

[spelcheck]

I've only been doing surveillance for a few months.  Mostly workers' comp.

I use a Sony DCRSR68 handycam.  It does most of what I need.  Easy to handle, decent battery time, more memory than I could ever use, it has a decent zoom and the image quality is good.  

It's fairly useless in dark situations though.  I will definitely replace it when I have the spare cash.  Look at the 'Lux' rating on the specs when you're considering a camera, the lower that number the better it works in the dark.

I think most of the consumer level handycams will get you started.

Features that you absolutely need to look for are time & date stamp on playback and an AV-out jack, to run it into a DVR and get you product onto a disc.  I wasted my money on a JVC Everio that dosen't put the time/date on the footage  :evil:  , the best footage in the world is useless without it.

Apart from that you'd need something for close range, like follows into the supermarket etc.  I made do with my handycam in a box for a while  :oops:  but I've got a Lawmate PV900 on the way  :mrgreen:   I tried a $200 mini-dvr with buttonhole camera from Jaycar but it was unreliable crap so I took it back.  Take the advice that other people have posted here and steer clear of budget bagcam/bodycam units.