Need some Camcorder Advise- Feeding into video switcher

[cp2k]

I need some advice from some of you who've dealt with some of the newer model video8/mini dv cameras.

Where I work we've got a video switcher system we use to record events that has two remote controlled cameras and I want to add two other standard cameras and feed the live picture from them into the switcher. The problem is all the camcorders I've found so far include symbols on the A/V out through the RCA jack (i.e there is a battery indicator on the screen, or a record time, etc).

Can someone please point me to a model on the list at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=1871

that will let you turn this on screen display stuff off when you're feeding out the live picture the camera is shooting? I'm looking to stay as cheap as possible, but still feed in a decent picture. I would greatly appreciate any advice/tips

[edDV]

What kind of switcher are you talking about? Model number?

Every camcorder that I have used includes a menu setting to turn on/off display overlay over the video output*. You can download the manual for most models. Check the menu modes.

* On Sony consumer models the setting is "Display". Then "LCD" puts menu overlay on the LCD only, "Video-Out/LCD" puts the menus on both.

[bobkart]

Why even get a camcorder if you won't be using the 'corder' part. Plain old video cameras will cost much less than a camcorder and not have any text on the output.

[cp2k]

It's some computer type switcher system... the usual cameras run on cat 5 cables and you control them remotely, then it has RCA inputs to allow additional cameras to be switched.

And to answer your other question we're looking at camcorders because we will use them at times for standalone recordings

[cp2k]

OK I looked at the manual for the Sony DCR-HC26 it has one option in the manual that says DISP output, and it has LCD Panel or V-O/Panel as the options.

if i'm reading what you have all said above if I buy this camera, turn it on and point it at someone and plug in the AV cords (without it recording to a tape) it will display a clean picture through the a/v outs as long as I have it set to LCD Panel... correct?

[edDV]

OK I looked at the manual for the Sony DCR-HC26 it has one option in the manual that says DISP output, and it has LCD Panel or V-O/Panel as the options.

if i'm reading what you have all said above if I buy this camera, turn it on and point it at someone and plug in the AV cords (without it recording to a tape) it will display a clean picture through the a/v outs as long as I have it set to LCD Panel... correct?

That is the way my cameras work. Select LCD Panel.