DV Camcorder for nighttime...

[Tekkanano]

What's a really good DV Camcorder that works great at night (complete darkness)? Yes, I'm using it to catch my neighbors doing bad things to my property at night.

I'm currently thinking about the Sony DCR-TRV27 since I'll be using it for Analog to Digital transfer. Why go with Digital8 since DV is the standard.

[Jester700]

Get one with the nightshot (infrared) capability and the biggest lens and CCD in your price range. The BEST would be a 3CCD model, but of the single chippers, the best for YOUR use might turn out to be the cheapo D8 TRV140! Other models that have a 1/4" CCD are DCRTRV18 and DCRPC120. Those will give you better res than the D8, but no better low light ability. The 27 has a 1/4.7" CCD, so it's likely to have less nighttime ability (though better res than the D8 cam).

[tonyp12]

Illuminate the target area with infared light (a cluster of IR-leds will do)
This light in invisable to the human eye, but not to a camcorder.

On my Sharp VL-WD450 I have a settings called "Super cat's eye"

[Tekkanano]

Ahh, that helped me understand what specs i'm looking for in a camcorder. Thanks very much for the info!

[yg1968]

Most Sony, including the TRV-27, have nightvision. The image appears in green.

P.S. I would avoid the TRV-140 for other reasons (no "video in" or passthrough feature). Other Sony models are a good choice.

[Jester700]

Most Sony, including the TRV-27, have nightvision. The image appears in green.

P.S. I would avoid the TRV-140 for other reasons (no "video in" or passthrough feature). Other Sony models are a good choice.

Good point - I'd forgotten that. My bottom of the line line TRV120 has this, and it's a shame they removed it from the 140.