On Tue, 01 Jan 2008 12:02:29 -0600, Don Foreman
wrote:

On Tue, 01 Jan 2008 09:45:58 -0600, nick hull wrote:

In article ,
"DoN. Nichols" wrote:

Hmm ... note that the thing which seems to slow down the
power-up cycle of most digital cameras is involved with the autofocus
and the "live view" display.

I don't need autofocus, I know the distance to a good enough approx.,
and I would not use the live view display. How do I look look a camera
that LACKS these common features?

But the longest that it can be set to stay powered up is 30
minutes, IIRC. Note that just a touch on the shutter release button (to
half-depressed) will wake it up as quickly.

A nuisance to be sure for remote opeation

The Digital SLRs happen to be the most expensive digital cameras
in general, so are probably not what you want.

True, the camera will be at risk from weather and vandals.

However -- what I would suggest is that you look at some of the
digital video cameras. You'll need a video capture card on your
computer to grab what it sends, of course, but it will stay on full
time. These cameras can be obtained for very little (IIRC, I got one --
uncased but with lens -- for about $25.00 at a hamfest last summer.
These are *made* to be security cameras.

Finding a video camera is easy, getting the signal 1000' and recording
it is tougher. I cannot simply capture the entire feed, often 24 hrs
goes by without a significant 'event'.

If you can involve a computer, and you simply watch and then hit
a button to tell it to save a picture -- this should do.

I want it principally when I CANNOT watch, when I'm sleeping or gone.

Look at a used Digital SLR. Anything which does not try to use
its display as a viewfinder should be pretty quick to turn on. And
maybe you can find one inexpensive enough. Do you want to put it in a
weatherproof housing -- or just bring it in when the weather threatens?

It will stay in the weather 24/365, I'll make a housing to protect it.

Free men own guns - www(dot)geocities(dot)com/CapitolHill/5357/

This camera
http://tinyurl.com/287m7f
is a digital SLR, and it does have a setting where it stays on. The
LCD display is not active except possibly after a shot -- and that can
also be turned off.

It can be triggered by IR remote. There is no direct connection to
the camera, but an electrically-triggered (and silent) IR remote
would be simple enough to make -- or modify the one that comes with
the camera or an available replacement. (They're available for about
$29)

I have one of these cameras. It's dated, but still an excellent
camera. I don't lust for a newer one.

There is no provision for external power supply, but one could easily
contrive something to go in the battery compartment. It uses 5 to 5.2
volts DC, normally supplied by four NiMH AA cells.

Another possibility might be a cheap laptop 'puter and a webcam. House
the laptop in a suitably secure container. A cheap laptop would cost
considerably less than a current-model digital SLR. Thousands of .jpg
images can be stored on the harddrive of even an old laptop.

I wonder how much bandwidth an ordinary 56K dialup modem requires to
work. Phone lines are nominally 300 Hz to 3000 Hz but I think most
are better than that.

Inexpensive voice-bandwidth "walkie talkie" VHF and UHF radios are
readily available that easily work over a range of 1000 feet (more
like miles) without direct LOS contact.

A webcam probably needs a PC to work, but old PC's are easily found
for 50 bux or so. Once you get it going, it needn't even have a
monitor. I see a used 600-MHz Dell Portege laptop on Ebay for $159
with 6 minutes to go.