zoom camera to monitor driveway?

[Gern]

I'm looking at possibly setting up an el-cheapo driveway monitor. I
already have a miltronics driveway alert to let us know when someone
is comming up the driveway
(http://www.miltronics.net/drivewayalert_information.htm) it is hooked
up to an X10 system so that we can be alerted in multiple parts of the
house. I could also have the x10 turn on a camera to video the
driveway, and save it to my harddrive. I would like to mount the
camera inside the house, about 100' away from the driveway. Is there
a cheap zoomable camera that would fit this application? It doesn't
have to be remote zoomable, I would just set it once and forget it.

Anyone?

Thanks,
Gern

 

[Si Ballenger]

I'm looking at possibly setting up an el-cheapo driveway monitor. I
already have a miltronics driveway alert to let us know when someone
is comming up the driveway
(http://www.miltronics.net/drivewayalert_information.htm) it is hooked
up to an X10 system so that we can be alerted in multiple parts of the
house. I could also have the x10 turn on a camera to video the
driveway, and save it to my harddrive. I would like to mount the
camera inside the house, about 100' away from the driveway. Is there
a cheap zoomable camera that would fit this application? It doesn't
have to be remote zoomable, I would just set it once and forget it.

Anyone?

For "cheap", your best bet is to find a used camcorder that has a
zoomable lens. They also often have better low light operation.

 

[jackcsg]

I'm looking at possibly setting up an el-cheapo driveway monitor. I
already have a miltronics driveway alert to let us know when someone
is comming up the driveway
(http://www.miltronics.net/drivewayalert_information.htm) it is hooked
up to an X10 system so that we can be alerted in multiple parts of the
house. I could also have the x10 turn on a camera to video the
driveway, and save it to my harddrive. I would like to mount the
camera inside the house, about 100' away from the driveway. Is there
a cheap zoomable camera that would fit this application? It doesn't
have to be remote zoomable, I would just set it once and forget it.

Anyone?

Thanks,
Gern

Not forgetting where I am....cheap....is a vain word here. A unitized camera
would run you around $1,600 and then a couple of hundred bucks for an
enclosure. I wouldn't call that cheap, at all (especially probably by your
definition), when followed by the word X-10. But, on the other hand
Panasonic makes some great little network cameras, specifically the
KXHCM-280 which can Pan/Tilt, and zoom 28X digitally. It's a great camera,
and what I would call a cheap solution in comparison to a professional grade
solution. The camera's retail for around $1,200, but surfing around I've
seen them for around $750.00 and up. There is not much available under the
500 dollar range, or anything in the 100 dollar range. Panasonic also makes
outdoor wireless versions of these cameras as well (non-zooming), but
pan/tilt.

Jack

 

[Gern]

I was planning on mounting the camera inside the house, eleminating
the weather. I would like it to stay at a fixed zoom (manually set,
not electrically set). Then all that needs to happen is for the
camera to turn on, and it should get pictures of the top of my
driveway.

I was hoping I could get some mixture of camera and lenses from here:
camera http://207.207.29.130/STORE/products.asp?dept=7
Lense http://207.207.29.130/store/products.asp?dept=95

My definition of cheap in this case is $200-$300US.

Thanks again,
Gern