i need advice/recommendations on mini spycam for documentary at DVinfo.net

Adi Head · May 5th, 2009, 04:00 PM

hi. i'm making a strange sort of documentary, shooting with several different video formats. one of the things i'd really like to do for this project is get my hands on one or two good quality spycams and i could hide and shoot almost unnoticed. or have one of the characters in the film hold one...

i've read about anthony dod mantle using spycams on harmony korine's film "julien donkey-boy" and seen the film too. i have no idea which cameras they used. all i know is that they say they were specially made by the same people who make hidden cameras for the fbi. it's probably just a pr stunt and not as exciting as they describe it.... fbi and all. but this is the only example of spycams being used in a feature film.

can anyone point me to a spycam, small enough to be discreet (but doesn't necessarily need to look like a cigarette lighter or a watch), but also a camera that produces acceptable quality. the image doesn't have to be very sharp, but i can't have stuttering images or images that get wacked out when trying to capture motion (or camera being in motion). this is the experience i've had so far with simple mini spycams i've tried out.

from researching the web i found stuff about the Iconix HD-RH1, but this is way out of my league and budget. shooting hd with this sized camera is an overshoot.

thanks! look forward to your input! :)

May 5th, 2009, 04:00 PM	#1
Adi Head Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 642	i need advice/recommendations on mini spycam for documentary hi. i'm making a strange sort of documentary, shooting with several different video formats. one of the things i'd really like to do for this project is get my hands on one or two good quality spycams and i could hide and shoot almost unnoticed. or have one of the characters in the film hold one... i've read about anthony dod mantle using spycams on harmony korine's film "julien donkey-boy" and seen the film too. i have no idea which cameras they used. all i know is that they say they were specially made by the same people who make hidden cameras for the fbi. it's probably just a pr stunt and not as exciting as they describe it.... fbi and all. but this is the only example of spycams being used in a feature film. can anyone point me to a spycam, small enough to be discreet (but doesn't necessarily need to look like a cigarette lighter or a watch), but also a camera that produces acceptable quality. the image doesn't have to be very sharp, but i can't have stuttering images or images that get wacked out when trying to capture motion (or camera being in motion). this is the experience i've had so far with simple mini spycams i've tried out. from researching the web i found stuff about the Iconix HD-RH1, but this is way out of my league and budget. shooting hd with this sized camera is an overshoot. thanks! look forward to your input! :)