I have a client who's opening a new catering company that will offer cooking classes during the evenings. She's asked for an overhead camera over the cooking area, similar to the ones you see on Food network, that will feed the live cooking demo to two HD televisions mounted on each side of the kitchen.

I'm having a difficult time trying to decide which type of camera to use. I'd prefer a device that could feed an HD picture to the HD TV's. Security and surveillance camera's don't seem like a good fit. Teleconferencing camera's require some major equipment for operation. This leads me to camcorders.

Will this work with an HD camcorder? Can I stream a live feed directly from the camera to these TV's. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

I have a client who's opening a new catering company that will offer cooking classes during the evenings. She's asked for an overhead camera over the cooking area, similar to the ones you see on Food network, that will feed the live cooking demo to two HD televisions mounted on each side of the kitchen.

I'm having a difficult time trying to decide which type of camera to use. I'd prefer a device that could feed an HD picture to the HD TV's. Security and surveillance camera's don't seem like a good fit. Teleconferencing camera's require some major equipment for operation. This leads me to camcorders.

Will this work with an HD camcorder? Can I stream a live feed directly from the camera to these TV's. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sure you could...but youl would need to run long HDMI cables (monoprice in wall grade) and then to a spliter box that runs them to BOTH TVs...
only thing is your going to need to hook it up to power too those batteries are 2 hours max really

I'm not sure you can split a long run of HDMI without amplifying it first. There is one other problem. As far as I know, there are no avchd cams with hdmi output which means you would be relying on a hdv cam. They will do live feed and quite effectively too.... but they will only run for as long as they tape holds out (80 minutes). Most of the HDV cams I've seen DO have a power save feature that you can turn off and keep the camera in live standby mode for extended periods... but you need to check that.

I'm not sure you can split a long run of HDMI without amplifying it first. There is one other problem. As far as I know, there are no avchd cams with hdmi output which means you would be relying on a hdv cam. They will do live feed and quite effectively too.... but they will only run for as long as they tape holds out (80 minutes). Most of the HDV cams I've seen DO have a power save feature that you can turn off and keep the camera in live standby mode for extended periods... but you need to check that.

Not True...all the canon vixia's hf10 hf 100 hf 11 all have HDMI output....its a mini to regular HDMI cable and can be found on monoprice for cheap..But they wont do a live feed....not sure if your looking to record or just use it as a display....you can plug the HDMI into both TVS and see exactly what the camera pointed at..Although the camera isnt made for live feeds

the problem is running it that long, correct, you need some sort of amplifier....

Not True...all the canon vixia's hf10 hf 100 hf 11 all have HDMI output.

Is that right... I didn't know that.
Thanks for the correction NJ.

The input is much appreciated. after sleeping on it last night I find myself starting to lean towards a "higher" resolution security camera that will run and be powered from a computer. Aside from using actual video production equipment and professional grade camera's, I see it being difficult to provide a solution with an HD picture. If there are more ideas floating around, I'd love the input. I am going to look into the Canon Vixia to see if it will provide a reliable solution. During my research last night I stumbled across a new camcorder that Hitachi is releasing sometime in the future. It's call the Wooo and can stream a live HD picture via WiFi. Seems like a cool idea. Thanks again.