Rights is another beast altogether that doesn't concern me at all. Whether we're allowed to record something or not doesn't interfere with the fact that the Board wants us to put a camera in the
auditorium to record stuff that happens on the
stage and we have to spend 1k by March 15th on something to record with.
If you know it is an issue and assist in implementing a recording
system without saying anything you may be liable if it were to ever become an issue. At least bring the
point up to those with whom you are working.
Some models we're looking at for camera are the Sony EVIH100V or if funding comes up sort and we have to go standard definition we'd like something like the EVID90. But first we'd probably need something to record the video from it too. Something software based might be nice, where we could just get a PC card to interface the camera signal, and we could later add in audio recording too.
If you want to record to computer an Aja Kona LHe Plus card would be nice as it could potentially handle HD/SD-SDI,
component video,
S-Video and
composite video as well as multiple analog audio channels and you should be able to get one just around your $1,000 budget. The BlackMagic DeckLink Studio card is similar and costs less. There are less expensive alternatives but they may limit your options in terms of compatible sources. Keep in mind that cost is just for the card and provided software, the computer and any editing software would be an additional cost.
As you are looking at this think about not just the equipment but also the implementation of everything. That includes installation issues such as it not being just buying a camera but also properly addressing any mount for the camera, the related video and control cabling,
power for it and so on.
It also includes
practical and operational issues. For example, how do you plan on implementing one camera? Remote controlled pan/tilts are nice but the pan/tilt and
zoom, especially on lower cost units, are usually
practical more for positioning shots in
advance than for movement while live. If you were thinking you were going to
zoom from a wide 'beauty shot' to a close-up with a packaged 'robotic' camera you can do so but will need to have fairly low expectations for the production quality. If you could do with a fixed shot and don't need to
zoom during use then you may want to look at a fixed camera with a
zoom lens.
You'd also need to verify the camera works for the application, for example with a 75' distance to the
stage the packaged Panasonic camera you noted could apparently get the entire
stage width only if run in 1080 mode with a maximum 44.3' high x 78.75' wide shot, in 720 mode it would apparently be limited to a 28.7' high by 51' wide shot.