Mini digital cameras: An engineering challenge

[xoggoth]

Not sure what 400 iso means so probably quality would not be adequate for your main purpose but for initial survey maybe a cheap CCTV camera, under 40 quid.

It should just fit if you unscrew the mount, can easily be supported by the cable with bit of tape on the plugs and plugs into video socket of a TV. Quality is fairly low but has wide range of focus and has built in infra red LEDs for operation in dark. Recently got a system from this lot:

http://www.sctltd.co.uk/acatalog/DiyDvr_CCTV.html

[teclo]

For a light source you might want to get a bunch of those plastic light sticks. The ones filled with liquid that light up when you snap the glass inside.

If the place is filled with water they should float, so bung a ton down the whole and it might give enough ambient light for you.

As for a camera, I recently bought a Nikon Coolpix s210. It is small, compact has a metal body and can be set to take a picture every 30 seconds. It has a special low light mode where the iso ramps up to 3200. Also it's quite cheap about £100.

[realityhack]

Good idea, although they won't be bright enough. Not unless you fill the place with them.

[DS23]

i think you need a different source of expertise. what about someone from this lot:

http://www.bpc-cave.org.uk/

http://www.rrcpc.org.uk/

http://www.eldon.org.uk/

or try this forum:

http://ukcaving.com/board/index.php/board,1.0.html