I need to find a fairly cheap USB camera - one similar to the iRez or
Logitech cams - that runs on both (Mac) OS 9 and OS X (bonus points if
also on PC). Here's the catch: it needs to be able to see Infared!
(like the mini-cams on supercircuits.com, only USB, and with mac
drivers.) I've thought of getting an RCA camera, then doing RCA to USB
conversion, but this doubles my price, as well as my load (and I then
need a power point for the camera.) I'd be willing to go as high as
twice the standard price, but then I want only one object, which pulls
power from the USB port.  I must be able to order this camera
somewhere online, or by phone, and it has to ship internationally (I'm
in South Africa)... HELP!

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Clarification of Question by nathaniel1977-ga on 28 Aug 2003 10:20 PDT

note: i'll throw in a $5 tip if this question is answered in 24 hours
(or so) from my posting time...

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Clarification of Question by nathaniel1977-ga on 28 Aug 2003 11:42 PDT

one more thing:
according to an article i found here (thank you google!):
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/item.asp?id=48577&type=Features
there may be a way to remove the IR cut-off filter from certain
cameras (they were using the logitech USB 4000 Pro). I would certainly
consider telling me how to do THIS, a more than sufficient answer to
this question, that deserves full payment.  thanks!

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Clarification of Question by nathaniel1977-ga on 28 Aug 2003 11:48 PDT

(note on above post - the mentioned camera is not OS 9 compatible, so
I'd need to know how to do it on a camera which IS)

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Clarification of Question by nathaniel1977-ga on 28 Aug 2003 11:52 PDT

ignore above - it is supported for OS 9

Cutting off the IR cutoff filter is exactly what you need to do!
I too have no idea how to do this, but it shouldn't be that hard --
buy an old Quickcam for $5 and give it a stab.
Use a section of silicon wafer to cut out the visible light and pass though IR.

http://www.laserdata.pt/astronomy/webcam.htm
and
http://www.astrocam.org/english.htm

thanks!