what wavelengths of light can a typical video camera see?

Hi David,

A video camera is designed to respond as closely as possible to the
visible spectrum, i.e. what the human eye can see - about 400
nanometers to 700 nanometers in wavelength.

Here's a site which shows where the visible spectrum lies, in the
context of other types of electromagnetic wave:

http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/EDDOCS/Wavelengths_for_Colors.html

If it DIDN'T have similar sensitivity to the human eye, then the
colours would look odd (distorted) when you watched the resulting
video.

In practice, though, cameras will vary slightly in responsiveness
across the visible spectrum (as does the eye itself).  If you need to
know EXACTLY, for a particular model, you'd need to get the
manufacturer's spec.

A lot of "daylight" cameras do respond slightly to light in the infra
red part of the spectrum, which is invisible to humans (but can be
felt as heat).

Additionally, you can, of course, get specialist cameras or filters
designed to operate in different parts of the spectrum.  A dedicated
infra-red camera lets you "see in the dark" for example.

It is also called "spectral selectivity".
Though human eye was said to be sensitive to light with wavelength
ranging from 400-700 nm, it is not a flat curve for all the part of
the spectrum.  Human cone cells have 3 different types, to sense blue
(peak at 419 nm), green (peat at 531 nm, broad), and red (peak at 558
nm, also broad).  Different video cameras or films have different
spectral selectivity.  Some are closer to the human eyes, some are not
very close (which are often used to achieve some special effects). 
Using filters can also change the spectral selectivity, it can
effectively block some parts of the spectrum to enhance the relative
strength of other parts of the spectrum.
Most morden video cameras will have a spectrum selectivity broader
enough to include everything between 400 to 700 nm (some are
relatively weaker on red part of the spectrum).  But remember, for
analog cameras, the film you use is actually determining what kind of
spectral selectivity you will have.  Because the lens of the camera
will allow lights of almost every wavelength to pass.  So you need to
get the specs of the film you use, not the camera.  I am not so sure
about the digital camera, I think the CCD should determine the
selectivity, thus the spec of the camera will tell you the info.

Actually, the CCD's used as the detectors in most video cameras are
*far* more sensitive infrared wavelengths than is human vision. See
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/digitalimaging/concepts/quantumefficiency.html
or http://www.ph.tn.tudelft.nl/Courses/FIP/noframes/fip-Spectral.html
for comparisons of spectral sensitivity of the human eye to that of
silicon-based CCD devices.

Video cameras (as well as CCD-based still cameras) always include a
filter that blocks IR radiation.  The "night mode" common on many
cameras works by removing that filter, and illuminating the scene with
IR light generated by IR LEDs (like the LEDs used in your TV remote
control).