While I agree that the cvs camcorders have their place, no dropouts, no range issues. It's really a different direction than FPV. Something about flying through the camera, even if it's on a camcorder screen. It's pretty thrilling.
Again, don't bother with cmos, you will still need to buy a real camera. The kx 131 is a great camera, a lot of people who have been flying for a long time use it. 380 lines is not the best around, but the dynamic range, color, backlighting are hard to beat.
900 vs 2.4ghz, it's a though one. There are a lot of discusions on it on various forums. On paper, 900mhz should be better, but the technology is a little older, so the ranges seem about the same. One other thing I have heard is that while there are not as many dropouts with 900mhz, they tend to last longer because of the longer wavelength. Also, it's a good idea to use a circularly polerized RX antenna with whatever frequency you chose. There are models for 2.4 and 900mhz, though the 2.4 are much more common. A circular antenna is usefull because if your tx and rx antennas are turned 90deg to each other, a normal antenna will result in a big reception loss. The circ antenna isn't quite as sensitive as a lineraly polerized one, but there will be fewer dropouts, esp with a tippy plane like a zagi.
Sticking with range video for no particular reason, I would probably go with
http://www.rangevideo.com/500mw.html
http://www.rangevideo.com/rx.html
http://www.rangevideo.com/131_cased.html
http://www.rangevideo.com/patch3.html
The TV and camera are both 5v, the 900mhz 100mw tx is 12v, adding to the complexity. The 500mw tx comes with a v reg which will power your camera too. You will need a two cell 600-800mah lipoly battery for the tx.
You will need a 3 cell pack for the RX, around 1200mah is good.
A note on batteries for AV, don't bother to get 10 or 20c cells, 8c is plenty, they are a lot cheaper, and you won't feel as bad destroying one when you leave everything plugged in over night.
http://www.commonsenserc.com/index.php?cPath=37_35
You also might want to look at a microphone. It seems silly untill you have tried it, but a mic really helps place you in the plane. Also your videos will be much more watchable, at least untill you add in some music.
http://www.supercircuits.com/index.a...OD&ProdID=4123
is used by a lot of people here.
There will probably be some soldering involved if you want to lose the heavy rca jacks. You want a temp controlled soldering iron. Take your time, and be sure you don't smoke something. Most of this stuff is not reverse polarity protected, and 2cells without a voltage regulator will fry a 5v camera or a 5v tx. You can use three prong servo jacks for most of what you are doing, + - and signal. Signal ground is the same as power ground. Make up a harness with the voltage reg from the tx, so that the camera, tx, and mic, all plug into one side separatly, and the battery plugs into the other. That way, you can swap out parts without having to un-solder everything, and it's easier to see that nothing is going to get 7.5volts.
There are some complete kits out there where the seller has done all the soldering for you, but you pay more for it, and your choices are more limited.
http://www.futurehobbies.com/items_d...?id=1&item=119
Is pretty much everything I have listed except the rx antenna, already soldered together.
Best of luck!, be sure to keep the cg a little forward on the zagi, as it's easy to tip stall one of those with a bunch of extra weight.
Ken
PS, anything that will work will require a ham license over about 10mw, a lot of people don't have them, but if you are anywhere there are people, it's a good idea.