This may not be what you want, but some months ago there was some news about a USB stick video camera. It didn't have much of the way in controls, and it only

This may not be what you want, but some months ago there was some news about a USB stick video camera. It didn't have much of the way in controls, and it only recorded at 480 or 640, but it was quite inexpensive -- $20? When I saw your post title, I first thought of the "blow it up" kind of demolition. And that a few of these USB stick cameras could capture that action for pretty cheap (if you could find them, afterward; maybe also harden them or their setting enough to ensure survival of the memory and USB interface).