Does anyone here have any experience with the sensors used inside of modern camcorders?

I wouldn't mind buying and taking apart a camera for the sensor because of the reduced cost to the project and good quality sensors can be obtained for lower prices due to the rate at which these are produced.

Do most sensors use a serial or SPI interface that would be easily sent into a visual processing engine or would it be better yet to just mod a HD capable USB camera but then lose most of the zoom functionality. My goal is to get the type of zoom on a regular camcorder and input that for visual processing on a UAV. I am trying to build a larger UAV with high wing loading so there should be some lifting capability allowing for an AVR form factor computer to carry out some visual guidance algorithms.

Any help that you can offer or directions you can point me in would be helpful. I just need a reference point.

Regards,

Dan