How to record video using OpenCV and Python?

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I have looked at OpenCV's Python example on how to use VideoCapture and VideoWriter to capture and write out a video file. But I keep getting:

OpenCV Error: Assertion failed (dst.data == dst0.data) in cvCvtColor, file 
/tmp/opencv-n8PM/opencv-2.4.7.1/modules/imgproc/src/color.cpp, line 4422
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "examples/observer/observer.py", line 17, in <module>
    video_writer.write(frame)
cv2.error: /tmp/opencv-n8PM/opencv-2.4.7.1/modules/imgproc/src/color.cpp:4422: error: 
(-215) dst.data == dst0.data in function cvCvtColor

Cleaned up camera.

Here is the code:

#!/usr/bin/env python import cv2


if __name__ == "__main__":
    # find the webcam
    capture = cv2.VideoCapture(0)

    # video recorder
    fourcc = cv2.cv.CV_FOURCC(*'XVID')  # cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc() does not exist
    video_writer = cv2.VideoWriter("output.avi", fourcc, 20, (680, 480))

    # record video
    while (capture.isOpened()):
        ret, frame = capture.read()
        if ret:
            video_writer.write(frame)
            cv2.imshow('Video Stream', frame)

        else:
            break

    capture.release()
    video_writer.release()
    cv2.destroyAllWindows()