Video setup?

[Jim Royal]

I'd like to start recording my races with an in car camera. What are the options out there to get good steady video.
Thanks,
Jim Royal
Warren, Ohio

[Greg Amy]

Here's something to get you started.

http://www.improvedtouring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22335&highlight=video+camera
http://www.improvedtouring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17375&highlight=video+camera
http://www.improvedtouring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21278&highlight=video+camera
http://www.improvedtouring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20209&highlight=video+camera

[Jim Royal]

Thanks, I tried searching the threads for video, I guess I didn't do it right!
Thanks Again,
JIm

[Ron Earp]

Here is a thread that might be helpful:

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/race-track/18466-inexpensive-solid-state-car-video-system.html

Inexpensive Solid State System (http://www.gt40s.com/forum/race-track/18466-inexpensive-solid-state-car-video-system.html)

[wcmcarlos]

My two cents worth,
I used the "hero" camera at the Roebling double school.
Video plays great on my small TV, but the sound recording was
tewrrible.
No way to edit in camera, though.
I got great video of people passing me!!!
Carlos

[924Guy]

This guy puts together some inexpensive yet very complete kits:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dash-Camera-LIPSTICK-Sony-Helmet-Cam-COLOR-RECORDER-MIC_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ133210QQihZ020QQite mZ300197427258

Plus he's got the individual components as desired. I picked up that quad processor from him, the one that gives me the front/rear PIP video.

Added bonus, he's in the US - Michigan, specifically!

[spdmonkey]

So you would vouch for his stuff? I'm looking for something and just hate to ruin another camcorder. I'll have to study all that gear he has listed. Thanks for the point.

[JimLill]

http://www.elmo.co.jp/suv-cam/en/index.html

<$900 street price for whole system

http://www.elmo.co.jp/suv-cam/en/product/img/index_img.jpg

[924Guy]

So you would vouch for his stuff? I'm looking for something and just hate to ruin another camcorder. I'll have to study all that gear he has listed. Thanks for the point.

I have only purchased the quad processor from him. I was vouching more for the good customer service experience, really (which is so often at question on eBay!).

The quad processor I got was OK, but has some limitations, and I don't know that I'd recommend it to others; there's probably cheaper, just as effective ways to go. Not sure any of them would be better, the View-2 is still the best product for doing PIP in-car. Just too expensive for me!

But I wouldn't have reservations with the kits; they're functionally nearly identical to the stuff that I run and am very happy with, except that I use a very different recorder. But I would be happy with one of those recorders; they have displays, whereas mine does not!

Another key point on DVR's: some have internal memory, up to 80Gb, whereas others, the cheaper ones of course, use an external memory card like SD or CF. I'd rather use an external flash card, since that'll be solid state; the internal memory may be a micro-hard-drive (I'm not sure), which will be susceptible to vibration same as your camcorder. An added plus is the ease of downloading the video to the computer afterwards; just plug the card into a card reader and transfer the files - much quicker!

[JimLill]

As cheap as SD cards are, you can have a few of them and swap at the end of session.

[924Guy]

Exactly. I find a half-hour session (from start to end of recording, grid to pits) usually runs about half a Gb in MPEG4 format, 640x480 size. So a 4Gb card would handily work for a typical whole weekend...

[JimLill]

Be careful of 4GB cards. Many devices will work fine with 2GB and fail with 4GB. There is something about them beyond just size.

http://www.sandisk.com/Assets/File/pdf/retail/SDHC1.pdf

[924Guy]

Duh, good point, forgot about that... I'm using a 2Gb card, myself...

[JimLill]

Here's another SS one.......

http://www.vio-pov.com

http://www.vio-pov.com/images/detailed/d_16218.jpg

[spdmonkey]

Thanks Vaughn

[rhygin]

I have used this recorder for a year, though with a different lens....
http://www.datatoys.com/singlecamsys.htm

Makes mounting VERY easy.....

Below is an example of track day footage last year at NHIS... not great... not terrible... but the whole thing is soooo simple.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaD6nPPQ6q0&feature=related

No comment on the shifting please... that trans has been resold in "as new" condition to a spec miata guys :) Just kidding...
BB

[jay05]

Has anyone tried this?

http://www.winecountrymotorsports.com/product_info.php?products_id=577&osCsid=828cf0d0456cee7a4f0e5efff4a0841e

[RacerBill]

Total cost of my setup was $250. $100 for the I/O Port mount, and $150 for a cheap Video camera. Can't start any lower unless you buy used. Camera quality is good enough to digitize, edit and burn movie DVD's. And you can get great effects when your crew does not fasten the camera down completely (looks just like the panning cameras they have in the NASCARs.

[raffaelli]

Total cost of my setup was $250. $100 for the I/O Port mount, and $150 for a cheap Video camera. Can't start any lower unless you buy used. Camera quality is good enough to digitize, edit and burn movie DVD's. And you can get great effects when your crew does not fasten the camera down completely (looks just like the panning cameras they have in the NASCARs.


What kind of camera? miniDV?