In Car Camera Information

[Shipkiller]

There are numerous options out there for an in-car video setup. Some cameras are very basic, some are very advanced (read expensive) and some are in-between.
For a very easy point and record system with numerous mounting options at a reasonable price and you don’t want to fiddle with the setup too much then the GoPro is your best bet. Go get in on the group by in this thread: http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=506373

I personally don’t want to go the GoPro route and I have specific reasons I won’t go into here.

Being around the track now for several years and attempting to make my own videos, watching others videos and talking to those people on what they did and what they would change, I have almost figured out just what I want in a in car video system.

Here is my wish list of capabilities:

The camera must run off of external power.
Either a dedicated power port or USB. If you connect the USB port and the camera turns off to charge then that won’t work as an example.

External Microphone jack.
If you want good quality audio, the internal mics just SUCK… This is not just for recording any conversations, but for the sound of the engine. I want to filter out the wind noise as much as possible.

Image Stabilization. This is obvious.

No RUBBER in the mounting hardware.
This just introduces vibration…. My best friend has an home brew video setup in this car’s. Everyone who sees his videos always comments on how steady they are and asks ‘what did you do different for such steady vids?’
Everything of his is HARD mounted. No rubber to induce vibration. This is counter intuitive to what you would think, but rubber allows the mount (read camera) to flex/move when the car goes over a gator or an ill regular road surface.

Camera setting memory.
Does the camera require you to set it up every time you turn it on (what a pain…) or does it remember the last settings?

Easy/Convenient way to start and stop the camera.
Are the buttons easy to press? Especially with driving gloves? Can you press the start button without having to grab the entire camera possibly changing your alignment? These are some of the reasons that a remote start/stop is very desirable.


Here are some of the camera's that I am looking into, in no particular order.

I like both cameras listed at Hoyttech for different reasons.
http://www.hoyttech.com/default.cfm

http://www.raceoptics.com/?gclid=CMb...FQwFbAodUA2ODA
http://pointofviewcameras.com/vio-po...eo-camera.html

This one is very interesting, especially the dual camera (front/rear) setup in one unit:
http://www.motorsportscamera.com/

This one is interesting for you motorcycle riders:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...012-000U-00005

What I am currently looking hard at is this:
http://www.aiptek.com/Camcorders/HD/H12/Features/

Feel free to add any positive or negative comments on your current camera setups and what you would change with your setup.


4/24/2011

I have my buddies GoPro HD for the weekend.

I have made several vids of various mounting locations. One thing I did find is that the self-adhesive mounts, the ones that you clip your camera into, make NOISE... creaks and clicks. I checked all of them. They all make noise.... It's loud and noticeable in the videos.

[Finnegan]

Thanks Ship!

[tekmoe]

Good post.

[crfine88]

Good info, thank you

[bucko521]

Great selection...will check out each link....thanks!

[a_riddler]

For external mics, I really like the sound quality of the Zoom H2

http://www.samsontech.com/products/p...fm?prodid=1916

A buddy uses one and the engine roar is very clear!

[Shipkiller]

Added a nugget of information in the original post..

[sabbanick]

Best place to mount the gopro is to remove one of the kidney grills, and mount the gopro using the bicycle seat post mount on the support brace...the footage comes out really good.

http://www.tracktimephotos.com/large...7_NJM_D23_2138

You are correct there is noise/vibration when using the 3M mounts .... It still like the view from inside the cockpit though.


For what its worth the GoPro's versatility is great but you have provided us with some solid alternatives the will far exceed what you can do with the Gopro.

[Shipkiller]

I did do a test video with the suction mount mounted in the middle of the car just below the two grills. If you don't think the S54 is a noisy engine, listen to THAT video... The VANOS is crazy noisy....

edit:

Just saw your video. That is what I am talking about for good outside camera work. I am assuming that being internal to be helps control extemporaneous wind noise. Just the air flow into the intake should be heard.

I think the biggest strength of the GoPro is the suction mount. It really is good.

[Karacticus]

I just duplicated your installation on the radiator support brace-- that's slicker than snot!

Which case/back did you use? Full waterproof, open back, or skeleton?

I did one quic test with the skeleton case, and the sound wasn't as good as yours..

[Karacticus]

If this doesn't turn out to be vaporware, here's an interesting video product....

http://www.nflightcam.com/cameras/vi...php?entryID=22

[z4mnyc]

Originally Posted by Karaticus

If this doesn't turn out to be vaporware, here's an interesting video product....

http://www.nflightcam.com/cameras/vi...php?entryID=22

That's just a photoshopped Contour+
http://contour.com/products/contour-plus

[Karacticus]

And an extra $100 for the photoshop job...

[sabbanick]

Originally Posted by Karaticus

I just duplicated your installation on the radiator support brace-- that's slicker than snot!

Which case/back did you use? Full waterproof, open back, or skeleton?

I did one quic test with the skeleton case, and the sound wasn't as good as yours..

i use the full waterproof case. I have not tried the open back plate yet. I buddy of mine gets all the credit for coming up with this mounting location. It is a great view point.

[Karacticus]

Yes -- I found it to work great. Though I've had some technical difficulties as shown in the video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InYBxlG4u2Q

I've tired the skeleton case, the open back case and the fully closed one. I've found the best results with the closed one.

[ZStig]

what about attaching a block of open cell foam behind the semi-open rear?

[Karacticus]

It could be wroth a try -- for heat load if nothing else.

That does appear to be the downfall of this install position-- the camera has shut down when it's gotten too hot.

[gcochard]

Both of those videos remind me of playing forza.

Any tips on mounting the camera inside the cockpit of a roadster?

I think i want to use one of the roll hoops...would the gorillapod work?

[Shipkiller]

Originally Posted by Karaticus

Yes -- I found it to work great. Though I've had some technical difficulties as shown in the video below.

I've tired the skeleton case, the open back case and the fully closed one. I've found the best results with the closed one.

Bug Splat...

[mikeinsf]

I've been wanting to get a setup going for my roadster too. I was thinking a perfect mounting spot would be in one of the metal retaining mounts for the soft top located at the top of the windshield pillars on either the right or left side. Some mount that could be clamped inside one of those spots would be firmly attached and easy to take on/off. For audio I was thinking of buying one of the Edirol units (http://www.amazon.com/Edirol-R-09HR-...8936016&sr=8-1) and somehow strapping that to the back bumper on a piece of foam to capture the exhaust sounds.

[Karacticus]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

Bug Splat...

I think we all know what the last thing was that went through that bug's mind

[gcochard]

I'm planning on using a point and shoot digital camera with this: http://www.amazon.com/Joby-GP2-D1EN-...8950194&sr=1-2

hopefully the 1.75 lbs will keep it from falling off, how many Gs does the z4m pull when braking?