In-car camera

[mabbott]

Gents - can anyone recommend a good in-car camera/recorder combination please? I just don't get time to research things properly, but what is a sensible cost/quality balance?

I don't need any fancy logging stuff, nor am I going to be sticking it up on the 'net, just a good quality camera and recorder, was thinking a couple of hundred quid?

Thanks for any help/guidance, Mark.

[Count Johnny]

A little more expensive than you were hoping - but, I think, the cheapest option available - is the Goldstar Club:

http://www.goldstaronboard.co.uk/racecam/video-pro...

I've got one and - apart from the relatively limited battery life (say an hour max) - it's fine.

[dunc_sx]

I bought one of the dogcam set-ups (www.dogcamsport.co.uk) and it's OK although the mic is rubbish.

If I were to buy again I'd probably go for the 'Go-Pro' camera shown here, they are around the £90 to £150 mark I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v119q8mIpMs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49ESrrbItsU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFSDiOB0EhE&fea...

Might be worth looking around for more amateur vids with that though, they are shock proof and water proof though.

If you wanted to try a bit of an outsider you could try one of these at about £10 it gives decent results and is very small and compact, it doesn't have a screen but lasts for 2 to 3 hours I believe. Loads of guys on another car forum have been using them taped to their splitters etc getting surprisingly good footage. Worth it for sticking at your feet or on a part of the car liable to get damaged?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnF5mXG9IAQ

There was another one at £20 which seems pretty comparable in quality to my several hundred pound dogcam system It had a screen and was very small and light but I can't find the details just now.

Dunc.

Edited by dunc_sx on Monday 5th April 16:59

[jp-speed-triple]

chase cam PDR 100. basic model. excellent quality, not stupid money. can add to features as you decide you want them.

[KR]

Just bought a Gopro HD Motorsport Hero, which is lithium battery powered, and charged via a laptop with an SD card. Best I've seen, bought from Autotel www.gopro.com.

[Simon T]

Videos on my website all done with a Chasecam camers and PDR100 recorder - Great kit and reasonable price. I would recommend it every time

Simon

www.tillingmotorsport.com

[SportsLibre]

dunc_sx said:

I bought one of the dogcam set-ups (www.dogcamsport.co.uk) and it's OK although the mic is rubbish.

How/where did you mount the camera? I now have one and the basic mount is rather flimsy and moves vibrates when I reve the engine etc.

[dunc_sx]

Duct taped the bullet cam hard against the roll bar front stay, it's rock solid!

Dunc.

Edited by dunc_sx on Monday 5th April 23:39

[Count Johnny]

dunc_sx said:

If you wanted to try a bit of an outsider you could try one of these at about £10 it gives decent results and is very small and compact, it doesn't have a screen but lasts for 2 to 3 hours I believe. Loads of guys on another car forum have been using them taped to their splitters etc getting surprisingly good footage. Worth it for sticking at your feet or on a part of the car liable to get damaged?

Edited by dunc_sx on Monday 5th April 16:59

Dunc SX

As you intimate, these look fantastic for disposable/low res applications.

For me, I'm thinking actually watching suspension movement/behaviour; tuft testing; filming stuff from the underfloor; watching the behaviour of pretty much anything when the car's in motion...the list goes on.

And all in a really lightweight and compact package.

I hope you're on commission, because I'm about to use loads (and bore the world sh*tless on the subject).

Nothing new there, then.

C 'Johnny' S

[splitpin]

Should be fine ..... unless the duck tape lets go and one disappears down the air intake ............ or even worse, you swallow it - perhaps it'll still work when it arrives at the other end ........ that'll provide some interesting footage ........ plenty skidmarks.

[dunc_sx]

Count Johnny said:

For me, I'm thinking actually watching suspension movement/behaviour; tuft testing; filming stuff from the underfloor; watching the behaviour of pretty much anything when the car's in motion...the list goes on.

Was aimed at the original poster though, don't know if he'll be doing such things? It's just my opinion, Go-Pro for the main footage and if you fancy a laugh a few £10 efforts on the splitter or helmet etc. And suits the budget

And duct tape falling off, never!

Dunc.

Edited by dunc_sx on Wednesday 7th April 09:06

[stiglet]

SportsLibre said:

I now have one and the basic mount is rather flimsy and moves vibrates when I reve the engine etc.

'Suggest you don't reve then!

Anyone doing Fintray?

[DarioT]

mabbott said:

Gents - can anyone recommend a good in-car camera/recorder combination please? I just don't get time to research things properly, but what is a sensible cost/quality balance?

I don't need any fancy logging stuff, nor am I going to be sticking it up on the 'net, just a good quality camera and recorder, was thinking a couple of hundred quid?

Thanks for any help/guidance, Mark.

Mabbott. Don't underestimate the benefit of integrated data and video loggers. in this last couple of weeks i have rented out these systems and seen drivers visibly improve by either studying their own data / lines / positioning on track or looking at a faster driver in their car and then overlaying their data and video and seeing where the time was going.

Its very clever stuff, can't say any more or others will flame me again.

Until you've used one, don't exclude it.

Dario
www.onboardvision.co.uk

[mabbott]

Thanks, I already have a logger though, not fussed about overlaying it too much, but the general guidance seems to be get a chasecam for something quality/durable and some of those spycams for a bit of fun / sticking them in daft places. On the car that is before anyone chips in :P

[radicalracer]

I use a Smartycam HD camera connected to an AIM Pista dash / logger. I love the set up. GPS module is built in and a 360 degree accelerometer gives G force readout and creates track maps.

http://www.smartycam.com/on-board-camera.htm

Good luck.

G

[Stefluc]

Another one you could look at is the Roadhawk RH1 which has its speed recorded on it and GPS tracking along with Google maps all for £199.
Stefluc

[BertBert]

In a fit of pique today I ordered the Goldstar one so I'd at least be getting some track footage.
BErt