Track Day Video Camara Advice

[Fergusond]

Hi, I'm looking to record my driving efforts and dont know where to start with what type/make of video camera is suitable to stick onto a internal window in my car which will absorb the vibrations and record the action. Can someone give me some advice on suitable equipment.

thanks
David

[cryton]

Hi David,
I use a Hague Suction Camera mount with a Canon MVX 30i (Mini DV tapes) camcorder.Dont use a DVD disc camcorder as that will jump.take lots of in-car as well as track side shots if you can.
Do you have a mount?? Check this site http://www.b-hague.co.uk/camera_suction_pads_vacuu...
Also a link to some shots I took at Knockhill.
http://scottisholdskoolescorts.co.uk/SOSE_CMS/inde...

http://scottisholdskoolescorts.co.uk/SOSE_CMS/inde...

Also just got a Bullet cam so hope to use it more this year.

[GetCarter]

/\ What he said.

Bullet cam is a great way of getting different angles (taped to the skid lid of the passenger is fun!!)

Make sure the DV camcorder has ANALOGUE IN

Steve

ETA - this was taken by a mate via a bullet at Bruntingthorpe (I'm driving the seven in front)

http://www.stevecarter.com/Brunters.wmv

...and in case Martin V6 GTO reads this - yes, it is a very quick Noble I dispatch on the last straight

Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 26th January 16:29

[Fergusond]

thanks for the advice boys, I'm still contemplating and need to see what people are using and the set up they have.

cheers
David

[F308 MAN]

three or four of us have been very happy with these people:
http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/

d

[cw42]

David, I use a Sony DCR-HC90E for all my filming. This is a DV TAPE camcorder with the all important analogue input for a bullet cam.
You can use the camera on the outside of a car with a suitable mount, I also have the B-HAUGE one like this on the bonnet:

which produced this film:
http://www.scoobysmacs.co.uk/videos/CurboroughOct0...
That mount will go anywhere, and as long as I've had it, it's never once let me down. I've even left it suckered to the inside of the windscreen overnight before now!
It will also hold a lot of weight, and had no problem holding my Canon 300d inc battery pack when I ran out of film in the Alps:

Then, there's the bullet cam. I've been after getting one for a while, and I've borrowed mates cams over the years. The beauty of a bullet cam is that it can almost literally be put anywhere on the car, and if you get a mix of lenses, or 2 or more cameras, then you get a mix of views. From very wide angles to quite narrow angles, just about everything in between is catered for.
The main benefit is the cheapness of them compared to having your whole camera mounted on the car.
You do need to make a decision about what quality film you want, and how you're going to record it though. If you're after broadcast quality, then you will be better off with a dv tape solution, if however you're after some simple no frills footage to email to mates or put on youtube, then a solid state recorder would be the way to go. As has been discussed, I'd avoid the recordable dvd route, as you will get it jumping.
Finally, I'm in the process of evaluating a camera and kit from a mate at the club, here's what I've done so far with it:
http://www.scoobysmacs.co.uk/Videos/chief-cam.wmv
That's a very simple setup. My video cam and the bullet cam plugged into it.
Once you've got your footage, you'll need an editing package. I use Pinnacle Studio, which is very easy to use and comes with a firewire card and cable when bought retail. Or, you can use ms movie maker or apples free offering. Have a look at the club site here:
http://www.scoobysmacs.co.uk/video.asp
as most of that has been filmed by me using my camcorder mounted to the windscreen

[Longers]

GetCarter said:

this was taken by a mate via a bullet at Bruntingthorpe (I'm driving the seven in front)

http://www.stevecarter.com/Brunters.wmv

Thanks for that link Steve. I'm off to Bruntingthorpe myself for my first visit soon.... can't wait!!

[Fergusond]

thanks again lads, I can see there some dedicated tracksters amongst you and I'm looking forward to following in your foot steps driving and filming.

regards
David

[dhutch]

Never films from a car, but for the footage my mate shots out of a train him and his dad use a bullet cam, into a recoreder, with a separate microphone.
- I dont know the details of exactly what they use, but they have been though a few interations to get it as it is now, espically with diffrent microphones, and the result is noew very good.

You can also get little bullet cams the hold an SD card that cna get a few hours of video on it. Not great quality but very small and selfcontained.


Daniel