What video camera are you using? Options

[FASTFATBOY]

Amazon has the Gopro hd for $229, what are you using? I don't need the latest or greatest. Just one that works good.

There is an older Gopro for $100 that work good?

[00SSHarrison]

The go pro hd works great, stay away from the non hd go pro (the original one) the video is ok but the audio sucks, picks up every vibration and makes a wired noise.

[GlennCMC70]

I havea Go Pro. It is good, and was the best for the time when it came out.
I have been lucky enough to have a Drift HD placed in my car at the last NASA event. I've held the unit, and played w/ it some. I think it is light years above and beyond the Go Pro. It even comes w/ a remote.

[Doug Phillips]

The Contour HD has GPS data so you get some limited telemetry built in. There is a bluetooth interface for iPhones.

[SVTHuh]

I have a GoPro HD, ContourHD and a ContourGPS..

I have one of each because I sell them... That being said, the ContourHD and ContourGPS both offer IMO better video and better sound quality than the GoPro HD. Contour IMO also has better customer service should something go wrong with your unit. They also have their own software program that allows you to change anything on the camera from how it meters light to its quality settings. You do not need this software to pull the video content from the camera though. The software works on both Mac and PC.

If it were my hard earned dollars buying a new camera, it would be the ContourGPS.. The iPhone and Android apps that allow you to use your phone as a viewfinder and also allow you to change the settings on the camera, IMO are worth it on their own, not to mention the built in GPS.

[FASTFATBOY]

I have a GoPro HD, ContourHD and a ContourGPS..

I have one of each because I sell them... That being said, the ContourHD and ContourGPS both offer IMO better video and better sound quality than the GoPro HD. Contour IMO also has better customer service should something go wrong with your unit. They also have their own software program that allows you to change anything on the camera from how it meters light to its quality settings. You do not need this software to pull the video content from the camera though. The software works on both Mac and PC.

If it were my hard earned dollars buying a new camera, it would be the ContourGPS.. The iPhone and Android apps that allow you to use your phone as a viewfinder and also allow you to change the settings on the camera, IMO are worth it on their own, not to mention the built in GPS.

Price on this unit?

[Shortcutsleeping]

My car has a solid mounted motor and eats gopros. I've killed three of them. I have not tried the HD because I'm not willing to risk the money. I finally said 'enough is enough' of trying the latest whizbang camera for as little cash as possible and called Dave at SoloPerformance (not sure if he is a sponsor here) and chatted because he has a car with a solid mounted motor also.

I ended up with a pdr100 chase cam with auto-sensing and the capacitor pack. So now, when I hit main power the unit comes on, starts to record once I start moving and stops when I stop. If the main power is pulled, the capacitor pack stops the recording, closes the file and shuts down (no more lost data). With the bullet cam mounted up high under the rearview it gives good field of view, I can add/change cameras as I go, etc. This unit is very durable and put together very well. Mil-Spec connectors, solid feel, etc. Folks have been using these in pro racing for many years and they have good resale (a good indicator of quality). The gopro and contours I've held and played with felt a little on the cheap side and fragile. They are likely more durable than I give them credit for, but that's just how I see it. The chasecam feels like a mag-lite where you could beat someone up with it, then fully expect it to keep on working just fine! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Sample: http://www.vimeo.com/21371765 NOT in HD, and view is through slanted lexan. File is compressed (lost quality) for vimeo.

How many years do you want this camera to work for you? The more years you want, the more I'd push you towards something longer-lasting and better built so you arent buying the latest 2-300$ cam every year or two. I give the same speech with radios. For one race (crap-can maybe...) or a few, maybe work some good FRS or cheapie whatever-you-can-find, but if you are going to be in this game very long, you'll realize most everyone serious runs motorola.

Just my .02

Costas
cars and such...

[CrashTestDummy]

^^ What he said. I have a whole drawer full of different types of cameras that don't work for one reason, or another, possibly due to using them in a C Prepared car. Another problem is, with the lower-end cameras, companies pop up all the time that are selling them. You get yours, start using it, live with it, and when it fails, the company is gone. I'm using a CamFX camera right now. It works, but there's things that have failed, and the company is gone. The next purchase will be something closer to $1K, that hopefully has some data logging with it, but that's not until new wheels and engine are in the car.

[cozog]

I guess I'm at the other end of the spectrum. I got a Kodak Zx3 for my birthday. Waterproof to 10ft, Std tripod mount, HD (1080@30, 720@60, 720@30), remote, 32 GB max, size of a deck of cards... all for about $100.
I haven't used it in the car yet, but if it works good, I'll probably get another for rear facing.

[FASTFATBOY]

I guess I'm at the other end of the spectrum. I got a Kodak Zx3 for my birthday. Waterproof to 10ft, Std tripod mount, HD (1080@30, 720@60, 720@30), remote, 32 GB max, size of a deck of cards... all for about $100.
I haven't used it in the car yet, but if it works good, I'll probably get another for rear facing.

Please update this thread when you do. A camera is on my list but at the bottom. I have to get the car squared away first, lots to do there.

Is there a such thing as a universal roll bar mount for any camera?

[CrashTestDummy]

Yes. I-O Port Racing has this and several others:

http://www.ioportracing.com/Merchant2/merc...egory_Code=IOPP

But with glass windows, and/or a decent finish, I've seen the suction-cup ones work pretty well.

[nape]

Another vote against the Go Pro. Mine works fine in April or October, but other then that the cockpit temps are so high the camera locks up. Maybe I should take up ice racing instead...

[FASTFATBOY]

Anyone tried this one? A buddy has this one but has not used it in a car.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0040702HA?sp=1

This post has been edited by FASTFATBOY: Apr 20 2011, 02:12 PM

[cozog]

I guess I'm at the other end of the spectrum. I got a Kodak Zx3 for my birthday. Waterproof to 10ft, Std tripod mount, HD (1080@30, 720@60, 720@30), remote, 32 GB max, size of a deck of cards... all for about $100.
I haven't used it in the car yet, but if it works good, I'll probably get another for rear facing.

Please update this thread when you do. A camera is on my list but at the bottom. I have to get the car squared away first, lots to do there.

Is there a such thing as a universal roll bar mount for any camera?

Vids from Mid-Ohio:
http://vimeo.com/donateliferacing

Edit: I had it set at 720p/60fps. I'm going to try 1080p next month at Putnam Park.

This post has been edited by cozog: Apr 21 2011, 12:15 PM

[mitchntx]

Anyone tried this one? A buddy has this one but has not used it in a car.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0040702HA?sp=1

Last month with a Flip minHD

http://vimeo.com/21041214

[FASTFATBOY]

Anyone tried this one? A buddy has this one but has not used it in a car.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0040702HA?sp=1

Last month with a Flip minHD

http://vimeo.com/21041214

Damn mitch thats pretty good, those are fairly cheap to. WHat settings?

[mitchntx]

Don't know. It was from a friends car and his camera.

Amazon recently had a huge sale on the latest rev FLIP, 8G MinoHD for $110

So I ordered it, it arrived and Cisco announced they were dropping the FLIP line.

<sigh>

[FASTFATBOY]

Don't know. It was from a friends car and his camera.

Amazon recently had a huge sale on the latest rev FLIP, 8G MinoHD for $110

So I ordered it, it arrived and Cisco announced they were dropping the FLIP line.

<sigh>

I got a buddy gonna GIVE me one, guess this will be my Camera. Damn it looks as good or better than any other. Sound is really good also.

You use any kind of special Mic?

Are the Flip cameras going under are what? How long does the battery last? You recharge with a car charger?

[FASTFATBOY]

Mitch, what mount are you using?

[mitchntx]

http://www.ioportracing.com/Merchant2/merc...egory_Code=IOPP

But this will probably work just fine with a FLIP
http://www.ioportracing.com/Merchant2/merc...egory_Code=IOPP