In-car Video Camera Options

Super-Snake · #1 (**permalink**) 07-22-2002, 09:10 PM

Does anyone have a recommendation for in-car video cameras? I dont have a budget in mind. I do want to get the most reasonable camera for the money. A camera that lasts a good amount of time and doesnt get outdated very quickly. I will only use the camera at the racetrack.

thank you for the help.

dan

already have the i/o port racing camera mount

John McMahon · #2 (**permalink**) 07-23-2002, 06:56 AM

Dan,

Talk to Jim Colman...he da man.

You definitely want digital to minimize the shakes.

I don't know what camera Jim uses, but he keeps the camera in the car, on the seat and uses a remote lens attached to a pole. I have seen him position it above the windshield, on the bumper, on the side of the car.

It produces a clear, consistent image with little to no blurring and the sound is good since that camera is in the car and not buffeted by the wind.

superskippy · #3 (**permalink**) 07-23-2002, 07:03 AM

I saw a great setup at the Cruise and Q' a few weeks ago. The guy is offering the complete setup which includes the camera, vcr, mounts, remote and wires. He is selling the system for $595. If you go to www.vrworld.com you can see the product. If you notice, he has the camera attached to a Cobra roll bar. I am thinking about going this route because the size is perfect and everything else can be stored in the trunk. I saw the camera mount that he was using and it looks VERY clean. It is by far the best in car camera setup I have seen. I will most likely do away with the VCR and use a laptop instead. The quality of the video will be a lot better.

Shaun

Super-Snake · #4 (**permalink**) 07-23-2002, 06:32 PM

thank you skippy and John,
i will check out the link. there are so many cameras i dont
even know where to start!
i will keep you posted on what i do.

dan

btsai · #5 (**permalink**) 07-23-2002, 06:51 PM

Shaun,

How do you record directly to a laptop? And then how do you output it? Built-in DVD burner or ???

Satanpez · #6 (**permalink**) 07-23-2002, 06:59 PM

You would record it directly to a .avi or .mpg or .mov or whatever video format. Then you could either view it on your laptop, hook it up to an external monitor, or if the laptop has video out, then you can hook it up to a tv.

If you want to save it permanently, then if the laptop has video/audio out, you can hook it up to a vcr to record it onto a vhs.

-steve in nj-

Back in Black · #7 (**permalink**) 07-23-2002, 07:12 PM

There also are *memory sticks* now for data (video/audio) storage, and when removed they can be plugged into a reader/input device for the 'puter...this is much faster than a serial port

I just bought a Sony DCR-TRV740 and plan to mount it on the rollbar. Don't forget you can also mount it on a tripod, off to the side of the road/track, and blast by for a fun shot, especially if there is someone to follow your pass

aeon · #8 (**permalink**) 07-23-2002, 08:14 PM

with video cams the standard now is DV. and as far as what cam to get price sets what you get ...i have a GL1 from Canon and a TRV-900 from sony they both take great video,near pro quality.there on the high end of the pro/consumer. you can watch the adds at your local store and get a entry level dv cam for as cheep as 300 bucks . as far as editing it on the computer thats a little more tricky many dv cams have whats called firewire or Ilink on them that lets it talk to the computer directly in a digital format . that is the best way and for 20 bucks you can get a card for you computer to do just that some even come with some basic software. if ya just want to show off now and again to friends and family what your day at the track was like just use the cam as a VCR and play them from there . it sounds like limited use .

any questions feel free to email me

aeon

DanElam · #9 (**permalink**) 07-23-2002, 08:52 PM

For short races I use a cheap Sony Cybershot with a video option. It doesn't capture sound, but the wind noise screws up sounds with a Cobra anyways. These cameras are cheap on e-bay and produce video ready for the computer. Resolution is limted to 320x160 as I recall.

For long races I use a standard DV video camera and then bring it into the computer with firewire. This takes a more sophisticated setup, but you can do more tape.

One thing you _must_ buy for the Cobra is a protective lens. On the track, dirt will fly around and pit the lens. Better to pit a cheap protective lens/filter than your camera lens.

btsai · #10 (**permalink**) 07-29-2002, 03:29 PM

Well, Shaun never answered my question, but I don't agree that video quality would be better going direct to a computer.

Steve -- recording directly to .avi or .mov format -- I guess I didn't think about doing that. You mean import directly into a video editing program? (Like Final Cut Pro) Seems like it would be MUCH less of a hassle to record to DV in the car, and then import to the computer at home.

If I understand correctly, you would have LOWER quality video by going direct into a computer, because .avi, .mov or any other file types actually compress the data so that it fits better is and is more compatible with a computer. Real video on DV tape would always be better quality than one captured on a hard drive. Am I correct or would the quality be the same? Seems like if it has to be compressed, you'd lose some quality. If it can be imported non-compressed, then I guess there would be no loss of quality.

Recording directly to a computer may seem cool, but I don't see how it would give you better video. Agree?

Also, I believe the memory cards in video cameras only record stills or mpg/avi movies rather than full screen 30 frames/second quality.

Video experts out there -- am I right, or am I all wet?

:-)

Ben

DanElam · #11 (**permalink**) 07-29-2002, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by btsai
Well, Shaun never answered my question, but I don't agree that video quality would be better going direct to a computer.

Steve -- recording directly to .avi or .mov format -- I guess I didn't think about doing that. You mean import directly into a video editing program? (Like Final Cut Pro) Seems like it would be MUCH less of a hassle to record to DV in the car, and then import to the computer at home.

If I understand correctly, you would have LOWER quality video by going direct into a computer, because .avi, .mov or any other file types actually compress the data so that it fits better is and is more compatible with a computer. Real video on DV tape would always be better quality than one captured on a hard drive. Am I correct or would the quality be the same? Seems like if it has to be compressed, you'd lose some quality. If it can be imported non-compressed, then I guess there would be no loss of quality.

Also, I believe the memory cards in video cameras only record stills or mpg/avi movies rather than full screen 30 frames/second quality.

Video experts out there -- am I right, or am I all wet?

:-)

Ben

Well, ok. I am the US Expert to ISO for imaging technology. That doesn't mean I know how to use the stuff creatively, but I do know how it works technically.

You can hook up a cam directly to the computer. For almost all of these, you are talking about compressing on the fly (.AVI or .MOV). It is possible with the right equipment to capture real time video in an uncompressed file, but the odds are against you doing it that way since it requires a lot more specialized equipment. BTW, you can have an uncompressed AVI file, but there isn't much point since you would just want it during the editing process. When done, always use compression. You really won't notice the difference and you will save a TON of space and bandwidth.

The cheapest, best qualitym and easiest way to do it is to just use a DV camera and convert it when you get back to the computer with firewire.

If you can do with lesser quality and 30 minute sessions, the Sony Cybershots are cheap and produce the AVI file in real time so you don't have to do anything special.

-Dan

superskippy · #12 (**permalink**) 07-29-2002, 04:48 PM

Sorry, I have been in the garage installing my supercharger instead of reading the forums. As the laptop is digital, there would not be the loss of signal that you would experience with a VHS tape. I have made VCD (or Video CD) from other stuff that is out on the web and played it on my Plasma TV. It looks and sounds AWESOME. You have to convert the signal from the format that you recorded it into an mpeg. There is freeware software that you can get in order to do this. The software also sets the resolution and number of lines that you want in the conversion. It sounds more difficult that it is. I made a VCD that I was able to play on my DVD player in less than 15 minutes. Granted, if you only know how to hunt and peck on your keyboard, you might find it a little difficult to do this. My laptop has video in on it, so this helps a little. If yours does not, you can get a video/USB adapter that will allow you to do the same thing. You have to keep in mind that not all DVD players will play VCD’s. If yours did not, you would then have to get a DVD burner instead. Hope this helps.

btsai · #13 (**permalink**) 07-29-2002, 05:33 PM

Ah. Great info guys! Thanks for the input.

Ben

aeon · #14 (**permalink**) 07-29-2002, 07:37 PM

ok mebe ya guys know this already but here goes ...
dv is a compressed format 3.6 megs a second sounds like a lot but its not. when you used firewire to transfer the data on the tape to the hard drive in your computer there is no loss of data at all. the computer handles it in native dv format. this is by far the best method. once you have edited it ...( there are quiet a few cheep and easy to use firewire able editors out there on up to the expensive avid,premiere,finalcrappro. ) you put it back onto the camcorder then you transfef it to a vhs tape ...for thoses of us lucky enuf to have a dvd-R you can burn a dvd but thats not so common just yet. you would be amazed how good dv footage looks transferd onto a vhs tape. as for compressing DV footage into .mov or any format you better have a realy realy realy fast computer cuz a 30 min tape is going to take a long looooooooooooooong time . short movies are easy to do and fun to put on your personal webspace for people to look at think 2meg size files thats only a few moments of video at any decent quality ...erm anyone wants to know more
email me or something ..or if ya want to pay me to shoot and edit ur video even better ... vhs is still the standard to look to for sending your video to friends

aeon

DanElam · #15 (**permalink**) 07-29-2002, 08:17 PM

Keep in mind that MPEG is a lossy compression algorithm. That means that, like a JPEG image, each time you open and resave it, it reduces the quality a little bit. If you are going to be editing the file a lot, save the original DV output file (almost always a lossless AVI file).

Great Asp · #16 (**permalink**) 07-29-2002, 08:58 PM

I am looking for a lipstick cam to hook up to my DV Sony cam. Does anyone have a used system I could buy?

I would place the camcorder in the trunk, and remote the mic in the cockpit.

Eric