Best camera for in-car footage

[concentric]

Hey guys...
I know you all have great in-car set-ups from seeing your track footage. I'd like to pick up a camera for in-car work and general filming. I'm interested in the Mini-DV cameras since I could keep them in a pocket while walking around.

Any models you like?

Jason

[TMH]

Jason,

I started out using my Canon GL2 for in-car video. Of course it gave great output, what with 3 ccds and optical image stabilization. I had rigged up a kind of cheap DC-to-DC converter so that I would not have to worry about changing batteries. One event, the converter went out and I had to hang a battery on the back. All footage from that point was kind of shakey - due to the heavy (extended capacity) battery hanging off the back of the camera (kind of like having the heavy engine in the back of a 911).

Not wanting to take the chance of hurting my expensive GL2, I decided to buy a smaller-but-decent miniDV camera off of fleabay. I ended up with a used Canon Optura 10 for less than $200. I have now tried it over 2 days at Sears Point, and it provided some great, stable footage. I purchased a DC-to-DC converter (2 amp output, I think) from Rat Shack, and it was easy to attach a standard end to the output which fits what the camera wanted. I have a switch on the dashboard for the video system, so no need to worry about batteries. One bad thing about this Canon and some of the other small miniDV cameras: Bottom loading of the cassette. Means you have to pull the camera off the mount to change tapes. Not really a big issue, but you might want to avoid it with your camera purchase for the sake of convenience.

I use the camera mount from IO Port Racing, mounted to a rollbar.

Good luck,
Tom

[dtfastbear]

Search the archives, as there are lots of good threads on this topic!

Good luck,

Dean

[ted]

I have a Sony that works fine with a cheap wide angle lens...
I think this system would be interesting to try with my camera..
http://www.rcd-video.com/index.htm

[goat]

There are so many good cameras now..
I use a Cannon Optura can't remember the number but it is three chip.
If you are going to use in the car alot it will take a beating. So don't mega bucks. I prefer cameras that have a stabilizer control but some models work in-car with this feature turned off, go figure. 3 chip give better color and lenses are a biggy too
try this site for comparisons.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/

[concentric]

Originally posted by dtfastbear
Search the archives, as there are lots of good threads on this topic!

Good luck,

Dean

I tried that, but most of the threads are at least a couple years old. I want the latest/greatest so my camera can be obsolete in two years, too

Jason

[Jack Olsen]

My advice:

Go cheap. Go simple. Any camera you strap to your car's frame is going to take a beating and have a reduced lifespan.

Image quality is not an issue, at least for online clips. Straight-to-DVD cameras probably will not be able to perform with the constant shaking. Make sure you can run an external video feed, if you decide to go with a lipstick camera down the line. A firewire port to go straight to your computer is also a big help, if online clips are part of the plan.

[ted]

One feature I'd like is a remote hard wired on off switch.
Mine has a wireless remote but it can be troublesome, I dunno maybe light reflections disrupting the signal in the car. Normally when I'm all suited up the last thing I do is turn the camera on, but sometimes when the remote fails I have to activate the camera manually. Belts and gloves off...

[concentric]

Ted:

I saw some cameras that can be set to start recording when you flip the LCD screen open, like an auto-record feature. I believe it was on the JVC GR-DX77 and related series cameras.

JCM

[John Rogers]

If you are going to use a handheld camera, several things to look for: The widest angle field of vision possible so you can see the full windshield view, Electronic image stabilization so the video will not be so shaky you can't see any details, external power supply so the batts will not run down if in the car and you forget to stop it, remote on/record hardwire switch (no wireless remote as it will go flying around in the cabin), manual focus that stays on so the view out the windshield will stay in focus and ability to adjust the "back lite" so the view out the windshield will not be washed out (white). I had a really hard time finding what I wanted and finally bough a Racecam setup. Good luck.

[Zeke]

How does putting the camera in a foam enclosed box work with a lipstck? I ask, because I have a fairly old Sony super8 analog tape cam that I don't care about. It's really too big and heavy for a bar mount. I'm afraid it would be terrible up there as far as the quality goes.

I could always use the lipstick on a newer model down the line. Wad you think? Can I get some footage?

[John Rogers]

Milt, that is what I had with my previous setup with the "spy camera" and worked okay but it also had image stabilization.

[juanbenae]

can anybody recommend a good site for lipstick cams? i have a jvc digital tape model and the vibration at high rpm's can be maddening when viewing later. i would love to find an affordable lip cam, any leads on good sites?

[Jack Olsen]

Digital/Optical stabilization schemes are hit and miss. When I bought my camera a couple of years back, I bought the one with the best (optical) image stabilization. With the particular frequency of the shaking in my car, the stabilization made the picture worse, not better.

The nice thing about lipstick cameras is that they require no stabilization. They're too light to have shaking be an issue. So to answer Milt, what you're describing (packing the camera in a soft box, running line video in from a lipstick cam) is right on the money. It's what I do, now, with my expensive (and now-obsolete) DV camera.

[North Coast Cab]

I mount a traditional camera to a DIY roll bar mount. It's analog so there's no option for an external camera. The mount doesn't vibrate too bad until around 100mph when the wind through the car hits it. If you're looking for post track time review and remeniscing it works fine. If you're looking for the digital e-mail and editable high tech video editing follw the instructions above. FWIW, I watch the video right when I get home a bunch of times and almost never go back again. Just my $.02

John

[John Rogers]

try SuperCircuits.com. I used them when I bought my first one and they had good prices and good service. Their tech guy used the camera (minature type) I finally bought in an R/C airplane and it worked well he said and it worked good in my race car. Good luck

[campbellcj]

SuperCircuits is a great source; however, just be sure you don't cross polarity on the power leads :O I made quick work of a $100-ish micro camera that way. (NOTE: there are no instructions/wiring diagrams with the SuperCircuit stuff IME)

I've got a Canon DV that will find its way into my car one of these days. It just hasn't bubbled back up to the top of the list quite yet, after I cooked the first remote camera and chucked it all back in the closet.

[mskala]

Originally posted by k911sc
i have a jvc digital tape model and the vibration at high rpm's can be maddening when viewing later. i would love to find an affordable lip cam, any leads on good sites?

Maybe you already checked, but be sure you can do A/V input
before buying the bulletcam, there are digital camcorders
without that important feature.

[Jack Olsen]

And keep in mind, it probably won't look like you expect. My lipstick cam and mic have RCA connections for video. My DV camera has an 1/8-inch plug for input, but the cable that comes with the camera adapts between the two.

I think they put the input ports on so you can use the camera to tape things from another camera or a VCR.

[ErVikingo]

Which one of them from Supercircuits?