track video system

Recommend ChaseCam first, GoPro second. That said, I've had a lot of people go from the GP to the ChaseCam. For fun, the GP is just fine.

 

Heros are ok but the GoPro is better for the same concept. And as Peter indicates, the ChaseCam is a level above. You can also get bullet cams for around $200 each and hook them up to the video-in of a camcorder.

I recommend data if you really want to improve. Video footage is great for gross assessment but nothing beats data to give you a full idea of what's going on between the car and the ground. Peter is a fantastic resource for Traqmate systems and info - HIGHLY recommend him. Data will show immense amounts of info when video looks relatively benign and unchanged just because of its medium's perception on things.
AND at the same time, video's way better than nothing!

Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©

 

The bullet cams usually have a camera mount threaded receiver in them and many come with mounting plates (small round foot with three screw holes in it on which the camera mounts) and I mount those in select places.

If you want to just see out the window, you can remove a sun visor and use one of the screw holes in the foot to mount it in the visor mount.
If you want to see you and out the window, then a mounting point behind the front seat is better.
I have made a metal mount that sandwiches around the posts in a headrest and mounted it to the passenger seat such that the camera was close to mid point in the car - and yes, a passenger could still be in the seat with no issue to people or footage. Total cost was probably about $15-20 from Home Depot and I'm happy to show you what I did (if I can find that mount in my garage still ).

Since you have no harness bar and you want to go further back, then you may have to drill some small holes in some plastic to mount or use self-tapping screws and screw directly into some carpet that serves the field of view you'd like to get. I have done this before too for pedal cams. The holes I have drilled in the plastic in my track car (black interior) are only noticed by me, since I know where they are, when the camera's not mounted.

If you have a harness bar, a mount is easily made with some/a muffler clamp(s) and the foot.

It seems like the Hero was the first GoPro but then they renamed or moved up to a new offering/model but I could be totally off on that - I don't remember. I do know the Hero video I've seen in the past has not looked as good as the GoPro cam footage that I have seen. Both are super small cams.

As for the suction cup mounts, I have never seen a DE tell someone to remove a s/c mounted camera (camera only, not a camcorder...) even though I suppose it could technically be against their policy (depends on the DE event's specific rules.) You might could suction cup mount it to the back window and get a really wide view; which also may be so wide it's hard to see out the windscreen.

Just random thoughts that I hope help.

Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©

 

The GoPro Hero is 512x384 (looks like 15fps most of the time ) and the ChaseCam is NTSC DVD quality, 720x480 at 30fps. If you expand the window on playback or want to stick the video up on a good monitor or TV, it makes a difference. You can get the ChaseCam complete with all you need (I'd get a window clamp) for about $950 from them. By the time you burn through batteries, get the case and mount plus the battery charger and card for the GP Hero, you're talking about $350-$400. If you get a decent bullet cam and mount, together with all the cables and external microphone you need to fit an existing camcorder, you're talking $350-$425 plus the camcorder, not including the bag for the camcorder. Plenty of choices.

 

Hey,

Firstly - Full disclosure - I have a Chasecam, SS1000 PIP processor, various bulletcams and a Traqmate with which I'm very satisfied.

However, this stuff is evolving so fast that were I do to it all again, the equipment list would certainly be different - Specifically, given the OP, I'd suggest checking out the Flip Mino HD camera - Friggin' thing's *tiny*, so can be easily mounted on suction cups / hidden in the grille (!) without attracting any attention... Records 720p HD and only costs ~$220...... Someone in the Nor Cal section (IIRC) posted a video shot with it recently - Set it to display HD and see what you reckon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Ep8mPQVIY

I started a thread on the Trackvision site about the little guy: http://trackvision.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=762

Incidentally, the Trackvision site has some *really* good info about various video options etc.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Great choice for the OP. Ah, I LOVE technology!

 

+1

I spend *way* too much time messing with this stuff! [Traqmate, Trackvision, video editing et al.]

Know anyone who wants a Chasecam setup?..... As has been said, it's really nice kit but it isn't HD - And I *need* HD

Cheers,
Ian

 

I have used the Mini DV with much success and the pictures for the moment are very good.
But, If I were to buy a new camera I would buy one with no moving parts for use on a track car.
Certainly wouldn't go for a hardrive version. Definitely go for the SD card version.
Be very wary on the perceived resolution (HD cameras etc) as the compression they use is at times more important.
Consequently the older Mini DV can look better as it doesn't have as much compression as the newer HD models.
The object would be to select what you reckon is the go then try and shoot some test footage before you buy.
Even if it is out the front of the store.

The golden rule for any of these cameras is to make sure it is absoluetly solidly mounted.

Steve

 

+1 Hard drives and cars don't mix!

Another issue, discussed at length on the Trackvision site, is what is termed the "CMOS rolling shutter problem" - Go to the Trackvision forums (link above) for more than you ever wanted to know! [Specifically, the "Video cameras and recorders" forum]

Another +1

Audio can also be problematic - If your car is loud and/or windy many mics get overloaded. Again, lots of info on the Trackvision site.

Turning to compression, you are correct that it can be excessive. However, these new little HD cameras (I referenced the Mino HD but the Aiptek also gets good reviews) are recording in "full" HD and encoding to H.264 - The quality is *amazing* even ignoring the low price! - Check out the Youtube demo I posted above - Once it loads, click on HD before playing - I'm sure you'll be impressed....

Cheers,
Ian

 

I'll second the no moving parts approach and the Mino HD.
The Mino isn't going to be as good as a ProSumer (and certainly not a Pro) camcorder but has superb quality for the $. If it were me and I had a good quality Mini-DV, I'd weigh the pros/cons between stashing it with an external bullet cam & microphone feeding it vs. using something like the MinoHD.

As for audio, whatever mic you use, be it on camera or external, it will be adversely affected by wind (mic's pickup barometric pressure changes, not air movement - which is generally deleterious to fidelity) so up on the dash behind the windscreen or back behind the seats in the center of the car usually turn out to be the best places to mount them. I fabricated a cable to plug into my comm system but that picks up more talk than engine/surrounding sound.

Lastly, I'll second that rigidity of mount is absolutely critical.

Hope this helps...

Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©

 

As has been mentioned, audio is one of those "try it and listen" things - Mine for example works best if taped to the back of a seat - Nice "noises" and minimal wind noise. Those little "socks" you can buy can also be a big help.

Possibly! Most stabilizers are designed to filter out the low frequency vibrations typical of "hand held" usage rather than the more common high speed stuff in cars. Having said that, if it works, go with it!.... Try it both ways, and see which you prefer.

I *love* perusing the B&H catalog. Their store is one of my favorite toy shops in the world - Good luck! Hard drive recorders very definitely have (delicate) moving parts - The read/write heads are "flying" really, really, close to the disks and really don't like vibration. In fact, IIRC, there are many reports of them shutting down automatically when mounted in cars.

Yep, I've got a few of those - The bulletcam in my VC Hillclimb video was mounted on the firewall using one. Many events (in my experience) will let you mount a "reasonable" mass (ie, a bulletcam or Mino type camera, not a full size camera!) using 'em. Some of 'em insist you also have it tethered, particularly if you want it outside the car......

Cheers,
Ian

 

Beware the term full HD.
Many of these cameras are not full HD resolution including the Aiptek and Mino HD.
Especially when people are selling them they often make false claims in respect to HD and Full HD.
Full resolution HD is 1920 x 1080. That is 1920 pixels across the screen and 1080 pixels down.
This is approx 5 times the resolution of the normal PAL res standard def picture and approx 6 times the reso of NTSC.
Needless to say that the increase in resolution is immense.
These newer cheaper cameras are HD, but at the lower resolution of 720P, which is 1280 pixels high and 720 pixels wide.
Hence this HD format is only 2.2 the reso of Pal and approx 2.6 times the reso of NTSC.
FYI there are cameras on Ebay right now that state they are full 1920 HD camcorders, but when you check the specs, they are only 720p.
So, where does that leave us?
Any of these new cameras have better reso than standard def pictures, but there is more to it than that.
Compression is one of the least understood parameters of quality and not one to be dismissed.
Plus, these cheaper cameras have ridiculousy small lenses, mostly only a few mm wide.
This is not good as far as quality goes, plus also means that they don't let in that much light and hence will not be very sensitive and will tend to be noisy.
Don't forget that anything looks good on a 2" LCD on the camera, but will be challenged on a 50" Plasma.
So, like everything pay only what you can afford, but yes like anything the more you pay, the more you get.
The full HD camcorders cost more and will have much better lens resolution and typically less compression and will usually will let you select different compression quality.
Just try and view the camera you are about to buy and make sure that you are happy with the quality of it.
Can't tell I work in Film and TV Post Production, can you?

Steve

 

a hard drive camera is a no no. SD cards are good and you can always rely on good ol' miniDV tapes. I use an onboard system thats better than the chasecam yet the same size and I can mount it anywhere no problem and I mean anywhere. It connects back to a camcorder and records onto miniDV tapes. I just within the last month upgraded to a true HD camera, a pro one and man oh man is it spectacular. -Josh

 

I doubt that. A pro system would be a challenge to mount in the car, and it would be oh so expensive. You don't by any chance mean the POV-1/1.5 camera? That's hardly a pro system. OTOH, I'd be excited to be proven wrong ... what are the specifics of your setup?

 

I use a Sony HDR-CX100 camcorder. It is full 1080 high definition spec with 8GB built in memory. You can plug in additional memory sticks, so no moving parts. Picture quality is amazing especially when viewed on a HD TV. It can also record in standard DVD quality. It is small and light so there is no reason to use a bullet lens with recorder anymore. Costs around $600 in the US.

I mount mine on roll cage, but it's so small and light you can easily just tie it to head rest post and nest it between head rest and seat back.

 

Now on sale at B&H for $479.95 with free shipping! (Wow!)

 

It's all solid state memory chip recording so no moving recording parts. The only moving parts are in the lens auto focusing mechanism, which you can set to manual fixed focus if you wish.

I would NOT use any DVD based camcorder for a track car application.

 

Awesome!
I look forward to seeing more on/from it!!

Bring it out to New Jersey Motorsports Park on the 20th/21st and test that puppy out!

The event is with the National Corvette Museum and they always put on top notch track events.
Get more info and sign up at the NCM website: http://www.corvettemuseum.com/regist...infonjmp.shtml

Spots still open for student, solo, and instructor drivers!

Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©