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      12-20-2010, 01:09 PM   #1
besiktas
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Advice on camcorder to record when driving

Hi, i want to record my driving joyfully. i have an in car camera mount and now i need a decent camera. the camera mount transfers all the vibrations to the camera especially on M mode so i need something with good image stabilization. anyone has any idea on this?

Thanks
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      12-20-2010, 01:25 PM   #2
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Canons have good image stabilization.

If you want something smaller, the recent Top Gear issue had an article by James May about little cameras he was toying with. November issue, p 49. He mentions GoPro Hero HD, which is the size of "a lump of cheese" and fully self-contained. I confess I'm tempted!
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      12-20-2010, 01:39 PM   #3
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I use GoPro HD for my track/autocross days. It works pretty good. Sound recording is horrible though. For that, I use Zoom H2.

The image stabilization may not be sufficient to cope with bumpy roads on M mode.

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Last edited by Erhan; 12-20-2010 at 01:44 PM..
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      12-20-2010, 02:40 PM   #4
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seems like you own one, do you know if the camera can read the orange screen digital speedometer and the anolog dashboard clearly when driving?
Does it have a hole at the bottom to attach to a universal camera mount screw?

thanks
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      12-20-2010, 02:43 PM   #5
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      12-20-2010, 02:45 PM   #6
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I'm planning on getting a gopro. I would primarily use it for snowboarding, but they have lots of attachments....you could put it on the dash, mid-cabin, outside the door as posted above or even on the front bumper.

Take a look on youtube for some action videos with the gopro. I don't think vibration should be an issue.
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      12-20-2010, 03:00 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by besiktas View Post
seems like you own one, do you know if the camera can read the orange screen digital speedometer and the anolog dashboard clearly when driving?
It really depends where you mount the camera. The problem is dynamic range. You will either have a dark dashboard (ie hard to read) and normal outside, or normal (ie readable) dashboard and very bright (washed out) outside. One thing that can be done is, you can buy multiple cameras. For the dash, you don't need the HD version. I believe the SD version is 99$ (camera only). Of course now you have to sync all the videos etc.. Btw, I'm thinking about this method for the next track season.

Another problem is, these cameras have very wide angle lenses, so if the camera is not close by, the dashboard will be a small portion of the frame. See the below example. The camera is attached to the middle glove box of a Z4 M Coupe:



Quote:
Originally Posted by besiktas View Post
Does it have a hole at the bottom to attach to a universal camera mount screw?

thanks
Check their website, they have quite a few ways of attaching this camera including tripod mount, suction cups, 3M adhesive mounts, chest mount etc...
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      12-20-2010, 03:20 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erhanh View Post
It really depends where you mount the camera. The problem is dynamic range. You will either have a dark dashboard (ie hard to read) and normal outside, or normal (ie readable) dashboard and very bright (washed out) outside. One thing that can be done is, you can buy multiple cameras. For the dash, you don't need the HD version. I believe the SD version is 99$ (camera only). Of course now you have to sync all the videos etc.. Btw, I'm thinking about this method for the next track season.

Another problem is, these cameras have very wide angle lenses, so if the camera is not close by, the dashboard will be a small portion of the frame. See the below example. The camera is attached to the middle glove box of a Z4 M Coupe:

Check their website, they have quite a few ways of attaching this camera including tripod mount, suction cups, 3M adhesive mounts, chest mount etc...
What do you have the Zoom H2 mounted with? A GoPro suction cup? or some other brand?
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      12-20-2010, 03:22 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robackja View Post
What do you have the Zoom H2 mounted with? A GoPro suction cup? or some other brand?
The first video is a GoPro suction cup (attached to rear window), the second is a GoPro adhesive mount (attached to middle glove box).
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      12-20-2010, 03:56 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erhanh View Post
The first video is a GoPro suction cup (attached to rear window), the second is a GoPro adhesive mount (attached to middle glove box).
Yea, but there is a Zoom H2 mounted to the dash in the second video? Yes/No? What is holding the Zoom H2 recorder to the dash?
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      12-20-2010, 04:01 PM   #11
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GoPro HD is obviously fairly well-known, but Contour HD cam seems really good too. I saw a video posting somewhere. Will try to locate it & post it here.

To go off on a tangent, though, re: the auto-x videos in this thread, wow, what's the point of doing that slalom thing? left-right, left-right, left-right. Seriously, is that fun?
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      12-20-2010, 04:09 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robackja View Post
Yea, but there is a Zoom H2 mounted to the dash in the second video? Yes/No? What is holding the Zoom H2 recorder to the dash?
I'm sorry, apperently I didn't read it properly. The Zoom H2 is mounted using GoPro adhesive mount and GoPro tripod interface. I originally tried the GoPro suction cup, but it doesn't stay more than a minute even when the car is standing still..
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      12-20-2010, 04:11 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OC3 View Post
To go off on a tangent, though, re: the auto-x videos in this thread, wow, what's the point of doing that slalom thing? left-right, left-right, left-right. Seriously, is that fun?
Yes it is fun. It is lower speed than actual race track, but then it is safer. It is not just left-right in a rythm though. The spacing and relative position of the cones are different.

I believe one should spend some time on autox and get a feel for car control, smoothness, looking ahead etc before starting HPDE.
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      12-20-2010, 04:13 PM   #14
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The gopro has more of a "fish-eye" effect than the contour. Not sure how it would work with in-car footage, but for my usage, that's one of the reasons I'd go with the gopro.
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      12-20-2010, 04:14 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erhanh View Post
Yes it is fun. It is lower speed than actual race track, but then it is safer. It is not just left-right in a rythm though. The spacing and relative position of the cones are different.

I believe one should spend some time on autox and get a feel for car control, smoothness, looking ahead etc before starting HPDE.
Yea, I figured you were just practicing.. I have no track experience and I would like to do similar before I just go on the track with a $65k machine ;-)
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      12-20-2010, 04:15 PM   #16
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GoPro HD has 2 setting actually. 480p and 720p have wider effective focal lenght whereas 1080p is (relatively) narrower. I don't have the numbers though.

Ok I found it:

Code:
1080p: 1920x1080 True HD featuring  a 127º angle of view, 30 fps, and 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio 
960p: 1280x960 Ultra Wide and Tall HD featuring a 170º angle of view, 30 fps, and 4:3 aspect ratio. See more of the action above and below than widescreen16:9 resolutions can show. 
720p: 1280x720 Ultra Wide HD featuring a 170º angle of view, both 30 and 60 fps, and 16:9  widescreen aspect ratio
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      12-20-2010, 04:17 PM   #17
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Here it is (Contour HD). Records & shows GPS locations too:

http://www.mfestforum.com/forum/show...hlight=contour
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      12-20-2010, 04:22 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sensi09 View Post
The gopro has more of a "fish-eye" effect than the contour. Not sure how it would work with in-car footage, but for my usage, that's one of the reasons I'd go with the gopro.
The contour is 135 degrees, the GoPro HD is 127 in 1080p, 170 in 720p... At least according to the specifications listed on amazon.. GoPro Motorsport HD seems like you get more stuff included, more options for the same price..

Wonder much more a cheap canon HD camcorder and a suction mount is...
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      12-20-2010, 04:27 PM   #19
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B&H has a bunch of canon HD cams, for $250 - $350 after $100 rebate... Canon R100s and R10s.
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