While talking with my wife tonight about major purchases, she mentioned getting a camcorder of some sort for her Dad for Fathers Day. I said, that would be cool because I can try it out at an upcoming DE. I then said, since I'll have a roll bar, I can mount it and record from in-car before we give it to Dad. Much to my surprise, she said yeah that would be cool.

Anyhow, back to the topic. What is your recommendations for a video camera these days? is there a certain type (digital, Hi8) that is preferred? Thanks for all input!

All I learned from searching is to tape some foam over the microphone to help filter out wind noise.

Any other mounting tips?

thanks!

 

Hey Chris..

If you can, try to find a camcorder with 3 CCD's..
They have better quality images. Also, definately buy a **MINI DV** camera. They are the best consumer/pro camera on the market. The next step up would be a broadcast quality which you definately do not need.

So, if a 3ccd is in your price range, go for it. Mini DV is the way to go. I suggest Sony but there all relatively the same. It's not even red apples or green apples, it's light green or dark green apples.

 

Chris,

Re the microphone, get a separate mike from Radio Shack and run it behind your rear seats. Hearing the engine noise really adds to the visuals.

I have an old technology VHS-C camcorder. The digital ones or Sony Hi-8 ones have better quality but I love how you can hand over a VHS-C tape, along with a $10 VHS converter, and have anyone watch it on their standard VCR. The newer camcorders require you to lend the viewer your unit to play the tape which would be a pain for my clients. Most people are going to tell you to go digital, which makes the most sense as long as your viewers have computers.

Try to get one with a remote since, once you're buckled in and waiting to go out on the track, it can require the flexibility if a Cirque de Soleil perfomer to reach behind the camera and hit the start button.

Also, the I/O Port Racing camera mount works really well, especially with the urethane vibration damping mount. I wrapped my roll bar with an old bike inner tube and gaffers tape to protect the finish and isolate the vibrations even more.

 

this may be a dumb question, but whats a 3CCD?

Thanks for the input. Went to Best Buy tonight to get some more insight to the latest and greatest. I am thinking about the Sony DCR TRV 350 or the 250. Its not the mini DV, but for all around use it might be ok? Has S video input and Firewire capability, whatever that means...

I think the remote is a good idea as well.

 

I have the JVC GR-DVP7. Absolutely love its compact size and the image quality is good. Also has a seperate memory card for taking still pictures.

 

Chris, I have an old Sony Hi8mm camcorder that I don't use anymore. It served me great inside the car on the roll bar for 5 years. I have extra batteries, charger etc... If you want a video camera for your on track stuff only, it would be a great tool for you. I bought it for $700 about 5 years ago and would sell it for around a hundred bucks today.

Everyone talks about miniDV, but here's my take. Yes, my new camera is miniDV - I think one of the smallest ones out there. <a href="http://www.canondv.com/elura40mc/index.html" target="_blank">This Canon</a> But I do not recommend mounting a good camera on a roll bar, padded or not. THe internals on these things are just so small that the vibrations are bound to mess it up. And they cost so much to start with. I really recommend an older camera like the one I have for in car stuff - unless you are using an external camera (like I am in the race car) and the miniDV can sit in a case or bag in the car. Its the vibrations from the roll bar or harness bar that worries me.

E. J.

 

The problem with the Sony TRV250 is that I don't think it has A/V In capabilities. For the extra $100 and the upgrade to the TRV350, you get A/V In, if you ever wanted to hook up an external camera.

The external bullet cameras allow you to protect your camcorder while reducing weight on the camera mount, reducing vibration. Of course, adding a bullet camera adds to the cost of the project too.

 

I have the Sony TRV18 and think it does a nice job. I'm sure that the quality from any "good" camera will be about the same so brand is not much of an issue.

A couple of things that you MUST have...
-optical image stabalization,
-a front lens that will accept other lenses, i.e. wide angle,
-a good warranty as these are operated in hositle environments,
-a remote control since you can't reach the buttons when strapped in your seat
-a long life battery

I have started to shoot my video in 16:9 format and it looks pretty cool.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by eggimann:
<strong>The problem with the Sony TRV250 is that I don't think it has A/V In capabilities. For the extra $100 and the upgrade to the TRV350, you get A/V In, if you ever wanted to hook up an external camera.

</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">If I remember right (I was getting so much info thrown at me last night at Best Buy) the 250 had S-video in as well as the firewire port, same as the 350. That is definately something that I would want in a camera.

It seems all video recorders have image stabilization, is there a certain type of image stabilization, or spec that I need to look out for?

Thanks for all the input.
Chris

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Silver Bullet:
<strong>EJ - What remote camera setup do you have?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Kim, we use the camera from this site: <a href="http://www.helmetcamera.com/" target="_blank">Helmet Camera</a>. They also have the remote we use with our miniDV cameras here: <a href="http://www.helmetcamera.com/products.htm" target="_blank">about three or four products down with two pictures</a> Its pretty sweet - plug in directly to the minidv camcorder and then push the button once to turn it on and again to start recording. Push and hold to stop and turn off. It has a LED to tell you the status: green ready to record, red recording.

Chris, I think any image stabilization will work fine.

E. J.

 

The really nice thing about the Canon Elura 40MC is that it has side loading tape access. So if you run out of tape at the track, you dont have to take your camera off to load a new tape....

I hve had this camera for quite sometime and it does a really good job. Especially when the sun is low... some cameras will turn the screen black from direct sunlight exposure...

The only downside to the Canon is the battery life. It runs out FAST. Be prepared to carry the charger with you to the track along with a couple extra batteries. Good thing about the batteries though is that it is standard Canon which is used on their digital cameras as well... so replacements/extras are cheap.