Is Smartycam worth it...? Its a lot of. $$ for 720p.

Any thoughts on whether a 4K is coming out soon?

Thanks,

Ross

 

Having data on the video is worth it. Whether AIM or Vbox, is a question of cost, ease of use, but having the data on the video is worth it.

 

There is no question that the SCHD is worth it. The time saved, info learned, and driving improvement is amazing having the SCHD and using the video in RS3 Analysis. I make the offer to everyone that if they buy the camera and don't find value, I'll take it back for a full refund. I've never one come back!

As to 4k, I would not expect it or personally want it. The file size will be too big and it takes more computer processing power to do anything with it. Anything that would be announced this year will be a few weeks at PRI. I'll be there and will post photos of anything new that is announced, but I don't expect a 4k camera.

 

Unlike several consumer action cam's I have tried, the SCHD is essentially bulletproof. You get in the car and drive; that's it. No crashes, pauses, lost files, overheating, etc.
Data overlay on video straight out of the camera just makes life easy - in particular when there are drivers who don't want to dig into data specific applications and proprietary file types.
Everyone can easily load and watch an mp4 video on most devices.

Agreed, it is expensive, but I'd say worth it.

 

It’s not just a camera, it’s a small, high performance computer.

It has it’s own CPU, GPU and operating system (modified Linux).

Not only is it able to turn digital information into graphical measures, but it does it real time and on the fly.

This allows you to review the “intelligent video” seconds after coming back in from a session.

It does require the use of either an antenna and power cable, or better yet, an existing AiM logger, to get speed, track information and car information (the latter from the attached logger), so it’s not possible to use it standalone.

I have in stock several options of the SmartyCam, and have sold and supported over a thousand of these in the last ten years. Let me know if I can help.

 

I've had mine for about a year, and I'm happy I bought it and glad I have it. Think of the SCHD as a data-analysis tool, not as a youtube production tool. Having a few channels automatically appear on the vid for quick review is awesome. My TPS channel on the SCHD video is immediately revealing and available to view or transfer from the SD card immediately after a session (no AiM software or post-processing necessary.) Sometimes the brain just wants to look at a replay of what the eyes normally see, rather than a bunch of squiggly lines that need transformed into an action plan.

It's not perfect. Even when connected to an AiM data logger, it still needs it's own tracks loaded and managed, and it creates it's own data channels. An AiM data logger plus the SCHD needs managed like 2 devices, who's data gets integrated quite well after loading into RSA3. And I wish the access door to the SD Card was more like a go-pro latch than the thumb-screw the SCHD has. It's a typical AiM device with the half dozen "why did they do it that way" questions.

What I haven't figured out, is if the videos can be used to really dig into the details comparing 2 laps. It's hard for me to look at 2 laps and see minute differences in car placement or driver inputs (I think that's due to some decisions AiM has made about how it syncs data-to-video and processing time). Things like, did I turn in 2' later or not? So I haven't found high value from viewing 2 lap videos side-by-side in RSA3. For that stuff, maybe I just need a GPS09 and more time looking at the squigglies.

I'd buy it again.

 

Alright. Good points made. Especially 4K is excessive data wise. After all it’s not really going to be shown much on a 100” television.

I’ll look to pick one up.

 

I chase the latest tech, and for sure, 720p gets the job done in this case. No issues with quality!