Dr.Porsche

How much video do you think you can grab with the bullet cam?

Bos

The linked user manual indicates 30 minutes per 1gb at highest quality, so 60 minutes with the 2gb SD car maiximum.

JackOlsen

2gb cards are under $30, now.

Tom W

I use the ChaseCam PDR 100 for recording/storage (records MPEG-2 to a CF card, no moving parts) and the SS1000 to do a PIP for my two bullet cameras. You can record a full days sessions on a 4 Gb CF card.

It all runs off 12V so it's hardwired with a dash switch. I use a LANC to do remote on/off/record too. The LANC in great in that you can be fully belted in and simply reach down to the tunnel and push the button to start or stop recording.

cchan

There are also cheap (~$100) MPEG4 video recorders which can take standard analog video inputs from a bullet cam and record to a flash card. I've been using an Aiptek MPVR to do this. The Aiptek is cheap, but does the job. Of course it's not as high res as you would get with a DV camcorder though, but for my purposes it is enough. Plus I don't plan on keeping gigabytes of track video around anyway.

The other nice thing about any of the digital recorders is that you can just copy the file from the flash card to a computer for viewing/editing, saves the hassle of converting DV tape via Firewire, etc.

Also don't go too too cheap on the memory cards - the write speed of slower/cheaper cards may not be fast enough to keep up with the video stream when recording.

Rick964

According to a posting I saw from someone at Oregon Scientific on another forum the OSI camera will support a 4gb SD card as well, although oddly enough they claimsit is a tight fit physcially, which I don't understand. An SD card should always be the same dimensions so maybe they just had an odd one.

Nordschleife

check - http://www.chasecam.com/

R+C

Nordschleife

I believe SD and MMC cards are not exactly the size physically, and this may be at the root of the 'tight fit' scenario.

Check the http://www.kingston.com/ site.

R+C

cchan

another place to check is http://www.hoyttech.com

Claus Groth

Larry,
I am still weighing all of the options presented. What is the model number of your camera? Thanks to all for your inputs.

Larry Herman

It is a Sony DCR-HC42 with a .6 wide angle lens (VCL-0625S) and it works great, especially with the image stabilization on. It certainly is not the cheapest route, but it does double duty as our regular video camera, it can fit into a large jacket pocket, and so based on that it really cost me for only the I/O port mount and the wide angle lens. There was also a thread on this last year here.

Rick964

Here are a few scenes cut from my first test drive with the ATC-2000. First off, note that the camera was mounted hanging from the passenger sun visor by a velcro strap so there is some vibration in the video that should come out with a better mount. Secondly, there is some refelction in right side of the windshield from stuff lying on the passenger floor (white plastic bottles) those are not ghost images. The camera was also a bit cockeyed apparently, easily adjustable. Movie starts with some freeway driving followed by some surface streets. After the streets start you will notice a turn which points the camera right into the sun and also drives through some shade from the trees. You can see how the camera reacts to changing light conditions. The last scene is just pulling into my garage to see how extreme lighting condition changes affect it.

You can hear engine sound in the background, slightly, but the crackling sound is overbearing. I spoke to the manufacturer and they have agreed that I must have a defective unit and will replace it for me.
Test drive video

RICHVIZZ951

Rick964 they are out of stock..

I'm gonna give this a try as well