I tested with Trackvision and it seems to work fine.

 

Generally, image stabilization is designed for the vibrations from your hand while holding the camera. It's not usually (ever?) up to the task of vibrations in a race car. With every camera I've ever owned, the video quality was better with IS turned off.

 

You can set the HD GVS to not shut off and it comes with a remote that allows you to start the video just before you roll off the grid. So far so good with this camera

 

So for 2X the price (both still cheap), the GVS gives me a 5X optical zoom and a remote. I would think that both would be quite useful. Is the zoom at all useful for in-car recording? Is there anything else I am missing.

 

Just for comparison - the zoom, IMO, adds nothing and the remote is about $10 from Aiptek.

 

Thanks Gary.

 

Nope. In every tin top race car that I've ever installed a camera, I needed a wider angle than the zoom allowed anyway, so I ended up with a wide angle lens added to it.

 

I agree, but I got mine, used once (and it looks it) for $105 shipped on Ebay. The other features, Zoom, stabilization are really only useful in using it out of the car.

 

is there a free online file converter to convert the aiptek file to other formats?

 

FBB, some mentioned there was a QuickTime Pro available online.

When I bought my Aiptek last year, it came with an "Application Software" CD. On that CD was an ArcSoft program, "Total Media Extreme," that allows conversion from the .mov format to about any format you want. It's very easy to use, and I use it to convert to .wmv so that MS Movie Maker can then use it.

I haven't messed with the ArcSoft enough to know what else it can do other than conversion from .mov.

 

Quicktime Pro has a "Save As" feature that allows you to convert to other formats.

 

I have the Action-HD and wanted to get a wide angle lens. I saw a few threads/posts with different types and brands, but I didn't know which one worked.

I went to the Raynox website and found this helpful comparison between .7X .5X and .3X. [IMAGES FROM RAYNOX WEBISTE]

Raynox QC-707 - .7X



Raynox QC-505 - .5X



Raynox QC-303 - .3X


I ended up getting the QC-505 as it looked to be enough angle.

The Raynox lenses have a spring loaded clip mechanism that clips to the inner diameter of the camera. That is, you push the clips inward and they are spring biased outwards. Unfortunately, the Action HD does not have a wide enough lens to use the clip on feature of the QC-505 (like the GVS does). However, the clip mechanism is the same diameter as the outside of the Action HD. I am going to try to mount it there as best as possible and see what happens.

Also, the Action HD has the same Macro setting issue that the GVS has: it has to be in Macro mode to focus using the lens, and Macro mode is set by using the joystick. I suppose I'm going to have to remember to set it every time I get in the car. I will check to see if the remote can work this magic.

-td

 

Here are some videos of the GVS/QC camera setup:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js39VQaQsdQ

The same setup mounted a bit better to reduce vibration and on Vimeo so you can download the original: http://vimeo.com/10778000

Camera: AIPTEK GVS
Lens: Raynox QC-505
Mount: Filmtools Cleat suction mount
Mic: $9 hands-free mic
Volume control: $8.95 headphone volume controller (Used on the Mosport vid up top because the mic was distorting in the previous TMP vid)
Power: Frankencharger
SDHC: Aopen 16GB Class 6

 

So I bought the Aiptek, did the frankencharger etc etc etc. Got lazy one time and didn't put my support bracket in the car, needless to say the camera flew off mid corner ripping the screw-down for the camera completely out.

I bought something else to replace it, but wouldn't mind using the Aiptek as a rear view camera if anyone has any ideas on how to fix this thing in a car without the use of a mount. Zip Tie?

 

.....1/4" coarse thread nut with big glob of epoxy on any flat surface. Then use any standard camera mount......