Anyone use a GoPro HD camera for autox/track recording

JamesShort · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:56 am

I'm looking at this one:

http://www.goprocamera.com/index.php?ar ... oductid=30

Anyone use this camera?

One thing that stands out to me is the fact that there is no screen to preview the viewing area so getting it lined up might not be obvious without a few trial and errors.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:03 am

I have the previous version (Wide but not HD). Lineup is simple with the wide angle lens. Point it forward :lol:

I did have a problem with mine that resulted in a quick warranty replacement.

Search apexspeed forums for input on higher priced alternatives. Also SCCA forums has a recent thread for DA and Video.

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

aiptek a-hd is substantially cheaper and yields very good results, i'm extremely pleased with my setup

JamesShort · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:12 am

Jason Tower wrote:

aiptek a-hd is substantially cheaper and yields very good results, i'm extremely pleased with my setup

How do you mount it?

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

JamesShort wrote:

Jason Tower wrote:

aiptek a-hd is substantially cheaper and yields very good results, i'm extremely pleased with my setup

How do you mount it?

ioport mount to my roll cage, the aiptek has a standard screw in type mount point so there are many other options

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 12:30 pm

FWIW, if you end up looking into your own mounting solution, the "standard screw in type mount" Jason is talking about is 1/4"-20UNC, so any bolt or machine screw with that pitch will work.

Carl Fisher · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 12:56 pm

JamesShort wrote:

I'm looking at this one:

http://www.goprocamera.com/index.php?ar ... oductid=30

Anyone use this camera?

One thing that stands out to me is the fact that there is no screen to preview the viewing area so getting it lined up might not be obvious without a few trial and errors.

Wow, that thing looks great! Well, the specs look great- it looks kinda dorky on a helmet.

I think Dick's right, with a 170 degree view angle, I think anything even close will do it.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 1:00 pm

Another thing I was wondering is if anyone knows how good the suction mount is in terms of vibration etc.

The WRX isn't very conducive to an in car mount unless it is on the dash or windshield so I'd likely be putting it on the roof of the car.

Though I do want to play around with a DIY mount on the rear 'hatch' cover bar that might work though it would be further back than what would be ideal to capture driver shots + the course.

Thanks for the info guys.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 1:41 pm

This thing is quite impressive.

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

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:01 pm

JamesShort wrote:

Another thing I was wondering is if anyone knows how good the suction mount is in terms of vibration etc.

The WRX isn't very conducive to an in car mount unless it is on the dash or windshield so I'd likely be putting it on the roof of the car.

Though I do want to play around with a DIY mount on the rear 'hatch' cover bar that might work though it would be further back than what would be ideal to capture driver shots + the course.

Thanks for the info guys.

GoPro says the suction mount is STRONG. My initial uses were with their roll hoop mount but it turns out the vibration of the FF engine (solid mount to the car chassis) isn't ideal. I did some in garage testing and the suction mount on bodywork solves the engine vibration issue. However, I will run a safety cable to the adjacent roll hoop just to be sure. The mount assembly seems solid. All their thumbscrew knobs probably should be tightened with a screw driver by the way. Pay attention to making sure you match up the correct ends of the various bits. No real problem if you pay attention.

FYI, I'm glad the HD version wasn't available when I bought mine . . . it would meant spending another $100 bucks. I think the new battery will work better for most folks than the AAA's in the previous versions.

Before buying, I recommend reading the apexspeed forums threads to see alternatives. Some folks had major issues with GoPro and others have great success.

I bought mine from Jim at http://www.sracing.com/.

Jim lived in Raleigh many years ago. I think he said he was an IBM sales guy. Now he runs a race prep shop. I bought new seat belts from him also.

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:24 pm

JamesShort wrote:

The WRX isn't very conducive to an in car mount unless it is on the dash or windshield so I'd likely be putting it on the roof of the car.

The suction mount has worked great for us. The only issue with roof mount is choosing a spot where you don't get vibration from the roof (unsupported places on the roof.) Otherwise it's worked well.

You were concerned about not having a screen to view. There is a view finder that works fine as long as you aren't mounting the camera somewhere that you can't get behind it.

Our only negative is that we've had issues with always getting the camera into "record" mode, since the light is difficult to see in bright sunlight.

As they become more and more popular it will be easier to get the starter or anyone near the start to get it rolling if it's not in your reach once you're strapped in. I usually just go ahead and start it before strapping in.

I'm jealous. We got one of the first versions which is neither wide angle or HD. Will probably upgrade this year so will be waiting to hear your results.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:52 pm

Dick,

Just browsing around on apexspeed, it seems a lot of the first edition Go Pros had some issues. GoPro is a vendor/supporter of those forums and it seems the Wide version and the new HD version has a lot of the kinks worked out. I might give it a shot.

Gwen,

The wide HD version doesn't have any viewfinder on it at all....have to get lucky

.

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:27 pm

I have the Countourhd. It works well but it does not have a view finder so you have to plug it into something to view the vids. http://vholdr.com/front_page

Here is a vid I took last year. It's attached to my helmet and I did not have the angle quite right. It's in standard definition.
http://vimeo.com/7375994

One thing to think about if you plan to take a bunch of HD vids is your computers processing speed. If you don't have a pretty beefy processor the HD vids don't play well.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 8:16 pm

GoPro video from my car.

http://www.youtube.com/user/HyperCM85?f ... 9Iux3hQfnE

Camera is mounted to the roll hoop. GoPro told me that a "softer mount" would reduce the vibration. Hence my plan change to the suction cup mount to bodywork right behind the roll hoop since it is in the right place and is the only really solid section of bodywork on the whole car. The problem for me was that engine vibration does a number on the camera in certain rev ranges. It also made MaxQ unhappy so that is now softmounted on foam in the nose rather than velcro'd to the frame.

Run looks slower than it "feels". However, per MaxQ there is a lot of 1.2 to over 1.6 g cornering. Braking peaks are 1.2 to 1.5 g (briefly). These numbers are consistent with what GEEZ reported in the past. Remember I'm really rusty (and old) and the tires are relatively old. CM is FUN.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 9:52 pm

I ordered one for an early birthday present, thinking the new version (especially with the better audio solution) will make it a good choice. I thought it would be here by now, but my shipping estimate keeps getting pushed back...hopefully it'll arrive by the 28th.

The cost of the different mounting solutions included with the GoPro camera shouldn't be overlooked, and probably may be reworkable for other cameras.

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Anyone use a GoPro HD camera for autox/track recording

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