in car camera

Kevin Butler · **Posted:** Wed Jul 25, 2007 11:08 am

Hey Ya'll,

I'm looking to get basic in car video setup in my car. I want something that would be multifunctional in a MiniDV format.

I'm not finding many posts on any of the forums that I lurk regarding camera features or model numbers. I think you can easily make an expensive mistake in purchasing a video camera for in car/data logging use.

I have already purchased an IOPort Mount.

Anyone have any recommendations? Any regrets?

Thanks in advance.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed Jul 25, 2007 12:02 pm

Kevin,

I purchased THIS a few months back and have been very satisfied with it.

I sprung for the optional $20 remote, makes it MUCH, MUCH easier to operate.

Pros:
Solid State
Records to SD cards (up to 4gig for the model I have)
720x480
An actual optical zoom
Uses $10 Nokia Cell phone batteries to power it

Cons:
Not sure of it long term life span due to an unknown company

There is a cheaper model they sell at Target

It only can use a 2Gig SD card and records at a lower resolution.

Here is a video from the camera at VIR-S

Getting owned by Chuck FTW!

I'll bring it over with me when I return your ECU that I have been meaning to return

RobLupella · **Posted:** Wed Jul 25, 2007 12:50 pm

don't get one with a cd/dvd storage. from what ive heard the vibration doesn't work

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:46 pm

I run a standard palm-sized Sony MiniDV camera attached to my IOport. It was a rather pricey model at $600ish back 5 years ago or so, but has held up well with NO issues, is small and lightweight, and takes good 720x480 video. The image stabilization (can be turned off) takes out subtle vibrations, up to the point where the video looks slower than it really is. I also highly recommend the remote - I stuck some velcro to it and just stick it into the passenger footwell. The other thing I added for AutoX was a universal wide-angle lense, purchased for ~$10 at BestBuy, which allows the picture to capture driver inputs and the entire windshield view..

If you're going to use the camera elsewhere (video of family events, etc...) a real nice feature of the Sony is their control interface for a tripod with integrated controls. This allows you to do all your moving, zooming, start and stops without fidgeting through the menus on the touch screen. The tripod isn't the cheapest, but worth the convenience IMO.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Ryan, That's a pretty good video, but this is a great video!

http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r221 ... un4-OC.flv

Kevin Butler · **Posted:** Wed Jul 25, 2007 11:09 pm

Gawd, but I do miss Rocky Mount!

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

Damn I remember that event. It was my 3rd AX. I also remember watching many cars spin out there from my workstation buried in the woods...

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:12 am

Arthur McDonald wrote:

Ryan, That's a pretty good video, but this is a great video!

http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r221 ... un4-OC.flv

I forgot I had that up there! I think that was the first event I ever chaired and the LAST event at Rocky Mount. I really do miss that place :cry:

IIRC, there were only 2 people that spun out there, Vincent and I. We setup the course.

Now THIS is digging WAYYYYY back

Wow, I have come a long way. There was probably 400 lbs of stereo equipment in the trunk in that pic.

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:38 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

I forgot I had that up there! I think that was the first event I ever chaired and the LAST event at Rocky Mount. I really do miss that place :cry:

I remember that event very well. I was a rookie chair with you and Vincent in my first year with Tarheel. I remember driving the old bus to and from the event and somebody who's name I'm totally forgetting (sorry!) drove my car (yellow turbo Miata) back and forth from the Triangle area. It was also my first FTD beating out Patrice by a very slim margin on, as Scott used to call them, "old busted race tires." <sniff>

Jim

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Ah rocky mount, the one and only place I ever got to drive the Duke FSAE car. . .

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:55 pm

I remember that event. Lots of fun!! I was driving my old Celica.

Almost had a head on collision with someone (Mark Senoir?) in an MR2.

Didn't I Vincent?? :poke:

Also, isn't that the event where we had to send the Duke guys to Home Depot and get stuff to make a floor board?? Maybe that was another Rocky Mount event. :whoknows:

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

How I miss Rocky Mount and all the beautiful foliage.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

hehe, yeah, I think that was a different event than the one they were talking about, but the same one that I was talking about. I was one of those Duke boys, the slower one that day. Floor boards are overrated

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