Track Cameras - Real World opinions

[Kev05]

Kev05 if you can wait till Aug 5 I can let you have a play with my Contour Plus.

Bring it along to the track day on the 23rd at Lakeside.

[Magpie]

Can't will be working in WA and if I was to bring the Contour the car would have to be there as well.

[charlie_91]

Found my next camera. Might see if I can get one before the 23rd. Where did you buy this?

[Kev05]

Charlie, I did a search and clive peters at Aspley (beside the hypermarket) sells the contour. I'll be checking them out tomorrow.

[Guran]

I'm still using the old spy cams off eBay. I've tried a few versions and I prefer the "gum cam" which can be gaffer-taped wherever you like on the car or your helmet (the cams only weigh about 10g). They cost about $15 landed in Australia plus another $20-$25 for an 8GB micro-SD card provides 640x480 resolution video and reasonable decent sound. Good enough for my regular trackday use anyway. There are dozens of sample videos posted on my YouTube Channel. The main downside with them is that they actually record in a stretched 720x480 format and you need to use VirtualDub (or similar) to correct the aspect ratio. There is also a filter for VirtualDub that removes the time/date stamp. Battery life is a bit variable ... most last about an hour but I got lucky with one which seems to have about two hours life. Recharging is via USB cable.

[zossy1]

Here is a short high-def video from my GoPro 2, taken at this past weekend's Closed State Titles in Lithgow...

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

[deviant]

Here is a short high-def video from my GoPro 2, taken at this past weekend's Closed State Titles in Lithgow...

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

SOunds like you were in a bit of pain there buddy?

[zossy1]

It tickled a little ;)

[gslender]

Shot with a Contour ROAM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0grtVWxvlf8&feature=player_detailpage

How do you embed youtube into the site? Is there a guide/doc with the tags anywhere?

G

[PaulF]

Shot with a Contour ROAM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0grtVWxvlf8&feature=player_detailpage

How do you embed youtube into the site? Is there a guide/doc with the tags anywhere?

G

1. Go to the video page
2. Below the video, click "Share"
3. Copy the URL that comes up
4. In your forum post, insert the "youtu" tabs using the button above the text box
5. Insert your URL into the tabs so it looks like this:

Code: Select all

[youtu]http://youtu.be/0grtVWxvlf8[/youtu]

End result:

[Lokiel]

Here's my first "production" using my Contour GPS camera, Android Torque OBDII data and DashWare - this was my first time at Queensland's Lakeside Raceway in my MX5 MSM (aka SE in Australia) - it was a Queensland MX5 Car Club track day event.

The Video and GPS were captured via the Contour GPS camera.

RPMs, Throttle, Engine Load and Water Temperature were captured via Android's Torque application and Bluetooth interface to the car's OBDII port. These are the only useful settings available on my OBDII port, there is no boost information or oil pressure/temperature data

The bottom left instrument cluster and right hand side G-force meter were created by me to match the night-time colours and chrome trim of my car's instrument cluster (DashWare is a great tool for creating customised instrument clusters).

Synchronisation of the Torque data to the video works well at times and awful at others - I used the DashWare RPM gauge and car's tacho to try and get them a close as possible.

Unsurprisingly, the water temperature gauge doesn't move much.



The video looks great at 720p but on youtube, the dark blue gauges are too hard to read to I'll use cyan instead for future youtube videos.

[mazmad]

I have just ordered the Replay XD 1020. Criteria included: HD / Remote / Multiple mounting options including roll-bar and Helmet-mount / mount for recorder

Will report back when I have used it, first test will be on snow!

[Teabreak]

I thought it'd be worth adding this here. (NB: I have no affiliation to the seller)

Sun Visor Camera Mount by Jass Performance - It's not specifically a 'track camera' per se. But for those that are budget minded, I think it's definitely a worthwhile consideration. Cheap, versatile, good construction and allows you to record how you're going! (Provided you remember to hit record... )

I initially found out about it while trawling a few overseas forums, daydreaming about things to buy...

The build quality is great, and the mounting points are spot on. Nothing loose and no rattles. Being lazy, I've left it installed in place of the sun visor (makes unclipping the soft top a lot quicker too!). Took about 10 days for shipping from the UK.
I've been using mine with my Canon point and shoot (Ixus 220HS).

One of the advantages of the mount location is it manages to capture a decent range of cabin and external noise (i.e. exhaust and engine note) regardless of your mic quality. I was quite impressed my canon managed to capture the audio it did!

Here's an example (be kind, still learning the ropes... ) NB: roof down, windows down while recording.

[Hammer]

GoPro have just released the GoPro HERO3 Black Edition.

It looks like an awesome bit of kit. I particularly like the ability to contiually video record while at the same time have the ability for the unit to be programmed to take Hi-res still pix. Plus the video recording on 720p @ 120 fps. That should produced some wicked slowmo action.

GoPro HERO3 Black Edition Overview Video


GoPro HERO3 Black Edition Promo Video

[Guran]

Looks like this one works properly underwater. My mate recently bought the current version and was frustrated with it defocussing every time it went below the surface while snorkeling.