Track Cameras - Real World opinions

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:55 am

mazmad wrote: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!

I like the look of these especially with the hard wired power and start stop buttons. I cant tell if you can have external power and a microphone plugged in at the same time though?

Hammer wrote: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.

$400....But looks like it does everything in one package. Hmm...tough choices.

vrmmmpshhh · Postby **vrmmmpshhh** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:59 am

i have a gopro2 but the quality sucks compared to a sony handycam with a rollbar mount. My handycam also has a projector function so i replay videos against walls and car roofs. gopro can be practically used anywhere but is useless in low light.

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 12:57 pm

GP3 has "2x better low light performance", whatever that means.

mazmad · Postby **mazmad** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 2:24 pm

deviant wrote: I like the look of these especially with the hard wired power and start stop buttons. I cant tell if you can have external power and a microphone plugged in at the same time though?

I am a bit late on the 'report back'

I have found this a great bit of kit. The pack comes with everything you need, including roll bar mount for two bar sizes (which passed scrutineering on Sunday), lens covers, cover for the recorder with velcro straps which I attach to passenger door handle, remote, ya da ya da ya da.

Seems to cope really well with varying light conditions. Menu is not amazing easy to follow but after a couple of uses it all falls into place. Plenty of options for res of recording and several for frames ps.

And no, I haven't used external mike (hence crappy sound), was terrible sound on Sunday. Yes, seperate points to plug in power and mike. I havent used the car charger either as battery life has been ample for me, have run it for up to 4 hours several times.

http://youtu.be/HHW98a_5V_Q (ignore the driving

)

Quality is great at high res on a decent sized screen too.

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:58 pm

Guran wrote:I'm still using the old spy cams off eBay.....

It seems my one finally shyte itself. Out of the 5 sessions I had over the weekend @ Eastern Creek, it only recorded one of them and only 3 mins of it. It's now refusing to record. Still good value for money, considering it only cost me $15, and I got two years worth of track day from it.

Looks like it's time for me to invest on the GoPro HERO3. I really like the 120 fps capability @ 720p. Maybe with this, I can capture you're two wheel antics on corners in great detail.

mazmad · Postby **mazmad** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 5:10 pm

More on the Replay XD 1020 - confusingly also labelled RADCAM HD20 :shock:

- settings include on 720 mode up to 60 fps.

corners · Postby **corners** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 4:37 pm

To revive an old topic...

What do you find the best mounting place / method for GoPros?

I was considering a RAM Mount for inside or outside of the car
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/RAM-MOUNT-Go ... c17&_uhb=1

Keep in mind I don't have a roll bar nor an MX5

david_syd_au · Postby **david_syd_au** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 5:31 pm

corners wrote:To revive an old topic...

What do you find the best mounting place / method for GoPros?

I was considering a RAM Mount for inside or outside of the car
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/RAM-MOUNT-Go ... c17&_uhb=1

Keep in mind I don't have a roll bar nor an MX5

I use one of those with a GoPro2 on the street and for motorkhanas. For track days I use a different mount bolted to the roll cage,
The RAM suction cup mount holds on well to a window inside or outside, or to flat panels of the bodywork, and can be adjusted to almost any needed angle.
The only addition I would suggest, is to add a safety strap to tether it to some part of the car, just in case the suction cup lets go. Such a tether would be a requirement if you intend to use it in the car at track days.
I use one of these
http://www.camzilla.com.au/products_info/mount-accessories__safety-tether

corners · Postby **corners** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 5:42 pm

david_syd_au wrote:The only addition I would suggest, is to add a safety strap to tether it to some part of the car, just in case the suction cup lets go. Such a tether would be a requirement if you intend to use it in the car at track days.
I use one of these
http://www.camzilla.com.au/products_info/mount-accessories__safety-tether

Thanks! Been trying to find somewhere that sells a tether!

Hot Rodders · Postby **Hot Rodders** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 6:46 pm

Mazmad, how much did you pay for your kit? Where did you purchase? Is it a built in battery?
Guys, how much are the others, availability, and how long would you get from a single charge.
I am currently interested in getting something to do some video when flying gliders.

mazmad · Postby **mazmad** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:43 pm

Hot Rodders wrote:Mazmad, how much did you pay for your kit? Where did you purchase? Is it a built in battery?
Guys, how much are the others, availability, and how long would you get from a single charge.
I am currently interested in getting something to do some video when flying gliders.

I won't tell you what I paid but it was more than they are now :shock:

GoPro has forced all cameras lower, currently they are $469.
http://www.racerecall.com/radcam-hd20-p-182.html

The recorder has a built in battery, charged it lasts a long time. I have recorded 4 or 5 hours of footage several times on one charge.

I was going to get a GoPro as a second camera - but a buddy was telling me today his brand new one was playing up.

timk · Postby **timk** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 10:12 pm

CamZilla are awesome, really good support and quick shipping.

Hot Rodders · Postby **Hot Rodders** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 10:23 pm

Thanks mazmad.
Does anyone have any knowledge of the Sony Action Cam?
Looks good on paper. {read company advertising}

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 11:46 pm

CNET is a great source for reviews: http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcord ... 26715.html

I ended up buying a Drift HD camera. It has a remote to start / stop recording and is capable of taking a remote microphone. If I remember rightly you can do remote power with it to.

These videos can be viewed in HD.

Night with the camera set to 'low light':

In light, not sure what the camera was set to:

I did a trackday on the weekend and tried to film it. I set the camera to sunlight but it looks like it was trying to compensate for being under a dark roof so the image got blown out:

tiki · Postby **tiki** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 2:16 pm

Spot metering should fix it.

""I did a trackday on the weekend and tried to film it. I set the camera to sunlight but it looks like it was trying to compensate for being under a dark roof so the image got blown out:""