Hey everyone -

I've heard people mention using some sort of filter on a video camera to get a better field of view for in-car video. What I was wondering is could someone give me the exact name of the filter that they use (ie, close-up, fisheye?).

I'm doing a track day at Waterford Hills in Michigan this Saturday and I'd like to test the filter - so will need to order today or tomorrow (will probably use http://www.bhphotovideo.com).

Thanks in advance!!

- Markus

 

You are looking for a wide-angle lens. A fisheye lens is an extremely wide angle lens, and not what you want. Something like a .6x is probably going to be best, but I havent gotten one for my camera so I will defer specific recomendation to someone who has.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bn...=2102 and select wide angle from the list box.

 

Having seen both, I kinda prefer no added lens, other than maybe polarized to kill off windshield reflections. Just mount the camera as far back as you can, which is easy if you have an X in the rear of the cage.

Warren

 

Definitely a wide-angle lens and if you can polarized. I have a wide-angle non-polarized lens and everything comes out great - just can't see the gauges, but you can see my hands on the steering wheel.

 

Can't you just add a polarizing filter ontop of the lens? That's how SLR photography works at least...just keep screwin' on all the filters you want. Getting a polarized lens sounds...expensive.

 

Here's a link for some on-camera filters for video cameras. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bn...i=115

Also, check to make sure your camera's exposure is correctly set for the outside of the car. Seriously. I've seen some in-car video where the camera was aimed a little too low and the auto-exposure in the camera was dealing with the light on the inside of the car. You couldn't see a damn thing outside of the car...

 

Thanks for all the tips! New goodies on the way from B&H!