My friends and i are trying to figure out a setup we can use on the shop flagship. Holding the camera still and getting the angles we want is becoming difficult.

We want to use the camera (digital sony unit) and run a video cable of some sort to a pinhole, or fisheye camera mounted in the front and rear bumpers. Where could we locate what we are looking for?

So, again in summary.we need the actual cameras themselves to mount in the bumper, and some sort of switcher so we can switch cameras when we are passing or somthing happens to the car somehow and we get passed .

Thanks in advance.

 

There is a solution that my neighbor uses on his RV. Do a Google for camera for the rear of RV's to see the car under tow. These are very tiny units that will plug into either a TV on the dash or some other device. He had no problem running the cables either.
Do a Google search on X-10.com or just X-10.


Modified by jc836 at 12:06 PM 10/12/2003

 

There are a ton of micro cameras available for doing this kind of thing. What your looking for is made for the residentail/commercial security industry. Check http://www.supercircuits.com for some options. As for mounts, check http://www.bhphoto.com for their "ball heads".

I've done some similar recording this past season and the results were fairly impressive. Don't skimp on the actual cameras. Most of these cams are made for low-light rcording, and have issues with direct sunlight when it refracts inside the lens. My best results were with a VisionTech lipstick cam. It had a veri-focal lens (adjustable zoom/wide angle) and gave the best picture.

I also have a Woods PowerGrip industial pump vacuum cup, but I haven't tried to use it yet. You could mount that thing on the roof or window for some neat angles.

Don't forget about sound. On most digital camcorders when you record from the external inputs you lose the mic as well. I picked up a couple tiny microphones from supercircuits and they worked okay. I need to find the best placement for them still.

I thought about setting up multiple cameras into a switcher so I could get a pass from the front and the rear, but it would have to be something mounted to the car, maybe with a switch on the dash. And, you would need a passenger to operate it. Your other option is to get two camcorders and do the editing in post-production. Or, you could use a "quad" multiplexer which takes four cameras and displays them all at once.

Don't forget to get all your hardware through tech inspection before you take it on track.

I have a few pics and a link to some of the video we shot, but WTDR is down at the moment.

 

I remember seeing a setup advertised in Sportscar for a setup that would allow up to four cameras to input into a standard videocamera. I could not find them with a quick look through an issue, but did find Race Cam Solutions at http://www.seawood.com/rcs/bugoff.htm and Cone Cam at http://www.conecam.com. Both look interesting and are in the race cam business.

 

Viosport has a line of cameras intended for BMX and Mountain bike racers. Seem pretty durable and small and light

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=249335

also have a camera setup on a L bracket attacked to the fuel cap

 

WTDR is back up, so here are some pics:

A microlens board cam mounted up front. Results weren't that great. Cheap cam. The image had white vertical streaks when heading into the sun, or from the glint of the sun off the car in front.


Mounted in back.


The lipstick cam with the industrial suctioncup.


The lipstick cam setup on Matt's H1 ECHC car.


And another.


And one of the mics attached to the roll cage.


And finally, the thread with the video with the lipstick cam and mics. (Saturday Start only).
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=558504

Enjoy!

 

the links to the vids don't work... I wanna see! I wanted to have a setup just like this.

 

how sturdy is the one on the door and how is it connected (to the door)? is the recorder onboard?

 

Which vids didn't work?

The one on the door is held on by a pump-action suction cup. They come in all different sizes, but the one I have is rated for about 40 lbs. (The camera weighs less than a pound.) They are designed to lift and carry glass.

Here's another pic of the suction mount.


The remote camera, and the two mics on the table, feed the aux inputs of a traditional camcorder mounted inside the car. There is also a battery pack that powers the whole thing that goes in the car, too.

I haven't tried the suction mount on track yet. I was told it would pass tech if it was properly teathered to the car, but you would have to check with your sactioning body to make sure it would be allowed out on track.

 

For my extra-car video I use a bullet camera a-la the oens on conecam and helmetcamera.com with this mount:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/pr...G/407

Fits in the grille, on the window, in the fender, just about anywhere.

 

damn where did you get that suction cup? I'm kinda second guessing attaching my digital camcorder to one of those things it was expensive and I don't think it has aux inputs man I want a overhead shot so bad how much was that camera? got any pics of the interior set up?

 

Speaking of microphones, what do folks use for audio input when using remote cameras? None of the cameras I've tried will take audio through the Mic input and video throguh the line-in and I can't seem to find a high-gain mic that isn't $40.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Floyd &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">WTDR is back up, so here are some pics:

A microlens board cam mounted up front. Results weren't that great. Cheap cam. The image had white vertical streaks when heading into the sun, or from the glint of the sun off the car in front.

Enjoy!</TD></TR></TABLE>

not to get off topic.. but where can i get a sticker like that? P.O.S Motorsports, my car's a POS!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by yakitori &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">damn where did you get that suction cup? I'm kinda second guessing attaching my digital camcorder to one of those things it was expensive and I don't think it has aux inputs man I want a overhead shot so bad how much was that camera? got any pics of the interior set up?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I got the cup online. Do a search for Wood's Power Grip and you'll find them. They come in different sizes and configurations. Although you can get some that support a lot of weight, I'm not sure I would want to mount my actual camcorder to it.

The white bullet camera in the pics is a Visiontech. It's color, has 480 line output, is weatherproof, and has a 4-9mm Vari-focal (zoom/wide angle) lens. It was about $300, but you can get something for less if you don't need the vari-focal lens.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AcidGord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Speaking of microphones, what do folks use for audio input when using remote cameras? None of the cameras I've tried will take audio through the Mic input and video throguh the line-in and I can't seem to find a high-gain mic that isn't $40.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The used a pair of mics with a built-in pre-amp. They ran about $13 a piece from here. They sounded pretty good, but maybe a little hot. My placement last time got a little too much wind noise, I think. I may use some spongy foam over them next time.

 

Nice, thats a lot cheaper than I've seen the same mic for elsewhere. Thanks!

Like that clamp mount I posted there, I've seen it for anywhere from $19 to $45 online. Nuts.