This little color camera (from http://www.x10.com) just needs a DC power supply and it outputs audio and video via standard RCA cables. For autocross and HPDEs and stuff, instead of using a camcorder, do you think it'd be okay to just fasten this camera to a roll bar or headrest mount or ceiling or something and connect it to a small DC-powered VCR secured in the trunk or under a seat? This would be way cheaper than getting a camcorder and mount and I think this setup would provide decent enough picture quality. The little camera would also be a smaller projectile than a camcorder during a collision. What do you think?

 

I saw a Scubby with one at VIR. HE also mounted it on the outside of the car by the tire, I though it was the coolest thing! not sure how well the video turned out..

Bryan

 

Okay, so it passes tech, huh?

 

well, I wasnt working tech that weekend, so Im sot sure. He didnt have it on the outside all the time, just for a session or two. I dont know how safe that was... Good luck!

Bryan

 

LOL i'm going to mount like 10 cameras all over my car. Like the front right LCA cam and the fart can cam.
Thanks Bryan.

 

Check out http://www.wiredmotorsport.com

There is a video link on the homepage showing how the suspension and tire works in corners. I believe it was all shot with this very camera although it was hooked up to a camcorder while recording.

 

Does it come with a magnetic mount, or are you supposed to use pop rivets to mount that thang?

 

did you check www.conecam.com ? Pretty cool stuff, IMO.

 

http://www.helmetcamera.com also has a small lens you can mount just about anywhere.

 

I will be using the x10 cam this weekend at solo2. I made a mount so it looks at wheel and I have another one in the front where the fog light woudl go.

 

Cool, so exactly where did you mount it in the interior?

 

I am working on a mount for thepedals and maybe one more where the dome light is, or a mount between the seats. I worry because the screen will be split 4ways for all 4 cameras so when I render for web the screens may be too small, or the file size will be too big for web.

 

It'll never fly. Per their own ad's, the X10 apparently only works when pointed in your neighbor's bedroom window! Gadz I hated their ads.... so much so I sent in a letter saying what a fine suggestion it was to do the above, and that I have one pointed at THEIR own house.

I don't want to support them in any respect, but being an engineer, I'm curious what the frame rate is. I suspect it's going to be too slow to be much good.


[Modified by kb58, 6:18 PM 4/4/2002]

 

they are just like any other camera, I've recorded with them before and the frame rate seems normal, it mostly depends on your capture software and card, I will be recording directly to a laptop from a videoplexer.
It is either a $40 camera that if it falls can take a beating and it's cheap, or one of those bullet cameras that cost $120. So I went with X10.

 

I'd be using analogue; i think you get a full 360 lines NTSC at 30 FPS.

 

I am using the analog, hard wired cameras, not the wireless. The wireless cameras don't get a good signal most of the time.
What do they use on Indy cars?

 

X-10 cams are crap.

I would go with a lipstick type cam instead.

 

Oh okay, I thought you were using wired digital cameras (via USB or IEEE 1394 or something). 4 analog cameras to a videoplexer and capture card? Picture quality will suck I think.

 

Yeah, X10 does suck. I wasn't going to use their product, but it was the easiest camera to find quickly. I'm just wondering why a small camera and remote recorder isn't more popular than a camcorder. I guess although cheaper, it is more inconvenient.

 

no matter what you use you will never really get DVD quality with the types of cams available for something like this, unless you want to fork out $$$$.

 

whatever you do, don't buy their camera. I hate pop up ads

 

X10 is spam. They suck.
If anyone knows other good lipstick cams please post them up.
THanks.

 

A co-worker races downhill mountian bikes and uses the helmet camera. I've seen the video and it's pretty darn good. I'd look at that one, or the cone cam.
Here's the helmet camera.......and no, it doesn't have to mount to your helmet.

 

This one is the most interesting: http://www.conecam.com/
http://www.microvideo.ca/3000cam.htm
http://www.microvideo.ca/tube.htm
http://www.spygate.com/Spy.html
http://www.interlog.com/~microvid/2120wp.htm

 

I was considering a similar setup with 4 bullet cams running to a quad and the output of the quad running to a mobile VCR in the trunk. I was going to fabricate a wooden plate that replaces the front and rear liscense plates and mount two of the cams there, then a third in the cabin, and the fourth at my feet.

What would you use for video capture on a laptop? Is there a USB device that would work? And would all of this equipment pass tech if it is bolted to the car in the trunk?