jster171

Title says it all.. I am new to the new technology of HD video and uploading to my PC to edit and save FOREVER!! Advice is appreciated.

Falcon

I use an Aiptek camera as an inexpensive way of recording.

Uses SD cards (up to 32 GB), costs ~$100, and easy to use.

ErnieN85

just wish I had a remote record button

gmccreary

The Go Pro Hero HD is very popular. Here's some video from Road Atlanta in August:

http://www.youtube.com/user/bukit15?.../0/Wjht5dScMxg

naschmitz

The remote record button is a key requirement for me. I've used the VIO POV last season and really liked it. The HD version comes out in Feb. http://www.vio-pov.com/products-all/...FYLd4AodUBixoQ

CodeBlack

Any shaking problems at high speed with the windows open?

CodeBlack

I'm shopping for one myself. Take a look at the Contour HD. I do'nt know if anyone on the forum has used one. Good luck.

BERETTA

This is the camera I have been using since March of this year. I have been very happy with it. I thinks it is on sale at Best Buy now, I also bought a wide angle lens attachment to go on it for about $50.00. Here is a link to it.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+H...x110&cp=1&lp=1

Here is the mount I have it own.


We also use this video camera for family use, that should make it easier to justify the purchase

Here is a short video from Rd Atl. in HD.
http://vimeo.com/17624115

Falcon

None! But I have mine mounted on the roll cage downtube. Regardless of where you mount a camera, it's important to close the view flap into a down position since it will act like a wing if left up.

Here is an example the Aiptek's quality. It has been compressed numerous times from ~1.7 GB to ~230MB and even after all that the quality is very good.

Aiptek example

BERETTA

Very nice and a good price too.

StKnoWhere

I had good luck with Apitek also.

CodeBlack

not to hijack this topic which aiptek model are you guys using?

J.R.

The VIO POV worked well for me with remote.

Easy to program and use. I like the bullet cam setup.

The cool thing is you can use this mountain biking, skiing, etc. as it comes with multiple mounts. Operates either by battery or 12V DC and you can switch back and forth. I use the 12v attachment in the car and the battery for other activities.

CodeBlack

600 retail price, wow big price difference from the aiptek

sebdavid

I use this because it also doubles as a great camera for general use, which most other solutions can't claim. Not too expensive, good wide-angle lens, stabilized. http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-.../dp/B001QFZMCO

fatbillybob

I got an apitek and then bought the remote control to go with it. but I could never get the camera to recognise the remote.

flink

I'm using the contour HD now. After a considerable amount of research it was the only camera I could find which worked acceptably with hard-wired power. Other cameras either

a) don't use the external power for recording, just for charging and/or

b) stop recording when the power is applied and/or

c) stop recording when the power is removed. Some (Sony) will fail to create the output file if the power is unexpectedly removed and will then put up a stupid do-you-want-to-recover-the-file prompt when power is reapplied.

The contour HD pretty much does everything right. Turn the external power on when the camera is "off" and the switch is in "record" mode and it will wake up and start recording. Turn the power off and it will seamlessly switch to the internal battery and keep recording. Turn the power on while the camera is recording off internal battery and the camera will terminate the current output file and will start a new output file.

The last behavior means that I can perform video editing with the car's electrical kill switch! At the one-minute-to-go mark in pregrid I'll kill the power then turn it on again so the camera starts a new output file so I don't have 10-15 minutes of crap at the start of the video file.

End result: I can leave the camera in the car all day and not have to futz around with batteries, chargers, etc.

Video quality is good and the camera is pretty immune to vibration - and my car is extremely vibraty.

Audio quality is not great, mainly due to wind noise. Removing the sticker which covers the microphone hole and taping two layers of bath towel over the hole fixes the wind noise. But the audio is still a bit distorted, perhaps because my car is insanely loud and something is getting overloaded. You can decrease the mic sensitivity by hooking the camera up to a PC. I've done that but haven't tested it yet. If that's no good then I guess I'll crack the camera open and do the external mic mod. While I'm there I'll do an external record switch mod so I have a "video" switch on the car's switch panel.

I'm very picky about video, but I'm fairly happy with the contour HD.



(the car's a BMW e36 corvette )

Enchanter

I've used Aiptek cameras for a few years now. I first started with the non-HD versions, then moved to a HD version. They performed well most of the time.

Here is a video shot from the back of my car using an Aiptek MPVR:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVFeO0FycBo

I used Aiptek cameras because they were / are cheap enough to be disposable if they fell off the car. I like them, and as you can see, they provide very good video.

All that being said, I am now using a GoPro HD camera and while it could have a better user interface, I will now use it exclusively. If you are not willing to spend $1K+ for a professional rig, there is only one option: Go Pro. Their website has many sample videos.

waddisme

I have the Aiptek from Amazon with the $29 wide angle lenses. Love the sd card. Makes transfer easy. Here is a vid from VIR with it on youtube. You can view in HD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2TDc4qm4Tc

LeMans05C6

I agree here I have a GoPro Hero HD and with the new Firmware update to shoot upside down its great.

Even mounted mine on the side of my car and that suction cup held really well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlIHqyB_5Sw