Hi Gang,
Anyone have video in their car??
I'm thinking about a system with one of my little remote cameras feeding a Canon zr20 or zr25 digital camera, ..
Will these things live in the car with all the vibration??
The only place I have to mount a camera will be on the floor under my knees, .. .. with the remote
camera on the roll hoop.
Curtis
Vector FF
Previous Camera discussion copied here for reference. I hope this helps you in your quest!
In car Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I bought a Cannon ZR25 Camcorder. I want to mount a Lipstick type lens on the Main hoop.
I am not sure what remote lens thingy I should buy?
Will those "Spy Cams" you see advertised work okay?
Wide angle? Brands?
Any help would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris
ccamp
Registered User
Posts: 96
(3/10/02 6:45:21 pm)
Cam
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay... New question, In my search for a system I came across this:
[url="http://www.racerpartswholesale.c...dcom14.htm"]www.racerpartswholesale.c...dcom14.htm[/url]
Can anyone tell me why I need a 12v system to make the unit work?
I was under the impression that the Lipstick cam was a simple plug it in yor av jack and done deal.
Chri
Aeron Racing
Registered User
Posts: 355
(3/10/02 9:31:52 pm)
Re: Cam
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't know why you need that $560 kit. If you have a camcorder or small VTR with a direct video input, then all you need is just the lipstick camera. The camera will typically have 2 cables, one for the signal, and the other for power. The reason you need 12 volts is because most of these cameras are made using that voltage as a "standard" (since camcorder voltages can vary and they don't want to design different models for different voltages, but they know that 12 volts is something that is usually available most anyplace). A few "auxiliary" cameras have been made in the past for direct hookup to specific camera models, but I don't think this is done anymore. The market is too open now, and that specific a model could never justify production costs. So just find a camera you like and hook it up to your camcorder video input and car battery. You might want to get a battery eliminator for the camcorder too, so both the camcorder and camera run on 12 volts so it will always be ready (depending on your car's battery capacity).
Ron Heffner
Aeron Racing
[email]Aeron@concentric.net[/email]
Mark Silverberg
Unregistered User
(3/11/02 12:24:50 pm)
In car Camera
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are a wide variety of compact video cameras with a composite video out signal available from supercircuits. Web site is [url="http://www.supercircuits.com/"]www.supercircuits.com/[/url] I have not ordered from them but the prices and selection seem quite good. You can purchase a weatherproof color lipstick cam for less than $200. This can be hooked up to a seprate power supply or to the car 12V system.
Using a camcorder is not the only option for capturing video. At the end of march a portable hard drive video recorder will be available for less than $500. this will accept the audio and video input and compress them into a mpeg4 file. You can go to the Archos website to get more information on this product.[url]www.archos.com/us/product..._jbmm.html[/url]
The product is a 10Gig hard drive with a 16Meg buffer which may be able to get away from the issues with tape head flutter. In addition you can transfer the video files directly onto you computer for storage.
I have not interests in either of the companies - I though I would just share my research. If I get the hard drive system set up this year I will give an update.
ccamp
Registered User
Posts: 97
(3/11/02 5:23:56 pm)
in car video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
well, i bought a small color lipstick cam. Req. 12v.
Got the adapters from 3.5mm to RCA jacks total cost so 165.00
Now if it works :-p
Chris
Gary Godula
Unregistered User
(3/12/02 2:14:13 pm)
Lipstick Camara
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris,
Where did you get the lipstick camara from? I am looking to replace my Racecase unit with a wide angle lipstick video input, but I cannot find what I want.
Thanks......gmg
Gary Godula
'88 Reynard FF88
ccamp
Registered User
Posts: 98
(3/12/02 8:07:41 pm)
In car vidieo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I got the lipstick camera at an electronics store. They are used as "Spy cameras" you can get them with several different lenses. If you don't like the wide angle you got just screw it off and screw on a new one. The lens's are about 30.00 ea.
In fact, the store I got mine from (Sav-On Electronics in Santa Ana, CA.) told me if it's not damaged just bring it back and they will exchange.
I have the system all hooked up in the car now, so tomorrow I will run it down the street and see if it works... Wonder if I can talk one of the kids into riding his bicycle in front of me for a couple blocks. :)
Chris
gord
Unregistered User
(3/13/02 2:52:37 pm)
Lipstick
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How about a report on the results?
rickb99
Registered User
Posts: 108
(3/13/02 3:09:08 pm)
TESTING
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd suggest calling your local Sheriff's office. They are usually very receptive to escorting race cars down neighborhood streets. Their rears provide good (black and white) reference video.
ccamp
Registered User
Posts: 99
(3/13/02 4:53:42 pm)
Video street results
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It works bitchen!!!!!
Sound, & video, I mounted the little lens to the top of the hoop above my head. No shake.
I guess it will be just luck if somthing like a chunk of rubber happens to fly over and hit the lens, but S*it happens. For a total of 165 bucks this is really cool!
I have all the software to download the images onto the internet. Just need to figure it out :-P
After this weekend in Vegas if it all works out hopefully you can see and judge for yourself.
See Ya,
Chris
JC
Unregistered User
(3/13/02 5:53:44 pm)
Cameras
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Could you guys mention some brands and part numbers. The web sites have many selections.
Does the camera sit in the car or is this a wireless setup?
ccamp
Registered User
Posts: 100
(3/13/02 6:48:34 pm)
In car Vid
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
camera is a cannon ZR 25 It's one of those mini DV type.
I simply built an aluminum box lined with foam for that. From there it has 2 leads (Audio/ Video) that run to the little lipstick lens mounted on the roll bar. That unit came in a box that just says Color CCD camera from Clover Electronics USA ([url]www.cloverusa.com[/url]) Part #CCM-630
This Lipstick unit requires 12v DC. So I simply wired it up so that when the Batt. Cut off switch is on it has power.
All that's left is a couple of 3' A/V extension cables. to reach from the Camera to the Lens.
No remote. I have the camera were I can reach it in the car next to me. Once I get the 5 min. warning on the grid I can turn everything on shove it back into it's foam box. Done deal.
It's not fancy, high tech. no remotes. Just cheap!
Alder RMVR
Registered User
Posts: 73
(3/14/02 8:12:09 pm)
ezSupporter
Re: In car Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With my setup the auxilary microphone was separate from the auxilary lens. It was a little pencil shaped round thing about 1/2" long. Was able to drill a 1/4" hole in my helmet right just at the left corner of my mouth, some creative use of velcro, and bliola! Can now narrate as I race. Really cool. Not just engine noise, but narration too. You have to train yourself to talk and to talk with words that won't offend, but it can be done. Great teacher aid for "Fast Lap" talks.
Sean Maisey
Registered User
Posts: 11
(3/16/02 10:18:58 pm)
Re: In car Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Can anyone provide a list of Camcorder models that offer auxillary input jacks. I can't seem to find much, and it makes shopping on e-bay kinda hard.
Thanks,
Sean
Aeron Racing
Registered User
Posts: 361
(3/17/02 12:47:01 am)
Re: In car Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Info:
1. "Most" 8 mm models have it.
2. Only high-end VHS-C models have it.
3. "Most" (maybe all) DV stuff has it.
Ron Heffner
Aeron Racing
[email]Aeron@concentric.net[/email]
Tom Tipsword
Registered User
Posts: 24
(3/18/02 11:48:36 pm)
Find Out
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd add that it would be worth it to contact the seller and confirm that the camera does have inputs and if a patch cord is needed that it is included. When I had the same idea I went to a number of large pawn shops to check out 8mm video cameras. I found that the idea of inputs has fallen off significantly in recent years. I physically checked dozens of cameras and found only a very few that would accept video/audio inputs and most of those required a proprietary (optional) patch cord.
ccamp
Registered User
Posts: 108
(3/20/02 11:53:38 am)
Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well it worked!
First I had the lens pointed forward. Got kind of boring. Then I turned it 180 got everyone behind me.
Only problem I see is a slight bit of noise, (Faint Horizontal Lines running across picture), when the motor was started... I am sure a shield cable will fix that.
I need to figure out how to download, (Thursday). then if you want to see the results I will figure out how.
BUT... It did work perfect!
And cheap. (Relatively speaking).
Chris
Tim Tullio
Registered User
Posts: 15
(7/11/02 1:34:27 pm)
Re: Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just going through the video thing now. Have a new Canon DV camcorder and am looking at remote len's now. The lipstick spy types that were mentioned; does anybody know what the lines of resultion they have on their len's and what the field of view is in degrees? There are a few different spy and lipstick types available now pretty cheap.
Thanks,
Tim Tullio
Swift DB-2 Sport 2000
Rick Kirchner
Unregistered User
(7/13/02 1:35:45 am)
Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I used a bunch of those supercircuits cameras several years ago and the little lenses were something like 135 degrees, 90, and 60 were available. About 200 lines of resolution back then, might be a bit better now. To keep bugs and buggers off the lens take plastic wrap and stretch it across the lens barrell, and secure with small rubber bands or an O-ring. If you mount a deck or camcorder in the car, make sure that the wide dimension of the tape when going across the heads faces up. That way the head and tape won't move with respect to each other on bumps and the video should stay more stable.
Tim Tullio
Registered User
Posts: 16
(7/13/02 3:44:02 pm)
Re: Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just purchased a small color lipstick type lens with a nice mount that's 380 lines of resolution and a 92 degree field of view ($75). Camera is waterproof as well. I purchased a seperate mic which comes with a small 12V battery pac that runs both the remote camera and mic. The mic with battery pack was only $25 from the same outfit and was recommended for the entended racing application. I'll do a quick mount on my Manx dune buggy and drive around the streets and see what kind of picture I end with. If it's pretty good, I'll post all the part numbers and contact info if anybody else is interested. "Should" be pretty good quality with the 380 lines of resolution but you never know.
Tim Tullio
Registered User
Posts: 17
(7/16/02 2:24:33 pm)
Re: Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, I got the bullet cam and mic. Pretty neat little setup. I taped it to the roll bar of my buggy and took a test drive around the block. I had the mic laying on the passenger seat pointing under the dash. Sound was a little quiet though you could hear the motor and each shift. My narration was very "backgroundish" though. I came back rewound the video and played it on a 52" big screen. It looked great. 380 lines of resolution is fine. If anything, I would like to have a wider field of view. This camera is 92 degrees I think something on the order of 130 degrees would be perfect. However, this is by no means tunnelvision. It's pretty wide at 92 degrees. The buggy roll hoop is very high and the windshield prevented me from pointing it down far enough to see the front of the car. In my S2 or a FF, it would be mounted probably 1.5' lower and behind the drive not it front of him. The sound was very good as well. The mic IS directional though. I think some experimenting with different directions would be needed in any car. I'll post the part numbers soon. The cableing was just a plug in and took just seconds to accomplish. If anybody has any specific questions, please email me [email]ttullio@woh.rr.com[/email]
Steve Roux
Registered User
Posts: 55
(7/16/02 4:30:04 pm)
Success
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I used a Canon ES170 camcorder (cheap, even brand new) which has input jacks. The remote camera came from supercircuits.com. I used a PC60SX which is a black and white with lots of lines (I think 380 or 400+) as the camera. ~$30. It is a 1.25inch sq. circuit board with a lens sticking off of it. I was afraid of ignition pickup so I mounted the board in an aluminum housing that I made. It surrounds everything with a grounded metal shield. In front of the lens, a sheet of clear plastic (quite stiff. maybe 1/2mm thick). The camera was attached to the roll bar with hose clamps and the Canon went into a padded tupperware box, bolted to the frame and bungied shut. AWESOME results at New Hampshire this weekend! Nice clear footage except for a bit of shake in the pits (Mount resonance) which I don't care about. Next thing is to add a $12 mic. I cannot believe how well this worked out. Great view of tach, shifting, front right tire, steering and the competition.
I used a camera on/off switch (my rainlight circuit got rerouted for this test) to supply 12V to the PC60SX. I was afraid of the voltage transient at engine startup (sparking in the switch creating a voltage spike) maybe hurting the little camera. So I turn on the Camcorder to Record and let it run for the duration of its battery (>45 minutes) and modulate when the rollbar mounted cam is on with the switch. An in line voltage filter for pennies might be the next upgrade and then let them both run continuously. (Alan Walker had that idea) Maybe I am worrying about nothing on the voltage spike issue. Any EE want to help an ME out?
Good Luck,
Steve
Tim Tullio
Registered User
Posts: 18
(7/17/02 10:22:08 am)
Re: Success
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK, here's what I bought; The outfit was called EDE/Spy Outlet 716-695-8660. The camera is;
Indoor/Outdoor Color Bullet Camera DC Powered
Wired Microphone with 8AA Battery Holder and 9V clip Battery Pack. The whole thing shipped to my door was $104.51.
I found this place on Ebay as there are litterally pages and pages of Spy Cameras up for bid. I think any would do. Just find one with 380 lines of resolution or more and a Field of View of 92 degrees or more. Some of the vendors don't list the FOV so you'll have to email them and ask. Many of the little cameras run on anywhere from 6 to 12 Volts DC. The one I bought is a 12V unit so I could run if off the Swifts battery if I wanted to. I may just use the battery pack and put in inside the enclosure I'll be making for the Camcorder inside the cockpit. The mic I bought is really small, about the size of a eraser on the end of a pensil. The RCA connector is bigger! It seems to work great.
Tim
[email]ttullio@woh.rr.com[/email]
John Merriman
Registered User
Posts: 314
(7/18/02 11:52:53 am)
Re: Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Can anybody tell me if, in general, these small video and lipstick type cameras from supercircuits.com and others will hook up to both analog and digital type video cameras or is the spec different? Tom, is your whole setup analog?
UPDATE - Called supercircuits - the PC103XS ( $79.95 w/ wires ) will hook directly to analog or digital video camera. My friendly UPS man will be at my door tomorrow morning by 10 AM with the little beauty in hand !!
Edited by: John Merriman at: 7/18/02 1:25:15 pm
Tim Tullio
Registered User
Posts: 19
(7/27/02 10:51:39 am)
Re: Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just for the record, any camcorder either digital or analog that has RCA connections on it usually can both record and play back through these RCA's. It's these that the remote cameras/lens plug into. I don't know of any camcorder that cannot also record through these.
John, how does the camera work? Hope you're as pleased with the results as I am.
BTW, Don't let the "web" video quality scare you away, that's truely not representitive of what you get and can view on your TV or home comptuter. The video you download and watch on the net of racetracks and hotlaps is HIGHLY compressed and I'd say about 2/10th or less the quailty of what you get on tape or digital video. You cannot show but a few seconds of fully uncompressed video over the web without the files being hundreds of megabytes in size.
John Merriman
Registered User
Posts: 320
(7/27/02 3:21:14 pm)
Re: Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom = Didn't get one yet. I was told only cameras with "input" jacks will record. Such as Sony TV240 ( $600 ) or any good mini-DV camera. The sales people told me the tip-off is there is a "record" button" on the control panel, What makes you think they will record "in" into an "output" jack?
Steve Roux has gotten absolutely spectacular shots this weekend at Lime Rock - only problem is too many of his best shots show him blowing by me!!!
Tim Tullio
Registered User
Posts: 20
(7/28/02 2:46:12 pm)
Re: Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actually, not all the cameras have a "record" button on the control panel. Mine doesn't. My old VHS-C Panasonic would record from the RCA's as well as our new DV Cannon 100MC. This is a pretty common feature on most Camcorders. The DV cameras use a 4 condutor mini plug (like a mini headphone but 4 conductors instead of 3) for both the input and output of video and sound. Depends on which way you throw a switch. They usually don't have a sperate set of "IN and OUT" RCA's like a stereo system or tape recorder.
Glad to hear the video came out nice. For what it's worth, a used Hi 8 camera craddled in some sort of mount inside the car using one of these remote camera len's is probably the cheapest way to go for the money. Probably less than 300 bucks total. The VHS-C would give good results also, but is not capable of recording the full 380+ lines of resolution that these little remote lens/cameras can output.
Tim,
You ROCK !!! Thank you, .. ..
Curtis
vector FF
How long are the cameras lasting??
Does the vibration kill the canons????
Curtis
Does anybody make a roll bar mount for these remote cameras??
Curtis
Hey Curtis,
Don't know about the mini DV's but my Sony Hi 8 lasted 4 races repaired, under warranty, lasted 3 more races, repaired at my expense (told shop what I was doing with it, said "I'll try to bullet proof it") lasted 2 more races. If i fix it again it'll become a sexcam, those little cameras go anywhere.
JVC VHS-C 1 race, history.
The Sony was in a Crossle, JVC in a DB-1 both in "shock proof" foam lined boxes. YMMV
Jim
We used to modify TEAC U-matic recorders for airborne use. The thing about making these things live is to glue everything down and shock isolate the mounting plate from the aircraft structure. We had a couple of different kinds of epoxy, and we'd disassemble the entire unit, glue as much down as possible, and then subject it to several hours of "shake and bake" in an environmental chamber. After six months or so of trying, we finally got these things to live through carrier takeoffs and landings - for a while. They are still the highest failure rate electronic items in an airplane.
After a couple of cracks at repairing the current generation of recorders (which are not engineered to be fixed anyway) you might find it more economic to get one of those video transmitter systems and telemeter the data back to your trailer where that $69.00 wal mart recorder can take care of things in relative comfort. This would probably work well at most short tracks or the newer tracks where the pits and paddock are between two loops and the distance to any one point is under a mile. It ain't gonna work at Atlanta or Road America though.
Keith Connolly<BR>K C Motorsport - UK
As to camera life, we've been using our Canon ZR10 for a couple of years with no failure problems. Probably becuuse we use a remote lens which is hard mounted to the roll bar. But it seems to take vibration fine. No failures.
The Canon itself is in a nice soft paddded camera bag that is not lashed down hard. After starting it in "Record" mode, I just slip it into the bag with the wires coming out the end of the zipper opening. The bag is then set below my knees on the belly pan floorboard, just in front of the seat and clipped via a nylon strap to keep the bag from from moving around. The bag thus sits fairly loosely on the belly tray and very little vibaraion is transmitted to the Canon camcorder itself. Two years, no failure.
[size="1"][ September 13, 2002, 07:19 PM: Message edited by: Bob Alder ][/size]
I have had pretty good luck with a company called Diaconcorp.com. Their system is used in Spec racers (now be nice...)and is pretty much plug and play. Includes microphone, roll bar mount, camera... you'll have to provide the recorder.
I did build a small mount that uses those rubber vibration isolators both for the recorder and the camera...
everything is working just fine...ask for Duncan and if you'd like...tell him I sent you.
Hey Hans, is that you? I tried to email you at [email]eaglefordracer@cox.com[/email] but it bounced. I wanted to talk to you about Eagle stuff. Drop me a line at [email]bkincaid@alum.mit.edu[/email].
well, Bill, I don't know what to say...
yes it's me. I tried your [email]bkincaid@alum.mit.edu[/email] and got bounced back too.
try either: [email]eaglefordracer@cox.com[/email] or
Sorry:
or [email]hans@railsciences.com[/email]
Is anyone aware of the rules related to having a video camera on the roll hoop? How do you attach this and still allow for picking up the car by the tow truck?
Thanks for the help,
John
I have mounted my remote camera on the SIDE of the rollbar (hard mount) right at eye level. Works better than on top of the hoop. I can see gauges, steering, shifter and a slightly displaced version of the view out of the helmet. As far as camera and recorder failures. None. The Canon camcorder goes in a tuppaware box lined with faom that is bolted to the chassis. Mine is up front. The lid is held secure with a bungie. If I get some of the film digitized in usable size files i will post them. Maybe a winter project once I upgrade my PC.
Just bought my first open-wheel car but won't be able to drive it until the spring. I'm wondering if anyone has any in-car video footage either on the web or on videotape.
If you have a videotape, I am happy to send a SASE for postage and will return it promptly. Just excited to get a glimpse of what I've got in store for next year.
Thanks.
Try Glen Cozzens at [url="http://www.competitionraceproducts.com"]www.competitionraceproducts.com[/url]
He's a vee racer who developed a camera system that roll bar mounts. Just bought one after seeing his unit at New Hampshire. He has a video posted on his website. Great camera!
Hi I posted this on the F2000 board in April. For some back ground I am video editor for a national tv show with 12 years in the business. The engineer that I quote has developed an awsome in car system that both works and lasts. It's just very very expensive.
Member
Member # 183
posted April 23, 2002 06:24 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok guys here's the deal I have had a long talk with my video engineer buddy who is also a racer and this is what he recomends. Now keep in mind that this is the "right" way to do it, this is not the most inexpensive way to do it. His advice was pretty simple, it's cheaper to do it right once than do it cheap three times. This web site has the goods, the recorder and "lipstick" style cameras [url="http://www.supercircuits.com/STORE/home.asp"]http://www.supercircuits.com/STORE/home.asp[/url]
The deck he recomended was the Sony EVO 200 or 250. The dimentions are small and Pelican makes a padded case for it that will help it live in a hostile environment like an FC. Then go to the cameras and choose from either the C/CS mount cameras or the micro cams. You can run all of this off of batteries and there are several ways to get the power, if you are very serious about this e-mail me and I'll get you a skematic (sp) on how to wire it all up. I hope this helps.
[ April 23, 2002, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: BrooksHall ]
--------------------
Michael Hall
CFC #32
Cal Club
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
