group buy for in car video camera

[Catwood]

I used a borrowed camera from Chasecam last weekend at Willow. I have to say I was impressed with the quality and ease of using the device. I spoke to the President of the company and he is willing to go a group buy if any one is interested. The buy would include the Hi resolution camera, cig lighter power cord, microphone and your choice of either a suction cup mount or a roll bar clamp mount. I've added links so that you can see the descriptions. I used the section cup mount with the camera on the windshield behind the rear view mirror. It was out of site and out of the way. You will still need a recorder. I used my video camera and mounted it safely in the back.

Total if bought direct would be about $275.00 plus tax and shipping. I have him willing to know $50 off the price for an order of 20. IF I can get 20+ orders I'll move forward.

Send me a private email if you'd like to be included.
Carl
catwood@motorola.com



Includes:
Color CCD Bullet camera head
Universal mount base (allows swivel 90-degree movement)
12V Cigarette Lighter Adapter or Battery Pack

Technical Specs:
Vivid full color CCD camera
Performs well in low light: 2 lux color
Captures crisp 24-bit color images up to 640x480 in size (actual CCD resolution
is 480 TV lines

NTSC format
Operating temperature range: -10C to 40C
Auto white balancing with some minor limitation in very bright ambient sunlight
on light pavement
Includes remote external powered microphone

Details
Weight 1.50 lbs



http://chasecam.com/bulletcam.htm

http://chasecam.com/mounts-clamp.htm

http://chasecam.com/mounts-suction.htm

[IEATVETS]

PM sent

[Catwood]

go it and replied.

I've got about 10 folks signed up. I give it about a week until we have enough.

Carl

[Joseph Dell]

This is just the camera, correct? you still need to put this into a recording device. Is that correct? Laptop? digital recorder?

JD

[Schulmann]

Joseph is right this is a simple camera using "old" standards and it requires a VCR. You can't even plug-it into a modern laptop. A good video bord for a laptop is expensive ...

Catwood, what did you use to record your staff ?

[MannyC]

Schulmann,

Most new digital cameras have a composite input. For example, my sony dig cam comes with a cable that plugs into the camera and then the other side has 3 RCA plugs (2 audio, one video.) I would expect you use just one audio and the one video, plug those into the output on the bullet cam, put your camcorder into VCR mode and hit record (I have to use the remote that came with my camera to do that.) It's a feature built in for dubbing off a VCR or recording TV shows.

Then you just strap your camcorder into your car somewhere secure (glovebox if you have one with some towels or something to keep it from banging around) and use the bullet cam outsite next to the ground.

I have one in a box (havent even opened it yet) and plan on setting it up for the Button Willow Viper Days event, as my video from the last Viper days from my windshield mounted camera didn't come out too great due to sun glare and a lexan front window (not nearly as clear as real glass.)

I've seen some pretty kick ass video before where guys tape or mount the cameras right behind the front wheel wheel next to the ground and you get to see the wheels turning and all the action up front. Looks neat!

-M

[Catwood]

Joseph is right this is a simple camera using "old" standards and it requires a VCR. You can't even plug-it into a modern laptop. A good video bord for a laptop is expensive ...

Catwood, what did you use to record your staff ?

I plugged it into my Sony Video 8 Camcorder through the RCA jack then strapped soen the camera in my propane mount in the trunk. I'm sure there are other areas to position the camera but that was easy for me. I zip tied the microphone to the hand brake handle.

It is an analog camera as cameras built with and A/D converter are optimized for bandwith and therefore loose resolution from what I understand.

Carl

[Catwood]

I'm going to try and wrap this up by Thursday. Currently we don't have all 20 that we need but I plan to talk to Randy and see if we are close enough. If you haven't emailed me and are interested please do. I'll send out an email Thursday with the final details to those that have signed up.

Thanks,
Carl

[Cop Magnet]

Most new digital cameras have a composite input. For example, my sony dig cam comes with a cable that plugs into the camera and then the other side has 3 RCA plugs (2 audio, one video.)

I don't think that is what is meant by "composite" video input. Composite refers to 3 separate RCA type cables just for video--red, blue, yellow--plus the audio separately.

[scottgf]

Hey Carl,
How many orders do you have?.....I may be interested.
Just so I understand, I can plug this into a standard 8mm Video cam and be good to go with pic and sound???
Also, the price on the link says $235.00 if I am reading it correct...
Cheers,

[Catwood]

I don't think that is what is meant by "composite" video input. Composite refers to 3 separate RCA type cables just for video--red, blue, yellow--plus the audio separately.

I believe that to be correct.

Inputs from what I understand are RCA, Composite and S-Video. The camera output is an SMA type jack with an adaptor to an RCA plug. With the microphone you have two RCA plugs, one video one sound to plug into your camera or other recording device.

Carl

[scottgf]

bump