Digital camcorder for in car use, which is best?

[Joel]

I have been toying with the idea of buying a digital camcorder for use in the viper mainly to record next years forays to Europe(LeMans) and in particular laps of racetracks such as Nurburgring. Anyone any thoughts as to which features to look out for and which features are not necessary. My thoughts are that some kind of image stabilisation would be helpful and the ability to compensate for rapid changes in light. Also is it easy to download into PC and convert to mpeg format. As a total camera duffer, any advice would be appreciated

[Marv S]

Sony DCR-PC110. Check out Dean's Camera Mount here

<FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Marv S on 12-25-2001 at 09:18 PM</font>

[SAM Team]

Joel,

Definitely a Sony!! The model I had mounted in the Viper was CCD-TRV67, it has been stress tested to the max.... I even used it today for Christmas pictures....

Problem that you will have is where to mount it. I had it between the seats but it looks right through the rear view mirror. I never drove the car on the track without it running what a great tool to learn from and show your friends. I have some great shots for hours at VIR, Watkins Glenn and Putnam in Indiana.

Other thoughts:
1. Quick disconnect can be purchased at any camera store for about $30 US dollars.
2. Get the kind of Sony with a viewing screen so you can line up your camera and see what you are shooting easily. A remote helps too so you can turn on and off so you do not get to much film waiting to go on the track or in the garage area.
3. Buy the cigarette adapter from Sony so that you can use the 12 volt power from the car, never worry about the battery going dead again. All you have to worry about is tape.
4. Connect this device to the power in the left rear trunk area of your Viper there is a fuse box there. Do not tap into the fuel pump power there is another fuse there. You will be able to run the cable under the molding down the left side behind the seat to the fuse box area. It will look real clean when you are done.

Now if you can solve the rear mirror problem you are in great shape!!!

Love to drive a Viper in Ireland one day, I can not think of a better place for me --- long ago home for my family! O'Kelley must have gotten dropped to Kelly along the way.

[Vreracing]

The Sony DCR-TRV900 MiniDV Digital Camcorder is a Camcorder with 3CCD's. It takes a little sharper picture and gives you better colors. With DVD recorders now coming down in price, the 3CCD may give you better resolution.

I shoot with a JVC Mini DV. Its downstairs so I don't know the model number. It gives pretty good pictures. I bought it for about $600 since we were going to be using it for Dirt track racing and the dust will pretty much ruin a camera.

If you want to go wild this is what I shoot with if I want really good quality.


Its a Sony DSR-300. Takes pretty striking pictures. Also weighs a ton and kind of intimidates people.

If I want to be less noticed, I have a Sony VX1000 that's also a 3CCD camcorder. Takes great pictures.

If you have a Firewire connector to your computer you can download it and then make little videos for the web. If you do that, a really cheap camcorder will work as well as any as long as it has the Firewire connector.

If you want a good forum to go to try this one.

dv.com forums

As far as image stabilization, be a little careful. The camcorders do the stabilization differently. Some of the stabilization programs can be horrible inside the car. We had one that when you first turned it would try to hold the image and then jump, hold, jump, hold. It was a little distracting. Also sometimes the stabilization will diminish the quality of the image.

Finally shoot as much as you can with a Tripod. The people watching it will thankyou.

Sorry for the long winded answer.

[Neil - UK]

a good thing to look out for is a AV in socket, this allows
a cheap ($125) aftermarket helmetcam to be plugged into your camera. A 3-5 metre cable with a small lense on it, which overides the main lense and allows different kinds of shots around the car, and keeps your expensive bit on the front seat. Get cool low footage by taping it to your front spoiler to get the feeling of speed

[Joel]

Thanks everyone, I'll check out a few prices locally, but Sony seems to be getting the thumbs up. I like Neils suggestion of having the ability to use a bumper cam, do any of the suggested cams have this digital in facility? I think Euro spec models may have different model numbers due to the differing line numbers on euro tv's, could this be so?

[bad viper]

Second Marv's recommendation. I use on all Silverstate races etc.

[Neil - UK]

I've a Sony to, most of the higher end Sony's have this facility
worth checking before you buy, incase you fancy different shots later on gets away from the usual through the window screen footage. Most of the add on micro lense's come with a mic as well

[Joel]

Thanks Todd
Thats a useful page, the corvette forum does have some good stuff after all