How can I get the best automobile video possible?

[alpaco45]

1. What will you use to capture your footage?

video camera or solid state?

What characteristics are necessary or preferred?

What distinguishes an AV input from a DV input?

Do you own a device with the necessary inputs and outputs? It is what?

2. A bullet camera and mount or a camcorder mount?

Which choice is the best?

Third, bullet cameras

What characteristics should we evaluate?

lens, microphone, waterproofing, connectors, and mounting

4. How much power do we need?

What is the most effective approach to power these things?

Hard wiring, rechargeable batteries, or an additional camcorder battery?

5. How much will it probably cost?

6. What is required to transfer the recorded video to a computer, DVD, etc.?

[QuirkEinstein]

The first thing to mention is that it all relies on your budget and whatever current items you may have.

1. I use a camcorder that records on regular DV tape.

The DV input is for digital transfers, whereas the AV input is for analog transfers. You will most likely need a device with AV INPUT. The majority (if not all) bullet cameras will be analog.

My video camera is an ancient Sony TRV-33E.

2. My bullet cam was purchased at http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/.

Only a few months ago, there was a discussion about a bulk buy/discount from another firm on bullet cameras. A search on the forums should provide results.

3. The finest that money can buy

4. I use normal AA batteries in mine, although bullet cam manufacturers offer various possibilities.

5. How long is a length of string? I'd think a bullet cam costs between £100 and £150, plus the cost of the recording equipment.

6. If it's from a DV camcorder, use a firewire connection to transfer it to a capture/video editing tool (Movie Maker in Windows will handle it) on your PC. After that, edit your footage. Then convert the finished film into whatever file type you choose to use (for example, WMV for web or MPEG2 for DVD, etc.) and then use a DVD authoring application if you intend to put it on DVD.

Obviously, if you're utilizing solid state devices, the capturing step takes less time and is just a matter of moving data from device to PC.

[bvlenci]

I have just acquired a solid state system that will, in the not too distant future, be offered for lease to interested parties.

[TDudette]

You should avoid hard drive-based camcorders since vibration will eventually destroy the hard drive, and DVD camcorders will often lose frames owing to error correction.

MiniDV is more than adequate.

If you intend to conducting live PC->camcorder editing, DV in makes editing much simpler. Otherwise, you'll have to upload the whole movie to your PC and edit it from there, which would take up a lot of disk space.

Firewire over USB is much superior. 400 megabits per second against 100 megabits per second.

There is no need for a separate mic input on the camera since AV-in incorporates this.

Having a camcorder with a remote control cable drive (rather than infrared) apparently makes start/stop simpler... for example, the driver can stop/start the recording process.

[CheresX]

If it helps, I'm looking at this right now.

http://www2.oregonscientific.com/shop....pid=560

The only issue I (think) can identify is the lack of an audio input for an external microphone; if you mount one to your rollbar, all you'll hear is wind noise.

You're welcome to use my manfrotto superclamp arm, hi8 camera, and external mic for the sprints I'm competing in, however there are certain "features" you'll need to be aware of before you go out onto the track.

[jennycarlotta]

I, too, am new to this and know nothing. I've never bought a video camera, but I'd want to get some in-car film. I was inspecting this camera and this bullet cam. Is there anything wrong with this combination? I'd go with the 1GB memory card. Is an external microphone required, or will the built-in mic function with the bullet cam hooked in? Sorry for all of the stupid questions.

[jennycarlotta]

Last inquiry on the subject. (sorry)

I just purchased a remote microphone (from Jan Coombes). Can you just put this into the AV in socket, place the microphone in the footwell, and position the video camera on the roll bar such that the sound emanates from inside the car? If so, I won't need to get a bullet cam (yet).

[TechWhiz]

You're on if the AV in socket matches the one on the cam.

If not, you will need to combine different audio and video sources.

ADVICE: Purchase wire protectors.

[jennycarlotta]

Just now, TechWhiz said:

You're on if the AV in socket matches the one on the cam.

If not, you will need to combine different audio and video sources.

ADVICE: Purchase wire protectors.

When I purchase the camcorder, it will have an AV socket. If I also purchase a bullet cam, I won't utilize the external microphone; instead, I'll simply place the camcorder in the footwell and use the internal microphone.

Just to be sure, when just the microphone is put in, would the camcorder continue record video, or will it also expect to receive video signals via the AV socket? (I hope my inquiry didn't seem foolish, but I honestly haven't an idea about this type of stuff).

[TechWhiz]

This has to be qualified with "YMMV" since you should actually refer to the instructions for destroying camcorders.

I agree with your reasoning. My camcorder accepts a 5mm audio in/mic input while still recording video.

[jennycarlotta]

OKAY. THANKS