Testing Camera Placement int he Subaru

[Not All There]

Messed around with different mounting positions. Came out pretty neat. Id like to move camera 2 a bit more so you can actually see the road ahead because its hard to tell that im in a turn and differentiate from when im correcting in a corner and when i'm actually going into a corner. As for the helmet...I just don't want my face all over the internet lol, and I lost my sunglasses so my helmet was mint lol

http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k191/NATRacing/NAT%20Rally%20Project/?action=view&current=SubyTestCameras.flv

What I really need to figure out is a way to record without wind disturbance int he recording. Keep in mind this is just a POS camera, not the real one. Its easier to test with this in case it falls off.

[Blix666]

i think the angle on the backward-facing camera shouldn't really be shooting your face, but more of the terrain your on. try turning it outward just to the point where you can't see your body in the frame.

camera 2 would definitely be better aiming upward more. for the next RallyX i'm mounting my cam on my hatch window and zooming in enough to record as much of the cockpit P.O.V. as possible. where i had it last time wasn't bad, but i think it'd be better centered as opposed to on the passenger side window.

i'm too scared to mount my cam outside my car...otherwise, i'd just stick it to my roof! (i'm sure they would allow this anyways.)

[Not All There]

yea, the goal of camera one isnt to see my face, it was to try and see the terrain in the back, but also my steering wheel. I love to see the car slide on way, and the wheel turned to the other, i always love seeing where a drive is looking on the road ahead and such.

[lorenkb]

Very cool. Would you mind posting some pics of how you are mounting the cameras? If you can get a wide angle on Camera 2 so that you are seeing both the full tire and the road ahead that would be sweet!

You and your awesome sounding exhaust... bah!

[BlueRu]

I think for a test video it came out very good. I would move camara 1 out a bit more myself too. As for cam. 2 I would think about finding a view that gets the wheel and the forward view.

[Not All There]

You would laugh if you saw the temp mount, basically a tightly rolled up paper towel for padding between the camera and side view mirror with tightly wrapped electrical tape around the small digital camera.

What the actual mount will be once I figure out if its worth perusing or not (which i think it is after these quick vids) is to take a spare side view mirror and build a small camera mount that can be adjusted 360* and also have some up and down movement but locks in position with a flip of a lever. Similar to the actual mount on top of a tripod, but fit to a side view mirror. Allowing you to look at the tire, adjust it forward, back, look at yourself or behind you. Whatever the person wants to see they can pretty much set it to record. Bumps dont transfer to much onto the recording. Just have to figure out wind. Who knows, maybe if I can build this thing nice and simple enough I can sell some lol.

[409industries]

I really like that shot, i might have to steal that angle idea!

Bummer i wish i would have taken the pictures off my camera from yesterday as i was able to snag the high-quality bullet cam setup from the other website im involved with. Ill be sure to post up the pics of the setup, and maybe a teaser video real soon.

Basically, this guy right here is the sh*t:

http://www.chasecam.com/pdr100-rear-72dpi.jpg
Chasecam PDR100

Solid state recording straight to Compact Flash. Its amazing how steady of a shot you get from these little guys. The can come with standard lenses or wideangle for shooting from outside the car. While i have these on "loan" over the next few weeks, look forward to some cool video projects of the recent rallyx practice from last weekend, the upcoming CRS rallycross event up north in 2 weeks, and probably another timelapse video... :)

[Not All There]

thats awesome, how light is that little thing. Also, how expensive??

[409industries]

Super light.

The setup pictured will run you about $550. You will need to get a bigger CF card than the little 256MB one they provide. Id suggest a 4GB card. So that adds on some cost. Their 3 suction cup camera mount is perfect for anywhere on the car... thats $40.

Ill post pics later tonight of the setup we have.

[Not All There]

Test Camera 3, Im very happy with this location, thinks it gives you a nice view of alot of things, the driver, wheel, view out front, and I can angle the mirror so you see directly behind the car. Let me know what you think

http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k191/NATRacing/NAT%20Rally%20Project/?action=view&current=SubyTestCamera3.flv

Got a little squirly coming out of the last corner, theres a nasty hole there you have to avoid, didnt feel like hitting it. Just taking it easy, the footage is nothing special. Just testing it enough to see how the camera handles the side to side movement and bumps

[BlueRu]

I like this spot a lot! you can see the road in front and you stearing. Not to mention you gat a lot of good shots of the area you are in and some good car noise.

[Blix666]

that's a really cool view...

two things...

1. i friggin' love that steering wheel

2. why can't there be any roads like that near me!?

[UP2MTNS]

I have a similar set up but with a regular DVcam and not the harddrive recorder. I just need to get the dv firewire to USB port adapter wire (just ordered today) and I can upload the vids I've got. It'll be fun to compare.

[Not All There]

Def throw them up id like to see.

Thats one of the many roads up here!

[Blix666]

you mean....down there?

[409industries]

What I really need to figure out is a way to record without wind disturbance int he recording. Keep in mind this is just a POS camera, not the real one. Its easier to test with this in case it falls off.

This is almost impossible to do if the mic is a built in one on the camera itself. External mic's are more adaptive because you can get big windjammers to bring down wind noise. The alternative to buying an expensive windjammer is to use your cam's external 1/8" mic jack to a regular microphone inside the car where there is less windnoise (or none if the windows are up).

[409industries]

OK so i apologize for not having any of the video online for you to see yet, this week has just been way to busy and im behind schedule on another video project that has to be completed first before i can play around with the chasecam stuff from over the weekend (even though thats what id rather be editing!)

So heres the pics of the setup i have at the moment.

Heres the whole setup. The chasecame bullet cams with small suction mounts. There are larger mounts that i use for the outside which have double the suction cups. Not necessary for inside, and also they block more of your visibility. The soild state recorders are in the glovebox, they record to compact flash. Super easy to operate, just push the button to record, push to stop. They run off the cigarette adaptor.
http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/hosting/imagehosting/chasecam/cameras_recorders.jpg

Closer view of the cameras
http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/hosting/imagehosting/chasecam/cameras_only.jpg

Cameras from outside
http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/hosting/imagehosting/chasecam/cameras_outside.jpg

Digital recorders... happy on a towel in the glovebox
http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/hosting/imagehosting/chasecam/recorders.jpg

These recorders actually do record audio too, they have small microphones built in, but as expected theyre not that great. They definitely pick up on the boxer rumble though! I should have taken the pictures before i went out and got everything filthy. oh well.

More to come!

[Blix666]

that is just sick

[subyspawn]

we need to put those in my or my brothers car for R4 next race!

[Not All There]

thats awesome man..


Side note..the inside of your car is almost dirtier than the outside!! :lol:

[409industries]

Seriously, the inside took quite a hit over the weekend. Its not happy. The cameras will be coming to Antioch over the upcoming weekend, well see how the footage turns out!