A decent HD camera for incar recording on track?

[XKaLiBaR]

Does anyone use a HD camera to record on track days? I used my mates one, which is a canon, which cost him around £600, but either the camera is broke, or the stabilizer is faulty or its how the camera comes. See video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXGjBASY8MI

I have also borrowed a mates old Sony with mini dv discs, and there is no shakes, but its no HD quality

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3U2CFdtZ_w

Im looking to spend around £500, well the wife is buying it for my bday next month Any help would be awesome.

[daniel]

GoPro HD. I have one and love it. Get the motorsport version and it comes with a good suction mount.

[_Nathan_]

I've used a panasonic HD camera before - records to SD card, don't get an HDD one as they give up recording after about 10 seconds of vibration. I always turn the stabilizer stuff off too as it makes the driving look slower!

Personally I wouldn't bother with HD - it takes an age to edit!

Spend a little more and get an AiM smartycam - built in GPS and accelerometer for data overlay, lap times etc and in the future you can spend a little extra and get an ecu bridge to grab data such as rpm, throttle position, steering angle etc from the car's ecu to add to the overlay.

I am informed that AiM will be releasing an update soon too to allow data to be recorded alongside video for analysis after the event in a new version of their race studio 2 software that supports video.

Sample:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc1Yf7ShuOk

PM me for special deals

Obviously none of this makes sense if you want to use the camcorder for other stuff too

[XKaLiBaR]

Originally Posted by sunnybono

GoPro HD. I have one and love it. Get the motorsport version and it comes with a good suction mount.

Thanks dude, i will look into that.

Originally Posted by _Nathan_

I've used a panasonic HD camera before - records to SD card, don't get an HDD one as they give up recording after about 10 seconds of vibration. I always turn the stabilizer stuff off too as it makes the driving look slower!

Personally I wouldn't bother with HD - it takes an age to edit!

Spend a little more and get an AiM smartycam - built in GPS and accelerometer for data overlay, lap times etc and in the future you can spend a little extra and get an ecu bridge to grab data such as rpm, throttle position, steering angle etc from the car's ecu to add to the overlay.

I am informed that AiM will be releasing an update soon too to allow data to be recorded alongside video for analysis after the event in a new version of their race studio 2 software that supports video.

Sample:

PM me for special deals

Obviously none of this makes sense if you want to use the camcorder for other stuff too

That is awesome Nathan! Unfortunately, the misses is buying the camera to record our new born coming later this year. But i can pick the right camera so it works in my car. Go figure, its my bday present, but i cant go the whole hog....women :p
On a side note, is that speedo accurate? Or have you changed your diff to 4.1s? I take it your on slicks, with the lines you took.

[Mark CSL]

I use a Sony DCR-PC1000E Takes great video

[_Nathan_]

Hmm, not sure she'd appreciate a speedo overlaid on your new nipper!

All I can say is make sure you get a card recording one and as a tip I ended up buying a second battery to make sure I had enough juice to get through a trackday so maybe budget for a cheaper camcorder and a spare battery or see if anyone makes a car charger or similar?

4.1 diff and yup, slicks. Only 320bhp though. Would love to see what it could do now now at 1250kg and with a full power map

[XKaLiBaR]

Yeah it looked like you were lacking power on the straights! But still a damn good lap time.

Last time i was at snetterton, i was charging the camera when i went to lunch in the one of the garages. Just had a dangly wire going through the window of my car, so no one can steel the camera :D

2nd battery would of been easier