I've been using a Sony DV Camcorder mounted to an I/O rollbar mount (has
a big urethane bushing). I've had no problems with vibrations. The
steady-shot feature is actually fantastic. In the video you can see the
front end of the car moving up and down over bumps, but the camera is
hard-mounted to the car, so it is all the movement is taken up in the
camera!
The big disadvantage to the lipstick cameras is that the whole thing is
up in the airstream in an open car. One good sized stone...
I don't know much else about the lipstick stuff, but it seems video
quality is an issue, although they are cheaper?
The camcorder cost about $400 new with about $100 for the mount. Tapes
aren't cheap, but can be reused. The Sonys have firewire connections,
which I use to download the tapes so I can edit in the computer. I
suppose most other brands use USB 2.0 nowadays. I've got a friend with a
JVC and it seems to work pretty well, too.
Buy a UV filter (for lens protection) and set the manual focus to
infinity so it doesn't focus on gunge that gets on the UV filter.
I'd avoid the direct-to-DVD camcorders as I imagine they WOULD be
affected by vibration.
-- David Littlefield
On Wed, 3 May 2006 09:46:31 -0700 "Lon" <lon@sedona.net> writes:
> I suspect this may have been discussed before . . . what success has
> there
> been with an inexpensive digital camera with vibration/quality for
> those
> weekend memories and analysis of my many mistakes? Been using an
> older 8mm
> video and want to upgrade (read: it's broken). Was told the digital
> has
> difficulty with the vibration.
>
> Many thanks.
>
> Lon
> Elva Courier
> Lotus 7
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