Rag-Top Rick

Thanks for stepping in!
Some of you have posted in the past NOT to run the DVD type Camcorder due to poor picture stabilization, etc.
Has anyone tried the newer HD Hard-drive based camera/s and was the stabilization sufficient compared to the Mini-DV type Camcorder???

Since I`m buying a new one I thought I`d ask, the newer HD Hard-drive systems sound like they would be a lot easier/faster to download and edit however it`s a moot point if the picture quality is crap!

Thanks in advance for your feedback, Rick

P.S. I`ll be using this camera for other uses as well (family, etc) so a bullet cam is not a consideration.

GeorgeZNJ

I was told by my camera guy that the hard drive ones will not like the bumps. and I've read of people complaining that the hard drives shut off if they move/bump. the following vid is with a mini dv tape camera, notice no skipping even after I spin and hit the pea gravel pretty hard? I also have an in car vidoe of when i got the car airborne on the street and the tape does not skip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHgDSPLWYi8

The camera ia a sony handicam dcr-hc46, comes with a mini remote, and all the normal accessories.

Last C5

For now it seems you definitely have to stay with mini dv. Even the newest generation dvds and hard drives won't survive a trip on the roll bar. It seems that even some of the new mini dvs with the new optical image stabilization don't work either. If you can find one with a mini dv tape system, electronic image stabilization, and an external microphone jack - your in business.

linutux

The flash based cameras seem to work well. I like the results from the Panasonic DMC-TZ3. It does 16:9 widescreen(840x480 30fps). Has built in wideangle and 10x optical zoom. Costs under $250. The downside is that it has limited record time of 25 minutes(2GB) at high res. Still long enough for most track sessions. For longer sessions you could use a lower, normal resolution.

Here's a sample from forum member "Dirty Howie":
http://www.corvettekillstories.com/p...redspinout.mov

Here's a couple of forum threads:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...&highlight=TZ3

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1886873

John Shiels

I bought a new SONY and it sucks so I had to go back to my old mini tape camcorder which was a Sony, PITA to convert to digital

AU N EGL

What about low res? How long and what is the picture quality like?

John Shiels

I'll have to go to the offshore boat forum and ask my freinds what they use. You are talking hits that shorten your spine an 1"

Rag-Top Rick

Thanks guys, I had hoped that the latest HD Hard-drive cameras had advanced enough by now that they rivaled the old Mini-DV.

The good thing is the Mini-DV`s are cheap and reliable, the bad thing is they`re "stone-age" when it comes to down-loading and editing!

Thanks again for the feedback..............

Rick

John Shiels

at least you have something to download

SouthernSon

I have only used my miniDV in my track car. It 'blipped' only once when I tweaked my chassis dropping off the front stretch at Nashville Speedway roadcourse (wrenched the left front fender into the hood and cracked it inboard about an inch x 6 inches long, and yes, I was fairly close to the grass on the inside for smoother transition ) I have a panasonic 150. According to my Adobe photoshop manual, miniDV allows more precise editing, and, believe it or not, better resolution than HDD. Check it out. And furthermore, it is my understanding from a motorcycle forum, a fellow biker left his new optical stabilizing camcorder back home and went back to his EIS camcorder because it was unfazed by the bike's vibrations.

Also, a few months back, Popular Science profiled the suitability of different medium for long term storage and good tapes beat even some DVD's. It seems that once burned in, DVD's are somewhat weakened. Of course, the gold premium DVD's last longer. YMMV.

NemesisC5

Unfortunately anything recording onto disc (hard drive or DVD) is affected by vibration. Flash memory recording devices are inherently stable since there are no moving parts

linutux

According to the TZ3 specs, it will do max single sessions on a 2GB card of:
• 320 x 240 @ 30 fps (4:3) 1Hour
• 640 x 480 @ 30 fps (4:3) 22 minutes
• 848 x 480 @ 30 fps (16:9) 19minutes

It has a 2GB single session file size limit; so, on a 4GB card it might record slightly longer. You could pit in and press record to start it again though.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0701/07...onictz2tz3.asp

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/pa...mc_tz3-review/

C6400hp

I tried a Sony Sr100? hard drive camcorder, it would shut of during lateral G loads and over any type of road imperfection.
I bought a Sony DCRHC96 Mini DV, It works great! It came with software that makes it a breeze to download to the computer
and burn DVD or VCD

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Camcorder.html

jpobrien

I have a Panasonic HDC-SD1 that records to SDHC flash memory, and I have bought a 16 gb card recently. That will hold about 160 min of high def recording. The optical image stabilization does not work (as noted by others here). I've also had problems with keeping it in focus. I am going to try to use manual focus next time out - unfortunately not until April!

I am still trying to figure something that I can do to reduce the vibration of the video. It gets pretty bad at higher speeds.

C6400hp

This is from my sony HC96.
The vids I have here are much higher quality due to the compression on upload.


http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...2000sAtTWS.flv

mikahb

What's the issue with the Optical Image stabilizers? They just don't handle the high-speed vibrations well, or? I purchased a Canon HC20 HD camera this winter and was looking forward to getting some good HD video. Sounds like I may need to get something smaller and simpler to leave in the car.

jpobrien

I think it is that the optical stablizer just can't keep up with the high frequency vibrations. With it turned on, it is definitely worse (more vibration in the picture).

AU N EGL

OK I was thinking of some of the longer NASA races, 45-50 min races.

JDIllon

Tom, I recieved one of these for Christmas, it works great on the street but havn't tried it on the track yet. I'm going to give it a try at Road Atlanta in March and will let you know how it works. Still trying to determine which res. and FPS to use???? Anyone run the DMC TZ3 on the track?? What #s did you use??? JD

Z07coupe

Great information here, but could you experienced drivers list the camcorders that you have personally used and worked out sucessfully. I've been looking at the Sony HC-28.
Thanks !