Cameras and Recording Devices
Two styles: Cameras, and Recording Drives
The first thing to discuss is that there are two potential ways to record your track time. One is through a traditional video camera that has its own lens and recording media inside it. Some of these allow you to use auxillary cameras as well. These are small lenses that plug in and use the camera deck to record the image. (it's how you get the bumper cams seen on TV)
The other is using a recording device that records to something like flash memory or a hard drive. In order to use one of these you MUST have an auxillary camera lens.
A simple camcorder:
A flash recorder:
Media Types: MiniDV, HD-(mini)DV, DVD, Flash/Hard-drive
In the mountain bike community I get email after email (or post after post) about how awesome the DVD cameras are and shouldn't I just buy one? I am DEAD SET against them. But lets quickly cover the media types, and then we'll see why.
MiniDV - This is the current 'standard'. Sony has been trying to replace it for years, but like VHS it's here to stay...for a while yet. The tapes are small, used in both home and professional productions and thus easy to find anywhere. Don't believe me? I found them in Urumbamba Peru with no difficulty at all. The price is relatively cheap, and they work well. Negative points include the fact that the first 30secs of any miniDV tape is unreliable, and you'll end up buying tape after tape after tape...until you realize you don't _really_ need to save all that footage from Watkins Glen 2001.
HD-MiniDV - Same tape size, but HD quality. Only useful in an HD camera. Not as easy to find. Expensive, and for the potential quality you can get out of an in-car camera shot...not worth going for. Even F1 doesn't use HD for in-car.
DVD - Seems awesome, you record to a DVD that then plays immediately in your DVD player at home. Sweet! Problem: You cannot edit the DVD, or the footage off the DVD. You still need to run it through your camcorder into your computer. The media is not easy to buy, and it's a pain to edit...so, forget it. I base my media buying decision on whether or not I can run to a 711 to buy some in an emergency. If I get to the track and realize I forgot media, I want to go get some!
Flash/HD recorders - These are awesome. You record to memory directly, so pulling into your computer for editing is super quick. There aren't any moving parts, so they _should_ last longer. Also, they shouldn't drop a frame when you crash, nor should the tape come off the heads when you jump your car. (hmmm, maybe that's only rally guys). Anyways, this is definitely the future. The technology is limited by three things though: recording time. When you run out of space, the media is expensive. You might lose the second half of a track day because you don't wish to record over the first half of the day. The technology may or may not be durable. We don't use them in TV (yet) because we can't trust it. It is coming though.
So, based on media availablity and features needed, it all boils down to MiniDV or a Flash Recorder.
What style best suits your needs?
A year ago I would have told you the Flash recorder's weren't up to snuff and just buy a camcorder, but now that has changed. There are some REALLY good units out there. The day apple allows me to use my iPod as a recording device is the day I swear off traditional video cameras.
It boils down to this: Will you use a video camera for more then just in the car?
If you have kids, or plan on having kids, buy a video camera.
If you travel a lot, and would use it for travel video, buy a video camera.
If you're just planning on filming track stuff, or in-car stuff, strongly consider a flash recorder.
If you're not sure...buy a video camera...it's more useful in the long run.
Brands/models
If you only desire to _ever_ do the simple shot of looking through the front windshield through the two front seats, then be my guest and purchase any video camera made today. They'll all work, though some easier then others, and you will have an okay shot of you driving around the track.
If, however, you actually want to use your video camera to improve your driving skills then you're going to need some special features.
1) Audio/Video input - In order to use the footage the best, we need to be able to put cameras in places that show our steering, our shifting, our pedals, maybe the tach, etc. etc. In order to do this, we need SMALL cameras. We'll probably get a lipstick camera...so we need to be able to put the video into our camcorder. If you don't see why yet, just trust me...it will come later.
2) LANC remote port. Almost all cameras come with a remote. Most are infared and not very reliable in a car situation. Later I'm going to suggest a LANC remote that allows you to put a button on your dash with two lights. Green means the camera is on, red means it's recording. Your battery and tape life will be extended by HOURS...and I mean HOURS...of track time.
So, now if we were going to do all the research to find a camera that will fit these needs, you'll come up with two. Yes, two.
Buy either a Sony DCR-HC36 or a DCR-HC46. No doubt we'll be discussing why later in this thread. If you already own a camera, we can probably still make it work. If you're buying new, just trust me. These are the only two that will do every feature you could ever require, as well as the absolute minimum required.
My minimum requirements are simple: Be able to record from a lipstick camera reliably, and be able to turn the camera on and off via a wired remote while sitting in the car. Only the sony's will do it. The DCR-HC36 is the best deal.
Discontinued, but still very good are the HC-32 and HC-30. The only difference between the 30 series and the 40 series is the still camera function, which we're not interested in.
That concludes section one!
-Dave