Motorsport Cameras

[Damo_R34]

So what would you buy? Im in the market for one at the moment.

GO PRO - $299

http://gopro.com/cameras/hd-motorsports-hero-camera/

Basic info:

1080P recording

Up to 32GB supported memory

5MP

Variety of power sources supported

CONTOUR HD - $249

http://contour.com/products/contour-hd/specs

Basic info:

1080P recording

5MP

Charge via usb so ability to charge in car

Up to 32GB supported memory

DRIFT HD - $399

http://driftinnovation.com/drift-hd-action-camera/

Basic info:

1080P recording

Up to 32GB supported memory

Screen on camera to view playback

Remote control

9MP

Up to 32 GB supported memory

So what would you buy?

[Krishy]

Pay the little bit extra and get the Drift HD cam. If for drift practices etc then you can check while you wait in the lineup and see how the footage is. Since its recording in 1080P and there is only up 32GB of storage space I would say that it won't be long before the memory gets full. So check and delete the ones that didn't turn out right might be the go.

[Damo_R34]

post up your reasons behind your choices as well guys!

[ISC-Performance]

If your using a 32GB card on full 1080 HD it'll last 8 hours of recording time....BUT the battery life of the above cameras only last 2-3 hours (can recharge in between sessions though in the mallala sheds).

I'am about to buy the gopro...there all basically the same specs but I have seen the gopro used and the results are good...it also comes with the best mounts...I don't want to lose that sucker at 200kmph!!

[Marlin]

IMO, spend a little extra and get something really good.

http://www.racerecall.com/radcam-hdpro-kit-with-free-4gb-sd-card-p-16.html

Superb picture AND sound..... can't be said for some of the options above.

[cobbadan]

I have purchased the contour gps version for a couple of reasons.

It seemed pretty widely used and recommended.

It has the gps which gives a speed reading.

Watched plenty of YouTube clips that seemed good.

But the main selling point for me was that its not only recommended as a motorsport camera but also as an underwater camera. I do a bit of scuba diving so I just buy an underwater housing and go diving. I think the go pro has underwater housings available too.

That's something to think about. Uses other than incar.

Ps. it hasn't arrived yet, purchased last week. $320 delivered for the gps version and windscreen mount.

[pistol-pete]

go the radcam. ive got a gopro, sound is crap. wind noise is REALLY bad and it takes pretty average video in low light and is almost useless at night (eg drift pracs). also if you get the bluetooth card thingo for the contour you can use your smartphone as a remote screen and controller so not really worth getting the drift hd if the screen is the only extra

also i wouldnt trust the suction mounts on any of them, i always add some race tape for extra piece of mind.

[Damo_R34]

Photo quality is irrelevant for me, as i have a digital camera for that. mainly for in car recording but occasionally for motorbike riding as well

[Marlin]

I hated my Go-Pro HD so much I quite literally threw it in the wheelie bin. The sound quality is appalling.

[Damo_R34]

I have read vaguely that you can mod the microphone on them, but who really wants to do that?

[ISC-Performance]

[ISC-Performance]

sound quality is still there (not as good as the rest, agreed) but that's just an excuse to throw down some background music on your footage. Picture quality is the main thing. The gopro seems to include the most accesories like all the mounts and waterproof box etc where as all the others have to be purchased seperatly. Just comes down to budget I guess, the best of the lot like posted above would be the $475 radcam.

[Damo_R34]

[Marlin]

At the risk of looking like a video whore, here is some Radcam footage. I normally place a little microphone sock over the supplied Radcam microphone to tone down any wind buffet, but for this day I'd forgotten to romove it from my own car (I borrowed this Evo).

Still, gives you a good idea of the quality available straight out of the box. YouTube still dumbs down the quality a bit, but if you select 1080 its quite good.

[bigkevracer]

Go Pro has it's place. Ken Block uses them extensively for Gymkhana because they don't have a remote box, so they're easier to mount around the place.

It all depends on what you're planning on doing with it, where it'll be mounted, will it be permanently mounted, etc.

I'm your SA RaceRecall.com dealer, so Radcam mainly, and I have a couple you can try out if you'd like.

I have heard some good things about the Drift HD and we should be getting those soon too. Heard interesting things about the Contour too, but no experience with them so far.

PM me if you want to check out the Radcam.

[DC_GTST]

Used the GoPro both for MotoX and Track-days, no problems as yet and decent quality. Haven't tried the other two so can't give comparison

[Damo_R34]

Ill be honest, at this stage im leaning towards the Drift HD, it will be mounted on various points of the car and itll be so much easier to just press the button to play or stop recording.

[bigkevracer]

Ill be honest, at this stage im leaning towards the Drift HD, it will be mounted on various points of the car and itll be so much easier to just press the button to play or stop recording.

The remote is fairly common, the Radcam's have those. So if you're specifically after that, you still have a choice! I think the POV does too, but that's a fair bit dearer.

Something to think about with the Radcam and POV type camera is it has the camera head on a cable to the body, so you can mount the camera almost wherever you like internally (and even externally to an extent) and have the body with the controls next to you.

Radcam comes in a kit with the heavy duty mounts, suction and roll bar, so you're all ready to go out of the box. So it's a bit dearer but you also don't need to worry about anything else.