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Sunburnt
09-27-2005, 01:14 PM
Hi Guy's,

I tried to do some filming this weekend using my Sony Hi-8 camera mounted to a tripod. Once you got going the camera would wig out (from the vibration) :( and the result was very choppy video and sound. What would you recommend for in the boat use? A miniDV?

We are running some old Hydro's in less than perfect water so, it's a pretty rough ride at times..

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

sho305
09-27-2005, 01:30 PM
I don't know a ton about them, but the newer ones tend to have better motion control that electronicly smooths the picture out. Even so, I think you will need a vibration mount for it to work well. Check out what equipment they use for video for skiing, I know they sell them for that just so you can see what it is. They have cables curved between two plates I saw on one. You put any camera on the mount, then the whole rig on whatever in the boat. There might be some other threads on it here also, try a search. I have a cheaper minidv I used by hand in my boat, it was a calm day and it came out nice...but even that I don't think would work well if rough IMO. You might even be able to make something out of foam? Unchained straps his into the seat of his jet boat at over 100mph and it is not that bad of a shot, has a frame with foam on it that fits in the passenger seat.

Here is some ideas from a quick search:
http://www.pashnit.com/more/cameramount.htm
http://www.catchitcam.com/videocamera/prices.php
http://www.behnermarine.com/boatstuff/VideoCameraMount.asp
Don't know if you want to spend or not, or how you need to mount. Could not find the cable one I was talking about, sure it is out there someplace.

triple dude
09-27-2005, 03:05 PM
I bought a Canon miniDV back in May and took it to the season opener on the Illinois River. Great little camera. I hadn't (and still haven't) spent a lot of time playing with the features. While at speed (100mph plus) as a passenger, the picture wasn't bad but sound quality was poor. Couldn't even hear the motor. Just windnoise. Did get some good shots of Wisconsin Clyde's hair (Yep, that's ONE hair :D ) as we ran him down. I have yet to look at the camera detail to see if it has a wind filter like my ancient Sony 8MM, but even then, I'm not sure how it would be at high speeds???

sho305
09-28-2005, 11:04 AM
Mine has wind problem too. I was wondering if I could put foam over the mic., or use a remote one on the floor/etc. It might have a filter but I didn't use it either. Behind the windshield it sounded good, above was just wind...and that was my slow boat at 40mph. Did the same on the cart at less than 30mph.

triple dude
09-28-2005, 11:14 AM
Even at thirty, when replaying the tape, I could barely hear the conversation going on between driver and me. Even at that slow speed, couldn't hear the motor. Just wind and it wasn't a windy day.

Sunburnt
09-30-2005, 06:27 PM
Thanks for the input guy's,

I think i'll try playing around with some different mounting options, foam etc.. If that doesn't work I may look into a bullet cam..

Here's a link to the choppy video... Cable or broadband is preferered, 30 meg file, labeled Raw footage..

http://www.powercatboat.com/video/video.html


Thanks,

Jeff

Scream And Fly
09-30-2005, 06:31 PM
Foam will never help with the wind noise of a fast boat. The best solution is to run an external mic (if your cam has an output for it) and tape it to the floor of the boat, near the stern.

Greg

sho305
09-30-2005, 07:06 PM
I just remembered, I was sitting there last weekend when Rita was hitting Texas chuckling at the reporters who drew to be out in the wind/rain (not laughing at the storm of course, but I wonder how they chose who gets the wetter jobs for that). Anyway, I thought to mself, what in the ###### kind of microphones are they using?? The guy had a wind meter in his hand showing 70mph gusts and his voice sounded great. Had a big foam ball on it is all. Seems like that would be too much to take out with electronics, but I'm not familiar with that stuff.

STV_Keith
09-30-2005, 08:22 PM
I believe the real answer is to run a remote camera lens hard mounted to the boat. Because these are very light, when mounted hard to the boat, you don't see the vibration.

Here's a few ideas. I too have been thinking about adding cameras to the boat. The only drawback I have found is that you need one camcorder with the LANC link PER lens. So if you want multiple views, you need multiple camcorders. :(

http://www.x10.com/news/articles/0104_results.htm

http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/4568

http://www.catchitcam.com/videocamera/prices.php

http://www.racecam.com/

http://www.jonescam.tv/catalog.php?osCsid=3227fc36e91519b4d0b8de6629e70e15

Scream And Fly
09-30-2005, 10:01 PM
Well, if you want to go the high-dollar route, the professional way to do it is with an onboard camera system. These can usually be rented - the photos below are from an article we did back in 2001 on mounting onboard cameras to a boat. That system costs a lot of money, however, so I don't think it's within the scope of what this thread is about. The equipment being used is courtesy of Onboard Cameras (http://www.onboardcamera.com/home.htm).

Rail Mount (Skater). Does not require holes to be drilled.
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/3939/camera47kz.jpg

Suction mount (Talon). Does not require holes to be drilled.
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/9609/camera31cl.jpg

Remote camera mounted on dash (Talon).
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/9899/camera19nk.jpg

Self contained recording system. It's remotely triggered and completely water and shock proof.
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/5078/camera20cn.jpg

inspectorlance
10-02-2005, 02:06 PM
So is a hand held video camera out of the question ? Greg thanks for the high tech Hollywood boat conversion info, but its a bit much for the average boater, like you mentioned. Any recomendations on handheld systems for the average joe ? what features are we looking for in a over the counter video camera ? I will be buying a new video camera in the near future. The remote mic is a great idea.

Thanks
Lance Smith

Scream And Fly
10-02-2005, 02:12 PM
Lance, first you need to determine what your price range is.

Generall, shoot Mini-DV - do not consider Hi-8, Digital-8, or those videocams that write directly to DVD.

My choice for a consumer videocam is the Canon Optura series. They have the best image quality for a single-CCD videocam (as well as RGB filters - a good thing), and optical image stabilization, which is better than digital image stabilization. Next up from that are pro-level Mini-DV cams like the GL2 and XL2.

Greg

triple dude
10-02-2005, 07:06 PM
I took Greg's advise back in May when shopping for a camera and bought the Canon mini DV. very pleased. The picture is worlds apart from my old Sony 8MM. I don't know when they stopped giving remote controls but it would be nice. Especially when playing back the tape on TV.

at100plus
10-02-2005, 08:32 PM
All the videos I've posted are with a Canon Optura 20 as per Greg's advice. I love mine.

STV_Keith
10-02-2005, 09:57 PM
If you look at the options I posted, they are just remote mounted camera lenses designed to interface with your LANC equipped Mini DV camcorder. That will be the cheapest route if you already have the camcorder.

hsbob
10-21-2005, 03:20 PM
you'd do you self better if you buy a camera where you can adjust the shutter speed. like still pictures the faster the shutter speed the clearer the moving picture.


another source of bad vedio is the interlaced pictures on most vedio cameras. they take the odd line and then take the even lines shortly there after. get a vedio camera that uses progressive scan. there it takes all the linses at the same time. that why scream and fly in part recommended the Canon Optura.