DIY on board camera

[Richard]

I’m interested in rigging up an on-board camera for my car (SLK). Has anyone here done this on a road car?

My thoughts are that it would be easiest to mount the camera on the dashboard behind the windscreen and there are suction pads for sale that could do that job. However, I’d really like to mount it further forwards and lower down to get a better sense of speed. (like the French film “rendezvous” ). It should be easy to probably strap it to the radiator grille.

I’m thinking of putting the camera in a plastic box with a Perspex window. That would need something to regularly clean the window of dirt. Perhaps a rotating disc with a wet sponge/rubber wiper? I’d have it continuously very slowly turning, powered by a small electric motor (avoids control electronics). Water could be supplied by diverting the headlamp washers (manually fired by the driver), or a continuous drip feed from a bladder (I have one of those in my greenhouse!).

Vibration would be a big issue. I was recently given a “Flip” solid state camera so don’t need to worry about movement causing problems with a disc system. I wonder how much vibration would spoil the image? A firm fixing would stop the camera wobbling, but would there still be vibrations after that?

I’d also need to run a microphone line to the exhaust to get a decent sound. I think the flip is mono, otherwise I’d run a left channel to the exhaust, and a right channel to the engine bay.

Any thoughts/ suggestions /tips are most welcome!

[Giblet]

You could also go check your local 'spy store' they have all kinds of multi camera systems for low and high def if you want to spend a little bit.

Instead of a spinning disc, a simple motor with a spindle containing plastic film, cellulose style, could easily operate like a scroll unrolling from one side and rolling on the other. This sort of little motor can be salvaged from printers for nothing.

Another way to do it would be to simply put a small piece of tempered glass in front of the lens, and apply Rain-X or some other similar rain sheeting product, so any water or oil should immediately move out of the way from the wind. Dry dirt shouldn't stick at all.

[Scuderia_Russ]

Have a search on Google for Dog Cam. We used one of their units on our F3 and sports cars. Just uses a 12v feed, you can keep the control box and memory card in the cab in the dry and the camera itself (roughly half a cuban cigar size) can be fed out under the bonnet and poke out of the grill as long as the cable avoids anything hot of course.
The lens isn't huge so you needn't worry about it getting dirty. Even if it does it shouldn't affect the picture.
Trust me they are worth investigating.

[Scania]

it is very popular in HK

around $2-400 HKD
1 HKD = 7.8 USD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFOXm4D-FAU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kAr6atDe_s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMy7DGa9 ... re=related

[Hangaku]

Have a search on Google for Dog Cam. We used one of their units on our F3 and sports cars. Just uses a 12v feed, you can keep the control box and memory card in the cab in the dry and the camera itself (roughly half a cuban cigar size) can be fed out under the bonnet and poke out of the grill as long as the cable avoids anything hot of course.
The lens isn't huge so you needn't worry about it getting dirty. Even if it does it shouldn't affect the picture.
Trust me they are worth investigating.

Indeed - I have a dogcam sport rig for my MX5, and it works very well.

See one of my videos here:

http://www.vimeo.com/6003371

[sticky667]

check out the VHoldR http://www.vholdr.com/

[Ray]

GoPro makes some awesome cameras but they don't have a line in for the mic. The HD cameras take great video in 720p and 1080p. Here's a vid of a friend of mine on his bike.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8rZ_FhIvaE[/youtube]

Link to the US site. Sure you could find a reseller near you.
http://www.goprocamera.com/index.php?ar ... oductid=30

Previews of what the videos look like. Great quality.
http://www.goprocamera.com/hdheropreview/