Hey all,

I was kind of curious what everyone's take on this is. As far as camera angles go in auto-x there are defiantly some better angles for 'reviewing and learning' after the fact, and there are some angles that are more for the artistic side of things. What is everyone's take on the best angles for learning from your videos and the best angles to use to show people what autocross is all about?

I've set up and tried a wide angle lens mounted on the following:

1. front windsheild - that seemed pretty good for giving a general
2. rear windsheild - seemed fairly pointless to me
3. front door - neat view of the tire/suspension work but not so informative I think
4. bumper - very fun view
5. above front windshield - so far seems to be the best position i've tried for learning from my mistakes

Other views that others have mentioned

1. rear side pointing towards front to view tires - should be good at showing how close you are getting to cones.
2. rear facing inside car - neat view but I don't think so informative
3. Helmet - neat view, could be useful as it shows where you were actually looking

Any other ideas/comments guys?

 

I put it on the outside of the car on the B-pillar. Gives a "near" driver's perspective, while also showing one tire and your hands working the wheel.

 

I liked this view a lot but it apparently only works for me. My codrivers were not fans. Plus I got tired of replacing lens covers (you can see the right side one is already cracked after it's second lap on the car).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcgFg...2&feature=plcp

The roof center mount seems to be the most popular.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYuiA...1&feature=plcp

 

I have a few different ways for my Go-Pro.

Using the sunroof:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qVnz...ecApcTOYslWY7K

 

Hah I love the top one that pretty much rocks. I can see how lens covers would need to be bought in bulk though.

Any recommended mount for the roof mount? I had a not so plesant experience where my suction cup mount fell off with my old cheapie camera (vado, kind of like a flip so it wasn't really areo dynamic). Camera was ok but it got me a little concerned. Don't want it to happen now with my drift hd or my contour cam.

That sunroof one is pretty neat too

 

Here are a few positions I like to use. Helmet cam is probably my favorite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujp7T...23AUAAAAAAABAA

 

Ive used a great amount of locations for different shots. Helmet, Front Bumper, Hood, Fender, Spoiler. Take a look through my videos and see what you like.

Helmet Cam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzwOPaApJAg


Multiple Angles Same Race:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dXzICMMm-s


Front Bumper by the Mitsubishi Emblem above Intercooler: (same race)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vieTw_vDwSQ


Top of windshield above driver:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M56aDz3SE4U


Multiple Angles, In car and some others:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBO9GBqPc14

 

yeah, right behind the driver's head, so you can see the wheel/gauges. maybe not as wide of an angle as this one above, so you can see further out ahead of the car.

imho, this particular vantage point allows you to "see" slip angle better than some of the other options... plus the benefit of seeing what the driver is doing... my two cents

a friend's harness-bar mount, not wide-angle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9e8Pp4bUa4&t=9m47s

 

^ This is my favorite. You can usually mount the camera high enough on the window to get a good look at the course, and you can see your hands, and how close the left side of the car is to the cones. I haven't found an in-car angle I like for that yet, and if you put it on the roof you get a good view of the course but no view of your inputs.

Probably the best setup is picture in picture though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SO__...4&feature=plcp

I need to figure out a better way to mount the main camera though so it stops doing the wavy thing.

 

Thanks for a lot of great input all. This is giving me a lot to think about.

One question Butt Dyno, all of that info is from a MaxQdata? Is that from one of their systems or one of the DIY setups? I've been looking at getting a similar setup working but I have not settled on anything yet.

 

Looks like a maxQ. I think a chase cam Diva system with the built in data is a better alternative.

 

Yep, it's a MaxQ Veqtr dealie. I've had it since early 09. Given that there seems to be widespread concern about getting in touch with MaxQ and how in-business they are (http://www.maxqdata.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=844) I would probably try to find something else. But I'm going to use it for as long as it works. The video is pretty uninspiring (which is okay, I have a GoPro for that) but the datalogging part still works really well for quick between-run stuff.

 

http://youtu.be/-SLKdcROSUE

 

Have been using a gopro camera for several year now using the suction cup mount. The best position I have found is on the drivers side right behind the drivers window. You can see the course and also see your hands on the steering wheel, shifting and were you are looking during runs. This allows you to see the course, your hands and what you are looking at all at the same time. Any other position does not allow any real level of feedback.

 

I agree with this. I have used this camera angle a lot so I can get others to watch what I'm doing and give advice on bad driving habits.