Fitting a camera to a rib.

benc · 13 February 2006, 00:48

Right,

Firstly, sorry if this has already been posted, I couldn't find anything when doing a search.

I'd like to fit a waterproof camera to my aframe, and then have someway to record from it...

Currently, im trying to work our whether to get something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SC-812-Wireles...QQcmdZViewItem

and then some form of 12v video recorder (preferably solid state)....

Or weather to get a mini dv camera, and "waterproof" it in someway...

I have been talking to a couple of people about it... and as of yet... not thought of a suitable solution

Any suggestions would be greatly received

The idea is to be able to video log the journey without having to worry about a digital camera in a waterproof housing thats bolted to the aframe breaking off someway....

Thanks in advance.

Ben

laser · 13 February 2006, 12:00

there was a video posted by a user on here a couple of weeks ago, that had taken a video, which had been mounted on their a frame. I cant remeber who posted it now.

John Kennett · 13 February 2006, 19:51

Ben, I suspect that the quality would be dismal with that sort of camera.

Have a chat with Madmat or Jonny Fuller as they have had some good results playing with boatmounted cameras and various recorders.

John

ADS · 13 February 2006, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Ben, I suspect that the quality would be dismal with that sort of camera.

Have a chat with Madmat or Jonny Fuller as they have had some good results playing with boatmounted cameras and various recorders.

John

The resulting footage has been a real hit on the American market

Richard B · 14 February 2006, 00:34

Alex Brown recently fitted his video camera to the A-frame - look here: http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....787#post132787

I'm not convinced that it's the best place for a camera, or that fitting it and attemptong to damp the vibration is worth the effort. I've found that keeping things a simple as possible works well. All of my video is done hand-held, and most of Jonny's is as well I believe - just some of his clips looking astern through the cockpit are from the dashboard mounted camera.

Worth talking to Jonny about the gear as he's very knowledgeable, but beware that some of the kit he uses has been acquired thorugh the trade and would normally cost an arm and a leg.

If you start looking at consumer DV cameras be careful of anything that's not tried and tested. DVD camcorders are disasterous in my experience, and a work colleague has had a very poor experience with a hard disk camcorder. Mini DV tape takes a lot of beating.

Alex Brown · 14 February 2006, 08:08

Fitting the cam to the a-frame the other weekend was really just a test, which seemed to work pretty well. In my case, the reason for the vibrations was the fact that the camera was being held in place by a plastic bracket, which raised the cam around 15cm above the a-frame itself. Holding the camera onto the a-frame directly would have solved this issue, but would have been impractical at speed.

For the past 3 years, I've taken videos by manually holding the cam - it's been ok, but isn't very easy when you're driving too - a case of point and hope for the best kind of thing. I've had a good few occasions now where an a-frame mounted cam would have been excellent.... we came back from Skomer last year through some significant swell, which was taller than the aerials on the back of the boat. Unfortunately, I was too busy trying to keep the boat surfing, and the other two guys were holding onto their diving kit which meant none of us could get any footage.

Anyhow, another mate who cycles a fair bit uses one of these -
http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/cameras....20Cameras%20BW

It outputs composite video to a Sony DV camcorder which then records both the video and the audio for him. Since it's so small, I'd probably mount it on the next highest object on the frame - the radar reflector which doesn't bounce around too much. Obviously it's trial and error, but the output can be pretty good

Depending on the cost of my engine service this month, I will be seriously looking at getting this kit once the visa card has emptied a bit

-Alex

swginn · 14 February 2006, 15:50

We simply strap an old video camera straight to the A-frame, with a thick piece of neoprene in between to damp out the vibrations. Quality is actually very good. Fair enough the cam has no water protection, but it rarely gets too wet where it is, but thats probably more to do with the boat. We originally only put it there for a laugh, as it gets no use anyway and it didn't bother us if we lost it. Still holding up strong though.

Remote control makes it very handy too. Will try and dig out some of the footage from last year and stick it up.

Picture below, you can just about make out the Fastnet Lighthouse in the background!!

Jenk'o · 15 February 2006, 17:51

Been thinking of fitting a camera myself. Not sure what to use, seen this on Ebay. What do you think?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

woot · 15 February 2006, 22:22

Alex mentioned a mate who uses camera's to record his biking antics. By a strange coincidence I was sent a link today of some footage of the mountain bike trail that I utilised to break my collarbone in four places in November. If you follow the guys links backward he describes his set up and he uses the people that Alex linked. The camera is helmet mounted so must get a good shaking about and as you can see from the footage the camera seems to do a reasonable job. Here is the link where two video's can be accessed

http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/afan_adv...e_shuttle.html

Andy_Rs600 · 15 February 2006, 22:42

Here: http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/e...deo/index.html

you will find a variety of felxible, and relativly cheap housings for video cameras, made for swimming/snorkeling, but they might help.

I'd never thought of this but i might have to get something set up on our club boat now.

Cookee · 15 February 2006, 23:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenk'o

Been thinking of fitting a camera myself. Not sure what to use, seen this on Ebay. What do you think?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Ordered one - also arrived today is something else we'll try - a solid state recorder and a bullet camera - our race boat doesn't get on with hard drive recorders, a regular rib might?

When we've tested it I'll publish the results!

bogib · 16 February 2006, 00:04

I am looking into fitting my boat with US police vehicle recording camera system (up to 3 cameras) and voice recording too will also be connected to Globastar satellite phone to send the images out to our HQ.

Intend to put on board RIB soon for testing which are capable of doing speed of more than 50 knoths.

Bogi

benc · 16 February 2006, 00:05

oooo pplease do cookie, would be really interested to know what kit you're going to give a bashing

mark-f · 16 February 2006, 10:09

I fitted the following camera to the a frame of my rib last year, i simply connect this to a camcorder in a watertight bag in the console to record from it, or route it to the e80 if i want to use it as a verry expensive rear view mirror :-)

results are quite good, not too much shake.

http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/colour_sony_ir.htm

Mark

Jon Brooks · 16 February 2006, 13:18

I was with the MOD recently.
They had some recording kit being used on a couple of PWC's.
The cam was helmet mounted and it pointed where the rider looked.
This was fed to a solid state recorder.

The pics from it were cracking.

They had their own cam mounted on a Gecko.
I know Gecko do their own cam helmet now.
Not seen how good it is to date.

With the cam fixed to the rib the shots can be limited.
By having on a helmet IMHO its more flexible.

Regards

DM · 16 February 2006, 14:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

The cam was helmet mounted and it pointed where the rider looked.

We trialled the use of helmet or shoulder mounted cams when dealing with entrapment jobs. Images and sound were transmitted to the trauma centre so the surgeons could give advice on treatment.

Great bits of kit but you've got to be really careful about where and when it's switched on.

All the nurses in North Staffs trauma centre know how big my dong is.

DM

Alan · 16 February 2006, 14:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmanning

We trialled the use of helmet or shoulder mounted cams when dealing with entrapment jobs. Images and sound were transmitted to the trauma centre so the surgeons could give advice on treatment.

Great bits of kit but you've got to be really careful about where and when it's switched on.

All the nurses in North Staffs trauma centre know how big my dong is.

DM

I'll get this in before anyone else does.....

Were you unbalanced by the huge zoom lens needed?

Jon Brooks · 16 February 2006, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

I'll get this in before anyone else does.....

Were you unbalanced by the huge zoom lens needed?

No a Macro lens can be very compact these days!!

Regards

boatster_sr4 · 16 February 2006, 17:50

You can purchase a really solid ball and socket type mounting system for your digital camcorders too. I believe the product is called RAM mounts. Very solid and not very pricey.

floater · 28 February 2006, 22:38

Hi

I work in the cctv industry for a supplier and one of the products we sell is a single and 4 channel ruggerdised dvr on a anti vibration tray, it also logs gps data using an epos system, i have used in the unit in my 4x4 (got cracking pictures of my mates pet rabbit squashed on the side of the road) an hope to try in the rib this year as for cameras only go for ccd with auto iris and if possible antivibration and stabilty and in a stainless or nylar housing

hope this helps

if you need further info contact me

Andy