1 (edited by MurileeMartin 2009-08-18 12:39 AM)

Topic: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

So I had the idea of getting a low-budget digital camera with a timelapse feature and mounting it on the rear bumper of a Lemons car, in order to get some low-angle on-track images. Courtesy of eBay, I found a late-90s-vintage Kodak DCS-290 camera for 20 bucks, and (19 seconds later) had this high-quality 2x4-based bracket. The Mustard Yellow Volvo guys were kind enough to let me attach this thing to their car, in addition to the grille-mounted video camera I had up front. No, the zipties aren't holding the bracket in place; they're just backup for the bolts through the bumper.

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2009/08/BumperCam02-800px.jpg

Every minute, the camera would snap a photo. I got some pretty nice shots (I'll put a bunch of them up on Jalopnik next weekend).

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2009/08/BumperCam01-800px.jpg

Unfortunately, the Volvo got bumped a few hours into Saturday and the camera broke off the bracket (apparently, tripod mounts aren't made to withstand impacts from car bumpers). At the time, I assumed that the camera then got run over 5,000 times over the course of the next 6 hours, but later that night we took the safety truck out to the area where the camera got knocked off... and Judge Jonny found it in the dirt beyond the Bus Stop! The camera was banged up, but the memory card was good. I'll be rigging up a more advanced version for future races, so feel free to volunteer the services of your car as a camera vehicle!

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2009/08/BumperCam03-800px.jpg

How about the pure evil of The Faustest E30?

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2009/08/BumperCam04-800px.jpg

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

The Colt E Carpocalypse Edition volunteers it's remaining sheet metal and bumpers for camera use at CMP next month!

Mike
Lab Rats Motorsports
1988 Mitsubishi/Dodge/Fiat Colt Carpocalypse Edition

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

As always, the MR2's of the TARP program are at your service at the upcoming Nelson Ledges and Houston races.

Pat Mulry, TARP Racing #67

Mandatory disclaimer: all opinions expressed are mine alone & not those of 24HOL, its mgmt, sponsors, etc.

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

The photos that thing took are pretty sweet.  Good job sir!

Aaron

1999 Astro (Green the Daily Driver) - 2WD, 4.3L, 3.23, 200k+ miles, FE2 steering
1997 Astro (Grumpy the $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 330k+ miles on the orig eng and trans, $30 eBay fuel pump

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

Too bad that sucker wasn't mounted to the front.  You could have gotten some sweet flipping action from that Acura team.  That would be a Lemons version of Monterey Historics Ferrari crash.

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

MurileeMartin wrote:

I'll be rigging up a more advanced version for future races, so feel free to volunteer the services of your car as a camera vehicle!

Murilee we'll offer up our car at the upcoming CMP event.  Stop by and see us in the garage 1,2,3 section and we'll rig something up.

Captain
Team Super Westerfield Bros.
'93 Acura Integra - No VTEC Yo!

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

I'd volunteer our car and do..but mounting to rust is....well....risky

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

Feel free to stop over at the Schumacher Taxi Service pits (we should be next to TARP at Nelson Ledges) and mount the camera whereever and on whatever car you want.

--Rob Leone Schumacher Taxi Service
We won the IOE at Southern Discomfort.
We got screwed at The Real Hoopties of New Jersey  and we took cars down with us.
We got the curse at Capitol Offense but they wouldn't let us destroy the car.

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

I'd also like volunteers for the grille-mounted video cam at CMP. All I need is a source of 12V power somewhere in the dash region, a grommeted 1/2" hole in the firewall (for the camera cables, which have two RCA connectors that must pass through), and a flat metal surface about 1.5" across somewhere in the front of the car, for screwing/bolting the camera mount.

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

Cool idea.  If you post up more info on the setup, I'd like to make one permant for our car and I'll give you the pics. 

-Scott

Scott Barton

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

We're in for the dash cam.

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

The still camera might not happen at CMP (depends on whether I can get another DCS-290 in time for the race), but I'll definitely bring the Grille Cam.

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

MurileeMartin wrote:

The still camera might not happen at CMP (depends on whether I can get another DCS-290 in time for the race), but I'll definitely bring the Grille Cam.

Never fear, we thought it was such a good idea, we are seeing if we have a camera that can do the same thing smile

Fall South 09- 23rd place
Southern Discomfort '10 Magnum PU- 5th place
Spring South '10- 1st...... LOSER!

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

ecugrad wrote:
MurileeMartin wrote:

The still camera might not happen at CMP (depends on whether I can get another DCS-290 in time for the race), but I'll definitely bring the Grille Cam.

Never fear, we thought it was such a good idea, we are seeing if we have a camera that can do the same thing smile

The timelapse feature isn't very common on cameras you can get for cheap... and a cheap camera is best for mounting in the crash-prone locations that get you the best low-vantage-point shots. Of course, if you can find a camera with a remote shutter option, you can easily rig up your own timer device for it.

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

If the 'Track Geeks' will be back at CMP everyone should send them some of their video footage and let them compile it.  Those guys know their stuff.

Captain
Team Super Westerfield Bros.
'93 Acura Integra - No VTEC Yo!

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

MurileeMartin wrote:

So I had the idea of getting a low-budget digital camera with a timelapse feature and mounting it on the rear bumper of a Lemons car, in order to get some low-angle on-track images. Courtesy of eBay, I found a late-90s-vintage Kodak DCS-290 camera for 20 bucks

if that kodak takes a crap you can do the same thing with a powershot thanks to firmware hackers. there are scripts that can take a photo every so often. [user definable]

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/UBASIC/Scrip … hotography
http://www.photoethnography.com/blog/ar … -phot.html

and digic II and III are getting pritty cheap on ebay as well

arse-sweat-apalosa thunderhill 2011 : team killer zomBee!

17 (edited by CaptainRat 2009-08-19 04:27 AM)

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

MurileeMartin wrote:

I'd also like volunteers for the grille-mounted video cam at CMP. All I need is a source of 12V power somewhere in the dash region, a grommeted 1/2" hole in the firewall (for the camera cables, which have two RCA connectors that must pass through), and a flat metal surface about 1.5" across somewhere in the front of the car, for screwing/bolting the camera mount.

"Volunteering"

I'm trying to mount a camera behind the right front tire for CMP.  Looking for that "A-Team" chase scene look.  If that won't work my backup plan is to mount it under the front bumper.

We've got plenty of solid mounting locations for your equipment as well as our battery in the rear of the car/12V relay in the dash, so power hookups would be quick and easy.  We'll add another grommetted hole in the firewall just in case.

Mike
Lab Rats Motorsports
1988 Mitsubishi/Dodge/Fiat Colt Carpocalypse Edition

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

CaptainRat wrote:

I'm trying to mount a camera behind the right front tire for CMP.  Looking for that "A-Team" chase scene look.  If that won't work my backup plan is to mount it under the front bumper.

I talked the Cajun Jihadis into putting my camera in that very location at Lemons New Orleans, and it worked pretty well.

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

I see you have some one already interested. But as a back up,  we have a safe spot in the front headlight area on our car at CMP.  We pulled out the hearlight assembly completely so there is a shelf area in the front of the car.

Eurotrash  BMW.

EuroTrash E30 - Lemons South 08 (cooling probs) 24th /CMP  Spring 09 (fuel tank damage) one day on track 69th /Lemons South 09 (Hit by an Escort) 27th
MSR Tx, 10 2oth, no issues other than rain. /CHump Homestead Miami 10- 2nd place.

20 (edited by MagnumPI 2009-08-19 12:12 PM)

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

If you are looking for somewhere to mount your camera at Nelson Ledges, you are welcome to place it on our our car smile

Team Magnum PI ness  #357  -

106th place at Nelson Ledges - The Lamest Days
-oil pressure failure leading to engine failure

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

Yep, we are going to be there. With a few new cameras we can mount ON the cars. smile

Check these out (test video I shot looks good) - http://www.vholdr.com/contourhd/helmetcam

I have the suction cup mounts and they are extremely strong.

We will be looking for spare hands to help run the track side camera and wireless mic around the penalty box.

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

TrackGeeks wrote:

Yep, we are going to be there. With a few new cameras we can mount ON the cars. smile

Check these out (test video I shot looks good) - http://www.vholdr.com/contourhd/helmetcam

I have the suction cup mounts and they are extremely strong.

We will be looking for spare hands to help run the track side camera and wireless mic around the penalty box.

Hey TrackGeeks, you are the reason I got into this mess.  Your spring CMP online coverage was fantastic.  I knew about Lemons, but due to your coverage, I knew I had to be a part of the craziness myself.  Thanks... I think.

I would volunteer to be a camera car for you, but we be running  two camera setup on our own.  Hopefully we stay running and get some good footage.

Anybody tried night videos yet?  Our plan is to record as much of the Lamest Day as possible, but we've never tried the camera at night.

BRE Datsun (Broke Racing Effluence) formerly Dawn of the Zed Racing
'74 260Z
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/editpicture.php … 2559430584

23 (edited by Tajracing45 2009-08-19 01:12 PM)

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

TrackGeeks....TAJ Racing would love to volunteer space on our car or helmets for you in exchange for a "get out of the penalty box free" card or two.  C'mon, I know you can do it.  smile

We are the people your parents warned you about.

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

I don't think I would have any pull with the judges. At best they tolerate us. wink

I should still be apologizing for cutting Murilee's internet off during the spring CMP event.

Re: Cheapo bumper-mounted timelapse still camera works well

MurileeMartin wrote:
ecugrad wrote:
MurileeMartin wrote:

The still camera might not happen at CMP (depends on whether I can get another DCS-290 in time for the race), but I'll definitely bring the Grille Cam.

Never fear, we thought it was such a good idea, we are seeing if we have a camera that can do the same thing smile

The timelapse feature isn't very common on cameras you can get for cheap... and a cheap camera is best for mounting in the crash-prone locations that get you the best low-vantage-point shots. Of course, if you can find a camera with a remote shutter option, you can easily rig up your own timer device for it.

Crap, I just checked out my personal camera and it does have a crude time lapse option but you have to keep the shutter button depressed sad

Bummer

Fall South 09- 23rd place
Southern Discomfort '10 Magnum PU- 5th place
Spring South '10- 1st...... LOSER!