Regularly $695, for
ORC readers,
$495,
FREE
Shipping now thru May 15th.
Mention ORC
when ordering to receive your promo price
Click Hereto see Rick Sieman's article on using the the
Action Sports Cam as a "helmet-cam" at the Adelanto Grand
Prix.Click Here to see the Photo Gallery
covering this product.
Video Clips
You will need the latest Windows
Media Player. Note that the computer video and audio tracks are
compressed
and are much lower in quality than the actual video as viewed from
tape.
Click Here for a compressed, 90 second
video The screen format is 320x240 at
30 frames per second. This is a 12.8 Megabytes in
size.Click Here for a highly compressed, 90
second video The screen format is 320x240 at
30 frames per second. This is a 3.8 Megabytes in
size.
Finding the right "in car" camera solutions was a
real headache before Rick dropped the Action Sports Cam on my desk.
He had just recorded his race at the Adelanto Grand Prix with the
unit and couldn't say enough good things about the simplicity and
quality of the product.The initial setup
included a tiny, lightweight camera, a small interface box and a
battery pack. It works with any camcorder or mini-deck that has an
"Analog Input" in the "VCR Mode". You'll find this feature on just
about any camcorder priced above $400.
The kit comes complete in a
nice, hard shell case.
I have worked with a few in-car solutions in the
past as a co-driver in SCORE and Best In The Desert Races. Every
setup, I have seen so far has a few, huge drawbacks.
There is no way to start and stop the camera
during a long race without removing it from its protective case.
Consider that most desert races are longer than the average tape
time of the preferred, digital camcorders.
There always seems to be a limit in wire
distance between the camera and the camcorder.
The cameras are bulky and tend to vibrate and
shake loose when the going gets rough.
The Action Sports Cam folks have solved problem
#1 with a super compact and simple remote device that will start
and stop the camera at anytime. This device is connected via the
LANC port and is an option to the main kit at $99.95, With this
feature, I can start and stop the camera to capture only the most
exciting parts of a race all on a single tape. In the past, we had
to change tapes every 60 minutes, generally a pit stop. We often
skipped doing this because we were in the heat of battle and the
tape change was always cumbersome at best. The remote even has a
bright LED to tell me when the camera is recording or in standby.
Know, I always know when the unit is recording.
I placed my camcorder and the interface box
and battery in a bag fastened just in front of the left-side, rear
seat in the prerunner. The LANC Remote is in easy reach of the
passenger.
Problem #2 is no longer an issue. The Action
Sports Cam uses standard, "RJ-11" phone wire between the camera and
the Interface box. A quick trip to the nearest Radios Shack store
will supply you with various lengths and couplers. A test with a 25
foot extension worked perfectly. We will use this feature to shoot
video footage, much closer to the action while we and our expensive
camcorder remain out of harms way, 25 feet back. Make sure you get
the "straight through" and not the "rolled" cable.Problem #3 is non-existent with the Action Sports
Cam. The camera is tiny and super light. Rick wore the cam on the
visor of his helmet and never knew it was there. The case is
weatherproof and has an internal microphone. Tech Notes:
If you don't have a MINI-DV Camcorder, get
one! The MINI-DV format blows everything else away in picture
quality and in image stability while recording in a moving vehicle.
The format is widely adopted by makers of editing software and you
can even make simple, edited videos with the software that comes
with Apple MAC, OS8 and 9 and Windows XP operating systems that can
then be copied to DVD, Video CD or shared on the
Internet.
Always, do your best to keep dust away and
out of your camera. I tape-off as many of the external opening on
the camera as possible then I put the entire unit in a loosely
sealed plastic bag. With Action Sports Cam's LANC, remote, I won't
have to take the cam out of the bag until after the
race.
The camcorder is Taped and Bagged to protect
against dust.
The LANC standard is supported by all of Sony
and some Canon, Mini-DV camcorders. Make sure you have this feature
before you order the LANC remote option or, make sure that any
camera you are considering for purchase has this
functionality.
The wired remote, requires "LANC"
compatibility on the camcorder.
The internal microphone is sensitive to wind
noise. The hot ticket is to simply tape over the tiny, pin-hole
opening with electrical tape. The audio will be fine. The interface
box allows for the use of any microphone or even a feed from the
Intercom in your race or play vehicle.
What's Next?The
techies at Action Sports Cam tell me that they have a "multi-cam"
setup on the bench right now. This product includes 2 or more
cameras and a lightweight switch box. The same, simple to use and
adapt features of the original setup extend to this new product.
With 3 cams on the race car, we can set one up to look forward, one
to look at the driver and co-driver and the third to look
backwards. Our goal is to have this in Trophy Truck #7 at this
years, Baja 500.WHERE TO GET
IT
Action Sports Cams
3362 Ruth Elaine Drive
Dept. IM
Rossmoor, CA
90720Website: www.actionsportscams.comCost: $695 (does not include camcorder)
The LANC Remote is a $99.95 option.
Shipping: UPS Ground - FREE
RUSH 3-day shipping: - $20
Special orders: contact us (562) 493-6439
Accepts all major credit cards
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