Improved video system

[blondie]

Some of you may recall the video system I installed a while ago:

http://www.quinndunki.com/lotus/video/

Some of you may also be aware of my constant battle with lighting problems, as you can see in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cn-Q...e=user&search=

The camera gets confused by the very high contrast between interior (very dark) and exterior (very bright). Sadly, it chooses to adjust to the interior lighting, which causes the exterior (the part you care most about seeing) to be overexposed into white hot oblivion.

I've tried a couple of different cameras from Chase Cam. I've also tried all sorts of filters- 5 levels of neutral density, two types of polarizing, and various combinations. All had little effect.

Following a tip from an S2000 friend, I finally found a solution! The answer was (sorry Randy) a different camera. I was directed to try this one:

http://www.eyespyvideo.com/color/wea...oof/cc-5hr.htm

It's slightly bigger than Randy's, but still fits Chase Cam mounts. The wiring is not as elegant as Randy's, but otherwise it appears similar. Check out the difference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaBecwlJ5eU

Here's a comparison of both cameras placed in the same location, under identical lighting conditions. The new camera is the second image:



Notice how this camera chooses to adjust for the view out the windshield, at the expense of darkening the interior. This gives me what I wanted- a clear view forward, while maintaining a view of the driver's actions. I'm still using a Chase Cam on the pedals. It does amazingly well with no light source at all under there.

The fellow who tipped me about this camera has some other good links in this article he wrote:

http://www.s2ki.com/Home/index.php?o...=212&Itemid=44

I want to stress that I've been happy with my Chase Cam equipment in general. It seems that in this one instance however, it wasn't the right tool for the job.

(PS. More video coming from this weekend at Big Willow, as soon as my poor little laptop finishes chewing through it all)

[Randy Chase]

We are coming out with some newer cameras, as we continue to improve our offerings. Our latest 520 line camera is now set for dealing with the dark interior car levels. And we will soon introduce a larger (more expensive too) camera/lens with automatic iris adjustment.

This is from our latest 520 line bullet camera. I think it works better than any other bullet camera on the market. This image is midday, full sunlight.