unusual setup- protecting camera at over 100mph at DVinfo.net

Joa Harrison · January 31st, 2006, 12:28 PM

I want to mount my 100A inside a plexiglass box arrangement for shooting out a moving vehicle in dirty and/or wet conditions. Not crazy wet, just light spray and some dirt.

My biggest concern is getting a decent front lens/cover that protects the camera. Can I just use plexiglass or lexan or will this degrade the image quality terribly? Should I go with glass?

Also, I’m concerned about lens flare, not from the camera but from the front lens (on the box). Has anyone had experience with this and how did you deal with it? I’m sort of reluctant to make a shade since the vehicle will be traveling very fast (often over 100mph) and I want to keep the drag down and also don’t want to “funnel” stuff inside the shade.

Would I be better going with some sort of domed front lens? Is this needed?

I also really can’t just use a “bag” that they sell to keep rain off the camera since the camera is going to be mounted on shock cords in the box. Though maybe I could figure out a way to seal the shock cords or something (if they have to come through the bag), I’m open to suggestions.

Has anyone done something similar to this?

Thanks.

Joa

Peter Jefferson · January 31st, 2006, 05:25 PM

i wouldnt use a DVX for this... go grab a cheap arsed GS400, overcrank the sharpness and shoot in frame mode... or if progressive/frame isnt an issue, at least youll have a native 16:9 camera...
grab a UV filter and NEVER use glass for protection.... use plastic.. far more robust and wont shatter..

as for shock.. Rubber.. rubber hoses and a good mount.. be aware thought that even with this the rocking of teh unit as it travels may be nausiating..

to be honest with you, i think you shoud invest in a pen camera or one of those remote spycams or helmet cams... tiny, small and can be mounted anywhere.. theyre cheap and if they get damaged, u can easily replace it..

Christian Magnussen · January 31st, 2006, 07:25 PM

Tight budget? As Peter suggested:
Grab a smaller dv camera that is less expensive than the dvx. Regardless of how you try to protect the camera there is always the possibilty that everything can go wrong....dvx isn't cheap. Unless you have a big budget and go get something boombproof manufactured.

Or, get one of those small bulletcams. I use viosport Adventurecam 2(will order the new adv.cam3 which gives you a better picture) for action shots for the freeride(ski/cycle) videos I edit combined with a cheap sony cam as a recording device. Not even close to the image quality that i get from my dvc30, but having destroyed one dv camera and the bullet lens last summer i can't find any better result/$$$ soluotion.

Joa Harrison · February 1st, 2006, 07:24 AM

Well it really isn't as crazy as it sounds so I'm pretty sure the camera will be alright but i'm just wanting to keep bugs, dust, mist, etc off of things. If the camera gets destroyed then we've got other bigger problems :)

Like I said, I'm most worried about the front lens (plastic or whatever). I don't want to get weird reflections and sunbursts, etc off of it.

Joa

January 31st, 2006, 12:28 PM	#1
Joa Harrison Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 31	unusual setup- protecting camera at over 100mph I want to mount my 100A inside a plexiglass box arrangement for shooting out a moving vehicle in dirty and/or wet conditions. Not crazy wet, just light spray and some dirt. My biggest concern is getting a decent front lens/cover that protects the camera. Can I just use plexiglass or lexan or will this degrade the image quality terribly? Should I go with glass? Also, I’m concerned about lens flare, not from the camera but from the front lens (on the box). Has anyone had experience with this and how did you deal with it? I’m sort of reluctant to make a shade since the vehicle will be traveling very fast (often over 100mph) and I want to keep the drag down and also don’t want to “funnel” stuff inside the shade. Would I be better going with some sort of domed front lens? Is this needed? I also really can’t just use a “bag” that they sell to keep rain off the camera since the camera is going to be mounted on shock cords in the box. Though maybe I could figure out a way to seal the shock cords or something (if they have to come through the bag), I’m open to suggestions. Has anyone done something similar to this? Thanks. Joa

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January 31st, 2006, 05:25 PM	#2
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	i wouldnt use a DVX for this... go grab a cheap arsed GS400, overcrank the sharpness and shoot in frame mode... or if progressive/frame isnt an issue, at least youll have a native 16:9 camera... grab a UV filter and NEVER use glass for protection.... use plastic.. far more robust and wont shatter.. as for shock.. Rubber.. rubber hoses and a good mount.. be aware thought that even with this the rocking of teh unit as it travels may be nausiating.. to be honest with you, i think you shoud invest in a pen camera or one of those remote spycams or helmet cams... tiny, small and can be mounted anywhere.. theyre cheap and if they get damaged, u can easily replace it..

January 31st, 2006, 07:25 PM	#3
Christian Magnussen Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 191	Tight budget? As Peter suggested: Grab a smaller dv camera that is less expensive than the dvx. Regardless of how you try to protect the camera there is always the possibilty that everything can go wrong....dvx isn't cheap. Unless you have a big budget and go get something boombproof manufactured. Or, get one of those small bulletcams. I use viosport Adventurecam 2(will order the new adv.cam3 which gives you a better picture) for action shots for the freeride(ski/cycle) videos I edit combined with a cheap sony cam as a recording device. Not even close to the image quality that i get from my dvc30, but having destroyed one dv camera and the bullet lens last summer i can't find any better result/$$$ soluotion.

February 1st, 2006, 07:24 AM	#4
Joa Harrison Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 31	Well it really isn't as crazy as it sounds so I'm pretty sure the camera will be alright but i'm just wanting to keep bugs, dust, mist, etc off of things. If the camera gets destroyed then we've got other bigger problems :) Like I said, I'm most worried about the front lens (plastic or whatever). I don't want to get weird reflections and sunbursts, etc off of it. Joa