Dirk-Willem van Gulik wrote:
Tim Dobson wrote:
So basically I've just acquired a small waterproof HD video camera and
I'm looking for the best way to mount it onto my Laser EPS[1] sailing
dinghy.
It has a standard tripod mount so I was wondering about tying it on with
desk tripod near the mast foot or something but I wondered if anyone had
any prior experience or thoughts on how they'd do this.
There are a few issues with mounting cameras on boats.
1. Mounting the camera unit high up has it's difficulties
1. by adding weight to the top-hamper (camera, mount and
cabling) you decrease the stability of the boat
2. the fixing point can weaken the spar section
3. the higher up, the greater the arc of movement
2. If you're talking a dinghy, then you don't want the camera or
mount to impede your exit from the boat in event of a capsize
3. The dinghy will probably have class rules - by adapting it, you
may not be allowed to enter any events with it.
1. Contact the Principal Race Officer and the Scrutineer/Measurer
4. Make sure the camera is waterproof first.
5. HD video played an a large-ish screen is more immersive than SD on
a box in the corner - you may feel motion sickness
http://www.hqda.army.mil/ari/pdf/RR%201832.pdf
Best I've seen is the Horizon True system
http://www.youtube.com/v/s67s7ZHbsi0
http://www.horizontrue.com/sections/order.php but they're expensive for
non-broadcast purposes. A colleague has also experimented with OpenGL
motion-stabilising - perhaps an area for backstage to look at?
If you're really interested, there's an Olympics test event at Portland
in September called Sail for Gold
http://www.sailracer.co.uk/events/event-v2.asp?eventid=18401 where I'm
sure there'll be mounting systems in action.
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*Simon Thompson MEng MIET*
Research and Development Engineer
*BBC Research and Development*
<mailto:[email protected]>
