 capturing the motoring experience affordably! |
Hey MINI2 Privilege Member, Capture the Joy of Motoring and Share it with the world!
VacuCams™ are the easiest and most affordable way to record video while in your car. Simply mount the rubber suction mount to any flat metal or glass surface and screw on the camera. If you can change a light bulb, you CAN install a VacuCam™.
More details on membership benefits are coming. This is a preliminary page until then!
PREMISE: Mounting a video camera to your car isn't a new idea. In fact, there are many solutions already on the market for doing this. However unless your pockets are deep, putting a $1,000 miniDV camcorder outside the car to be exposed to wind and dust at high speeds may not be the smartest thing to do.
SOLUTION: The solution is to mount a very small, lightweight, and inexpensive color video camera that doesn't sacrifice picture quality, and connect that back to your video camcorder set to VCR mode. Then we utilize a mount that's got a working capacity of 90 pounds which is overkill for this purpose. But we like it that way, because that gives an extra margin of security all while your camcorder stays securely inside your vehicle!
My name is Richard Lin and I go by the nickname, OctaneGuy on the forums, and I've been involved in professional video for the past 18 years. I recently bought a new MINI Cooper, and I knew it would be the perfect vehicle for a car mount. Not only is it a joy to drive, but It has all the ideal characteristics such as flat body panels to an extremely rigid frame, so I set out to develop an inexpensive mount that would hold securely under all types of conditions, be simple to use, and most of all, be affordable enough for the average consumer to outfit his car with several cameras. Thus the VacuCam™ was born!
How good is the quality of the VacuCam™?
Take a look at these video clips. Due to bandwidth constraints, these highly compressed clips don't even begin to capture the gorgeous picture quality, but you'll get an idea. Focus on how steady the picture is, no vibrations or jittering!
As a driving enthusiast myself, I set out to fill a niche and that was to provide an affordable high quality solution for creating multicamera video. There are plenty of companies offering "bullet cameras" for several hundred dollars, but my goal was to offer an entire system that was easily expandable and cost significantly less than the competition. We would sacrifice a little picture quality to gain maximum flexibility at a signifcantly lower cost of entry, at an industry unheard of low price of only $99 for both a color video camera and custom car mount!
MINI2 Privilege Members get 5% off!
Only US$99 includes free shipping to anywhere in the USA!!
Look at what's included:
- 400 line color camera with mic
- Vehicle suction mount
- Mounting Hardware & 6' video/audio cable with gold connectors
- You supply the recorder or Camcorder. Most Sony camcorders require a special A/V cable and this is not included with our kit.
Or Increase your mounting flexibility and add a micro ball mount for just $20 more
The kits come in 2 levels, featuring anywhere from 1 to 3 cameras. The difference between the BASIC and DELUXE is primarily on ease of use and flexibility. They both have similar capabilities, but the BASIC's emphasis is on economy.
So if price is the absolute determining factor, choose the BASIC kit. You can always upgrade later.
If maximum flexibility and ease of use is important, choose the DELUXE kits.
1-Camera "Ready To Roll" Kit -US$165
(Or choose with Standard Mount)- US$145
2-Camera "Ready To Roll" Kit - US$259
3-Camera "Ready To Roll" Kit - US$369
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Need to add a camera on to an above kit? Our Deluxe kits can operate up to 4 cameras!
Or maybe you just want to try it out with one camera first, then upgrade later? This is for you!
1-Camera "R2R" Basic Kit std mount- $99
1-Camera "R2R" Basic Kit w/ball - $119
Having trouble viewing the videos? Look at these low res screen caps! |
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Our mount uses 90 pounds of force to stick to your vehicle. It's not magnetic, so it's perfect for cars that have fiberglass or plastic body panels. The suction mount is protected by rubber to provide a strong seal without the possibility of scratching your finish. It's been tested on the track at up to speeds of 115mph without any problems whatsoever.
YES/MAYBE: You will need to provide a device for recording. This could be a portable VCR, or a home VCR with an AC to DC converter, or by far, the best solution is a small camcorder. It doesn't need to be digital, though that will provide the best quality, especially if you plan to edit the footage. The camcorder must be able to record an external video signal. Look at the camcorder manual and see if it permits LINE IN recording. If so, you should see a Video-In port somewhere on the camera, possibly hidden underneath a door. On Sony camcorders, there is a small jack, that looks like a headphone jack labeled A/V. You can buy this cable at any local video or electronics store. It's also very desirable to have a camcorder with a flip out LCD screen. You might also want to purchase a remote REC/trigger switch.
The camcorder I use is a Sony 3CCD TRV-950 miniDV digital video camcorder. This is a wonderful consumer level camera that provides professional features. It sells for around US$1,400. A camera of this level isn't necessary for recording from the VacuCams™. In fact, one of it's greatest strengths, the fact it uses 3 CCD's isn't even utilized when shooting with the VacuCams™. Look for a camcorder that permits Video In. If you purchase a miniDV camcorder, look for the capability to convert analog to digital. Not all miniDV camcorders can record from an analog or external video source, but most over $500 will. Also look for a remote LANC port, so that you can attach an optional remote Start/Stop button.
When recording in VTR mode, you need to press 2 buttons to begin recording. Usually its a REC button and a nearby safety button. This is different from putting the camcorder in Camera mode, and just hitting the REC trigger. In VTR mode, the REC button is normally near the playback controls. It's dangerous and not recommended to attempt to control the Start/Stop of your camcorder while driving. That means a 60 miniDV tape will yield 60 minutes of driving time--including all stops and rest in between. You can significantly lengthen the recorded time by stopping the video at stop lights, or anytime that it's not desirable to be recording, but trying to do this manually is cumbersome. The solution is a Remote Start/Stop button that is normally connected via the LANC port on your camcorder. These cost about $65, and are well worth it.
NO: The mount is vacuum based. You simply open the clamp handles, press it firmly on the area you want to mount it too, then close the handles. Fasten the mounting bolt, and tighten the camera. The mount has a soft rubber base that won't damage your finish. Spray a little Meguiars Quik Detailer on the mount to provide additional suction. When removing, spray a little more on your finish and wipe with a Microfiber towel to clean the area. Because the mount is not magnetic, there is no fear of it moving around at speed, and scratching the finish. With a 90 pound rated capacity, it will fall off, before it moves.
VERY SIMPLE: If it takes longer than 1 minute to install each camera, you are being way too careful! Installation is as simple as locating a flat surface (metal, plastic, or glass), pressing the mount firmly, ensuring the handles are pointing up and down or perpendicular to the ground, then closing the handles together. Try wiggling the mount, and if done properly, it'll be firmly attached. It is recommended to apply some lubricant to increase the vacuum effect. Could be water, but better is a 90% water to 10% soap solution, or Meguiars Quik Detailer. Now just screw on the camera.
WE DON'T RECOMMEND IT: The VacuCams™ were designed to be easily installed and removed on a moments notice. While you could find a way to install them permanently, the rubber mounts and cabling were not designed this way.
What makes the VacuCam™ Different from your Competitors?
MANY REASONS : I put great emphasis on the usability aspect of the VacuCams™ while designing them. Top priorities were minimizing the amount of clutter and space needed to set up this system. The MINI is already tight on space, so coming up with suitable mounting places for the equipment was definitely a challenge. The video switcher is mounted with suction cups above the head unit, allowing fast and easy camera changes by either the driver or passenger. The camcorder can be held in the passengers lap, or placed in a camera bag. We are working on special mount that will place the video camera at dash level without requiring any permanent attachment points or drilling.
- Our VacuCams™ are highly affordable, yet provide comparable quality to the more expensive "bullet cams".
- VacuCams™ don't require you to give up a passenger just to shoot video!
- Easily installed and removed