Cool new HD video camera for us ....

[Mako Koiwai]

With Built-in Monitor AND a little wireless remote On/Off !!!

Basically the same guts as the Contour and GoPro (but seemingly no 60 fps option?): http://www.driftinnovation.com/hd170-action-camera" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mako Koiwai]

Lots of mounting options AND a optional remote mic for better sound

[Greg Peng]

Quick review with some comparisons to the ContourHD 1080p and GoPro HD:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/26/drif ... am-review/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wind noise made me return my ContourHD 1080p. I'm still looking for something around that size with a video alignment/review screen like the HD170, but without its problems.

[Q V]

I'm sure it goes w/o saying that I approve of this camera!

Greg, Contour has come out w/ a new one - the Contour GPS, which has a different microphone "designed by a rocket scientist"; not sure what rocket scientists have to do w/ microphone design, but supposedly it's super awesome.

It seems pretty neat, but it just came out, so I don't think there are user vids uploaded testing wind-noise, etc, yet.

I find their GPS overlay (think it's only available on their user community video upload site) is a pretty neat novelty feature, too.

[Mako Koiwai]

That comparison test didn't mention that Drift has an external mic that takes care of the sound problem with the Drift.

http://www.driftinnovation.com/accessories

I think you've seen photos of Henry B's Contour HD furry cover that completely takes care of it's sound issues. Henry's videos are perfect sound wise ... just tire and engine noise.

[Arthur Grant]

So whats the price?

[Q V]

So whats the price?

it's on amazon, about 300 or so for each of these cameras.

[Mako Koiwai]

With the new Drift camera and it's rotating lens/camera tube and external monitor it would be much easier to get this angle ... but improved with the camera higher up to see over the mirror and angled to the right to see further ahead, yet tipped down to see the cones for a longer period of time. Without the monitor you have to play it too safe.

(Click on photo to see all of it, rather then having to Scroll it)

[Mako Koiwai]

I ordered one of these Drift Cams ... overnighting it, so we can use it for the tests for our commercial that we're shooting next week ... out of WENDOVER, ie. Salt Flats.

[Mako Koiwai]

So I got one of these Drift cams ... and then another one, because the first one was not sharp ... and then the 2nd one was also soft ! ... but finally the 3rd one is good. Apparently B&H Photo Video got a bad batch of these HD170 cameras.

But it is very cool having the built-in monitor for tightly composing one's shots, especially in HD, which has a 127 degree angle of view vs 170 degrees at the lower resolutions.

Also this camera allows one to Plus or Minus the exposure up to two stops, so that one can carefully control ones exposure, especially when shooting through windshields in closed cars.

There is also a Night Mode but that only slightly increases sensitivity.

The Little Remote On/Off is very handy.

If you want to pick up one locally:

Contact Mark: 323-275-4899
Address: DRA Distribution, Inc 605 Imperial Street Los Angeles, CA 90021

This is not a store front ... but they did allow me to come down and buy it. If you like beautiful Indonesian women, you want to pick it up in person!

He will match B&H's price of $290. Camera comes with a bunch of mounting options.

I also bought this Suction Cup mount, which has a 1/4 20 screw attachment ... so you can attach any old Point and Shoot camera with video capabilities:

http://www.amazon.com/Panavise-809-Came ... 054&sr=8-3



I paid $10 more at SAMY's, but I couldn't wait.

[Steve Collins]

How is it for cmos sequential shutter vibration distortion?

Mako, If you have problems with that while out on location, try doing stiffening up the mount. The aux struts I added to my sky cam reduced the problem on mine considerably. A vibration isolation mount would probably also help, but I'd guess you'll have to add mass to the camera side of the isolation (e.g. lead block under the cam) to make it really effective. It's sort of the opposite of "reduce unsprung weight" principle. You want the moving part (camera) to be unresponsive.

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[Mako Koiwai]

I think distortion is the new look. Lots of camera vibrations, adds to the sense of speed in our commercial

[Steve Collins]

I think distortion is the new look. Lots of camera vibrations, adds to the sense of speed in our commercial

Whatever the client wants...

[Mako Koiwai]

Drift cam snap shot ... Rhys Millen:

[Mako Koiwai]

Steve ... there are Post fixes for Rolling Shutter artifacts: http://www.thefoundry.co.uk/products/rollingshutter/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Our GoPro helicopter footage has a LOT of jello effect because of the high speed vibrations typical of a helicopter, but still some very cool footage. NDA prevents me from showing any photos until the end of a certain sports season.

[Mako Koiwai]

Another new more ruggedized mini HD system, for twice the price: http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/rugg ... thing-for/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Rick Brown]

While we are talking about cool cameras.......

http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2010/Ro ... ard+camera" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Steve Collins]

Drift cam snap shot ... Rhys Millen:

Um, is that snow behind you? or clouds? Or are you on a greenscreen stage somewhere? Hmmm... sports season.... and it has somebody wants it to look like snow in the background... OMG! Did you shoot the Iditarod from a dogsled???

sc

[Arthur Grant]

While we are talking about cool cameras.......

http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2010/Ro ... ard+camera" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That segment and camera location was clearly selected for the ladies.

[Mako Koiwai]

I had to eliminate parts of the salty background, until football season is over.

[Mako Koiwai]

See, that gyroscopic dampened camera looks too smooth imo ... I mean Rossi IS smooth, but ...

I wonder if that camera would have take out the Lambo vibrations in the one that Tanner was driving with the square tires?

From it's specs it sounds pretty neat ... looks like it should be much better in low light situations since it apparently has an F2.0 lens vs. the typical F3.6 lens found on the GoPro and DRIFT cam.

http://www.vio-pov.com/products-all/pov-hd.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Tom Tanquary]

There are a lot of programs that take "shake" out of the footage. Most NLE systems have one built in. And the aftermarket is full of them. A program like Mocha can stabilize almost any image if you want it that way. Dynapel Steadyhand does almost the same for a lot less money. Odds are the producers liked the shaky stuff because it made it "exciting." Or they were too cheap to spend an extra day in post to correct it. You can fix an amazing number of things in post if you want to.

t