Helmet cams in F1

[team underdog]

If only F1 introduced this, plus radio conversation. Even if the racing was dull, which it often is, there'd be something of interest to watch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6hGGlmie6U&fea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta8WL7T4aro&fea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o_U4mBthrc&fea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9owkZTpz6Tw&fea...

[SlimJ]

Agreed, love this camera angle, gives such a great sense of speed and what the driver is doing. Have always wondered why it hasn't been implemented in F1 yet as it would be a superb angle to be showing, I'm guessing it's something to do with sponsors not being quite visible during this camera angle, and we all know F1 is about money and not good 'ole racing!!

[japhilip]

I don't see the angle as being sufficiently different from the one fitted to the air intake above the driver. Maybe that's the reason why.
A camera may also add extra weight to the helmet. In a high speed, high G force corner, that additional weight might add up to a big difference for the driver.
Maybe.

[Blue Meanie]

I must say, I prefer the camera on top of the air intake. The helmet cams look good at times, but most of the time they wobble about, and you don't relly get a great picture.

[FourWheelDrift]

They are used often in Champ Car racing in the US, the camera is situated on them inside the helmet to the left of the drivers left eye and looks out through the visor.

Gives you a good idea of what kind of view they have out of the cars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOUJS3F-5XY

[team underdog]

Blue Meanie said:

I must say, I prefer the camera on top of the air intake. The helmet cams look good at times, but most of the time they wobble about, and you don't relly get a great picture.

Agreed, but the point is it gives a great perspective of what the driver sees, including the bumps, wobbles, buffeting, etc. Imagine one of these cameras being used at Fuji this year! Granted, we wouldnt of seen much, but the drivers actually complained to the race director that the race was allowed to start, as charlie made that call based on what the onboard cameras could see. The drivers made the point that the air intake mounted cameras dont convey how little they can actually see in the wet.

I'd particularly like to see one used at Monaco!

[SamHH]

Whilst it is interesting to see how little the drivers can see, I think it's a bit of a novelty that would wear off pretty quickly if it was used often in television broadcasts. I think the air intake cameras are preferable by far.

How much do these cameras weigh? It seems counter-productive to the safety of the drivers to add extra weight to their helmets.

Edited by SamHH on Sunday 9th December 17:15

[SlimJ]

SamHH said:

Whilst it is interesting to see how little the drivers can see, I think it's a bit of a novelty that would wear off pretty quickly if it was used often in television broadcasts. I think the air intake cameras are preferable by far.

How much do these cameras weigh? It seems counter-productive to the safety of the drivers to add extra weight to their helmets.

I disagree, I'm not that much of a fan of the camera by the intake, it lacks the feeling you get when you watch from the helmet cam perspective, fair enough though the amount you can see due to wobble and bumps isn't too great, but it gives a sense of realism and being actually in the car with the driver (as opposed to sitting on top of it by the air intake with a fixed view).

I doubt the cameras will weigh that much, otherwise drivers from other motorsports wouldn't use them, its probably quite minute really.

[Blue Meanie]

I prefer the 'movable' ones in Nasar, or Indycar. You can follow a car as it passes, or is passed. Really good shots.

[SamHH]

It's an interesting view but I don't want it to be a regular part of the broadcasts. I'd rather have a good view of what's happening than get the 'experience', in the same way that I'd rather watch the races from my sofa in the sitting room than strapped into a narrow seat with six point harnesses in a sauna with a full face helmet on.

[Jungles]

I'd prefer rotating cameras on the top of the air intake. Helmet cameras are fun, but the quality is relatively poor and there is a lot of wobble. With a rotating camera on the air intake, it can be moved to view the scene from different angles - side, behind, etc., even following the view of the driver.