Bullet camera help - Canon MV500i.

[chubbsr1]

Hi all,

I have recently bought a canon MV500i camcorder from fleabay to use with a bullet camera on trackdays, I have the correct bullet camera and it's plugged into the av input and when the camera is set to playback mode, you can see what the bullet camera is seeing on the view screen.

Only problem is I can't get it to record!!!

I didn't get a remote control with the camera when i bought it, and i am not thinking that it's something that I really needed.

Can you tell me if there is a way round this? if anyone else has the same camera and has an alternative setup? I have heard now that there is a LANC control? would this work on this camera if I was to get one as solve all my problems?

I am doing a trackday on saturday so I could do with knowing today to get something ordered.

Many thanks.

[GreenV8S]

Don't remember if mine is the exact same model but it's similar. As far as I can remember, recording from the bullet cam requires the camera unit to be put in 'playback' mode and then recording is started using one of the replay controls visible when the screen is opened.

[chubbsr1]

I will have a look when i get home and see what it is, thanks for the reply.

I have managed to find a camera remote on e-bay, so i will have to wait for that to come if i am still stuck.

[matthew_h]

On my 700i which will be fairly similar I'm sure you press the rec/pause button to start seeing what the BC is picking up then you press the play button (whilst rec/pause is still active) to start recording.

Just like the tape cassette recorders of old

[chubbsr1]

i know what you mean but i can already see what the bc is seeing, without pressing anything, it's getting it to record that's the challenging bit. i don't have a remote control, so i am just gonna have to wait until i get one next week and just miss this trackday with the camera. thanks anyway

[Fishy Dave]

Yes, as mentioned above, you need the remote sadly. Into play mode, rec/pause on the remote, then press pause on the remote to stop and start recording.

Do you knwo of anyone else who lives near you who owns any Canon camcorder? The remotes seem to work on most models (we have at times used 630i, 650i, 850i and 960i and mixed up the remotes!).

Cheers, dave

[theboyfold]

Does this count as a repost!! Have a look at this thread, I've copied and posted my answer from there as it might be of some help to you...

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=109&t=259508

theboyfold said:

All I do it turn the camera on to VCR. Make sure that the bullet camera is on (which yours is no doubt as you are seeing the pictures and hearing the noise) then pop open the LCD screen press 'REC PAUSE' which switchs to the AV IN side of things. Then hit 'play/focus' which is one of the 4 round silver buttons on top. I think you then see a small red dot in the top right hand corner of the LCD.

Hope this helps, I'm doing it from memory as the bullet camera is all the way downstairs, and I'm feeling mighty lazy!

[chubbsr1]

I don't have a remote control just yet, and i can't see a record pause button on the camera.

Is it another button in disguise? there is REC - and rec + on the 4 top buttons on the same buttons as ffw and rww, but when you press them, it only fast forwards and rewinds the tape.

[theboyfold]

chubbsr1 said:

I don't have a remote control just yet, and i can't see a record pause button on the camera.

Is it another button in disguise? there is REC - and rec + on the 4 top buttons on the same buttons as ffw and rww, but when you press them, it only fast forwards and rewinds the tape.

I'll have a look at my camera tonight, not sure it's the MV500i or MV600i

[chubbsr1]

nice one, thanks for that.

I am at elvington tomorrow in the car, so i would like to try and get it working for then, lastminute.com... it's always the way...

I have ordered a remote control for the camera, but that won't be here until next week, so if i can't get it to work, then i'll just have to book another trackday :-)

cheers...

[.Adam.]

I've got a MV530i, and as far as I can tell you do need either the remote, or a LANC to record whilst in the VCR mode. If I was you I would get a LANC over a standard remote, then means you can put the camera safely away and still control it.

[GreenV8S]

Mine is a 400i, and recording from a bullet cam is done just as theboyfold described. Camera on VCR mode, open the screen, press the button marked 'REC PAUSE (LINE IN)' that's revealed when the screen is open, then press the pause/play button in the replay control panel to actually start recording.

I also have a LANC remote control for it, which is a complete PITA because it doesn't just have a Record/Don't Record switch, it has buttons marked Power/Start/Stop/Pause that have to be pushed in the right sequence, and tally lights that tell you when it's switched on and when it's recording and when it's paused, by various combinations of on/off/flashing states. And of course the buttons do different things depending what the flashing light it doing. Exactly what you *don't* need when you're all helmeted and gloved, and just want the bl**dy camera to start recording. Come the revolution, somebody's going to invent a camera that just has a switch to start recording and a light that says it's recording.

Edited by GreenV8S on Saturday 5th August 00:55