Bullet cams or similar

[DonkeyApple]

I had kind of assumed this would be easy but I can find nothing on Google so I'm guessing for some reason it can't be done:

Essentially I want to hard wire a cam to the front of the car and duct a cable back into the cabin where it would be plugged into an iPhone.

The iPhone would start/stop any recording, utilise it's own mic, store the video an display real time.

I had just assumed that someone would sell a bullet cam, connection cable and Ap etc.

I've made the mistake of asking iPhone gurus and all they keep saying is why am I not using the camera on the phone as it is the best thing ever created. They simply don't comprehend that not only do I want to gaffer tape my phone to the outside of the car but that it also might be a little dangerous for my co-pilot to keep climbing outside while pressing on to check image etc.

Any ideas will be gratefully received. TIA

[CampDavid]

Don't think one exists, searched but not found. The issue would be that you'd have to use the connection port to run it, which it's not really designed for. Apple also dislike stuff like this and you'd need their support to run an app on their phone.

TBH, it's a GoPro Hero of some nature I think.

Macrumors may be able to help.

Personally, I find the camera on the iPhone 4S is okay but by no means amazing

[DonkeyApple]

CampDavid said:

Don't think one exists, searched but not found. The issue would be that you'd have to use the connection port to run it, which it's not really designed for. Apple also dislike stuff like this and you'd need their support to run an app on their phone.

TBH, it's a GoPro Hero of some nature I think.

Macrumors may be able to help.

Personally, I find the camera on the iPhone 4S is okay but by no means amazing

Cheers. This is what I suspected.

I like the gopro it seems to do everything that I want bar the one crucial thing.

My problem is that I want to clip the camera into position behind the front number plate but have total control of it inside the cabin as well as seeing what it is seeing.

Ive not been able to find a set up which does this which has really surprised me.

Id much prefer to have all the hardware and software inside the car and just the lens element sitting out front.

[Smiler.]

I have a Dogcam which has a compact flash card recorder with a very small screen. The screen can be viewed realtime.

Wasn't cheap when I bought it a few years back.

Does do picture in picture from two feeds though.

[Dodsy]

Not used one but I spotted this a while back. Bluetooth micro camera with iphone app. Not sure what the app does other than let you see what is being recorded. You can buy a variety of mounts for car or helmet.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B005GR69TS...

Might be worth you doing some further research to see if this fits the bill ? There may be other bluetooth cameras out there as well.

[DonkeyApple]

Smiler. said:

I have a Dogcam which has a compact flash card recorder with a very small screen. The screen can be viewed realtime.

Wasn't cheap when I bought it a few years back.

Does do picture in picture from two feeds though.

Thanks. This screen is separate?

I can't understand why none of the cameras I've found on the web have remote units for controlling them.

[Celtic Dragon]

Is this what your looking for?

http://sport-cam.co.uk/products.asp?cat=101

this is footage from its predecessor, sorry about the lettering, my mac refused to read the files, but my mates read it fine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUsKt0NWHmo&fea...

Edited by Celtic Dragon on Friday 1st June 21:24

[Smiler.]

DonkeyApple said:

Smiler. said:

I have a Dogcam which has a compact flash card recorder with a very small screen. The screen can be viewed realtime.

Wasn't cheap when I bought it a few years back.

Does do picture in picture from two feeds though.

Thanks. This screen is separate?

I can't understand why none of the cameras I've found on the web have remote units for controlling them.

Yes.

I'm using the phone atm but I'll post the link from the Dogcam site tomorrow, or failing that, some pics of the recorder.

[DonkeyApple]

Thanks Dodsy and Celtic. Both of those look interesting.

The Bluetooth one would be just too easy but with a top end mount the camera might actually work. Issue likely to be no remote power off/on.

The second one runs more kit and means ducting a cable back through what is unfortunately a sealed engine bay. Not impossible, just messy. But it has the in car screen and power control.

[cramman]

Have a look at the latest contour camera.

It's not cheap, but I believe that connects via bluetooth to a phone then you can use the phone screen as a view finger etc.

[DonkeyApple]

cramman said:

Have a look at the latest contour camera.

It's not cheap, but I believe that connects via bluetooth to a phone then you can use the phone screen as a view finger etc.

Thanks. Does it store the data onto the phone?

What I'm not understanding about several options such as these is that the phone seems to work as a view finder but it's not clear that they continue to display live video etc.

[Smiler.]

This is the kit I have but the 2-channel version.

http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/hqr2-head-camera-pack...

[devnull]

The gopro hero will soon have a 'wifi bacpac' which will allow you to do what I think you want here, via iOS and Android.

[daemonoid]

The three to look at are go pro, dog cam or tachyon.

[Cemesis]

Bluetooth doesn't have enough bandwidth to stream (and record) HD footage so cannot be recorded to a phone. SD might be possible but its better to record on the camera using a small card and if possible, control it from the phone.

Do you have to use your phone, or would another controller be OK?

[DonkeyApple]

Cemesis said:

Bluetooth doesn't have enough bandwidth to stream (and record) HD footage so cannot be recorded to a phone. SD might be possible but its better to record on the camera using a small card and if possible, control it from the phone.

Do you have to use your phone, or would another controller be OK?

I don't have to use the phone but as it has a screen and can run aps it would be logical.

I'm not concerned over HD. It's very memory hungry and given the option SD would be my preference.

I also loathe additional gadgetry. I like to try and keep life simple and another gadget with separate wires and chargers and something else to have to carry around and remember would be irritating.

In an ideal world a wireless link from a hardwired camera to an iPhone would be nirvana.

I do like the gopro product and I noticed this solutions was coming. So long as the solution bolts onto the existing camera then I think it makes sense to go this way and live without the control I want until it is available.

[daemonoid]

The Crack Fox said:

daemonoid said:

The three to look at are go pro, dog cam or tachyon.

Or see what Racelogic could do ?

Quite right, plus I didn't read the OP, didn't see the iPhone as control bit...

You could look at setting up incar wireless and using something like http://ezsecuritycam.com/shop/ all you'd need is a router and a small in car PC (maybe a raspberry pi and an external SSD).

Constant recording and iPhone control too.

[RizzoTheRat]

devnull said:

The gopro hero will soon have a 'wifi bacpac' which will allow you to do what I think you want here, via iOS and Android.

I think that's going to be the best way to get the picture on to a phone
http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/gopro-wifi-bacpac.htm...
however for strapping it on the outside of the car you won't want to use a skeleton case, so won't be able to power the camera from the car. The battery life as standard is a couple of hours but I'm not sure how much that will drop with the wifi.

Otherwise I'd go for a separate bullet camera and recorder like this
http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/minidvr-hd-bullet-cam...

[Exige77]

http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/minidvr-hd-bullet-cam...

I have one of these and I can recomend it.

Ex77

[Rowan138]

raspberry pi and 2 waterproof webcams, also a gps and a gsm modem for tracking