SCCAForums.com

STS3gCivicSi:

If you just bought it, it probably has the 2.002 firmware on it.  I had been running the V1.600 and did not like the lack of zoom and the awful mic issues.....video using the V1.600 : http://jamesnwilson.blip.tv/#602497 , you can hear the oversaturation.

 

And shot today, windows down, with V2.002-- http://blip.tv/file/723014/

 

Picked one up from circuit city today. firmware showing to be version 1.6. see how things go with 1.6 and go from there. Box shows compatable with sd card upto 32gb also

 new firmware forum link

http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=586466&forum_id=92

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Chris
Barth Mullins Racing

Another couple of updates on my AIPTEK A-HD.

I had noticed after the firmware upgrade that the sound was much better but now I was having problems keeping the camera running during a session.  I had no problems while using it handheld but even when sitting on the grid at times it would just shut down for no apparent reason not to mention when flogging around on the track. Then to get it functional again I would need to remove the battery and reinsert it and it would be fine, still indicating lots of battery left.  All I could figure was the vibration was making the battery lose contact with the terminals so I put some electrical tape on the battery sides so it would no longer have any wiggle room and voila that fixed it right up and I was able to record 4x20 min session with no failures.

However after a few jaunts at the track I was getting noise again but this time it was different more like a vibration.  I had been mounting this to an IO Port rollbar mount and was picking up a lot of vibration from the car which has been shaking the crap out of every camera that I have put on it.  I removed the camera from the mount and could feel the vibration if I thumped or tapped the camera in the upper half above where the battery is located but I knew it could not be the battery since I padded it with the tape.  Well I decided to take the camera apart and from what I can tell the vibration must have been coming from a large capacitor that has its leads bent 90 degrees so it lays flat against the circuit board.  I put some small rubber tubing around the capacitor and now it is padded from the circuit board and the outer cover and after I got it back together it appears to have made a significant difference and when I thump it there is no more vibration.  I just need to mount it back on the car this weekend to validate the fix but I expect that this solved this problem.

You can also use hot glue to keep those large components from vibrating around, but that is a last-ditch effort.  One of the autocross guys in SoCal had the exact same problem, he returned it and got another with no problems.

The I/O Port mount has a lot of arms and gadgetry that tends to make most any camera (especially lightweight ones) shake and vibrate around, maybe take a look at some of the ChaseCam mounts for a more stable option.

Note-- I have no affiliation with the companies above, just offering an alternative.  Name brands for illustration and are trademarked/copywrited by their respective owners  

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*Banned Again* Permanently

I'm the autocross guy in SoCal; the second one only works sometimes, and let me down completely last weekend at the tour. It seems to work better for my wife than me (smoother driver?).

I'll try tape on the battery, but taking it apart sounds scary! 

Sebastian R.:

I'm the autocross guy in SoCal; the second one only works sometimes, and let me down completely last weekend at the tour. It seems to work better for my wife than me (smoother driver?).

I'll try tape on the battery, but taking it apart sounds scary! 

Email sent, Seb. 

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*Banned Again* Permanently

So, the updated firmware is not causing anyone any problems?

Are you also putting some tissue over the mic?

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Jason P.
Indy Region Moderator
SMS - M3 LSB SMG E46

The Nebulizer:

So, the updated firmware is not causing anyone any problems?

Are you also putting some tissue over the mic?

I updated my firmware with good results. Sound is much better and no problems.

How are you guys viewing/editing this on your computer? Mine is too slow to play the files - what kind of comuputers do you have/recommend?

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Jason P.
Indy Region Moderator
SMS - M3 LSB SMG E46

Upgrade your computer!  Really, I couldn't play the vids on my 2200 AMD with 512k ram even with a Geforce video card.  I recently upgraded to 4600 X2 AMD with 2 meg ram (so I can play Guitar Hero on PC hhehe) and it runs fine now.

By the way, Wallgreen's sells two different Aiptek (I believe) cameras.

One for $100 & one for $150

Of course, i didn't look at the details...

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"Most amateur drivers go too fast in slow corners and too slow in fast
corners"
Emerson Fittipaldi

mrexotica:

By the way, Wallgreen's sells two different Aiptek (I believe) cameras.

One for $100 & one for $150

Of course, i didn't look at the details...

 

Aiptek also makes non-HD basic camcorders for about the same price range, I think I have also seen them at Walgreens. 

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*Banned Again* Permanently

I used that unit and the recorder is great, however I have had problems with the light performance and quality on the lens because they cheap'ed out on the HAD and CCD to get the price so low. www.datatoys.com actually sells an external camera that uses a high quality HAD and CCD that makes it a very, very, very respectable package. They have the connections that make it completely integrable with the AIPTEK too.

 

http://datatoys.com/singlecamsys.htm

 

When ordering just state you need the cable to connect to the AIPTEK and George will set it all up. 

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www.Datatoys.com

Roy Dietsch:

I used that unit and the recorder is great, however I have had problems with the light performance and quality on the lens because they cheap'ed out on the HAD and CCD to get the price so low. www.datatoys.com actually sells an external camera that uses a high quality HAD and CCD that makes it a very, very, very respectable package. They have the connections that make it completely integrable with the AIPTEK too.

 

http://datatoys.com/singlecamsys.htm

 

When ordering just state you need the cable to connect to the AIPTEK and George will set it all up. 

 

That's the nicest part of the A-HD that it can still connect an external bullet camera....most if not all "new" camcorders have eliminated that feature.

Another option for these as well -- http://www.cam-fx.com and http://www.cam-fx.com/category.sc?categoryId=3 , a bit less expensive alternative.  Works great with the A-HD, that's the setup that I have been using since September.

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*Banned Again* Permanently

OMG! I am pissed but happy...

60FPS

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9208238

Make it waterproof and wall-lah!

FM

PS: Sync it to my DL1 and KAPOW!

PSS:  Who am I fooling...2bad I hate China-mart! GRR! What to do?

Fastmike:

OMG! I am pissed but happy...

60FPS

Yeah, I just saw this last weekend. 60fps would be a very nice feature to have.

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Jason P.
Indy Region Moderator
SMS - M3 LSB SMG E46

Wow that is sweet. I'm a Wal Mart shopper, guess I'm in luck! :)

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I am Chris Hammond.
2004 Z06 SS

Fastmike:

OMG! I am pissed but happy...

60FPS

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9208238

Make it waterproof and wall-lah!

FM

PS: Sync it to my DL1 and KAPOW!

PSS:  Who am I fooling...2bad I hate China-mart! GRR! What to do?

 

I read the Action model w/auto focus has problems in car applications. The new 1080HD AHD+? version at BestBuy is $149 this week - no Walmart!

Supposed to have a better stereo mic than the 720 AHD also, but still has a lot of wind noise. 

Off to Bestbuy!
Thanks for the tip.

 I hope the 60FPS works out. I don't think my laptop will be able to handle playing that but my home computer(gamer) shouldn't have a problem doing it.

FM

FM,

Any updates on how the A-HD+ looks?

 

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Jason Wong
CrazyMonkeyRacing
#54 STX *Retired

angryfist:

FM,

Any updates on how the A-HD+ looks?

 

Yeah, I think I am going to pick one up, but would like to hear a few comments from anyone who has tried it...

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Jason P.
Indy Region Moderator
SMS - M3 LSB SMG E46

I just hope their hardware is getting a little bit better.  I've had my A-HD since September, and it's finally very rattly and blanks out every once and a while.  I think there is damage to the sensor, as I can't even shoot inside the house without some optical issues...hard to describe, I'll take it apart tonight and see what is up.  Also, I have to tape up the slide switch from std to macro focus, as it keeps falling down just with gravity.

Half a packing peanut or a torn-up napkin still works great on muffling the mic, though.  

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*Banned Again* Permanently