I'm looking for advice and suggestions...

I want to do a time lapse sequence in my MINI. We've got a run coming up, so I want to mount a camera and let it record images throughout the whole run. Afterwards I'll convert the image sequence to a movie file. The idea is to "compress" the entire day (at least several hours) into a 5-10 minute movie.

It's hardly an original idea, just something I've got the urge to do...

I figure there's basically 3 ways to do this:
-Digital still camera clicking off images at a set interval.
-"Web cam" fed into a laptop, that would capture images at a set interval
-Camcorder with this feature built in

I'm leaning towards the first option, as I've got an old digital camera that I can hack, & easily interface it to an intervalometer. If I shoot at low-res (640x480) and use my 80mb card, that should hold enough images. I think I can use Roxio to assemble it together and import to a movie file.

Option 2 is possible as I have the necessary hardware, but probably lack the software.

Option 3 means buying a new camcorder - which isn't so bad as mine is from 1989 - but which one? I like the concept behind that JVC with the built in hard drive...

Ad of course I'll need a in-car camera mount. I was thinking of something like a headrest mount. I was going to buy the one from UFMotorsport, but they aren't returning my emails. Maybe I'll just make one...

Comments? Suggestions? Hardware/software reccommendations?

 

I have done similar with some of my MINI event recordings, but I simply capture them at regular speed with a camcorder, and later when editing speed them up 2x to 10x. In fact I find most lenghty run videos get boring very quick if they are not sped up.

You an of course do so with a digital camera and there is plenty of free software out there that will assemble the photos into a movie.

 

Well, I went ahead and ordered the UF Motorsports camera mount. A little pricey at $120 shipped, but it looks real sturdy and well made. And I just don't have enough time to make one myself right now.

If you could mention a couple names, it would make it SO much easier to find. I'm not having much look searching with generic terms...

 

In case anyone's actually reading this thread , I found a way to use a Palm as an intervalometer. The software is called Palmshot ( http://timeguy.com/cradek/palmshot ) and will control my NIkon Coolpix 950 through the serial port.

I'll setup the Nikon on a camera mount, set it to take a pic every X seconds, and off I go.