Thanks for the reply Wade,

Im thinking of getting this one http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetai … ;langid=EN

unless someone has any objections or better suggestion.

Thanks for the help.

you guys seen the FlipVideo?  Handheld - records digitally - and in HD and fairly cheap...

http://www.theflip.com/

Its funny you should mention the flip, just recently i was reading some camera teck and they were talking about that camera in particular being pretty cool.

Gonna go read up on it for sure.

On a side note, I was using my friends camera this weekend, a canon dc100 mini dvd, its a few years old and although the video quality isnt bad it records in mpeg2 and I am having a hell of a time editing the video.  I have so far had to download 2 programs and am spending the better part of an hour just converting it to a different format so i can edit it.

Oh and I found out real quick you need a decent camera man, or something like the trakker mount, my dad apparently has no skill with a camcorder..... got alot of footage of the bottom of the boat haha.

The Flip Video works great with the Trakker.  Here is sample video:

Last edited by Trakker (Fri, Jul 17, 2009 9:28 AM)

Is there a concern using models with a built-in hard disk that the vibrations from the boat would damage the drive?

Trakker wrote:

This is some feedback a customer gave me regarding camera choices for use with, or without, the Trakker Video Camera Mounts.  I though it was great information, including video, so I wanted to post it ASAP.  I am just going to quote the email verbatim.  The second video is a very good comparison of two different camera types.  Great Information!  Thanks Derek:

“I was able to get my hands on a HD video camera with a 3CCD sensor and let me tell you.. night and day difference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FZ1tOgjCfk
(didn't align the mount right for surfing, so you can see most of the footage got cut out... but you can see there is no horrible vibrations anymore)

You should also mention on your site, that users only use 3CCD/CCD sensor cameras, not ones with a CMOS sensor.. check out the following video I made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSWDP1Tsj1Y
"

Any updates on this topic regarding CCD vs. CMOS?  There is talk of the new Kodak Zi8 being so great but apparently has CMOS sensor.  Has anyone tested on the Trakker?

I think the FLIP is CCD.  Yes, we have snow.  Been snowing for a couple of days and right on schedule (Halloween).

skibuddy wrote:

Deke, we use the flip video and it works pretty well. However, there are a couple of drawbacks from my experience. First of all, we have not found a way to mount it usining the Trakker type mounts. Secondly, the zoom is not great enough to view a lot of details unless the skiier is at a length of 32 off or less, which if you are filming children they are usually at longer lines and you will miss some of the greatest facial expressions ever. Since the flip is so small, it takes some getting use to the effects of boat vibration. With that being said, we still use ours a lot and the formating of the videos are great..just my .02's..Joe

Joe,
What's up with the mounting?  Isn't there a tripod mount on the bottom?  Also, on the vibration, some of the videos I've seen are really good.  Maybe they weren't shot with the Trakker???
Deke

skibuddy wrote:

Deke, we use the flip video and it works pretty well. However, there are a couple of drawbacks from my experience. First of all, we have not found a way to mount it usining the Trakker type mounts. Secondly, the zoom is not great enough to view a lot of details unless the skiier is at a length of 32 off or less, which if you are filming children they are usually at longer lines and you will miss some of the greatest facial expressions ever. Since the flip is so small, it takes some getting use to the effects of boat vibration. With that being said, we still use ours a lot and the formating of the videos are great..just my .02's..Joe

The FlipHD has a standard tripod mount that works fine with the trakker. Zoom has never been a problem for us- details are crystal clear at -15 with no zoom. Also we see zero vibration with the trakker + the FlipHD. Basically I've experienced the complete opposite of what you claim, Joe. I have numerous vids on YouTube (including the one in page 1 of this post) taken with the FlipHD + the Trakker. They look great.