We get lots of questions about which camera angles work best on the race track so we decided to provide some information that will help.

Q: How does lens size affect distance and field of view?
A: A smaller lens value will show a shorter viewing distance and a wide field of view. A larger lens value will allow for a longer viewing distance but a narrower field of view.

For example, a 2.5mm focal length lens produces a wider angle (155deg approx) than a 6.0 mm focal length lens (120deg approx)

Front View Camera
Suggested lens: 6.0 mm
For obvious reasons, this is a crucial view showing the race track ahead. We recommend a 6.0 mm lens to create a view that looks similar to the drivers-eye view.

Using a wider angle lens, 3.6 mm for example, allows you to view a wider section of the track but the captured video is not at all similar to the view you see when driving so it may look a bit strange. Also, the wider angle lens seems to slow down on-track action and makes other vehicles on the track look much further away than the really were.

When reviewing your video and data, we think it's best if the video view looks like the view you see in the car – this helps with recall after a session as well as recall of your braking, apex, and exit point markers when back on the track next time out. For this reason we would suggest using a 6mm lens in your front view camera.

Other Camera Views

Race-Keeper accommodates up to four camera inputs so you can capture video from lots of different perspectives. Here are a few of the many informative views you could record along with the forward view.

Rear Camera
Suggested lens: 3.6 mm
It's often useful to see what’s happening behind you in a race – why did you take such a strange line into that corner? Without the rear camera, you might not have remembered that on turn 6 on lap 17 you were holding off an attempted lunge down the inside by your arch rival! The rear camera view will explain all.

Cockpit Camera Pointed at Driver
Suggested lens: 2.5 mm (wide angle)
Where are you looking? Far enough ahead? Too much time in the mirrors? Not using your mirrors before making a move in the pack? A lot can be learned to improve your awareness on the track by reviewing where you look during the heat of the race.

Cockpit Camera Over Shoulder
Suggested lens: 2.5 mm (wide angle)
As long as this isn’t the only view you have, the over-the-shoulder view gives you a lot of information about your skills at the wheel – it shows your hand positions, smoothness of steering inputs, gear change speed among other things.

Footwell Camera
Suggested lens: 2.5 mm (wide angle)
Watch your feet dance on the pedals! Improve your heel and toe technique by comparing your footwork with others who drive your car or who use Race-Keeper to record their own track sessions.

Suspension, Brake and Tires
Suggested lens: 2.5 mm (wide angle)

Putting Race-Keeper bullet camera in the wheel arch lets you see how the suspension and tires act in high speed turns, hair-pin turns, during heavy braking, etc – all views that are only possible to imagine by simply looking at suspension components when the vehicle is stationary.