IL2/Combat Flight Simulator Gun Camera
 

After looking around for good gun cameras I finally found one that I like.

#1 Growler Guncam
Best Performance (will not lag frames when alot of action is going on)
Can configure it to be GDI or Direct X dependent.
Adds Old Fashioned Film Effects (scratches, black and white, line, blur, tunnel vision, and brightness/contrast)
Can capture screenshots (Jpg format).
Exports directly to AVI (in Divx, MSVC, or Xvid codecs) or as an animated gif
Video captured never has graphic distortions and runs excellent in background.
(14-day Trial/Payware $19.95)
http://www.growlersoftware.com/

Java Guncam (Best Free one)
Somewhat of a Performance Hog (will get lag frames in large campaigns, multiplayer, or when closing in on ground objects)
Adds Old Fashioned Film Effects (black and white, line, blur, scratches)
Exports series of images in JPG format (requires a 3rd party program to make images into a movie)
Images sometimes have graphic distortions/glitches/anomalies from running in background with game i.e. the cockpit foreground will blink)
(Free)
http://www.errthum.com/troy/warbirds/guncam/

I still think the best way is to always record a track of your sorties and record from the track with FRAPS etc. And then use VirtualDub with a custom plugin to make the old film effect + add borders/custom crosshair. Of course, this is for IL2 only.

I've tried the Growler, but didnt really like it. Got some lag from time to time.

:o Thats too much work. Why go through all that trouble for each film? When one program does everything for you.

The latest version of growler is pretty good. Its very smooth. I have yet to see any lag. Did you try reconfiguring the way it captures? There are different ways you can set it to capture which may improve your performance. Its more like fraps than Javacam is. But, like I said it is the best option I have found for what I need. I don't care for spending time editing. I just want a camera that records like the real deal and that I can go back and evaluate my shots. I think what you are suggesting is more for making storyline movies for youtube or something.

Simple, the effect I get with VirtualDub is IMO alot better. It changes the lighting, the speed and the sharpness of the video. And of course adds the usual old video effects. Where as the Growler's effect is too sharp and the lighting is too spot on to be a WWII guncam. It's more work, but the quality makes up for it. :smug:

Besides, as a hobby video editor myself... in my experience that's only marginally more work, for much better results. The little extra work is always worth it :yep:

You can always send guncam's AVI's to virtual dub. So you can still use Guncam for video capture to benefit from its performance advantage over fraps.

By the way, I'm trying to learn virtual dub. How do I do these 'high quality' old time effects?

Do I have to download some filter?

True, the last used script remains in VirtualDub so I just need to drag & drop the video files in and save them. Then I join them all up in Windows Movie Maker and add the custom crosshair picture over the video with Sony Vegas. It really isnt too much work. ~5-10min more.

Well, since you all are a bunch of video editing nerds...here is a cool program you might like (if you use photoshop). I'm not sure if there is something similar for video editing or if these filters can be imported to video editing software.

But, I found this to be pretty cool: http://www.filterforge.com/

Its a program that lets you make your own custom image filters for photoshop. Its very cool stuff. :up:

@Tikigod

Thanks, mate! Will come in handy! :up: