Can Finishlynx source files be altered post race? If yes, is there an “electronic finger print” left behind detecting and proving the file alteration?

Can a Finishlynx camera be moved during a race to alter the finish line location? If yes, is there a visual clue between Finishlynx file images proving the camera race manipulation?

I would not say that anything is impossible, but it really is not possible to do what you describe. The file is what it is from the time you shoot it and does not change. Of course you could move the camera alignment during the event but most people align their camera with cues (short ticks of tape) that appear as streaks on the film. If the ticks are there in one shot but not in another, the camera has moved. This not probable as once a camera is aligned, it is usually left alone until it is taken down after the race. Any assumption that a timing technician would try to manipulate results is highly unlikely. I for one have no stake in who wins or looses, only for providing an accurate record of the athletes achievements.

John,

you wrote "most people align their camera with cues (short ticks of tape) that appear as streaks on the film. If the ticks are there in one shot but not in another, the camera has moved."

could you explain this please? I do not understand, what you mean by this.

Thanks

Dirk

In track and field the timer is to put black marks on the finish line where the lane line and the finish line intersect. That is what was ment as the streaks on the image. The finish lynx files themselves are very hard to manipulate, but if a person wanted to they could alter the image and time line of the print outs that are submitted for track and field records.
Cameras are to be positioned vertically over the horizontal projection of the finish line for the cameras to give accurate times. Because the image is produced by a slit it is possible to angle the slit off of vertical, the camera head of or behind the actual finish line, and still have a proper looking image of the track race. Lynx systems calls that swivelling the camera. The people who use the auto postioners in my experience are most likely not to do some check that the camera is actually over the finish line. I've been to one meet where the camera was on a standard Lynx tripod 5 yards back from the closest lane and more than 2 yards ahead of the actual finish line. To show the person they were off the line I looped a plumb line around the camera lens and then pulled a 20 m measuring tape from one side of the track over top of the finish line past the distance the tripod was set up. A person had a record at the meet that I would not sign for ( as starter) because the camera timing team did not think that the camera being incorrectly positioned would affect times.

I applaud your for not signing the record! There are too many timing groups out there that really don’t know what they are doing.

the files cannot be altered by anything but the finishlynx program to my knowledge. All printouts have time/date stamps and copyright info on them too although someone with photoshop skills could duplicate it if given enough time. Exported images from the program do not count for submission of records.

I have seen some pretty wide finish lines in my day and it is possible to move the camera within that line, but during a finish? highly unlikely.