Helmet Cameras

Alanstrainor

Howdy fellas,

I know these threads pop up from time to time, but I'm just interested in hearing what you guys use, (if you use any cams at all:D).

I managed to smash up my Drift HD170 Stealth yesterday, and am half considering a replacement. I managed to let it get caught in my spokes as I was riding, and I smashed the screen. It still records just fine...but without the screen I can imagine it becoming a massive pain.

Wishbone Ash

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I managed to let it get caught in my spokes

:eek: The mind boggles Alan! What were you doing - stunt riding?

Alanstrainor

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

:eek: The mind boggles Alan! What were you doing - stunt riding?

Well...I foolishly decided to mount it on my front fork (i have done so in the past for some artistic footage) and well, the mount shook loose cycling through town and the whole thing just got sucked into the spokes at about 20km/h. I'm glad it didn't take me or my wheel out with it tbh! :eek::p

decrrrrrr

Just about to put a GoPro HD Hero Naked Camera up for sale if you are interested.

Great camera and in mint condition.

Alanstrainor

decrrrrrr wrote: »

Just about to put a GoPro HD Hero Naked Camera up for sale if you are interested.

Great camera and in mint condition.

No thanks. They're a bit old at this stage, and the GoPros never work well on a helmet imo.

Mycroft H

DogCam Wide looks good.

Only 99GBP too

CramCycle

Contour Roam 2 is approx. 200euro with free delivery to Ireland from evanxcycles. Looks slightly better than the Dogcam in that it lasts for 3.5 hours and doesn't overwrite old footage, apparently you can edit it if on the fly with a smartphone like the Samsung Gaaxy S3 according to reviews on wiggle.

Wishbone Ash

The GoPro is way too geeky looking on a helmet. The Dog Cam seems to be more discreet.

Alanstrainor

The contour roam 2 definitely interests me. The footage I've seen looks great and the battery life looks good too. I can get a roam 1 delivered for about 100 quid from the states so that's an option I'm toying with.

Although the dogcam is discrete, the footage is pretty poor compared to what i have now. And the battery life isn't there either.

So anyone with experience with the roam? Or others for that matter?

AstraMonti

I had a dogcam, the footage wasn't the greatest and the battery was more or less an hour. The price was great though.
I also used a go pro and I am never putting one on my head again unless they bring the weight down to 1/3rd of what it was, I haven't seen the gopro 3 so they may have fixed that. It was annoyingly heavy and bulky to be comfortable for hours long cycle.

Rew

GoPro if you want the best (and most expensive), Contour 2nd best and some prefer the form factor, drift ghost, sony ion, muvi etc are all decent enough on a budget.

Unless you mount them solidly you get horrible footage. On a gopro that means using the little rubber plug or electrical tape to take any wobble out of the mount. For helmet mounting you need your helmet to be a snug fit so that it isn't wobbling on your head. I have stuck GoPros all along but I always keep an eye on the others every time im updating.

Alanstrainor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrlFc4EnsI4

That's the kind of footage I'm currently getting on my Drift. I think it's pretty great to be honest. There is shaking in it for sure, but i'm on a road bike with 23 tyres so that's to be expected.

The Dirft is too pretty bulky though, but I guess I don't mind it. The Roam looks a little less bulky, but I think they weigh about the same from what I can gather.

Rew

Alanstrainor wrote: »

The Dirft is too pretty bulky though, but I guess I don't mind it. The Roam looks a little less bulky, but I think they weigh about the same from what I can gather.

Here you go:

http://vimeo.com/54860841

Drift Ghost and contour are very similar. I would also say that a gopro would have gone though your spokes pretty much undamaged, there bomb proof, down side is the case adds bulk.

CramCycle

Off topic, based upon your recording, I used to live right beside where that video starts.

Hated passing that school in the morning, Mummy Mobiles trying to run you over left, right and centre.

On topic, once I sell my car, I am getting the Roam 2 so will post a review then, expected date: 14 days from now.

Alanstrainor

Rew wrote: »

Here you go:

http://vimeo.com/54860841

Drift Ghost and contour are very similar. I would also say that a gopro would have gone though your spokes pretty much undamaged, there bomb proof, down side is the case adds bulk.

yeah, well to be fair to the drift, it was the screen that is smashed. It still actually records just fine.

The sony actually interested me, but the mounting options for that are plain silly.

Hadn't see the ghost before actually, but after seeing the footage, and then the price. I think the ROAM 2 would be the better buy, seeing as it's half the price!

Alanstrainor

CramCycle wrote: »

Off topic, based upon your recording, I used to live right beside where that video starts.

Hated passing that school in the morning, Mummy Mobiles trying to run you over left, right and centre.

On topic, once I sell my car, I am getting the Roam 2 so will post a review then, expected date: 14 days from now.

OT..i wonder if we were neighbours:p And yes, can't stand the morning rush, got doored once there...ouch.

Sweet, I'll hold off until you take the plunge so! But am interested in other peoples setups if they're using one.

Darkglasses

For anyone interested in the budget side of things, I bought a Vivitar DVR785HD just for the crack today. Will report back on it once I source a Micro SD card! All the mounts and things like that seem like great quality, exact same as what you got with the older Go Pros. Costs 90 Euro from Argos, or about 50-60 dollars from the states.

cassette50

Just came across this on Cycleways website - Cateye Inou Camera -€95.

It might be useful for someone.

http://www.cycleways.com/store/product/59624/Cateye-INOU-Camera/

Alanstrainor

cassette50 wrote: »

Just came across this on Cycleways website - Cateye Inou Camera -€95.

It might be useful for someone.

http://www.cycleways.com/store/product/59624/Cateye-INOU-Camera/

Just googled it. Good idea poorly executed I reckon. Might be worth a punt if it was 50 euro, but at that price it's crazy.

The video resolution is laughable, what were the thinking?!

FirstinLastout

In regards to POV cameras JVC has just released their Adixxion camera.
There's a introductory review of it on www.mtbr.com at the moment.
They are planning a group test of all the currently available POV cameras very shortly.

CramCycle

FirstinLastout wrote: »

In regards to POV cameras JVC has just released their Adixxion camera.

Looks really good, the only two down sides are 1. The price (obviously enough) and 2. No review I have seen includes a battery life time, although I do see it is removable which means you can buy and carry extra which is a huge plus in my opinion.

Alanstrainor

Looks really good. Great size and removable battery are a massive plus. I like my drift because it has the removable batteries. I use it the odd time, but for the most part one charge of the high cap battery is enough for me.

Contour roam or roam2 seem to be the best options atm. Things move so fast in the action cam world, who knows what will be available in 6 months!

lennymc

ive a liquid image ego 727, seems a nice alternative to a go pro. doesnt come with a lot of mounts tho. Nice video. You can use your phone as a view finder and to control some of the functions.

http://www.actioncameras.co.uk/liquid-image-ego

I got mine on ebay for about 140 euros delivered.

aFlabbyPanda

Did anyone ever look at the ones on adverts. A few close encounters last week have me tempted but money tight at the moment.

Alanstrainor

lennymc wrote: »

ive a liquid image ego 727, seems a nice alternative to a go pro. doesnt come with a lot of mounts tho. Nice video. You can use your phone as a view finder and to control some of the functions.

http://www.actioncameras.co.uk/liquid-image-ego

I got mine on ebay for about 140 euros delivered.

Wow, that looks very impressive. Just youtubed it and the video quality is quite impressive. Maybe not as robust as the competition, and it's a funny shape. But for the price it looks good!

adamski8

So many options! Is there a good reliable site that reviews the latest ones?

aFlabbyPanda

Found this guy on youtube today with some reviews.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Techmoan

lennymc

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Wow, that looks very impressive. Just youtubed it and the video quality is quite impressive. Maybe not as robust as the competition, and it's a funny shape. But for the price it looks good!

yeah - its quite decent quality. its light, shaped like an egg, available in lots of colours. Downside is that the mounts arent the best, it comes with a splash proof cover rather than the full waterproof case, but apart from that Im happy with it.

CramCycle

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Sweet, I'll hold off until you take the plunge so! But am interested in other peoples setups if they're using one.

Car is being taken off my hands on Monday but now there is so much more choice than before. Damn you boards.ie.

dub_skav

Serious question. Why do so many people have cameras for the bike?

Mountain bikers looking to see where they can improve, arty filmmakers or looking for evidence in the case of accident?

Coronal

dub_skav wrote: »

Serious question. Why do so many people have cameras for the bike?

Mountain bikers looking to see where they can improve, arty filmmakers or looking for evidence in the case of accident?

All three I'd say. It seems to be quite common to have a helmet camera in the UK, though maybe that's just the large amount of videos that I've seen from there. Strikes me as a good idea, not that I've received much agro on the roads here. Would be fun for MTBing and other 'arty' things, though

SerialComplaint

Darkglasses wrote: »

For anyone interested in the budget side of things, I bought a Vivitar DVR785HD just for the crack today. Will report back on it once I source a Micro SD card! All the mounts and things like that seem like great quality, exact same as what you got with the older Go Pros. Costs 90 Euro from Argos, or about 50-60 dollars from the states.

That's not the budget side of things. Now this is the budget side of things;

http://www.7dayshop.com/photo-video-supplies/still-video-cameras?cat=8#limit=all

€20 and you're laughing.

Darkglasses

SerialComplaint wrote: »

That's not the budget side of things. Now this is the budget side of things;

http://www.7dayshop.com/photo-video-supplies/still-video-cameras?cat=8#limit=all

€20 and you're laughing.

Haha, would love to see the quality of that. I've always wondered, there can't be much of a difference between the chest-mount for that camera, and the one for the normal Go Pro, yet the Go Pro one costs like 50 euro.

Rew

Darkglasses wrote: »

Haha, would love to see the quality of that. I've always wondered, there can't be much of a difference between the chest-mount for that camera, and the one for the normal Go Pro, yet the Go Pro one costs like 50 euro.

Looking at those photos there is a big quality diff. All the gopro accessories are over priced here, much more reasonable in the US. Id never buy the original spare batteries, I buy spurious ones off EBay for a fraction of the price. I got 3 Hero 3 batteries and a wall charger off ebay for 30 quid.

AstraMonti

Maybe wait and get the google glasses!

velopeloton

This is on my wishlist. If I win the lotto.

http://www.gobandit.com/live

Rew

velopeloton wrote: »

This is on my wishlist. If I win the lotto.

http://www.gobandit.com/live

Im very unconvinced that its any good TBH, id be surprised if they ever release an updated version. Contour were pushing the GPS a bit but doesn't seem to have worked out and they are pushing hard on being a cheaper simpler alternative to GoPro. GoPro are looking to dominate the high end and are kinda throwing the mid and a bone with the White and Silver editions. I have used a GPS skiing, MTB and on the road bike. Handy for fitness tracking but I couldn't see the advantage of having it synced with the video.

2 Wheels Good

Darkglasses wrote: »

Haha, would love to see the quality of that. I've always wondered, there can't be much of a difference between the chest-mount for that camera, and the one for the normal Go Pro, yet the Go Pro one costs like 50 euro.

I bought one of them off ebay before and it was fine, quality was much better than i thought. Size matters though, I can't remember where I put it

RobertFoster

AstraMonti wrote: »

Maybe wait and get the google glasses!

I was thinking of that, you could use it as GPS also, and I suppose hands-free calls while on the bike. From what I've read of it though, in it's current pre-release state it only records 10 second video clips when you tell it. $1,500 too... If ever there was a product to wait for the second generation of, Google Glass is it.

2 Wheels Good

Oakley brought these out. Airwave

Built in HUD with GPS and iPhone connectivity so you can see who's calling/texting
No camera though

Alanstrainor

dub_skav wrote: »

Serious question. Why do so many people have cameras for the bike?

Mountain bikers looking to see where they can improve, arty filmmakers or looking for evidence in the case of accident?

I'm not much of a mountain biker, but doing arty photography or cool film ideas. Then I started wearing it on my head as a helmet camera. Honestly, with my Drift HD170 which is rather large, people would see it and tend to give me a wider berth. Not that I actually have many close calls at all on my bike. I'd say 60% of the reason is purely because I can, and 40% in case something happens.

After a year and a half, 5000km...I haven't had one incident! Haha

AstraMonti wrote: »

Maybe wait and get the google glasses!

Yeah, but I would imagine recording full hd on that would murder the battery. But maybe!

Popoutman

I'm used at this stage to wearing a GoPro with the extra battery bacpac on my helmets both for kayaking and for all my cycling. Personally I do not notice the extra mass that much, but then again I do have an 18" neck

I'll be making up a chest mount for my GoPro before I head to Les Gets this year in the summertime, to get that proper view over the handlebars. Not the easiest for roadies to do properly, but definitely a bit easier to do the chest mount instead of the helmet cam for full-face helmets anyway.

GoPro video quality is more than good enough for what I want anyway

Rew

Have a look at this:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/erikvonk/3rd-person-view-action-cam-camera-mount-for-extrem-0

Interesting idea for a new angle, possibly not that practical for day to day use though!!

adamski8

Bought the act30 for 80quid. Will report back

SerialComplaint

Darkglasses wrote: »

Haha, would love to see the quality of that. I've always wondered, there can't be much of a difference between the chest-mount for that camera, and the one for the normal Go Pro, yet the Go Pro one costs like 50 euro.

Quality is something like this;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=430dOM76CO0

though maybe it has improved in the couple of years since I bought mine. It's OK for me, not great in poor light conditions.

Maybe I'll go for this style next time round;

http://www.fastcoexist.com/1681480/this-sleek-bike-helmet-makes-sure-that-hit-and-run-drivers-get-caught

FirstinLastout

http://reviews.mtbr.com/pov-action-cam-shootout-camera-best

CramCycle

Just seen this one on bike24:

Rollei Bullet HD 1080p

Seems to be up there with the contour, but it has less battery time (1.5 compared to 3.5) but it does have replaceable batteries available.

Alanstrainor

CramCycle wrote: »

Just seen this one on bike24:

Rollei Bullet HD 1080p

Seems to be up there with the contour, but it has less battery time (1.5 compared to 3.5) but it does have replaceable batteries available.

I don't know, it looks like a cheap chinese knock off type of camera. The design wouldn't scream quality.

My smashed drift still takes some great shots. 'tis too bulky though. Might keep it another year or so and see if these things ever get much smaller!

CramCycle

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I don't know, it looks like a cheap chinese knock off type of camera. The design wouldn't scream quality.

Bike24 would be a reputable supplier, so thats why I wouldn't be as quick to dismiss, the reviews seem decent so far. Rollei are a german company as far as I know.

Rew

CramCycle wrote: »

Bike24 would be a reputable supplier, so thats why I wouldn't be as quick to dismiss, the reviews seem decent so far. Rollei are a german company as far as I know.

The video quality is only marginally better then the cheap knocks offs, for the money I would say the Contour is far superior.

Mcofferon

CramCycle wrote: »

Bike24 would be a reputable supplier, so thats why I wouldn't be as quick to dismiss, the reviews seem decent so far. Rollei are a german company as far as I know.

Rollei were in fact a renowned German camera manufacturer but got bought out, first by Samsung, then other investors. I suspect the "bullet" is a generic HD camera badged up as Rollei under their OEM brand. Not exactly a knock off but not Deutschlands finest either.

Price wise there's a fair selection of generic action cams in that ballpark. Have a look at the range here http://www.actioncameras.co.uk/