Bike/Helmet camera for commute?

DaveD

Anyone use a bike or helmet camera for their commute and if so what do you use? Been looking at the the Contour Roam 2 of late. Don't wanna spend big bucks.

Reason being is I got knocked off the bike a few weeks ago by a woman pulling out in front of me. She admitted fault at the scene, but then her story changed when when Insurers got involved. She was trying to pin some blame on me. To cut a long story short, they eventually admitted fault but it took longer than it should to get sorted. I have no doubt that having a helmet cam at the time would have made the process a bit easier!

CJhaughey

DaveD wrote: »

Anyone use a bike or helmet camera for their commute and if so what do you use? Been looking at the the Contour Roam 2 of late. Don't wanna spend big bucks.

Reason being is I got knocked off the bike a few weeks ago by a woman pulling out in front of me. She admitted fault at the scene, but then her story changed when when Insurers got involved. She was trying to pin some blame on me. To cut a long story short, they eventually admitted fault but it took longer than it should to get sorted. I have no doubt that having a helmet cam at the time would have made the process a bit easier!

I thought Contour went bust?
I have a Sony HDR AS15, I liked the slim housing better than the lumpy Go-pro shape. 150 will buy one now.
Would you consider a dashcam in a dedicated housing?
They are a much cheaper option.
You can decent 720p water resistant versions for very little these days.
That said the Sony has a massive range of accessories available, and I like to have wifi link so I can adjust the angle while in place.

Wonda-Boy

I seen a review of that Sony AS15 and it was very good. Having said that the price of the older GO PRO 3 cameras are dropping fast as the new plus versions are out. Wait another few months and they will be a bargain.

Wossack

needs to be running all the time you're on the bike, so something built in that automatically records (loadsa storage) is what I'd go for

BrokenArrows

For a insurance purposes any budget helmet camera will do which will cost you somewhere around the 100 euro mark, possibly even way less.

If you want HD footage then you can spend upwards of 400.

If there is no need yo determine minor detail in the video then go budget.

goodlad

I used a HD drift Ghost every day. The quality is savage and the shape of the camera is perfect because it doesn't really catch any wind resistance when helmet mount.

I got it from action cameras in the UK.
They customized a package deal with me for the bits i wanted because the premade deals on the site has some stuff i wanted but also some stuff i wouldn't use.

Mr Sheen!

I have been using a go pro hero 3 black edition for about a year now. They are on the expensive side but you get what you pay for. The image quality is brilliant out of the go pro.

I already had an off while the camera was rolling, it was the other drivers fault. So the way I see my go pro has already paid for itself.

KT10

I have a ROAM 2 on my helmet and love it, so simple, flick the slider forward, camera on, away you go, cost me €150 about a month ago. I record my commute in 720p @60fps (to show a more realistic representation of speed) onto a Class 10 32GB micro SD card, only thing is because its a wide angle lens, other vehicles often look further away then they actually are, keep that in mind.

Don't even notice its there, unlike the GoPro I had years ago, fecking thing was like an air brake at motorway speeds.

For even cheaper option buy a ROAM 1 and upgrade it with the ROAM 2 firmware, will allow you record at 60FPS.

DaveD

Thanks for all the replies.

KT10 wrote: »

I have a ROAM 2 on my helmet and love it, so simple, flick the slider forward, camera on, away you go, cost me €150 about a month ago. I record my commute in 720p @60fps (to show a more realistic representation of speed) onto a Class 10 32GB micro SD card, only thing is because its a wide angle lens, other vehicles often look further away then they actually are, keep that in mind.

Don't even notice its there, unlike the GoPro I had years ago, fecking thing was like an air brake at motorway speeds.

For even cheaper option buy a ROAM 1 and upgrade it with the ROAM 2 firmware, will allow you record at 60FPS.

Where did you get it for €150? Cheapest i can find online is £149 sterling.

How do you cope with the fact it doesn't loop record? Do you have to format the card often?

Cheers!

johnnyvegas22

can you get helmet cams that record front and back or do a 360 view?, just wondering because the idiots that i come in contact on the road usally come from behind and squeeze me up against the curb?

goodlad

johnnyvegas22 wrote: »

can you get helmet cams that record front and back or do a 360 view?, just wondering because the idiots that i come in contact on the road usally come from behind and squeeze me up against the curb?

Drive faster :P:P

Ive never seen a cam that records both ways man.
Sure get 2 cameras, one facing each way:D

positron

johnnyvegas22 wrote: »

can you get helmet cams that record front and back or do a 360 view?, just wondering because the idiots that i come in contact on the road usally come from behind and squeeze me up against the curb?

Not yet as far as I know, but I am sure they are coming. For instance, have a look at the "panoramic video" clip in this news item. You can look around while video is playing back. This would be my ideal solution - mount it right on top of the helmet - if it's small and affordable of course!

http://fstoppers.com/360-degree-panoramic-video-next-big-thing-video

positron

Yeah here is the kickstarter project for BublCam. This is what I need to save for next....

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bublcam/bublcam-360o-camera-technology-for-everyone?ref=category

http://vimeo.com/78130259

KT10

DaveD wrote: »

Where did you get it for €150? Cheapest i can find online is £149 sterling.

How do you cope with the fact it doesn't loop record? Do you have to format the card often?

Cheers!

Got it on Adverts.ie funnily enough, keep an eye on eBay and the likes.

It runs out of battery (3 - 3.5 hours I think) before memory so loop recording not an issue. When its plugged in charging I just clear the card of anything I don't want, the 32GB is plenty of room for my commute (60 - 90 minutes a day, depends if I have to go off-site) but while touring I've knocked 2+ days out of each charge as its easy to switch off/on while on the move so you only turn it on for the twisty bits.

Vikings

If you don't mind waiting a few weeks you can get this one with free delivery and 2 spare batteries for about €85 delivered.

http://www.foxoffer.com/sj4000-full-hd-waterproof-action-helmet-camera-p-659.html

Review and footage here: http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2014/2/3/the-sj4000-action-camera-review.html

The price/quality ratio is bang on. It's not gopro/contour/drift quality but it's a damn sight cheaper. If it's just for your commute I can recommend this. I have one and it's perfect for that.

Suasdaguna1

I think it vital to have a camera when commuting.......i have a go pro 1. Nothing fancy but it does what it says on the tin......and has that special moment when that kunt pulls out in front of you and denys everything. Have a cheap and cheeful one in the cage too.....came from china and its brill. Small and discreet. A must imo.

DubVelo

Anyone seen a camera that somehow goes inside a helmet, behind the visor?
I was flicking around youtube and saw something where the guy reached up and flipped the visor down in front of the camera lens. Must be a pretty small camera.

Wossack

cant be a good idea... the only thing I want between the outer shell of my lid, and my skull, is impact foam thankyouverymuch

DaveD

So I decided to go with the contour roam 2. Picked up one on eBay for a decent price including a 32gb card.

Will post some thoughts when I get it.

guttenberg

DubVelo wrote: »

Anyone seen a camera that somehow goes inside a helmet, behind the visor?
I was flicking around youtube and saw something where the guy reached up and flipped the visor down in front of the camera lens. Must be a pretty small camera.

Presumably it was along the lines of these:
http://pivothead.com/products

No idea how good they are though. I use a Go Pro on a chest harness.

designbydan

Is it worth buying one of the dirt cheap ones? from lidl or the like?

Until you can afford a better one,

Just so you can have a record for safety.

BaronVon

DaveD wrote: »

So I decided to go with the contour roam 2. Picked up one on eBay for a decent price including a 32gb card.

Will post some thoughts when I get it.

I expect to see some videos like this!

Green Mile

I use a Drift HD cam, I don’t have it for insurance reasons but I travel to the likes of trim castle or other cool places around Ireland. I put my videos up on youtube and they tend to get a good few hits from Americans (and a few others) who are into this type of thing. Each time I get a click on a video, I get 1 cent. So my plan is to get thousands of hits hopefully over time I can make a bit of dosh. It’s a register-setup-upload-forget-about-income-for-life.

Mr Sheen!

Green Mile wrote: »

I use a Drift HD cam, I don’t have it for insurance reasons but I travel to the likes of trim castle or other cool places around Ireland. I put my videos up on youtube and they tend to get a good few hits from Americans (and a few others) who are into this type of thing. Each time I get a click on a video, I get 1 cent. So my plan is to get thousands of hits hopefully over time I can make a bit of dosh. It’s a register-setup-upload-forget-about-income-for-life.

Whats your channel ?

Green Mile

leppla wrote: »

Whats your channel ?

Just sent you a PM.

My youtube username is also in my Boards bio/description

My videos are nothing special by any means now.

KT10

Green Mile wrote: »

I use a Drift HD cam, I don’t have it for insurance reasons but I travel to the likes of trim castle or other cool places around Ireland. I put my videos up on youtube and they tend to get a good few hits from Americans (and a few others) who are into this type of thing. Each time I get a click on a video, I get 1 cent. So my plan is to get thousands of hits hopefully over time I can make a bit of dosh. It’s a register-setup-upload-forget-about-income-for-life.

Could you give me a quick explanation of how the pay per click works? I thought for YT to pay you, you had to let them puts ads over or before (or both) your videos? And if you use copywrited music it instantly disquailifes you from receiving payment?

Green Mile

KT10 wrote: »

Could you give me a quick explanation of how the pay per click works? I thought for YT to pay you, you had to let them puts ads over or before (or both) your videos? And if you use copywrited music it instantly disquailifes you from receiving payment?

You're correct with the above. You have to allow youtube to place ads before your videos. anything with copywrite is disqualified from allowing you to make money. You have to open an account with google.com/adsense and you build up credit whenever someone watches your video. You can then draw down your earnings to your Irish bank account.

There's a good few steps involved to get it fully set up (such as verifying your bank details etc) to explain all here but if you YT "youtube partnership" there are good tutorials and explanations on what to do.

DaveD

Contour arrived and i got it mounted on my helmet. I think it looks quite subtle.

Wonda-Boy

Looks very well indeed, very nice lid too btw.

Best of luck....invest in a tether for the camera believe me!

Pique

Bumping this thread to link to a BA thread.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=90961105#post90961105

GoPro imitation at a fraction of the price and perfectly acceptable quality.

blade1

Pique wrote: »

Bumping this thread to link to a BA thread.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=90961105#post90961105

GoPro imitation at a fraction of the price and perfectly acceptable quality.

Are they all gone or something?
Trying to buy one there and any one I click on is not available!

Pique

blade1 wrote: »

Are they all gone or something?
Trying to buy one there and any one I click on is not available!

Try here?
http://m.banggood.com/SJ4000-Waterproof-HD-1_5-Inch-Car-DVR-Camera-Sport-DV-Novatek-1080P-p-917037.html

I've no idea on that site. It just came up on my mobile as an ad on the boards touch site.

Bikerguy

link in euros
http://www.banggood.com/SJ4000-Waterproof-HD-1_5-Inch-Car-DVR-Camera-Sport-DV-Novatek-1080P-p-917037.html


unboxing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhShMVpqWKM

quality check recording IRL dayitime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TMKX3vdob4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM00-5H9yOA

nighttime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LhcmbqtMis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_aFFBkJcoM


it looks very good and for the price records 1080p at 30fps and 720p at 60fps thats more then enough for clear detail.. ... as mentioned.. it can save you a lot of hassle... and the reviews are very good, even in rain... and it has micro sd slot..

Pique

Here's a Techmoan review

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnHDu-oW7_Y

The 720p @60fps is not really 60fps, just 30fps with every frame repeated repeated.
Still, good price.

Pique

Monoprice have a Contour imitation on sale today for $60.
http://www.rakuten.com/prod/monoprice-mhd-action-camera/250439269.html

Techmoan review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX0-5j1dxAg

£60 from Monoprice on Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monoprice-110159-MHD-Action-Camera/dp/B00BZWOHKQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403601005&sr=8-1&keywords=monoprice+mhd

Apparently it's a rebranded Ion Air Pro which is a bargain from Amazon US for $50
http://www.amazon.com/Ion-Compatible-iPhone-Android-Devices/dp/B007N4EJK8/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
but yet costs either £150 or £180 on Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007N4EJMG/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=photo

blade1

The sj4000 is on ebay aswell for around €100 delivered and comes with 32gb sd card.
I'm not great with this kind of stuff but would I be right in thinking the sd card supplied would not be great for HD?

blade1

Ok I got it now on AliExpress for €65.
I bid on a class 10 sd card on ebay and got it for €7.

Do I need anything else?
I want to use it in my car and also on the bike.
This is what's included

Skill Magill

^^^^
Are you going to put it on your lid or the bike? How would you attach it to your lid by the way? Gaffer tape?

Oh, and your phone needs a charge, it down to 11%

Vikings

It comes with 2 double sided sticky pads to apply to your helmet. I have mine attached to the side of my lid, it's seen motorway speeds and never an issue. Solid as a rock.

zubair

blade1 wrote: »

Ok I got it now on AliExpress for €65.

Let us know if you get done for duty, I've been planning on getting one for some time now but put it of becasue it was coming from China and might turn out more expensive when delivered.

Vikings

I bought my camera from foxoffer after seeing the techmoan review. These guys are either the manufacturer of the camera or at least were the first/main supplier of it.

Mine cost me €82.31 delivered to my door. I chose the free delivery from foxoffer - which did take a few weeks - and got 2 extra batteries. They messed up somehow and sent me two cameras arriving six weeks apart. Both arrived marked as a gift of a web camera with a $40 value, neither were touched by customs. I can't comment on the other suppliers but had a good experience with foxoffer. Gave the second camera to a mate for 50 quid so mine only cost me 32!

blu3r0ri0n

blade1 wrote: »

Ok I got it now on AliExpress for €65.
I bid on a class 10 sd card on ebay and got it for €7.

Do I need anything else?
I want to use it in my car and also on the bike.
This is what's included

Won the same one in an ebay auction for 40e including postage, coming from UK so should be here before the forum meetup hopefully! :pac:

blade1

Skill Magill wrote: »

^^^^
Are you going to put it on your lid or the bike? How would you attach it to your lid by the way? Gaffer tape?


Oh, and your phone needs a charge, it down to 11%

Vikings wrote: »

It comes with 2 double sided sticky pads to apply to your helmet. I have mine attached to the side of my lid, it's seen motorway speeds and never an issue. Solid as a rock.

I suppose helmet but I hate the thought of putting a sticky pad on my helmet or bike.

zubair wrote: »

Let us know if you get done for duty, I've been planning on getting one for some time now but put it of becasue it was coming from China and might turn out more expensive when delivered.

Whether or not I get caught for duty will have no bearing on whether or not you have to pay.
It's pot luck really!

Vikings wrote: »

I bought my camera from foxoffer after seeing the techmoan review. These guys are either the manufacturer of the camera or at least were the first/main supplier of it.

Mine cost me €82.31 delivered to my door. I chose the free delivery from foxoffer - which did take a few weeks - and got 2 extra batteries. They messed up somehow and sent me two cameras arriving six weeks apart. Both arrived marked as a gift of a web camera with a $40 value, neither were touched by customs. I can't comment on the other suppliers but had a good experience with foxoffer. Gave the second camera to a mate for 50 quid so mine only cost me 32!

Lucky Bastard!::pac:

blu3r0ri0n wrote: »

Won the same one in an ebay auction for 40e including postage, coming from UK so should be here before the forum meetup hopefully! :pac:

Jesus, can't go wrong for that price..;)

Skill Magill

Sort of looks like there are clampy things that might let you attach it to the side though, for one I wouldn't like sticking it onto my lid too. Have you taken it out for a spin yet?

goodlad

I have a Drift attached to my lid and its held on solid with the 3M sticky pad. I guess this stuff is the same.

Also drove past a lad today on the N7 with a blue contour attached to his lid.

No issues really unless with the lower value cameras they also use lower value adhesive for the pads :pac::pac:

Skill Magill

Skill Magill

I just dislike sticking things, i'd rather bolt it or clamp it.

KT10

blade1 wrote: »

I bid on a class 10 sd card on ebay and got it for €7.

Check it when it arrives, I've gotten class 10 cards off eBay before and the only thing they're good for is firing out the window.

Skill Magill wrote: »

I just dislike sticking things, i'd rather bolt it or clamp it.

I've had a ContourGPS and a Contour ROAM2 on the side of my lid now for 2+ years on the original sticky mount (touch wood) its still 100% and I sometimes reef out of it to get the camera off (there's a trick to it, treat it like a band aid, one short, sharp pull to remove from the mount).

blade1

KT10 wrote: »

Check it when it arrives, I've gotten class 10 cards off eBay before and the only thing they're good for is firing out the window

Do you mean it could be a fake?
Is there a way to check before I use it in the cam?

KT10

blade1 wrote: »

Do you mean it could be a fake?
Is there a way to check before I use it in the cam?

Yep, there's free benchmarking software you can download that will test the read/write speed and that will tell you if its a true Class 10 card.

blade1

KT10 wrote: »

Yep, there's free benchmarking software you can download that will test the read/write speed and that will tell you if its a true Class 10 card.

Ah right.
I actually had a problem with a 32gb toshiba usb not so long ago.
It was a fake but I put a load of movies on it and they all seemed to go on it( you could see all the movies on it)
It was only when I went to play something it wouldn't work.

I tested it and there was less than 3gb true memory.
I got my money back anyway.

The sd I ordered is just a generic one.
Maybe that's a good thing as in its not claiming to be a big brand name.
Time will tell.