Helmet / bike camera (merged) mega threadfest...

Check this out! I read about it in Outside magazine(awesome rag, btw). It looks like one could make videos like the bike cam shots on Speedvision. Pretty cool, and at $150, not too outrageous. Anyone want to get me one? My birthday is right around the corner.:):

This is the same camera <a href="http://www.supercircuits.com/STORE/prodinfo.asp?number=PC157WR&variation=&aitem=16&mitem=31">Supercircuits sells</a>, but they charge you $50 to take off the Supercircuits logo and slap their own name on it.

Alternatively, if you want to spend the same amount of money but get a slightly smaller unit with the same performance (about .11" dia and 1" length smaller), <a href="http://www.supercircuits.com/STORE/prodinfo.asp?number=PC75WR&variation=&aitem=1&mitem=31">they've got yer hookup right here</a>.

Most of the 'helmetcam' shops just resell the same stuff with their own logo plastered on it. The only one that seemed worth the money came with a nicely designed helmet-mount that was pretty aerodynamic and didn't look like ass... I'd post a link but I don't remember it just now. If you go with this one or either of the supercircuits ones, you need to get creative with hardlok velcro or a Chatterbox-like clip mount.

I use these and various other camera types for RC-car work and various foolings around. Muchfun!

Cool, I wasn't aware of these at all, I would've guessed they cost a lot more. So is the video quality pretty good? If so, I might have to get one. Never enough toys, you know?

There's some info on helmet cams in one of the forums I moderate, so maybe you'd like to take a peek . Some familiar people over there too.

Roberto.

Here's some more:

http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/helmet_cameras.htm
http://www.helmetcamera.com/

The only thing holding me back is a small camcorder or some type of recorder. Well, that and cash.

Well, aside from the cash bit, there's some really damn small mini-DV camcorders and a tiny Sony proprietary micro-mv recorder. I'm sure they ain't cheap.

RAM mounts come with a camera adapter. Last weekend I put my MinDV recorder on the handlebar and took a ride. The RAM mount slipped a little on the bar, but was OK. The ride wasn't exciting, but proved that this can work. I did get a bit of the dash on the lower part of the screen. So if you already have a smallish camera, you might consider this very cheap option.

Anyone used the product from www.helmetcamera.com ? What has been your experience with this camera, and company?

Howdy Edmoto,

It's a good product, I have one and have used it to film a trip through the Rocky Mountains. The only complaint I have is this, the lens is a wide angle type, this is great if you are very close to what you are filming but if you are following another rider who is 50 feet ahead of you when watching the movie it looks like he is about 100 yards ahead. This makes shots as you are riding down the road not look on the movie as they look when you are riding past them. Even mountains look small and far away. I am assuming that this product was made to be used to film things at a close range and the wide angle lens allows more to be seen in the picture then what would have been seen with a regular lens.

I have one from Helmet Camera and used it on my 2002 Alps Tour.

It is OK, but there are better cameras out there. The built-in microphone is next to useless. I use a different microphone set-up that works really well described in my post on the Horizons Unlimited Bulletin Board

Do a search on "On-Bike Video Cameras" or just go to the "Photo Forum" and look half way down the page.

I'd also go for one of the higher resolution cameras from RF Concepts (UK), provided of course, your video camera has specs to match. By the way, you don't need much of a video camera in the way of features since all it does is act as a recording VCR when your helmet camera is attached to it.

Morning Gents,

Anyone savvy on video cameras?

I'd like to get a decent camera and make some videos this summer of our motorcycle adventures.

You know, mount the camera up and chase someone for a while, then switch it around so you can watch them following you, possibly to a helmet cam set up. It would also be cool to have a remote mic that you could put by the exhaust.

Keep in mind I'm just a basic 'ol sergeant in the air force so i have to work within a limited budget

Any ideas?

Mac

Go to the Horizons Unlimited Bulletin Board where I've already started a thread on that subject.

On Bike Video Cameras

You don't need much of video camera to take on-bike videos. The video camera is used as a recording VCR and the camera portion of it isn't even used if you intend on using a helmet camera.

For that reason, you don't need to spend a lot of money on features such as image stabilization, high power lenses (useless unless you use a tripod, and even then), or other fancy features. If you want these for regular video shooting, then go for what you need.

The video camera does have to be able to input and output video signals to a VCR. If it can do that, you can connect a "lipstick" helmet camera.

I'd get a quality Digital 8 with 500 lines and then go for the Sony color camera with 480 line capability from that company in the UK. Their web site is listed on the above thread.

Good luck.

thanks for the reply, i'll check that out

Mac

I like www.helmetcamera.com 's unit.



This is it mounted to a pair of glasses, but...it really works better with a helmet.
-T

This thread has been around a while. I read the links in it, and found some good info.

Has anyone tried one of these in the last year? I am looking to purchas one and would like to hear some current opinions.

Thanks,

Patrick

We (3 of us) just picked up 2 of the cameras from sportzhots.com over the winter. Now all we need is some sun and warm weather

The camera kits were about US$375 each and you need a compatible dv camera with LANC and aux in on it (one for each helmet camera).

Footage is great (just tried it on short trips in the city) and the audio is awsome.....almost too much soundm so we're gonna wrap the mics in some foam to avoid wind and fabric scratching sounds.

Just went for my first ride with my helmet camera. Hooked it up to a Sony DCR-HC40 camcorder inside the tank bag.

Mistake #1 was being very careful to align the camera horizontally and not even thinking about vertically. Now I have a kink in my neck from watching the entire video with my head tilted to one side.

A little tweaking will fix that... but I've got issues with too many/too long cables and such. I also got a Sony wireless mic to annotate the tape with but it seems like the mic output is too hot for the camcorder mic in. Also the wind noise blotted pretty much everything else out.

So, I'm wondering... anyone have any thoughts/tips/tricks for how to get the best video and audio? Know of any high quality wireless mics with really good noise cancellation?

Also, any thoughts on helmet mounting the camera? To the side? On top? Don't bother?

I've got mine mounted in front of the oil cooler on my GSA - it seems like a decent location but would like to hear where others mount them.


BTW, I've never been a huge Sony fan but I wanted the remote/weather resistant LANC start/stop button so I got one. I have to say, this camcorder kicks some serious butt. One of the coolest e-toys I've ever owned and I do own some seriously cool ones.

You ought to go a website called :www.2coolrc.com.They specialise in cameras for radio control cars and planes . For $150 you vcan get a fairly good one with good audio and GPS compatibility. Go look under the cookies ,really cool stuff . They have about 5 different models to choose from .

Enjoy.

I've made laods of mounts for tube type cameras - on frame sliders, rear footpeg mounts, etc.

I'm currently making one for my Ducati 916 (see pic). Still in the prototype stage as I'm trying to figure out the best mount angle, etc.

I usually make 2-3 tubes and mount them on the bikes in various places, then just move the tube camera around to the various mounts. It's quick and easy to do.

Let me know if you need some help making one for youir bike.


Eric

As far as the mic goes, the issue sounds like it is with wind noise reduction and not with reducing the cordage needed to connect the camera/mic to the VTR or camcorder. If you want a good quality wireless go for Lectrosonics. I've used them for for 10+ years and currently own 2. Expect to pay around $1100. Sony makes a cheaper one in the <$150 range...model number is 999 or 99 or something like that. Going wireless won't change your wind noise problem; it only reduces one cable and/or gives you the capability to add narration at a (limited) distance from your recording deck/camcorder.

However, back to the noise issue.

You are more than likely having to deal with AVC or some other such circuitry in your camera. Even if you have a "wind" setting you may not be able to override or overcome the wind noise. Because of that you'll need to try relocating the mic as a first step. Placement is important, as is how you're covering the mic to reduce noise.

One way is to place the mic on your chest or throat and cover it with light foam and then tape it down. You'll have to experiment. Placing it on your throat will give you better frequency range. Taping to your chest will pick up lower frequencies when your'e talking instead of the higher frequencies, so it may be harder to understand you as a result. Both locations will mean that you have to contend with rustle/contact noise associated with your riding garments. High neck placement means you have more wind noise. Low neck and chest placement means you have to content with garment noise (stay away from the zipper area) such as wind moving the leather/fabric or your body movements against the leather/fabric.

Some mics work well inside the helmet...Autocom, for instance, uses a very directional mic...but their box also has the circuitry that's dialed in for that sort of application. Again, your AVC circuit may be adding to your woes. If you have manual volume control during recording, you won't have the limiter and/or compressor overthinking things.

Taping the mic to your skin under clothing is an old trick to reduce wind noise. Try and and see how it does. Don't spend money until you've tried this, since all you will have is a more expensive way of picking up wind noise.