helmet camera's (your view)

Discussion in 'Photography' started by phantom, Feb 1, 2013.

  1. phantom

    phantom Active Member

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    Right quick question's for all you helmet camera blokes out there (most are from london if youtube is anything to go by)
    tried the search function but didnt get all the info, so.....

    1. what camera did you get
    2. how much
    3. how good is the quality (vids or snap shots welcome)
    4. is it internal memory or external drive
    5. how is it powered and how long does it last
    6. how bulky is it, any pics with size reference objects (no nudity :eek: but creativity welcome)
    7. how is it mounted and how secure is it
    8. what extras do you have e.g. fish eye lens
    9. how happy are you with it, are you going to change/upgrade

    thats this months questionnaire finished and your cheque is in the post [​IMG]
     
  2. eyore

    eyore Member

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    Just picked up a secondhand Gopro Hero yesterday, only started fiddling with it so far , but well impressed. Quality is superb.
     
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  3. IcarusGreen

    IcarusGreen Elite Member

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    I've gota go pro 2, I tend to put it on the bike rather than my helmet but the quality is second to none and the gadget show sent one to space and gave it the top score amongst others for picture quality and rigidity.
     
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  4. eyore

    eyore Member

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    On Charlie Boreingmans programme on South Africa, the used them on all sorts of things from underwater to bikes,paragliders and gold mine explosions, to get TV quality footage.
     
  5. levin

    levin Active Member

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    I got a hero 2 before xmas , argos were selling them for 250 euro , I also got 250 one4all voucher from work:D
    Only tried it a few times but quality is great.
    I also had a poseidon 720p from ebay , had a good picture but crap sound
     
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  6. jimmy

    jimmy Member

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    I have a Drift HD, comes with a lot of mounts for the bike and one for your lid, remote control, wrist, strapped to the bike etc
    1080p full Hd
    Battery last`s an age, lasted 5 sessions on my last track day with still half a charge left.
    Takes a Micro Sd card, I bought a 32gig card and is plenty for the day, just wipe it clean once loaded on to your PC
    The go pro is excellent but I found it to be a bit clumsy and the drift is small and a lot more biker friendly..

    Drift HD Helmet Camera | Motorbike, Head | Action Cameras UK & Ireland



    Overview
    This small, 1080p HD helmet camera has a remote control, built in colour screen and easy-to-use buttons and menu options. As well as wide-angle, high definition video, the Drift HD takes 9 megapixel still photos.

    Key Camera Features:
    • 1080p HD recording - the best possible HD video.
    • Built-in viewfinder - line your shots up and play them back.
    • 170° lens - capture everything and get stylish wide-angle shots.
    • Remote control with optional wrist strap.
    • 9 megapixel still photos
    • Up to 2.5 hour battery life
    • Film at up to 60fps at 720p - great for slick slow motion editing.
    • Lightweight - At 125g it weighs less than an iPhone.
    • Easy to use buttons and menu navigation.
    • Easy to follow menu options through full colour LCD screen.
    • Records to SD card - easy to transfer files on to your computer.
    • Internal microphone plus external mic input
    • 4x digital zoom
    • Helmet mount, goggle mount and universal clip included.
     
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  7. Si.

    Si. God Like

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    Gopro HD for me. With battery backpack it lasts 5hrs on 1080p 30 fps and 720p 60fps.
    Yes, it's bulky... But worth it for the images you get. I use mine mainly on my lid, as I prefer the fov.
     
  8. phantom

    phantom Active Member

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    the video comparison in the replay xd link was good.the go-pro 170hd seemed
    to be the best with the replay and drift near equal.
    prices I can find are
    replay xd £181
    drift hd £177
    gopro hd £181
    so they are all around the same prices but some pros and cons I see
    drift hd con - no lens angle choice, pro - remote and lcd review screen
    replay xd con - no lens angle choice, pro - most compact of all cameras
    gopro hd con - looks very bulky, cases look a bit cheap, video review showed
    it couldnt handle sudden light changes as well as the other cameras. pro - the most extras.

    have I missed anything else?
     
  9. Jollygiant

    Jollygiant Member

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    Gopro hd for me but use it mounted on the bike, yet to try it on the lid.
    Only use it on track days along with a data logger.
    Great picture and even better when you overlay the data logger info onto it aswell, looks like a proper race vid :D
     
  10. phantom

    phantom Active Member

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    see I would mainly want it on the side of my lid so
    thats why I am put off by the gopro
     
  11. Alblade

    Alblade God Like

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    GoPro user here - got loads of stuff captured with it over the years.

    Run bike with a front and rear facing mount as good to mix footage from both

    Don't tend to like helmet mounted footage but watching Si's review film I may give it a try - you just look a bit daft..

    THe chest mount is another idea but may catch bike clocks = evidence Police can take and use against you.

    The GoPro is a well proven system but others trying to catch up - Sony have just entered the market and could be worth a look - better quality lense but think some downfalls in terms of battery life or mounts from when I looked quickly.

    Big thing I always buyers of these cameras ' What have you / will you do with all the footage you record? ' I've got 2 Euro trips all filmed with nothing done with footage.

    I need to learn to speed up editing, force myself to cut 90% of footage out and keep edits slick. The other think to consider is if you go on a trip how many memory cards you need, or a laptop to copy footage onto - I've not found a device I trust to do this yet - or carry a portable external card drive and card reader and 'hope' you find a hotel computer / internet cafe you can use to backup footage.
     
  12. phantom

    phantom Active Member

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    I'll be editing and posting some of it on my channel from ride outs or posting footage of the
    numptys you meet on my youtube channel.
     
  13. levin

    levin Active Member

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    Ive fitted the gopro to the side of my lid with the suction mount and the camera turned under the mount and it doesnt look to bad , havnt been out on the bike with it fixed like that tho ,
    A camera with remote would be handier with helmet mounted camera's alright but the gopro is just one button on/off
     
  14. levin

    levin Active Member

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    Although the poseidon cam I had came with a remote but I never used it!!!
     
  15. bladerunner2010

    bladerunner2010 Active Member

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    I have 2 gopro 2's with wifi backs and remote control, if you use the apple app to "live view" them then set up is brill and you know exactly what footage you are recording
     
  16. levin

    levin Active Member

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    I was thinkin of gettin the wifi backpack , is it very hard on the battery??
     
  17. bladerunner2010

    bladerunner2010 Active Member

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    The wifi back is self powered mate and needs to be charged up just as the camera does
     
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  18. bladerunner2010

    bladerunner2010 Active Member

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    Can you mix footage in the gopro software or do you need something with more bells n whistles?
     
  19. phantom

    phantom Active Member

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    see I seen this and thought no way too big,
    make you look right on a windy day

    goprohelmetcam4.jpg
     

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