Head Cam

[jonny jeez]

I've ordered one (generic MD80) via ebay from China - so should be here soon ish. Once the class 6 card comes from 7dayshop I'll let you have my thoughts.

Thanx Fossyant

 

[thomas]

Read that forum thread you were sent too because a few people (mostly Thomas) kindly put up lots of youtube footage so you can see it all in action for yourself.

Thanks for the link, its really helpfull...although, I'm not convinced yet, perhaps Thomas can advise.

I am mindful of the 30 min record, My one way commute is 1hr-1hr.20, so I'd need to ensure the thing record 3 times. (Not sure vox would work in a noisy background environment either?)

Also, its not weather proof (without the £40 gator) and so seems prone to "weather damage).

Last point is, As I would only be buying it as an insurance additive, the footage seems a little jerky and blurry I would hate to get into bother and find that faces/reg numbers are illegible due to vibration etc.

Amazing what you can find out in minutes, from one helpfull thread !!!

I think I'll keep looking for now (unless someone can cure those fears for me)

Okay, my fine work is finally appreciated . I think for £100, you will struggle to find anything much better than the Muvi micro...My old camera was a atc2000, which though is fully waterproof, I think I would choose the muvi any (dry) day of the week . You said about the £40 casing...I'm tempted to ask for that for Christmas as I think I will make good use of it.

Your hour and an half commute would be successfully recorded on the VOX mode. It only requires 65db and when commuting it'll pick up wind noise, etc....so you won't have any problems. My camera lasts for about an hour and a half before the battery runs out. You will have 3, 30 minute videos...with a split second gap between them (barely noticeable).

A few people have said that it seems a little jerky...or at least it is compared to cameras costing £500.

This footage is with the faulty memory card:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZygZ2A2wfbkThis
is the proper footage.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-6YeN3_Xp0


I think, whatever camera you have there is the possibility of not catching number plates...always good to shout them out to the camera. If something serious happens, even if you have to spend a few minutes trying to work the numberplate out it isn't that hard usually.

Think I've briefly answered the questions...my hands are cold and it's hard to type...feel free to ask me anything else. I would offer to send you some raw footage, but it's too big and would take too long to send through my internet connection I'm afraid.

However, I was very very pleasantly impressed with the muvi and would definitely recommend it as a helmet camera.

My full review is here:

http://www.action-cameras.co.uk/muvi-micro-camcorder/

 

[fossyant]

Thought thomas would be around..... phew !

For recording, do you just set it to VOX, then press the record button to start the first 30 mins - just interested on the technique....

Fancy getting it fixed up for the descents near me for you all to have a gander....

 

[thomas]

Thought thomas would be around..... phew !

For recording, do you just set it to VOX, then press the record button to start the first 30 mins - just interested on the technique....

You turn the 'power' side button on, then turn the 'vox' side on. It will then automatically record when it hears over 65db (straight away basically).

When testing the VOX function I had to be incredibly quiet for it not to be set off.

If VOX mode is not switched on you can push the manual 'record button', this records for 30 minutes then stops.

BASICALLY, just think of the VOX mode as the way normal recording should work

fossyant...how much was your "imitation" one? Where from...I'd be interested to see how much different they are (I doubt at all).

 

[fossyant]

Well I await it's delivery..... £23 posted..looks like an AEE or what ever branded..

I'm willing to waste the £23 for the unit if it's crap - paid the £7 for a 4gb class6 mini card from 7dayshop if the camera is rubbish..I'll stick the card in my phone....

If it's good, then I'll drop the link for everyone............... there are loads of these on the internet/ebay......

 

[Perfect Virgo]

Given that the dark season is now almost upon us how do these headcams fair in low light darkness? I would only buy one if I was convinced the image quality was not hopeless in low light/dark. Plus also will the camera be fooled and lose the image if it catches the beams of headlights so all you see is white dots? I think one would have to spend quite a lot to get a half decent camera and recording software.

These guys do a lot of cameras and security surveillance equipment for home, business installations and covert monitoring.

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

http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/helmet_cam_accessories.htm

http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/cam-bullet-bw.htm

I have one of the Sony "bullet cam" kits, which I bought from Sports Camera. While the lens is amazing quality and I love the results, the problem is the rat's nest of wiring you need. A portable DVR is required to capture what the camera sees but in addition to having that fag box-sized gadget slipped in your pocket, you have wires to the camera, to the separate microphone and to the separate battery pack (6 AAs).

I have lots of footage shot from a platform on the tank of my R1 but most of it is a bit hairy to post on YouTube. I may get round to editing some and I have to say the quality is superb. We discussed the set up on CC here where I add my thoughts on page 3.

The bottom line for me is, while it's excellent in a fixed position I find it very fiddly and frustrating to set up for rides with wires everywhere. I have ordered a Muvi for sheer simplicity - Oh and it's about a quarter of the price I paid in 2006!

 

[thomas]

I have ordered a Muvi for sheer simplicity

Click into mount, turn on, go. ...you can't even notice it when riding, unless you start eyeing yourself up in car windows

 

[Perfect Virgo]

Click into mount, turn on, go. ...you can't even notice it when riding, unless you start eyeing yourself up in car windows

My nut in a pointshell!

 

[Norm]

I have lots of footage shot from a platform on the tank of my R1 but most of it is a bit hairy to post on YouTube.

Excellent!

 

[Crankarm]

I have one of the Sony "bullet cam" kits, which I bought from Sports Camera. While the lens is amazing quality and I love the results, the problem is the rat's nest of wiring you need. A portable DVR is required to capture what the camera sees but in addition to having that fag box-sized gadget slipped in your pocket, you have wires to the camera, to the separate microphone and to the separate battery pack (6 AAs).

I have lots of footage shot from a platform on the tank of my R1 but most of it is a bit hairy to post on YouTube. I may get round to editing some and I have to say the quality is superb. We discussed the set up on CC here where I add my thoughts on page 3.

The bottom line for me is, while it's excellent in a fixed position I find it very fiddly and frustrating to set up for rides with wires everywhere. I have ordered a Muvi for sheer simplicity - Oh and it's about a quarter of the price I paid in 2006!

Thanks for your feedback PV. I have been considering this sort of set up using a high quality camera for max image quality for some time. The mumber of wires though is a considerable negative against it unless there was a wireless system but this I imagine would be prohibitively ££££££.

 

[Perfect Virgo]

No problem Crankarm. Here's a picture of the set up laid out ready to "wear." I don't know if you can follow the wiriing but not only do the camera and mic both connect to the Digital Video Recorder but they both require power from the battery pack. I don't have the remote "record" switch (I get set up then hit record on the DVR before pocketing it) but that would another wire to the loom.

I haven't tried it on my road bike as it's tricky enough on the Yamaha even with all its handy mounting points.

 

[jonny jeez]

Click into mount, turn on, go. ...you can't even notice it when riding, unless you start eyeing yourself up in car windows

Cheers Thomas, you should be on commission!!


I'm sold. just need to trawl back through this thread and find the best place to pick one up.

Should be good for Skiing and for the occasional run on the "load bike" (My new shiny beast is being delivered to the office on Wednesday, so Chitty will have some serious competition for a week or two!!! It's like Xmas!!)

 

[ttcycle]

(My new shiny beast is being delivered to the office on Wednesday, so Chitty will have some serious competition for a week or two!!! It's like Xmas!!)

I KNEW IT!!!! Poor Chitty, I knew her days would be numbered soon..I will expect to find her rusting in the Thames!

Jonny you're an evil owner...

 

[Perfect Virgo]

Excellent!

Old men and fast bikes eh!

 

[thomas]

Cheers Thomas, you should be on commission!!

Technically, if you buy through my website I do make a commision

Ebuyer was the cheapest...but I think Amazon compares now....unless you go for a imitation ebay jobby.