When Did You Buy Your Helmet Cam?

[MrHappyCyclist]

I got mine in October last year on Amazon. It is a cheap one from Chilli Technologies (Actioncam), only 640x480 and 25fps, but it works well in good light, and is acceptable in fairly low light. I bought it when the price dipped to £35, but it's up at about £55 now.

It hasn't been without problems, though. I do sometimes get home to find that the files on the micro SD card are corrupt or it has just failed to record anything. This may be a problem with the card rather than the camera, so I have just ordered a new, good quality card. I'll see what happens.

Got a new memory card last week, and have had no problems over 6 one hour commutes, so it's looking good! (For a ridiculously cheap one, that is.)

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I've been commuting in Melbourne for 27 months now, and got my GoPro HD Hero helmet-cam in August last year. Thanks again to gaz for our little chat about helmet-cam options.

I know I didn't get the VHoldR like you did, mate, but I'm quite happy with the GoPro, even if it does look a bit clunky and awkward on top of my helmet. Only this week, I've been wearing it every afternoon for the commute home. I don't use it in the "mornings", because I ride to work between 5 and 6am while it's still dark. I did try the helmet-cam on one of these "morning" commutes, but there wasn't much to see; even the well-lit sections with more than adequate street lighting didn't light my surrounds enough for my camera to pick up car numberplates. And that's kind of the whole point with these, isn't it?

The video quality with this camera is superb! I've used it riding down various mountains around Melbourne now, such as: Lake Mountain, Mt Donna Buang, Mt Macedon, and the king of mountain rides, the Audax Alpine Classic (200km option) only a month ago! I keep watching those videos.

I also finally got my sh!t together and worked out how to (a) clip and (b) convert my videos into different resolutions, for the specific purpose of uploading them to YouTube. So behave, all you anti-cyclist BMW/Lexus/Audi/etc. b@stards, or I'll shame you via video!

 

[magnatom]

I did try the helmet-cam on one of these "morning" commutes, but there wasn't much to see; even the well-lit sections with more than adequate street lighting didn't light my surrounds enough for my camera to pick up car numberplates. And that's kind of the whole point with these, isn't it?

It can still be useful. As a habit if a car does something I will always shout out the registration, so that if the camera doesn't catch it, I should have it on the audio.

 

[gaz]

I also finally got my sh!t together and worked out how to (a) clip and (b) convert my videos into different resolutions, for the specific purpose of uploading them to YouTube. So behave, all you anti-cyclist BMW/Lexus/Audi/etc. b@stards, or I'll shame you via video!

do you have a youtube channel?

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

It can still be useful. As a habit if a car does something I will always shout out the registration, so that if the camera doesn't catch it, I should have it on the audio.

But, it seems that cheap cameras tend to suffer a lot from wind noise. Often it is hard even to hear the Airzound over the wind noise on mine, so a shouted registration number doesn't even break through.

Having said that, I can usually get the registration number on mine by looking at the closest images frame-by-frame and using mycarcheck.com to check the validity of the numbers when in doubt.

 

[BSRU]

But, it seems that cheap cameras tend to suffer a lot from wind noise. Often it is hard even to hear the Airzound over the wind noise on mine, so a shouted registration number doesn't even break through.

Having said that, I can usually get the registration number on mine by looking at the closest images frame-by-frame and using mycarcheck.com to check the validity of the numbers when in doubt.

I always check the registration before using it in a video, plus I check it's taxed as well.

 

[Tinuts]

I believe I started using one in 2007 (judging by my YouTube channel). I'd had a couple of accidents due to idiot motons and decided to add a bullet cam to my Archos AV500 both to publicise the often dreadful attitude of some UK motorists toward cyclists and to use as evidence, if need be. I've since found that the Police are somewhat disinclined to take helmetcam evidence seriously - I can't imagine why, as they seem to think every other kind of CCTV footage is acceptable evidence - but a cam is still useful if an insurance claim is involved.

I think the biggest problem with posting footage is purely the amount of time it takes to edit the film into an acceptable clip. I have incidents which justify posting on an almost daily basis but I just don't have time to sift through all the footage in order to do so.

On a completely different tack, I saw the new GoPro 3D setup at the Broadcast & Video bash at Earl's Court about 10 days ago. Spectacular footage! Now that would add a touch of class to m vids. Unfortunately, the folks at GopPro haven't worked out how to attach a screen to it yet. Maybe next year......

 

[Tinuts]

Ordered a Dogcam Bullet HD today. £100 and possibly not that great but small, rechargeable and not too expensive if I smash it up. I have been commuting 8 years an all the reaons have been covered already but evidence is probably the main one for me, though colleagues already tired of my commuter tales fear morning film shows. Not bought one sooner as, frankly, I was not aware of them.

What's the battery life like? Footage looks good on dogcamsports' site. I'm thinking of it as a possible rear facing cam.

 

[Tinuts]

I've now got two new cams on the way that the BBC have been using for the sports

What are they? VIO?

 

[Ibbots]

What's the battery life like? Footage looks good on dogcamsports' site. I'm thinking of it as a possible rear facing cam.

Stated as 1 1/2 to 2 hours but only played with it in the office so can't confirm. From what I have seen so far I think the footage on the website flatters, it's ok but not brilliant but then neither is my monitor and the filming conditions are probably not the best. Going to give it a try out off road over the weekend and if I remember will post further considerations, perhaps some footage if I can figure out how. Please feel free to contact me directly if you want more info.

 

[downfader]

What are they? VIO?

Nah the new wireless camsports set ups (HP-S 720p and Extreme HD). Havent tried the Extreme out, its too big to be a helmet cam imo. The other one has been used all week and I've put up about 4 vids from it already.

 

[Tinuts]

I've noticed that sport-cam are offering 10% off until the end of Feb so I might avail myself of an upgrade. Anybody had dealings with this company?

 

[Tinuts]

Nah the new wireless camsports set ups (HP-S 720p and Extreme HD). Havent tried the Extreme out, its too big to be a helmet cam imo. The other one has been used all week and I've put up about 4 vids from it already.

Yes, checked some of your vids. Shame about the lack of 720p on YT. That is Itchen Bridge in the rain isn't it? Used to live in Soton years ago. Good to see they've implemented what appear to be decent cycle lanes.

Out of interest, what do you use to put the titles on your vids?

 

[downfader]

Yes, checked some of your vids. Shame about the lack of 720p on YT. That is Itchen Bridge in the rain isn't it? Used to live in Soton years ago. Good to see they've implemented what appear to be decent cycle lanes.

Out of interest, what do you use to put the titles on your vids?

I figured out that it was the codec I was using that stripped the 720 out of it for some very odd reason. Switched to saving as a different type of mpeg and it was fine.

Yep thats the Itchen Bridge. I love that bridge, its so ugly but its a great workout with great views of the water and the boats. The lanes have been in place for about 10 years I think. They're not very wide, under minimal guidence, but have the added benefit that drivers dont cut back in on you like they used to when the road was unmarked. Also allows safe filtering when rush hour arrives.

I'm using Corel Video Studio 12. Its not ideal but imports a lot of different video types. Its essentially Windows Moviemaker but with a couple of added features (titles, screen grab, picture drawing)

 

[HLaB]

I'm using Corel Video Studio 12. Its not ideal but imports a lot of different video types. Its essentially Windows Moviemaker but with a couple of added features (titles, screen grab, picture drawing)

The latest edition of Window's MM live has added those features back in, (except you can only annotate not draw) why they chose to remove them is beyond me however It still doesn't like flv's though and I need to convert them if I want to edit them. I opened AVI and wmv's no problem but I' never tried mp4 or mpeg though!