southerndownhill.com - Forum

Righty ho, helmet cameras.

I know a few people on here use them, just want to know some stuff, as I should be getting one soon.

Basically I want to be able to video stuff like this (http://www.pinkbike.com/video/13916/), but so you can actually see whats going on, and gauge speed and stuff. Would also be experimenting with different mountings, eg bars, fork lowers, chainstays etc.

So, as far as I can tell, I have three options:

1) Archos Gen5 Helmet Camcorder (http://www.archos.com/store/bsearch.html?country=gb&lang=en&ref_id=137&prod_id=archos605wifi)

     Advantages- I already have the Archos recording device, "high resolution" (although, what resolution this actually is I don't know. Recordings could be watched back instantly on the screen, and plugged straight into a TV and watched on that.
     Disadvantages- It would mean carrying my Archos- a fairly expensive piece of kit- in my Camelbak, without a case, due to the recorder that sits underneath the device.
Total cost=£103.99


2) ActionCan 520 Helmet cam (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=15136) + Archos Travel Adapter (http://www.archos.com/store/bsearch.html?country=gb&lang=en&ref_id=138&prod_id=archos605wifi)

     Advantages- As above plus- Claims to have the highest available resolution for a helmet cam. Has a long cable (1.8m) which would be useful for trying different POV.
     Disadvantages- See above. More expensive.
Total cost=£134.99+£39.99=£174.98


3) ActionCam ATC2000 (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=19243)

     Advantages- Small, records onto SD, no cables, no worries about mounting, cheap.

    Disadvantages- Quality likely to be nowhere near as good.
Total cost=£89.99


They're my three different options as far as mountings and recordings go.

In the second option, the cam itself could easily be substituted by the other two Actioncam cameras, the 420 (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10826) at £89.99 instead of £134.99, and the 480 (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10827) at £119.99 instead of £134.99.


Sorry for the massive post, I don't want to buy something and then discover it's cack!

Did you get one yet. i was also looking at getting a helmet camera. I was looking at the archos 604 on amazon as a recording device so i tried to find the archos helmet cam but have had no luck. Do you know where to get one.

If you get one tell me how it goes.

EDIT: I found this website i dont know if there stuffs any good though anyone have an idea?
http://www.sports-camera.com/?gclid=CN73i5Ku0JICFRCoQwodjAIuHw

I gave up on the idea, too much money.

I bought my Archos from Pixmania UK, cheap.

I could never find the Archos hcam anywear, except on Archos site itself. That said, they had one in Harrods (strange, I know) along with all the players, I think the hcam was £99 in there.

Alright. it is alot of money. play.com say they have it for 80 quid.

you seen the 'Twenty20 VholdR'?

looks good, would be my choice... if i had the money

good quality video and no cables or separate device with av in

best price i found was around £300 (so pretty darn expensive, but defiantly check it out)

http://vholdr.com/ (http://vholdr.com/)

I have just got a helmet cam from Sports-cam.co.uk and it plugs into my sony mini dv camcorder I like it the only problem is when you upload to a site like youtube it compress the file so much it make the kit you are useing look cheap and nasty .
Youtube videos  (http://youtube.com/profile?user=davidfranciosy)

These videos have been uploaded to photobucket so not as bad as youtube
better quality videos  (http://www.davefranciosy.co.uk/thetfordmountainbikevideos.html)

I think the camera is a good bit of kit for £93 inc battery mic and a mount

this guy found this... looks pretty cool

Hi, new to this forum dont know if this has been answered yet.

im after a helmet cam too. starting from scratch and im looking at this package...
http://www.sport-cam.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=Fullkit&cat=26
any ratings?
also, doesnt say if the cameras waterproof.

does anyone know of a really good waterproof head cam? looking for good quality, money doesnt matter, but would like to see the range.

cheers!!!!!!

Hello Dave same helmet camera as mine
Don't think it's water proof
but I like it not the best on the market but it did not break my bank account
I would buy the handle bar mount as the helmet mount anit that good to fix on

cheers for that. that DVR recorder is very tempting. i may go for it, but upgrade the camera later. its only £55

i havnt read all this but here is what I know.

dog cam do some good lenses and if you want full quality you either shell out a lot for a good solid state recorder or pay about £200 for a small dv cam that has the right input (video in)

all the archos recorders are pretty poor recording quality and with moving parts there easy to die.


you'll want a lanc cable so you can access record and stop from your shoulder rather than faffing in your bag... thats all from experiance.


im on the hunt to make a 16:9 wide one at the mo :)

this lanc cable sounds very useful, can you please post a link to one, its hard to find when you dont know what it looks like.
is it like a button that you can stop and start recording with?
im of to the alps in just over a week and ill be able to get a lot more footage if i dont have to faf in my bag.

thanks.

I have just bought an Archos 405 and the helmetcam i will post up some results when i get them.
           Dan

Can't you just cheat and crop the footage?

ha once i just suck a high tape camera to my helmet it worked but gave me neck pains lol never again

I have the ActionCam one, its a good cheap camera. Don't think about mounting it anywhere but youre helmet though or you just get a really shakey image. You have to fabricate your own mounting for a full face as the mountings for it are for bars and pisspots.