Mountable Video Camera

[STindy05]

What kind of camera are you guys using for making a video? I have never done it but am thinking about trying it out and want some suggestions. I am not worried about how to mount one. Just what recording camera should one buy?

[blatherskyte]

Funny you should ask...
I've been looking at rugged cameras for a while. Oregon Scientific (http://www2.oregonscientific.com/) seems to be one of the only people making them in a cost-effective, simple package that didn't require extra wiring to a recorder or power source.

That said, I waited until there was a bit of a price drop from the MSRP of $169 and found one on Amazon for $89. The model is ATC2K and it records directly to an SD card.

It arrived the other day and I anxiously mounted it to the lowest section of my front fork, went around the block a couple times to test. When all was well, I spun off to work.

You can see the results for yourself on my blog: http://www.digitalhooligans.com/blog/2007/07/26/atc2k-camera-test/ (http://www.digitalhooligans.com/blog/)

I really want to like the ATC2K more since it comes with a bunch of mounts, waterproofing paste and is ready for harsh environments... but the dang image sucks pretty bad. I've seen better pictures from one of those single-use video cameras you can pick up at the local walgreens.

I'm going to keep using it to get my money out of it, but I can't really recommend it for picture clarity.

as always, just my 2¢.

[Fat Man Bass]

I use a Canon S3 IS for pics and movies.
Mounted on a RAM mount.
One push on a button for movies, another button for pics.

Not waterproof, but I only use it on holidays. And I never saw any cloud in the holiday brochures...:)

I like the quality, gives a good impression of the ride.

[whittlebeast]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AESZ1t1ois8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXH4WWhqZ_s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EklbMIbEbu0

I did all of these with an ebay $100 bullet lense connected to a Aiptek MPVR 2K6 that I paid about $140 at Target.

AW

[STurgisSTeele]

Funny you should ask...
I've been looking at rugged cameras for a while. Oregon Scientific (http://www2.oregonscientific.com/) seems to be one of the only people making them in a cost-effective, simple package that didn't require extra wiring to a recorder or power source.

That said, I waited until there was a bit of a price drop from the MSRP of $169 and found one on Amazon for $89. The model is ATC2K and it records directly to an SD card.

It arrived the other day and I anxiously mounted it to the lowest section of my front fork, went around the block a couple times to test. When all was well, I spun off to work.

You can see the results for yourself on my blog: http://www.digitalhooligans.com/blog/2007/07/26/atc2k-camera-test/ (http://www.digitalhooligans.com/blog/)

I really want to like the ATC2K more since it comes with a bunch of mounts, waterproofing paste and is ready for harsh environments... but the dang image sucks pretty bad. I've seen better pictures from one of those single-use video cameras you can pick up at the local walgreens.

I'm going to keep using it to get my money out of it, but I can't really recommend it for picture clarity.

as always, just my 2¢.

Watched your videos today about the trip back home from NM. I like the concept of hand-holding the camera instead of a static mount somewhere on the bike. Do you have a cam on the bike too? Thanks for posting the videos, that was neat.

[blatherskyte]

I worked to make a mount for the ATC2K camera but the ST just doesn't lend it self to having something strapped on. Aside from down on the forks, where it's completely out of reach for starts and stops, there aren't many other places.

I made a velcro mount for the ATC2K on the dash and on either side of the console but they just didn't work well enough. You can see a couple of shots I took with that on this video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=b-2EEdx7WVI

That camera just doesn't take a very good picture compared to my little Canon Elph.

Now that I traversed the country toting two cameras, trying to document my trip, I think it's better to add another rider or two as well as a few more cameras not controlled by me. Trips like that should be shared.

[dannyk]

There is a group buy on the pashnit site for a complete set up, recorder, camera, mounts, 12volt power, battrey power, mic. and waterproof for about 360 bucks, has some you tube vids also. I was interested until I looked at the quality of the video's 320X240 I think was what I read. Otherwise everything there to make your own. :biker:

[STurgisSTeele]

Thanks J. Curtis. I forgot to mention that I also like the editing with the music too. That's much better than silence or all the wind noise. I'll have to someday figure that stuff out. (First I better get a bike! :D )

[STindy05]

There is a group buy on the pashnit site for a complete set up, recorder, camera, mounts, 12volt power, battrey power, mic. and waterproof for about 360 bucks, has some you tube vids also. I was interested until I looked at the quality of the video's 320X240 I think was what I read. Otherwise everything there to make your own. :biker:

Thanks for the heads up!

[drrod]

http://www.mx1.co.uk/products-Go-Pro-Action-Sports-Digital-amp;-Video-Wrist-Camera-DH3_gopro.htm

Saw this when skiing. Guy said it worked great. Waterproof, etc. Good quality video and relatively inexpensive.

[Finewest]

I use a Canon Elura 100 mini-dv widescreen camcorder mounted to my left handlebar with a Ram-Ball mount. I like the mini-dv as opposed to dvd or harddrive as the bike's vibration will knock it around and skip. I also use Sony's Vegas Movie Studio to do the editing. A great video editing program that is worth it's weight in bytes! LOL. Here's a example (of the crappy Youtube resolution):

HIGHWAY 1 - MENDOCINO COUNTY CALIFORNIA

[Fat Man Bass]

Looks good Fred!!

[Finewest]

Here's some info on my camcorder mounting to the bike:

http://www.cyclegadgets.com/images/RAM-B-202A.jpg Ram-Ball Camera Mount (http://www.ram-mount.com/camera_mount/camera_mounts.htm)

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/images/upload/Image/Canon/Canon%20Elura%20100/Canon-Elura-100-vanity.jpg Canon Elura 100 Widescreen Mini-DV Camcorder (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=174&modelid=12827)

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/images/boxshots/prod/moviestudiope_r.jpg Sony Vegas Movie Studio Video Editing Software (Free month long trial) (http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/download/trials/moviestudiope)

I also carry with me a fish-eye lens for self-portrait shooting, or extreme wide-angle. Not surprisingly the ST1300 is so smooth that the only bumps and jars I get is from the road surface itself!

Another example of this great video combination:

RIDE XII-BIG SUR II

[nybryan]

If i recall there is a state, maybe more, that have laws against video taping as driving/ riding. I think it was Maryland but I'm not sure. Just throwing it out there.

[dreddd2000]

I had been considering the ATC2K because of the nice all-in-one style, but I've seen several VERY negative reviews of it so far.

Next cheapest would be to get a MiniDV camcorder. For those of you that use them, how do you get your tape-recorded clips to the computer? I'm a camcorder newbie.

[Finewest]

I had been considering the ATC2K because of the nice all-in-one style, but I've seen several VERY negative reviews of it so far.

Next cheapest would be to get a MiniDV camcorder. For those of you that use them, how do you get your tape-recorded clips to the computer? I'm a camcorder newbie.

My Canon mini-dv camcorder has a firewire port, as so does my laptop. You need a video capture app. but most, if not all, video editing programs have them built in; such as the Microsoft Windows freebie one "Windows Movie Maker".

[RobsTV]

After fooling with a high end motorcycle camera for a couple days, just so I could explain to purchaser friend how to use it, I was left unimpressed. Consumer A/V is what I used to do for 25 years, and where my old user name came from.

Then came across a Hot Deals thread for Tony Hawk Helmet Cam at $20, so bought a few just to see how bad it would be. Unless you plan on making video's for profit, you only need the Tony Hawk Helmet cam. Very good 320x240 results that rival the $400-$600+ setup I tested prior. All self contained (no wires) and writes to SD card, Powered by 2xAAA batteries. Bad thing is audio. Forget about audio with this camera, since it does not handle wind noise well. The video results are better than any video I've seen in this thread.

Look on ebay and you can get one for around $30. Or Google it for more info. It might seem like a toy, but again, the end results rival much more expensive units, and it is ultra simple to setup and use. You Tube also has some video's of motorcyclists using the Tony Hawk Helmet Cam.

You can click on more videos on the right of this page (none of this is mine)
h t t p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV9Nx5rHUHk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV9Nx5rHUHk

[STurgisSTeele]

Thanks for the info Rob.

[Finewest]

After fooling with a high end motorcycle camera for a couple days, just so I could explain to purchaser friend how to use it, I was left unimpressed. Consumer A/V is what I used to do for 25 years, and where my old user name came from.

Then came across a Hot Deals thread for Tony Hawk Helmet Cam at $20, so bought a few just to see how bad it would be. Unless you plan on making video's for profit, you only need the Tony Hawk Helmet cam. Very good 320x240 results that rival the $400-$600+ setup I tested prior. All self contained (no wires) and writes to SD card, Powered by 2xAAA batteries. Bad thing is audio. Forget about audio with this camera, since it does not handle wind noise well. The video results are better than any video I've seen in this thread.

Look on ebay and you can get one for around $30. Or Google it for more info. It might seem like a toy, but again, the end results rival much more expensive units, and it is ultra simple to setup and use. You Tube also has some video's of motorcyclists using the Tony Hawk Helmet Cam.

You can click on more videos on the right of this page (none of this is mine)
h t t p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV9Nx5rHUHk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV9Nx5rHUHk

I'll check it out! Can't beat the deal! Thanks!

[STindy05]

After fooling with a high end motorcycle camera for a couple days, just so I could explain to purchaser friend how to use it, I was left unimpressed. Consumer A/V is what I used to do for 25 years, and where my old user name came from.

Then came across a Hot Deals thread for Tony Hawk Helmet Cam at $20, so bought a few just to see how bad it would be. Unless you plan on making video's for profit, you only need the Tony Hawk Helmet cam. Very good 320x240 results that rival the $400-$600+ setup I tested prior. All self contained (no wires) and writes to SD card, Powered by 2xAAA batteries. Bad thing is audio. Forget about audio with this camera, since it does not handle wind noise well. The video results are better than any video I've seen in this thread.

Look on ebay and you can get one for around $30. Or Google it for more info. It might seem like a toy, but again, the end results rival much more expensive units, and it is ultra simple to setup and use. You Tube also has some video's of motorcyclists using the Tony Hawk Helmet Cam.

You can click on more videos on the right of this page (none of this is mine)
h t t p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV9Nx5rHUHk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV9Nx5rHUHk

Rob...Can you turn the mic off so it does not pick up the wind? Most people seem to edit the movie with music playing anyway.

[STindy05]

Could you take a couple pictures of the one you have also? Could you mount it to locations on the bike instead of your helmet?

[RobsTV]

No, I do not think you can turn off the MIC during recording. Afterwards, you can delete or change audio as desired.

The rubber Helmet mounting strap easily removes from camera's attaching base, and you are left with a unit that looks very close to the ATC2K with it's attaching base. I suppose you could mount it anywhere with a couple zip ties or Dual Lock.

Here is the website for the Tony Hawk Helmet Cam

http://digiblue.com/hawk/

The photo of the helmet cam mounted to a helmet is exactly like mine (except for Helmet used of course).
You can position the camera up and down by rotating it, and it ratchet clicks to lock in several positions up and down.

To use is as simple as this.
Press button on top to turn on unit.
A Laser pointer then turns on, blasting in the direction camera is pointed, and you adjust camera on helmet until laser points at desired location straight ahead, with correct height. Press button a second time, and laser goes out, and recording begins. Press button again to toggle between laser and recording. Recording stops when laser is on. Recording stops automatically after 15 minutes. Press button again to start recording another 15 minutes. I like this 15 minute feature, as I can easily click off several 15 minutes segments to keep or toss out later. In laser mode, it shuts off after about 5 minutes if button is not pressed. When I tested a 2 gig SD card, I think I got around 2 to 4 hours. Sorry, don't remember exact. Includes software and USB cable, or pop out SD card and pop it into a SD equipped PC or card reader to transfer AVI images.

Again, I see these new on ebay for around $30 BuyItNow (I'm not associated with any of these).

[Finewest]

I checked it out and couldn't find the frame rate. From the youtude video you provided it looks like 15fps. My needs are in the 30fps for smooth video. Nice little unit for the kiddies though.

[RobsTV]

You are correct with 15fps

FAQ's:
http://digiblue.com/customer-service/faqs/th/hcam/index.html

[STurgisSTeele]

Rob,
The constant motion of the camera didn't work well with me, getting a headache. :o: But if it were mounted on the bike instead, suppose it would be smoother. I couldn't tell by looking at the road you were on, but must have been a little bumpy. Quite a bit of up & down movement in the video. Hey, for around $30 it would be fine for 15fps clips though.

[rush2112]

http://www.goprocamera.com/

Have a couple of friends that use these on their dirt bike helmets. Pretty impressive in the woods.