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Helmet Camera for Christmas

jnrugg

Member
As I ride around I see stuff that I would like to share but can't always stop to take a picture.
So I told my wife for Christmas just get me a GoPro and nothing else.
I would like to stick it to my helmet and with a remote be able to take a picture at a stop sign or while riding.

She was ok with that but I ran across this today and am wondering is anyone has one or other recommendations.
http://adixxion.jvc.com/
 
GoPro with remote might not live up to your expectations for one reason... the battery life isn't all that great, especially when using the remote. It's maybe 30-45 minutes when taking video. Battery life may be longer if only using it to take stills... I haven't tried.

Look at Drift and Contour in addition to GoPro. Plus Sony and the new Garmin in addition to the JVC that you linked.

For stills I like my older drift. Example of Drift in time lapse mode (helping a friend move). Skip to about 1:15 for images taken with the bike on the move.

<iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="640" height="360" src="http://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/1699139318_jrJrWKw?width=640&height=360&albumId=14428225&albumKey=VRMXBx"></iframe>

In that example I had the camera on the bike, not my helmet.
 
I have an early model Go Pro Hero. I hate it. Battery life is pathetic. No way to see what you are filming until you can transfer to a computer, and I am not especially impressed with the video quality either. It is very tiny and I suppose that is a good thing for some, but for me it equates to a product that is just too much trouble to use. I am not familiar with the JVC model you mention, but I have a handheld JVC camcorder that I have used on the bike, and was quite pleased with it.
 
Contour has closed up shop. You can still find some in stores, but be aware that there will be no support or new accessories down the road.

I just got one of the new GoPro 3+. They tweaked the firmware and hardware a bit and made a higher capacity battery. They are saying 30% more battery life than the 3 with the old battery. Still not a ton of battery life. What I've been experimenting with is camera on, wifi on camera on, connect with smartphone app to check that it is aimed the way I want it to be, turn off wifi because it is a high draw, then hit the record button on the camera.

Be aware that you will need to buy a very fast and large micro sd card to go with it. And maybe add some hard drive storage to your computer for storing videos that you are keeping.

I'm still learning, so I can't tell you any other tips than the above.
 
I hope Contour is revived. I absolutely love mine, and used it to capture thousands of quality images on my ride (with Barley) from Vermont to Oregon and back this summer.
 
Boy this is a crowded space, here is a few on the list... are there more?

GoPro Hero 3 Black edition http://gopro.com/cameras/hd-hero3-b...ition&utm_campaign=20130930-hero3p-launch-row

JVC GC-XA1EU http://www.jvc.ca/www/Consumer/products.aspx?h=B1_300_53

Drift Ghost http://canada.store.driftinnovation.com/cameras/drift-hd-ghost

Garmin VIRB Elite https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/action-cameras/virb-elite/prod119594.html

Sony Action Cam http://store.sony.ca/action-cam-with-wifi-zid31-HDRAS15B/cat-31-catid-All-Action-Cam

Contour Roam 2 http://store.contour.com (if they are revived by the Utah bidder)

Google Glass - http://www.google.com/glass/start/

Toshiba Camileo X-Sports (no link yet)

iON Air Pro 2 HD http://www.ioncamera.com/ion/ION-Air-Pro-Plus-HD-Sports-Video-Camera.html

Liquid Image Ego Mini (no link yet)

Panasonic HX-AH100 (no link yet)

Swann Bolt HD http://www.swann.com/s/products/view/?product=1440

Geonaute 360-degree action camera http://www.geonaute.com/camera360/
 
Early GopPro here:)

I have the 2nd edition GoPro and it works pretty good. Also have remote and back pack video attached, but don't use the remote. My battery goes almost two hours, sometimes more, some less. Used it for two months to Alaska and back a few months ago. Some tips I found good: A LONGER power cord is available from Best Buy(6') and a huge improvement, as you can still use camera plugged in:). Charges the battery same time:). The one that came with camera is only 3" long! WalMart sells a 64GB HD Card for 54$, a WOW:). I bought one(card) at WalMart, Whitehorse, Yukon...No issues in GoPro, this card... Just bought the newest laptop touch screen HP 11.5" for my saddlebag and a small powerful unit is nice addition, almost required to enjoy GoPro on the road. Recording on the road from bike is a transition one must learn to get good video!!! Most scenes pass way too quick as you ride and you MUST slow down to get anything really good to watch. Of course high speed video works too, but close up signs and the like are just not going noticed at speeds. Using the cameras on board bike is way cool and much happiness watching later, BUT you'll find taking your time and slowing your pace will produce much more interesting video. IF you're a rider that likes long days and not much wasted time en route, the video cameras are going to cut your miles, as you tinker:). Fun, yes. One more quickie tip; BUGS are nasty in parts of the NAmerica as we roam. Alaska far North has plenty and using your GoPro behind a good screen is good idea, or clean it frequently, very frequently. My top of helmet cam produced best quality video and I have two other mounts on bike. Top of your head or side maybe for some, seems best choice for best video work. From my head, I can get windscreen and instruments/handlebars in video quite easy and this gives great perspective just what you're doing:). Biking:). Using my mirror, I would monitor on/off of camera. My remote I have is something I've not gotten used to yet. Randy
 
For whatever reason I am not getting informed of updates to the thread.
This is turning out more complicated than I thought.
I was wondering about bugs on the lenses.
Being able to take still photos while riding is the main reason for getting one.
 
Helmet Cam

I got a Drift Ghost and I like it. It, as do the others requires a bit of getting accustomed to. I think after a while I may do more bursts of pics rather than video. One of the first things I learned was you best have a good computer to edit and display the videos. When tried my first video it was on a notebook. The pics seemed like they were in slow motion. When I put it on my home computer it was way better but still a bit jerky. Now my work computer which is a kick but workstation demonstrated what these things are supposed to look like. Even then I still get bored of watching the road go after a while. That's why I'm thinking about burst. The pics are super fantastic. If you blast out 5 or ten a second for 5 or ten seconds you definitely get some great pics.
 
The smaller ones like the Ghost seem better suited to wearing on a helmet.
I have a point and shoot camera I take for off bike.
Anyone have any issues with mounts, esp. on helmets?
 
The smaller ones like the Ghost seem better suited to wearing on a helmet.
I have a point and shoot camera I take for off bike.
Anyone have any issues with mounts, esp. on helmets?
The ghost works well on the helmet but when I mounted it on the crash bars lots of shake, rattle and role made it into the pics.
 
Always use a safety tether. Tether the CAMERA, not the mount. I made a place to attach the tether out of some very thin sheet metal and mounted it under one of the screws that hold the visor to my helmet.

p-20091018-0905-0064.2-XL.jpg
 
Always use a safety tether. Tether the CAMERA, not the mount. I made a place to attach the tether out of some very thin sheet metal and mounted it under one of the screws that hold the visor to my helmet.

p-20091018-0905-0064.2-XL.jpg

Can you post a pic with the camera attached?
Nice engineering.
 
Don't think I have any pics with a camera attached. This pic shows where a go-pro mount has been stuck to the side of the helmet. Half of a tether is connected to my bracket and taped to the helmet with gaffers tape to keep it from blowing in the wind.

i-2cWHKHj-XL.jpg


The mount is that black thing next to the sleeve of my jacket.

Here's a closer look with the mount in a slightly different location. It was a bit too far back in this location.

i-QTqMNPr-L.jpg
 
Don't think I have any pics with a camera attached. This pic shows where a go-pro mount has been stuck to the side of the helmet. Half of a tether is connected to my bracket and taped to the helmet with gaffers tape to keep it from blowing in the wind.

i-2cWHKHj-XL.jpg


The mount is that black thing next to the sleeve of my jacket.

Looks like a BMW Street Guard Jacket. Just saying...
 
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