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Video Recording Your Rides???

I should point out that I have NOT used the bike's battery as the power source for my video camera. I find that I can get adequate battery life from the 8 AA battery packs.

I have stopped using the battery holder supplied with the helmetcamera.com set-up. It was cheap, as Ian mentioned. Instead I'm using a similar, but more robust battery holder.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...+holder&numProdsPerPage=100&parentPage=search

Rubber bands are used to keep the batteries in position. I usually carry 2 or 3 packs.

I like to use rechargable batteries. I favor the NiCd or better NiMH type from Harbor Freight (quite a bargain when on sale).
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47440
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90148
 
My advice is based on experience. If you watch any sports on tv then you have seen my work. Trust me :D

Buy or borrow the smallest cheapest Sony Dv camera you can. I have several TRV 18's (bought on ebay) and they work great as POV (point of view) cams. All anyone needs is play and record. All the other features are worthless. Then buy a cheap wide angle adapter lens that screws into the camcorder. Wider is better. Source out some Gaffer Tape. Gaffer Tape is not Duct Tape! Do Not Use Duct tape unless you want residue all over everything. Try FilmTools.com for Gaff tape if you need to. They also have vehicle mounts if your pockets are deep.

For me I just tape the camera to my RCU shelf and press record and ride. Not sure of what you ride I can only say find a spot and tape the hell out of the camera and off you go. Maybe fashion a safety leash through the camera's strap loop. BTW Don't try to watch the little screen while you ride. It will end up bad for you. Nor try to operate the camera zoom or other functions while riding. Put it on wide and leave it. With the wide lens the vibes will be less noticeable. Ride with friends moving in and out of frame. It makes for better video. Edit in iMovie if you have a Mac.

Try this on a budget first before you go and spend loads on a low res VGA helmet cam. It may just work and you still have a DV cam for parties, holidays or dirty web stuff when your'e not riding. I stress cheap, but still go for Sony or Canon like quality. If you spend loads of cash on a new DV cam and it falls while riding or a rock destroys it, you'll hate yourself. Plus you will not be able to tell the difference from a used camera 4 years old, with the output of a new one. DV is DV.

If you doubt this will work, watch the last several years of XGames. This was a handle bar mount for free style moto x, and interior shots of the blimp.

JMHO

Jeff
 
Oh yes. One more thing....Turn your camera's auto focus off and set to infinity. If you mount it behind a windscreen, it may try to focus close on the plexi.

Good Luck.
 
aerialfilm1 said:
Buy or borrow the smallest cheapest Sony Dv camera you can. I have several TRV 18's (bought on ebay) and they work great as POV (point of view) cams. All anyone needs is play and record. All the other features are worthless.

For me I just tape the camera to my RCU shelf and press record and ride.

With the wide lens the vibes will be less noticeable.

Try this on a budget first before you go and spend loads

... DV is DV.
Click to expand...

I would like to see a photo of your set-up. (I don't know what an RCU shelf is. I don't think that I have such on my BMWs)

I've had issues with vibration affecting the camera when directly mounted to the bike. The result was fairly poor quality video.

The advice to buy used and start inexpensively initially is quite sound (and applies to more than just video equipment!)

The LANC feature seems to be a worthwhile option as one has the ability to more easily start and stop the "filming".

My DV cameras can obtain video that has a maximum resolution of 720 x 480. Some digital cameras record at 640 x 480 resolution. I have seen newer 1080 high definition video cameras (resolution up to 1920 x 1080), but these are a bit pricey (over $1000).
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200607/06-0713E/index.html

Another commonly referenced term relating to digital video is mpeg-4. A standard exists to describe this. See:
http://www.chiariglione.org/mpeg/standards/mpeg-4/mpeg-4.htm
 
Last edited:
To start and stop video don't overlook the included IR remote that comes with most DV cams.

Vibration will be reduced to minimum with a wider lens.

HDDV cams will require more computing power to edit and HDDV camcorders are not full-on HD. My Sony 950F is $89,000 with no lens, for comparison. My HDCAM recorder was discounted to me at $31k. This is a lot of freakin money but NFL, MLB and PGA tv aren't cheap to produce.

I get the best stiffy from making groovy vids with my little camcorders just by taping, straping, bolting, ruber-banding them to moving objects. I play them for friends and family and they are more impressed than when I show them the my show reel of work stuff. Find a local welder who has seen too much American Chopper and will "Frab-ra-cate" you something to help mount a camera. It doesn't have to look cool, just has to work. BTW the tripod socket is a 1/4 x 20 thread.

Leave the high end HD stuff to the guys trying to make a living from TV and film. These huge investments are hard to recover even if you are a busy pro like me.

But now you have me thinking. I'm sure I can mount a camera to one of those highway peg contraptions that bolt onto the cylinder head. Hhhhmm?

jeff
AerialCameras@gmail.com
 
Did buy a Sony HC3 HD cam and made a couple of ride recordings with it. Stunning. On a big flat panel monitor it almost felt like I was there. Full screen. Problem is, a four minute vid was 280meg!!! Personal use only... at this time.
 
It is nice to know that there is some great high-end equipment available for professionals or those wishing to make the next "On Any Sunday".

The best piece of advice that I've seen was that which recommended to start out inexpensively.

A person interested in making their own motorcycle video could use an existing video camera or digital camera (most digital cameras have a video mode). An improvised mount, secured with tape (something that doesn't leave a residue like gaffer's or painter's tape is suggested) or clamped (i.e. RAM mount) could allow the camera to be fixed to the bike.

Or if one has a willing passenger, the pillion rider could take the pictures or video.

Short video segments and photos can be integrated into a video using the Windows Movie Maker software, present on most computers with XP. (Apple computers also have software for making videos).

As one gains experience, more sophisticated equipment and software can be obtained.

Sfarson has observed the large amount of memory consumed by the HD cameras. For most of us, videos will be shared through the use of web resources such as YouTube or Google Video. With these web resources the resolution of videos will something closer to 320 x 240 (like "regular" or non-HD television). Higher resolution will mostly be able to be fully appreciated on one's own computer or when shared via CD or DVD.

Over time, as internet bandwidth increases, as computer speed, memory, and storage capacity increases, and HD televisions become more widely available the clarity of videos will correspondingly increase. I can't wait. (I already feel like I need a 'Stich, heated vest, gloves, and helmet to watch sfarson's videos of cool mountain rides! :)
 
And in a funny moment, one of the articles this month in Student Filmmaker (we get it at the office) how to mount a camera to a vehicle.
 
robsmoto said:
Over time, as internet bandwidth increases, as computer speed, memory, and storage capacity increases, and HD televisions become more widely available the clarity of videos will correspondingly increase. I can't wait. (I already feel like I need a 'Stich, heated vest, gloves, and helmet to watch sfarson's videos of cool mountain rides! :)
Click to expand...

robsmoto... You said well what I tried to convey. As tech advancement happens one could really come close to delivering a from-the-saddle experience via computer.

Maybe one could buy a small wind machine to park next to the computer display, cool and hot air switchable :). Also something to emit odors... like freshly cut grass, rain, cows :).

Oooo, I'm on a roll here... how about some kind of 180 degree recording, maybe three cameras with wide angles stiched to together, recording at the same time. Can display on a regular screen but if someone has a visual headset device to plug-in, it is a virtual reality ride. Or maybe it is something as simple as wearing 3D glasses. Oh well. Maybe someday.
 
Oooo, I'm on a roll here... how about some kind of 180 degree recording, maybe three cameras with wide angles stiched to together, recording at the same time. Can display on a regular screen but if someone has a visual headset device to plug-in, it is a virtual reality ride. Or maybe it is something as simple as wearing 3D glasses. Oh well. Maybe someday.
Click to expand...

Ever seen a movie called Brainstorm?
 
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