Bike Cam recommendations please!

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User269

Guest
After years of using various 'helmet cams' I realise that I need a cam attached to my handlebars to get the images I want. My current set up is a wireless one with separate cam and receiver. It's very good, BUT ...........it interferes with the GPS signal on my Garmin Edge. In fact, it obliterates it entirely. I've tried all combinations of positioning, but nowt works.
So, I want to find something like my old ATC cam, non wireless, mounted on the handlebars, and with reasonable video quality. (unlike the old ATC). My budget is around £200 but am prepared to stretch that for the right cam. Any recommendations?

Question two; I could use my sony camcorder despite it's weight and bulk, but how could I mount it?

Your suggestions would be much appreciated. The cam is for 'holiday' use only as I like to shoot vids of alpine descents etc., and the odd ascent as well except that the speed I ascend at transcends the capacity of all known hard drives and battery packs.
 

Number14

Guru
Location
Fareham
ContouHD 1080p is £235 from Dogcam sports. I believe they do a cyclechat discount that brings it down a bit further.

Image quality is excellent.
 

mr_hippo

Living Legend & Old Fart
After years of using various 'helmet cams' I realise that I need a cam attached to my handlebars to get the images I want. My current set up is a wireless one with separate cam and receiver. It's very good, BUT ...........it interferes with the GPS signal on my Garmin Edge. In fact, it obliterates it entirely. I've tried all combinations of positioning, but nowt works.
So, I want to find something like my old ATC cam, non wireless, mounted on the handlebars, and with reasonable video quality. (unlike the old ATC). My budget is around £200 but am prepared to stretch that for the right cam. Any recommendations?

Question two; I could use my sony camcorder despite it's weight and bulk, but how could I mount it?

Your suggestions would be much appreciated. The cam is for 'holiday' use only as I like to shoot vids of alpine descents etc., and the odd ascent as well except that the speed I ascend at transcends the capacity of all known hard drives and battery packs.


My old ATC5K was stolen off my bike and I needed to replace it with something similar. I looked at the ATC9K but that seemed to have all the old faults of the 5K built into it. I wanted something and found the Drift X170. I have been using the X170 for about a month.
X170 website



The Good Points:-

You can adjust the exposure

Volume, both record & playback, is adjustable.

Easy to read menu

One problem with the ATC5K was getting the alignment right. The X170 has an adjustable lens so, it’s a simple matter of fixing the camera to the handlebars and just twisting the lens to get the correct attitude

The remote control is not a ‘line of sight’ one and if you are within a certain distance, it will work, does not need to be pointed at the sensor.

The Not So Good Points:-

The fish eye lens is not to everyone’s taste but it does appear to make you faster. The HD versions have a zoom facility which eliminates the fish eye effect.

Fiddly batter cover

Nowhere to attach a security lanyard


Camera Shake from Khun Hippo on Vimeo.
There are three more videos on the same page.

Now for your second question -
I have been using a Flymount with great success. In fact, I have modified it to take a pan/tilt head off an old tripod - well, a new tripod that was a gift when my wife bought a compact camera!

fly02.jpg



fly01.jpg


Apart from being a satisfied customer, I have no connection with the makers of the X170 ot the Flymount.
 
OP
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User269

Guest
Thanks Mr Hippo the X170 or HD170 look like the sort of thing I was after! Needless to say I can't actually find the X170 in stock anywhere here in the UK at present :angry:
 

BSRU

A Human Being
Location
Swindon
I have two ContourHD's and I think for the price, they are excellent, virtually waterproof unless your going swimming with it, great picture, good solid bit of kit and lots of mounting options.

If you wanted to use your standard camcorder you can mount it to your bike using RAM mounts.
 
OP
OP
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User269

Guest
I have two ContourHD's and I think for the price, they are excellent, virtually waterproof unless your going swimming with it, great picture, good solid bit of kit and lots of mounting options.

If you wanted to use your standard camcorder you can mount it to your bike using RAM mounts.

Did yours come with a handlebar mount? When I checked a few suppliers online it looked like there wasn't one included, but available for an extra £16 or so. I also saw a youtube comparison of the drift, contour, and another one, and felt the drift had a sharper picture and better colour. Mind you it's all academic given I can't find one anywhere! :wacko:
 
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