Helmet Cam for my Commute - any advice?

[eml1909]

I'm looking to buy a helmet cam for my commute. I'm not looking for something "high end" - this is purely for safety purposes (to collect evidence in case I get knocked off). I'm not interested in publishing footage of my commute (fascinating as it may be!) on the internet or showing it to my grandkids!

So, whilst quality is not my primary concern, I do realise that there is a minimum I will need to spend in order to obtain footage which will be good enough to show how the accident occured.

I'm hoping not to spend too much, but I'm pay whatever I need in order to get something suitable.

Two further considerations:

1. My return journey is usually in the dark (or semi dark), although the roads are all lit (there are no country lanes etc - I commute from Central London to North West London). Do (mid-range) helmet cameras operate in low light / in night time traffic? It's the return journey which is more of a concern than the journey to work and I'd like a camera which can handle low light.

2. I currently have a basic (£60) specialised helmet (which has an Exposure Torch mounted to it), but I'm looking to upgrade it for something a bit more lightweight / vented. I really like the head torch - it makes me feel much safer at nighttime. Is it practical to mount a head torch AND a helmet cam?

Thanks in advance for any advice ...

 

[Bigsharn]

Not sure where mid-range comes in pricing, but you can get a Contour ROAM for £158 if you look hard enough

Alternatively, this, if you can find one. I'm not sure how good the battery is though.

 

[Aushiker]

My preference now is a Jumbo 808HD #11 which with the bigger battery will last 1.5 hours. You can get the #16 which is a higher resolution but the battery life is around 40 minutes. You can get an idea of the video quality from my videos (the more recent front views are the Jumbo). Techmoan has a very good review of the Jumbo cameras. Just be careful who you buy them from. There are now dodgy Chinese copies of the Chinese cameras

An excellent discussion of camera options can be found at the Australian Cycling Forums in this thread.

I also have a Contour HD1080p which is now my rear camera. If I need to replace it today for commuting use, I would get a Jumbo 808HD and not bother with the Contour or GoPro.

This is the Contour in its current rear mount configuration:

and the Jumbo 808HD #11 is mounted using a RigdMount mount and 3M Dual lock ...

The mount is over tighten BTW in this photo.

Regards
Andrew

 

[johnnyh]

I've just been through the "which camera" thing, ended up buying a dogcam hd wide, delivered next day for 116 notes. So far really impressed and it is nice and small, using one of the supplied velcro mounts I actually have it seated in a vent on my Giro Atmos helmet.

 

[seashaker]

colleague has one of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chilli-Technology-011088-Action-Cam/dp/B005PK5J0G/ref=pd_sim_sg_3 which for the price is great, qwuality is very good on the visual side (can youtube it for others) but
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L7cJWnsw-0
is a good start, the audio quality is not great though. They do an HD one for £60 as well. (not sure if this is going to be on teh lower side of what you are looking to get)

 

[Aushiker]

colleague has one of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chilli-Technology-011088-Action-Cam/dp/B005PK5J0G/ref=pd_sim_sg_3 which for the price is great, qwuality is very good on the visual side for £60 as well. (not sure if this is going to be on teh lower side of what you are looking to get)

Low resolution = "Records in 640*480 VGA resolution". For road safety purposes I would want better than that.

Pity the video does not show number plates when actually riding ... key for a road safety camera.

Andrew

 

[Bigsharn]

Low resolution = "Records in 640*480 VGA resolution". For road safety purposes I would want better than that.

Pity the video does not show number plates when actually riding ... key for a road safety camera.

Andrew

Admittedly mine picks up numberplates fine at 480p, the only reason I don't reccommend it to the OP is the poor low-light performance.

 

[eml1909]

Thanks, all. I opted for the Contour Roam in the end and I'm really pleased with it. Excellent quality and at a decent price.