craven2354
Well-Known Member
I am wondering if any of you use helmet cams? Also what is a good helmet cam to buy as yesterday I had a close miss with a turning van and want a helmet cam so I can use as evidence if I was ever to crash 
To helmet cam or not to helmet cam? :)
- Thread starter craven2354
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gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
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OP
craven2354
Well-Known Member
Very helpful thanks but also want to know personal experiences
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craven2354
Well-Known Member
I read it and it's great advice but I want to know what people think of different products and how useful they think different brands/ products are dint just want to buy something of one persons view want a variety
jdtate101
Ex-Fatman
- Location
- Boring Birmingham
I am wondering if any of you use helmet cams? Also what is a good helmet cam to buy as yesterday I had a close miss with a turning van and want a helmet cam so I can use as evidence if I was ever to crash
I have a Contour HD which I use occasionally. Got it second hand so it wasn't too expensive. With a full battery and a 16GB mSD card you can record a good few hrs in low rez mode. Going 720p seems ok and you get either 30fps or 60fps.
I chose this over the GoPro as it has a smaller vertical profile and the vented helmet strap works better. This is a short vid I made at the start of the summer, going along the canals here in Birmingham.
[media]
]View: http://www.vimeo.com/25541502[/media]
Or the Birmingham Skyride:
[media]
]View: http://www.vimeo.com/26398495[/media]
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
Very helpful thanks but also want to know personal experiences
I would say contour cameras are the best overall. Taking into account that it performs better than the GoPro at night.
edindave
Über Member
- Location
- Auld Reeker
I am wondering if any of you use helmet cams? Also what is a good helmet cam to buy as yesterday I had a close miss with a turning van and want a helmet cam so I can use as evidence if I was ever to crash
Everyone has near misses at some point.
I had my drop-bar end clipped by a reflector on a trailer being towed by a white transit van.
Helmet cam wouldn't have caught that.
I've no intention of getting a cam - helmet or otherwise.
daSmirnov
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Horsham, UK
I got one about a month ago. A ContourHD 1080p (although use 960 for wider field of view, or 720). Ordered the helmet mount to go with it.
As someone who didn't wear a helmet prior, it's something extra to carry around. But since I just pinched the other half's it didn't cost me anything
The first few days you find yourself viewing all your footage. But now it's just another bike thing, turn camera on, turn camera off. Move footage off to make space when required. Upload a video when footage is interesting.
Only trouble is Contour isn't great under coolish lights, or picking up LED lights. I've got 240 lumen shooting out of my bike yet the Contour can barely pick it up. It much prefers sodium street lighting. But that's going to be an issue with any CMOS based sensor, with such a small aperture.
Perhaps most importantly I think having a camera makes you consider your own behaviour and how carefully you're riding. Before I got the camera if someone did something I didn't like I'd usually vocalise it quite a bit. Now it's a quick vocalisation at the event, and I cool off while reading their plate. Was passed close by a BMW driver a week or two back shouted about space, he then got out and starting having a go at me. I managed the whole incident without swearing or getting too angry or waving my arms about too much. No doubt knowing I was also on camera calmed my response.
The bad side however is on more relaxing slow paced rides I find myself talking to myself for the sole purpose of the camera.
"Ohhh that's a nice house", "are those windows even legal mate?" etc.
As someone who didn't wear a helmet prior, it's something extra to carry around. But since I just pinched the other half's it didn't cost me anything
The first few days you find yourself viewing all your footage. But now it's just another bike thing, turn camera on, turn camera off. Move footage off to make space when required. Upload a video when footage is interesting.
Only trouble is Contour isn't great under coolish lights, or picking up LED lights. I've got 240 lumen shooting out of my bike yet the Contour can barely pick it up. It much prefers sodium street lighting. But that's going to be an issue with any CMOS based sensor, with such a small aperture.
Perhaps most importantly I think having a camera makes you consider your own behaviour and how carefully you're riding. Before I got the camera if someone did something I didn't like I'd usually vocalise it quite a bit. Now it's a quick vocalisation at the event, and I cool off while reading their plate. Was passed close by a BMW driver a week or two back shouted about space, he then got out and starting having a go at me. I managed the whole incident without swearing or getting too angry or waving my arms about too much. No doubt knowing I was also on camera calmed my response.
The bad side however is on more relaxing slow paced rides I find myself talking to myself for the sole purpose of the camera.
"Ohhh that's a nice house", "are those windows even legal mate?" etc.I've got a dogcam bullet, dogcam bullet wide and ContourGPS. I've had quite a few problems with both dogcams (freezing and buttons breaking) but dogcam are cool about exchanging them. The newer versions are better.
The ContourGPS is usually pretty expensive, but seems to be 195 on Amazon currently. It is a good quality camera but fairly big and heavy compared to the dogcams. They were almost invisible, but the contour is noticeable. You get a few funny looks!
Picture quality wise the Contour is awesome. In one mode it films in 60fps so you can get good slo mo when editing.
My videos on YouTube are under WokingTrafficSafety
The ContourGPS is usually pretty expensive, but seems to be 195 on Amazon currently. It is a good quality camera but fairly big and heavy compared to the dogcams. They were almost invisible, but the contour is noticeable. You get a few funny looks!
Picture quality wise the Contour is awesome. In one mode it films in 60fps so you can get good slo mo when editing.
My videos on YouTube are under WokingTrafficSafety
i got one of those cheap £15 (plus £10 for 8GB card) ones from 7dayshop.com
just to try it out and to see how long it took before the novelty wore off. it does OK for the money, managed to get a few bad things on file but the novelty has worn off now.
stopped using it in august but only cos the daughter nicked the micro SD card for her new phone
may use it for next years time trials
video is ok...
[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weSebOEFaqM[/media]
but can't really cope with a bit more speed...
[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL0ooT5qq-Q[/media]
just to try it out and to see how long it took before the novelty wore off. it does OK for the money, managed to get a few bad things on file but the novelty has worn off now.
stopped using it in august but only cos the daughter nicked the micro SD card for her new phone
may use it for next years time trials
video is ok...
[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weSebOEFaqM[/media]
but can't really cope with a bit more speed...
[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL0ooT5qq-Q[/media]
Shut Up Legs
Down Under Member
I get some odd looks with the GoPro sitting on top of my helmet, given that the GoPro's profile resembles a typical camera shape. Its weight took a bit of getting used to, at 250g or so, particularly given that it mounts on top of my helmet, so my helmet ends up with a slightly "top-heavy" feeling, but I'm used to that now.
Btw, Gaz, how is the ContourHD for waterproofing? The GoPro does that really well, but considering what you said about the ContourHD performing better in low-light, perhaps I'll buy one someday.
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
Like the GoPro, you need to use a special case for waterproofing. I've run my ContourHD's with and without the waterproof cases in all kids of weather. The case certainly adds a bit of weight which isn't great imo but it does a great job. The contourHD is water resistant and only once have I had an issues with using it without a case whilst on the bike and that was a solid hour and 30 mins in heavy rain where by water did get in and got on the underside of the lens cover. Easy to clean and was fine after it dried out.
The ContourROAM is completely waterproof without a case.
growingvegetables
Guru
- Location
- Leeds
I am wondering if any of you use helmet cams? Also what is a good helmet cam to buy as yesterday I had a close miss with a turning van and want a helmet cam so I can use as evidence if I was ever to crash
I bought mine in a hurry (about £40.00 from Maplin's; don't know the make), after being dangerously harassed by two idiots who explained in sweet, succinct words of one syllable that I belonged in the cycle lane (ie the double yellow lines).
Hey, the camera works. And so far it seems to be unbreakable - it's had several damned hard knocks; it'll take larger memory cards; it's idiot-proof (important in my case) - one single button to operate
; 2 hours battery life.But it has its limitations - look for yourself here. Definition is "less than brilliant" - so sometimes it misses VRNs or other identification (especially if it's not just a simple close overtake); it manages different light levels with difficulty; sound quality is unreliable; limited recharge options - only mains or USB - suits me fine, as I'm not videoing great long rides.
A good cheap introduction - and good enough to whet my appetite for summat better
+1 on it making you a lot more conscious of your own cycling, and a darned sight more careful.
+1 on the camera's 100% reliable facility for catching me talking to myself.
-1 on having to wear a helmet; I have mine clipped on to a head band as I don't wear a helmet. The one time (in 40 years!) I've fallen off, the camera and clip detached quickly and easily without causing injury.
I'm looking into the Drift X170 at the moment. I bought one of the cheap 7dayshop cameras, but the battery now lasts shorter than my commute does (I work on the street, or I'd just charge it at work).
Rather than use it as a helmet camera, I'd be using it as a handlebar mounted camera, hence the need for a wide angle lens. I found a £30 camera on Ebay with a rubber strap that takes AAAs, so I'm toying with the idea of using it as a head camera.I think it's the same as the 7dayshop one, but takes actual batteries, not the proprietary crap that most cheap cameras come with.
Rather than use it as a helmet camera, I'd be using it as a handlebar mounted camera, hence the need for a wide angle lens. I found a £30 camera on Ebay with a rubber strap that takes AAAs, so I'm toying with the idea of using it as a head camera.I think it's the same as the 7dayshop one, but takes actual batteries, not the proprietary crap that most cheap cameras come with.
