MikeP said:
I've been toying with the idea of recording some movie clips when away touring but as someone who has never used a camcorder in my life, I have a few questions.
Mainly I'm concerned about capacity of the recording device and power. I usually opt for camping so recharging has to be done from the bike whilst on the move.
Ideally I'd like to find something that would allow me to set it up on the bike and be able to flick on the recording when there's a decent view, a nice piece of road etc.
What I'm worried about is running out of capacity halfway through a trip and then be faced with the choice of wiping earlier recordings only to find that what I've replaced it with isn't as good.
I'm also in the dark about transferring the recordings to a permanent source.
I suppose there are various programmes for editing but there seems to be so many different types of file that I'm a bit confused. Ideally I'd like to be able to embed some clips into future blog entries.
Would one of these 'packages' be best or buy a decent camera with the required outlet for a bullet-cam? Are there add-on or replacement memory capacities for camcorders?
Mike
Three basic choices:
(i) A vanilla digital camcorder mounted on the bike (takes a bit of trial and error) works well enough. You can run it off the device's batteries or power it off the bike. I use an iGo to power mine, simply because I can use the same single iGo device to power / charge everything, from my camera(s) to my camcorder, mobile 'phone(s), Ipod to my Blackberry via the mains or from the bike.
The camcorder will run as long as the tape or batteries will last, which is quite sufficient for most uses.
Advantages.
Cheap
Good enough for many.
Camcorder can be used for other filming.
Disadvantages:
Sometimes fiddly to operate on the move.
Has to be mounted / dismounted each time.
Sometimes spend valuable seconds looking at the screen, admiring your Polanski like talents, rather than looking at the fast approaching bend
The camera gets wet (expensive or terminal).
(ii) A vanilla camcorder as above, powered by batteries or off the bike, linked to a bullet cam (dead easy) with a simple LANC switch (powers the camera on and off) mounted on the handlebars or simply trailed onto your tankbag.
You will need a camcorder with a A / V socket and a LANC socket, which most have nowadays but check first.
Advanatges:
The camera can be used on and off bike, just like normal.
The camera can live in your tankbag, where it won't get wet.
Once set up the bullet cams are excellent. Like most things it takes a bit of trial and error. They stay permanently mounted, so less fiddling.
The separate LANC switch means that you can look at the road and simply turn the camera on and off at will.
Choice of lenses in bullet cams, so you can change depth of field. Largely depends on what you are filming, 'views' or your mate's latest knee down action.
You can add multiple bullet cams, front / back and switch between them on the move, but we are probably getting ahead of ourselves.
Disadvantages:
More money than the above but will pay for itself when you save your camera from getting wet.
(iii) As above, but substituting an Archos (or similar) device.
Advantages
Mega storage capacity
Some devices allow 'in the box' editing.
Good quality pictures but not vastly better than a decent camcorder.
Bullet cams as above.
Disadvantages
Not as flexible as a simple camcorder. You cannot take pictures with an Archos, only store them.
Pricey.
Hard drives may (or may not) be a problem.
On thing is for sure. you will end up with a lot of film that will need editing into shorter snips. It gets boring watching mile after mile of road, even when you are the star!
Cheers,
Richard
