Video Camera on bike/off bike

[Berin]

Hi all.

I'm on a trip next year and want to record for posterity. I've looked at various other threads but can't really see what I want.

What I want to do:

1) Helmet mounted camera (bullet cam of some kind, I guess) for on board footage
2) Hand held for off-bike footage
3) Good enough quality to play back on the telly
4) preferably, bike powered so I'm not always swapping/charging batteries
5) Sound

Questions;

1) What type of bullet cam? What lens options? Are they all fixed focus?
2) Handheld - as above - if can take decent stills too it may save me taking still camera
3) What about storage - does anyone still use dvcam and the likes? if digital, hard drive a la Archos, - I'd like to be able to view and show people footage en-route? What about the different formats (mpeg, mp4 etc?)

It will be a month long trip so something more sophisticated than the Oregon helmet camera will be needed, I think.

As you can probably tell from some of the questions, I'm a numpty at this.

BTW, bike is a 1200GSA, if that matters.

thanks,

Martin

 

[nick]

Lots of info here ...

http://www.actioncameras.co.uk/

 

[Berin]

Thanks, looks like they have some useful stuff, if you know what you need....

Do I want 640x480 or higher? The SD cards may not be much use, as they only hold an hour or so of footage.

I guess the next question is going to about editing packages - I'd like to keep the camera on but I guess I'll discard most of the footage.

 

[Mucky Helmet]

Martin

That'll be for one handed use??

I use these guys: http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/

You can get cheaper kits from RF Concepts but I prefer Dogcam service and knowledge. Very knowledgeable and helpful over the phone, their support is great and they are more than happy to advise if needed. Quality kit too.

I use a Canon DV camcorder with a Sony CCD bullet cam and LANC controller. I use DV 'cos the quality is great and it's more reliable. I've fitted a 12v regulator to the bike and feed from that: 12v for bullet cam and mic, you will need to step down for most recorders. I run a 4400ma battery (very high cap) which, temperature allowing, runs for 9 hours (at least) at a time, I also have a 12v charger for the batteries that's the size of a fag packet, ideal for tank bag. Avoid HDD recorders if you can but they are getting better. Solid state can be OK as long as the frame rate is acceptable to you. Used to edit via a number of editing apps but now use Microsoft Movie Maker 'cos it's easy, does what I want it to do and is free. If I need a more technical job done, I'll ask a mate with a Mac suite. If you're taking a powerful laptop, you could edit whilst travelling.

Make sure you get a hood for the bullet cams as this reduces flare.

If you check the Autumn Equinox thread over on Adv, you'll see some footage from my group (we were the group that DIDN'T break anything!) The resolution has been reduced to be more "portable", i.e. internet viewable. Bear in mind the puddles video is mostly into the sun with a filthy lens.

Not sure whether you're booked for the March Moon trip - if you are, happy to go through what I've got setup.

Ultimately, it's what fits you best as there'll be cables, connectors, batteries, tapes, etc.. You need to dry run well in advance of your trip and work out camera fitting, angles, remote location, mic location, cables, etc., to ensure the easiest method to reduce stress and assure recording when you want it. There's nothing worse than thinking you're recording some great footage to find out you've got hours of mudguard and five feet in front of your bike! Or, nothing at all.

 

[Berin]

Thanks Mucky, this is the kind of gen I need. I'm starting now to get set up and tested in time, trip planned for July/Aug next year, and the devil's in the detail (chargers, mounting, cables etc)

I am going to March Moon Madness so if you're there with your set up I'd like to take a look.

Do you have the specs fo your Canon camera and the bullet cam?

 

[Mucky Helmetier]

Thanks Mucky, this is the kind of gen I need. I'm starting now to get set up and tested in time, trip planned for July/Aug next year, and the devil's in the detail (chargers, mounting, cables etc)

I am going to March Moon Madness so if you're there with your set up I'd like to take a look.

Do you have the specs fo your Canon camera and the bullet cam?

He does..(We have similar names)..but his camera previously belonged to Noah and was mounted on the ramp to count the animals onto the Ark..

The Bullet cam is an RF Concepts, it is the Pack 4 from here http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/helmet_cameras.htm

The Camera itself can be any Canon MV range of camera as long as the model number ends in an i there is an MV730i on Ebay for £90 that would be more than adequate.

 

[Mucky Helmet]

He does..(We have similar names)..but his camera previously belonged to Noah and was mounted on the ramp to count the animals onto the Ark..

At least mine's not gay!

As my young jedi apprentice (the gay one) points out, the Canon MV range does the job, just make sure it has AV and LANC connections ("i" suffix). Certain Sony camcorders have the same facilities and will require a LANC remote specific to the model as LANC signals are not standard across manufacturers or, in Sony's case, their model range.

The Helmetier ymca) and I have both used RF for stuff and they're reasonable on price but I prefer Dogcam for service and knowledge.

Even though he is a raging , MH'ier is the one I consult for all my video needs as he's an expert ymca)......

 

[Mucky Helmetier]

At least mine's not gay!

As my young jedi apprentice (the gay one) points out, the Canon MV range does the job, just make sure it has AV and LANC connections ("i" suffix). Certain Sony camcorders have the same facilities and will require a LANC remote specific to the model as LANC signals are not standard across manufacturers or, in Sony's case, their model range.

The Helmetier ymca) and I have both used RF for stuff and they're reasonable on price but I prefer Dogcam for service and knowledge.

Even though he is a raging , MH'ier is the one I consult for all my video needs as he's an expert ymca)......

I have one thing to say Spacker Top Box

 

[Mucky Helmet]

I have one thing to say Spacker Top Box

Ssssssshhhhhhhhhhhh - It's not something I'm proud of.

You still have a small willy.

 

[Global Rider]

What I want to do:

1) Helmet mounted camera (bullet cam of some kind, I guess) for on board footage.

Based on personal experience, I wouldn't.

Although the body is a great shock absorber, do you really want to ride with your head locked in one position. Try that when coming up on tight switchbacks. And there is nothing more annoying and useless as far as video footage is concerned than a camera that pans at light speed back and forth because you are looking around.

I'd get one of those newer ultra-compact video cameras that records to SD or HCSD cards and mount it in various locations on the bike.

 

[MikeP]

Although the body is a great shock absorber, do you really want to ride with your head locked in one position. Try that when coming up on tight switchbacks. And there is nothing more annoying and useless as far as video footage is concerned than a camera that pans at light speed back and forth because you are looking around.

The way around this is a two bullet-cam set-up, one helmet and one bike mounted and a switch to flick between the two.

It's what I use and it works okay.

 

[Berin]

The way around this is a two bullet-cam set-up, one helmet and one bike mounted and a switch to flick between the two.

It's what I use and it works okay.

Good points, chaps - I'm starting from scratch so I can build hopefully the most effective set ups.

The only problem I see with the SD card route is I'll need lots - it's a month trip and I won't edit until the end. And, I'll take a hand held video any way so maybe it would make sense to combine the two?

 

[MikeP]

I bought my two bullet-cam set-up because I wanted something more than a still photo record of trips.

I'm not going to recommend any make of camera etc. as there are lots of views about the benefits of one system over another.

I started with two bullet-cams, one on the bike fixed forward facing. It took a lot of experimenting to find a position that gave the best view, wasn't affected by vibrations and could be left in place securely.

The second cam I mounted on my helmet (on a Dogcam suction mount for safety).

I have now got an alternative position for this one, rear-facing but I only use that when in company and my intention is to get some footage of other riders.

I can switch between the two camera views with a water-proof switch mounted in a convenient place.

I then found that I wanted to use the video camera off the bike and that unplugging it was a pain. I bought a second one (the same model etc. to ensure that batteries and recording medium, even spares are interchangeable) on eBay.

A decent editing facility really makes a difference to the end result.

I use Mini-DV tape. It's bulkier than digital but it's cheap. At first I used to leave it running most of the time. It's easy to end-up with far too much recorded footage.

Now I've leaned to be more selective in what I tape. On a recent ten day trip, I used no more than six one-hour tapes for both cameras and ended-up with a DVD of about an hour and a half in High Quality.

I think that you will quickly develop a feel for what is worth recording and get used to switching the system on and off. In fact, mine doesn't need to be powered down, it will do so itself if not in use. That's a changeable function of the camera, I suspect that most have a similar function.

One word of warning. The Bullet-Cams need power. They are not controlable on my system, only the main video camera is. That means that dry-cell or rechargeable power is used even when the video is not in use as long as everything is plugged-in.

I now use the bike to power the bullet-cams but this has to be voltage regulated otherwise spikes in the power supply will damage the bullet-cameras.