Helmet Cam advice for Motorcycle/ Moto action camera use?

5953 Views 6 Replies 6 Participants Last post by sophiaamelia8008, 1 mo ago

motomasher

Discussion Starter · May 5, 2008 (Edited)

============ HELMET / MOTORCYCLE CAM TEST CONCLUSIONS=====================

After a couple of weeks of testing both the Adrenaline Systems Superbike Cam and the Oregon Scientific ATC2k sd camera I can safely give reasonable review on their performance:
(check out my original posting above)

The Adrenaline Systems Super Bike Cam Sport model which I purchased comes with all the mounting you will need for your helmet and bike (sportbike or regular motorcycle) . Included in the kit is A Sony 580 TVL Exview HAD ccd camera which produces great images. It easy to connect and weatherproof (it rained on me a couple of times and it held up just great). Also included in the kit is an extreme sports microphone which is sturdy and has a wind guard to minimize the noise.
Hook up was a easy. You connect the camera to the microphone and power source. I then used the included cable to connect it to my sony camcorder.
For my first run I mounted it on my helmet with their extreme helmet cam mount which attaches very well to the helmet with no play. In the next run, I used the Moto Mount sport. This mount is made of impact materials. You just bolts the helmet camera to the mount and with a suction mechanism, attach it to any smooth surface. I secured the unit to the windguard and just about any place I could. What is neat about this mount is it is flexible and easy to adjust. I was able to make up any angle I wanted without vibration or it ever becoming loose.
The resulting video has been great. The quality is more than I expected as, per their specs, it contains some sort of image stabilization which is apparent when I watch the video take through some rough parts of the road.
Because you can do mounting on your helmet or bike surface, the resulting angles when you go to edit your footage add some very cool elements.
For the price I paid, this kit by adrenaline camera is a keeper. One of my riding buddies has a SCOUT by VIO and the footage he gets is just not as good. Let alone the price of that unit is 3 time what I paid.

I also would recommend getting their Li IOn power pack for extended rides. This battery I got just a week ago and it is great as it does not heat up and has a handy switch to save on energy.
Another thing worth trying is their Fender Mount which allows the camera to be mounted on the fender area. This is my next purchase from them (adrenalinecamera dot com).
You can get all these together when you buy their Super Bike Cam Sport I but I overlooked this when i first made the purchase

The Oregon Scientific is entirely self contained helmet camera systems which also has an integrated digital recorder. This action camera comes with mounts and is entirely self contained. The mounts themselves are not specific for sportbike or motorcycle use but I was
able to jerry-rig mounting for the bike with some handy bolts and velcro. I used a 2gb sd card which gave me an hour plus footage on my runs. I like the fact that it has no wires.
After mounting it on my helmet as well as on the bike body, I dumped the footage from a few SD card onto my video editing platform. The resulting footage was ok but nowhere as good as I got with the sport bike cam.
The quality was just not there. Also, there seems not to be any digital image stabilization which is a bummer when going through my crappy neighborhood streets.
This systems I would say would be great for web uploading such as YouTube or sharing but not for some quality productions (DVD / HD). However, as a hobby tool to just show off some quick footage it is passable.
But if you want some quality footage and the flexibility to use the recording device of your choice, definetly go with the adrenaline system camera kit.

Thanks all for suggestions and help on getting the right set up going!

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I am currently testing out a couple helmet camera units for use on my motorcycle. One of the units is an Adrenaline Systems Super Bike Cam which comes with suction mounts for mounting on any surface of the bike as well as the helmet. It comes with some very cool mounts and microphone which produces great sound as I connected it to my home system. The camera is a 580 sony tvl which is weatherproof and looks very nice and sturdy.

Also, I got a Oregon Scientific cam which uses an SD card set up. It seems to be user friendly but judging from the brief footage I took on my bike , did not look too hot. It handles ok and is compact and easy to carry around.

I would like to get some feedback on these choices. Anyone have any experience with these models or other units? Any tips on things to look out for?
Any help will be appreciated. I will post my conclusions when I've had an opportunity to test them both out. Thanks!

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Buster

· #2 · May 17, 2008

Best quality video will come from a color CCD bullet cam such as THIS. You will need a recording device, the best current vibration resistant option is a miniDV camera with A/V inputs (note DVD and Hard Drive cameras DO NOT handle vibration well at all).

All of the all-in-one options use a CMOS imager. You will see a reduction in quality with these. From what I've seen around, the Go Pro camera is the best quality option in this categorie.

http://www.goprocamera.com/index5.htm

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NORTY

· #3 · Nov 10, 2008 (Edited)

I use a helmet camera.

Would this be a "lowside" or a "highside?"

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Team503

· #4 · May 26, 2011

http://contour.com/camera/compare

Contour+ for me because of the 170dg viewing angle. It's spec equal to the GoPro, but the form factor is a thousand times better. Plus the Contour+ is GPS and BlueTooth enabled - I can start recording from my iPhone.

See that big rocker switch? That's the start/stop. Easy to manipulate with gloves, unlike the GoPro, which requires you to take off your gloves to operate.

Also, the Contour+ has an external audio in jack so you can use a remote mic.

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motomasher

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 19, 2012

HD 295 kit

Just an update...I have upgraded recently to the HD unit from adrenaline systems (HD DVR 295)...the video is just awesome with great image stabilization and the same easy mounting. My new system is at:

http://adrenalinecamera.com/product_info.php?products_id=342

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mr_exon

· #6 · Jan 19, 2012

I have a camera I am developing right now for my company Greenlinepp. It is small enough to mount inside the helmet to give a real rider feel for when people watch the recording. Aside from that I am making the recorder box "bullet proof" and my goal is for it to handle a 20+g shock so in the worst case situation it can and will record the worst memories if you so desire to relive them again.

motomasher.... if you want I can keep you up to date with the testing... so far I have the wired micro camera as thin as a ($)quarter and as light as a ($)dime.. My black box is set for making 780p and holds just a small battery and a SD card(16gig) at lower rez 460p it can record for about an hour (battery can only take so much) The black box is the size of a wood match stick box so the rider does not even know its on person...

other then those specs... you will have to use imagination

MikeM :thumb

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sophiaamelia8008

· #7 · 1 mo ago

Sure, here are some tips for using a helmet cam for motorcycle or moto action camera use:

Choose a camera with image stabilization: Riding a motorcycle can be a bumpy experience, so it's important to have a camera that can stabilize the footage to make it smooth and easy to watch.
Use a helmet mount: Mounting the camera on your helmet will give you the best point of view for capturing the action. This will also allow you to move your head freely while still capturing everything around you.
Check your local laws: Some areas have laws regarding the use of helmet cams while riding a motorcycle. Make sure to research the laws in your area to avoid any legal issues.
Consider the weather conditions: If you plan on riding in rainy or wet conditions, make sure your camera is waterproof or has a protective case to keep it safe from water damage.
Test the camera before riding: Make sure to test the camera before hitting the road to ensure it's working properly and capturing the footage you want. You don't want to miss out on any important moments because of technical issues. motorcycle helmets with bluetooth and gps
Plan your shots: Before riding, think about the shots you want to capture and plan accordingly. This will help you get the best footage possible and avoid missing any important moments.
Practice safety: While it's important to capture exciting footage, safety should always come first. Make sure you are wearing the proper safety gear and following all traffic laws while riding.

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