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HD helmet cams

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Xhumeka said:
The biggest problem I had with the original SD camera linked above, was the battery life - not the video quality. I bought the best rechargeable batteries I could find, and used my expensive R/C charging system to deliver the correct amperage during charging to provide the most "punch" (needed for high-drain devices) and I still couldn't get much more than 30 mins average out of a charge.

Using Energizer or Duracell lithium (non-rechargeable) provided the best life, but using those would drain the pocket book real fast!

That's one of the best features of the HD version of the GoPro... the 2.5 hour battery packs. You can buy them new from eBay (including shipping to Canada) for $20 all in.
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This is by far the biggest issue with this cam. The rechargeable batteries gopro recommends don't take well to vibrations and just shut off unexpectedly. I tried some dollar store batteries and the thing wouldn't even turn on. The energizer lithium and duracell lithium are the only ones that worked, but as stated they are friggin expensive.
 
Good read for anyone taking advantage of this $99 GoPro:

http://www.feedthehabit.com/outdoors/the-definitive-gopro-pov-video-camera-review/

Xhumeka on this thread has some tips as well for POV camera novices, like myself. He's an expert.

He mentions a possible fix in this blog from GoPro that would apply to all the GoPro versions re: sound. You can drill a hole in the case, assuming that you're never going to submerse the camera. He explains that it helped somewhat.

Rechargables can be used, and will net you just over two hours (according to two sources), but the rechargables fall off a cliff in really cold weather.

Good read.
 
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Ice Pic said:
I wore one of these once as someone wanted me to film some high-speed stuff. Well, it was the boxy style, and up near 300 KPH the thing nearly tore my helmet off. So I've avoided them since. Someone on the forum PM'd me that the lipstick cams are what we need if we're going to film high-speed. Any of you that have gone that fast know the importance of aerodynamics - you are riding as fast as a Moto GP bike, or an F1 Ferrari! The box camera just doesn't cut it. I need one similar to that mounted on the back of a GP bike. Does the Contour take aerodynamics into consideration? I can't believe GoPro hasn't taken this into consideration.
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Marcel Irnie doesn't seem to have any problems with his Helmet cam and he runs his up to 270km/h in Parts Canada Amateur Sportbike races.
 
I bought two of the boxy style cams. They're a lot smaller than the one I test drove. I'm hoping they don't create any drag. I see the Moto GP cams are cylindrical on the tail. It would be interesting to know what they're using. One of them is gyroscopic, as you'll notice as the riders go into the corners, the camera shot remains straight.

N3WMAN said:
Marcel Irnie doesn't seem to have any problems with his Helmet cam and he runs his up to 270km/h in Parts Canada Amateur Sportbike races.
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Ice Pic said:
I bought two of the boxy style cams. They're a lot smaller than the one I test drove. I'm hoping they don't create any drag. I see the Moto GP cams are cylindrical on the tail. It would be interesting to know what they're using. One of them is gyroscopic, as you'll notice as the riders go into the corners, the camera shot remains straight.
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Since their onboard cams are not high definition I doubt they are anything special. The gyro cams are obviously pretty cool and probably pretty expensive, unless you steal one like some fans did to Rossi.
 
just bought a Drift HD170 with an extra battery for $300. The reason I went with the Drift HD170 over the other cameras?

- RF remote control
- Better picture then the contour and the gopro
- Bullet cam shape
- 4+hour battery life per charge
- amazing mounting options, built in 1/4"-20 threaded hole to mount on any camera tripod or what ever.
- LCD screen to review videos and to aim
- external mic port
- rotating lens (can be mounted at any angle)
 
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Felonius said:
Splash...

where did you order the drift from for $300 if you don't mind me asking? :)



Thanks!
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Ebay... Slightly used and returned to the store. The store was selling it. Still covered under the original warranty.

Here's another one

http://cgi.ebay.com/DRIFT-HD-170-HE...=230549044428&ps=63&clkid=5034035285059167764

The description doesn't match the title though... I would email him before bidding


Here's another one
http://cgi.ebay.com/Drift-Innovatio...=230549044428&ps=63&clkid=5034083055026435597
 
Question for you video experts. What kind of set-up does our dancing Gixxer friend (see thread in Multimedia) have?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw-lH6tjRU4

This seems like a good set up. Minimal wind noise, and she V-logs quite clearly.

Where is the helmet cam mounted? Right in front of her mouth?
 
Ice Pic said:
Question for you video experts. What kind of set-up does our dancing Gixxer friend (see thread in Multimedia) have?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw-lH6tjRU4

This seems like a good set up. Minimal wind noise, and she V-logs quite clearly.

Where is the helmet cam mounted? Right in front of her mouth?
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[video=youtube;MgI7scIW6Qg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgI7scIW6Qg [/video]

It's a finepix z. It's a mount right in front of her face. This is one of the best quality setups that you can get (but it really limits your vision).
 
Splash said:
just bought a Drift HD170 with an extra battery for $300. The reason I went with the Drift HD170 over the other cameras?

- Better picture then the contour and the gopro
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I was looking at the drift but the picture quality didn't look anywhere near as good as the gopro. Also the mic picked up tons of wind noise in comparison.

I will be interested to hear your feedback but thats the main reason I didn't get one. I do like that it has a screen though, I wish the GoPro had a screen.

Also, about the vlogger helmet setups:
[video=youtube;judb-NEpm6I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=judb-NEpm6I[/video]
 
N3WMAN said:
I was looking at the drift but the picture quality didn't look anywhere near as good as the gopro. Also the mic picked up tons of wind noise in comparison.

I will be interested to hear your feedback but thats the main reason I didn't get one. I do like that it has a screen though, I wish the GoPro had a screen.

Also, about the vlogger helmet setups:
[video=youtube;judb-NEpm6I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=judb-NEpm6I[/video]
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If you ask any pro reviewer they will say the HD170 has a better picture then the GoPro. The GoPro is too saturated. It would be easy to take the HD170's video and bump up the saturation to match the GoPro but most people want a more realistic picture.

[video=youtube;W5v36v2zpqQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5v36v2zpqQ[/video]

Here's a suggestion... record your video with one camera and record your voice with a mini recorder. That way you don't have to modify your helmet, get impaled by the camera in a accident or get a ticket for impeding your vision.

When I get it I'll give my review.
 
I got it today. Fast shipping.

First impression, this thing is a bit bigger then I though. Not too big, just bigger then I though. My second mini complaint is that it doesn't come with any flat mounting options. The helmet mount is curved and the goggle mount doesn't have the holes for the velcro straps. BUT that's not a problem since this camera uses the standard camera mount (1/4"-20 threaded hole) and I'm probably going to get a magnetic Ram mount. I've already got the suction cup one. I'll post video soon.
 
I put the Vado HD on my helmet like knowledge did and it kept messing around with my vision so I took it out. Not worth the safety risk in my opinion. If you can handle it, that's perfect for you since you get good audio/video.

Vholdr won't have audio out so you can't put in an external mic (they'll have it available for next model option).

I kinda worry about some of the cameras mounted on top or outside the helmet as being weather proof. Most of the stuff I bought saying being rain proof usually turn out not to be :(
 
Found two more options!
http://www.youtube.com/user/KTMsmurf uses a V.I.O POV 1.5 (http://www.vio-pov.com/)
But the drawback to this system is that the main control hardware needs to be stored somewhere (so there's 3 separate pieces). The plusses is that it holds up really well in weather (KTMsmurf said that it's been fine in -25C weather + it's shock/water resistant

He also told me that some people have been modding their VHoldr Contour mics.
Here's a write-up on how to do it (the sound isn't too good in this one): http://ifraggle.com/2009/07/09/tradingwarrantyforaudio/
but this guy did the exact same thing, except he used the original mic & just mounted that in the helmet (with way better sound results): http://contour.com/stories/46384

LiNK666 said:
Vholdr won't have audio out so you can't put in an external mic (they'll have it available for next model option).
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Any clue when that's coming & what the price is expected to be? I can't wait for the old ones to go on sale so I can do the mic mod myself
 
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knowledge said:
Any clue when that's coming & what the price is expected to be? I can't wait for the old ones to go on sale so I can do the mic mod myself
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I heard people modding it. Dunno if you can mod it or how. I do have a mic/speakers in my helmet... I wonder if that can connect to it (with the mod).

New model? dunno maybe in a year or two? Probably will be priced to something ridiculous like always. Just look for a deal and grab it.
 
8GB class4 SDHC card $9.97 at TigerDirect right now. just bought 2
 
Splash said:
8GB class4 SDHC card $9.97 at TigerDirect right now. just bought 2
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Thats a good deal, but let us know how the camera works with that card on the bike if you have a chance to ride. Does Drift provide a list of recommended cards? I know that for my cam (go pro hd), users have consistently had issues with Transcend, Adata and Centon.
 
mma01 said:
Thats a good deal, but let us know how the camera works with that card on the bike if you have a chance to ride. Does Drift provide a list of recommended cards? I know that for my cam (go pro hd), users have consistently had issues with Transcend, Adata and Centon.
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Weird - I have a variety of cards (including Transcend) and have never had a problem with ANY of them in either my original SD GoPro nor my new HD Gopro. <knock on wood>
 
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