Video camera

[Transalper]

Two words...fast (encodes in real time) and hassle free. It also has a video editing module built in.

My shit is hassel free for me.
I take it you already have one, what did it cost? Where you get yours from?
What do you record on to for archiving?
Do you have some videos up on youtube or LV that we can check out?

I'll have a better poke around the net to have a better look in to their capabilities and reviews.

[Transalper]

Just got our Oregon ATC2k cam and think it is brilliant, the vid quality at 30fps is real smooth....
The raw video footage is a lot better than shown on Youtube, as they are hugely compressed to be posted.

These things are good value for money in my opnion but I have several mates with them and from what I've seen the motion kind of waves through the screen like a flag. Do you have a link to some online video content too?
Youtube encoding doesn't affect the flag waving thing I'm talking about, I'd like to see if yours is doing it too.

[DingoZ]

Thing that worries me about that is that when I tryed to follow the links to the twenty20camera website it redirected me to some completely other mpeg recording camera of VGA quality NTSC spec.

I have read a while ago that twenty20 stuff wasn't the best but since I can not find specs on the setup advertised in Road Guide (interesting site by the way) I am reluctant to comment further... other than to say if a camera has an extra breakaway connection in the line too close to the camera it might get annoying banging around your neck or helmet and adds weight to the cable. Also introduces the potential for signal degregation at the plug, especially if it starts getting dirty. That is kind of hear say, as I don't have a plug in line on mine.

Id be looking at the link in Zukins post if I were you.

XXX
Right.... Thanks TA and Zukin. have looked at the link provided, and I agree with the recommendation, and heck in the long run, what is an extra $100.00. Apart from well spent if the results turn out..

So cheers for the advice..

[zeocen]

mmm, I guess it wouldn't take much effort to upload to both services. Maybe I should do a better quality test there and find a favorite encoding setting for livevideo and upload a few more. The colour does kinda look better at LV.

Awesome! *subscribes to LV channel*
Re. M13, yeah his riding is a bit erratic, and people do think that, I've even mentioned in one of my videos after people have asked why I don't "let loose" on my bikes. I tell them this isn't like taiwan, or long empty interstates, there are police here and they do their job. The younger generation don't seem to 'get it' but the guys I watch and who watch me are better with it.

Can't wait to see some more videos!

[Number 5]

These things are good value for money in my opnion but I have several mates with them and from what I've seen the motion kind of waves through the screen like a flag. Do you have a link to some online video content too?
Youtube encoding doesn't affect the flag waving thing I'm talking about, I'd like to see if yours is doing it too.

Yes I have seen those way vids too, the problem appears to be caused by the mounting, which is very close to the rear of the camera alowing it to wobble on its mount.
We cured this by making sure the cam is mounted on the helmet rigidly, by mounting the cam to the helmet with a rubber strap, and using the velcro and rubber strips provided to pack the rear of the mount, and from the footage we have taken sofar no wavy vids.

When we first looked at recording our rides the initial idea was to use a bullet camera (cost $194 from Jaycar Electronics) and a camcorder, but on looking at camcorders available (cost $600 to over $1000) none had AV/in video enabled, where it stated AV in/out, only audio was enabled in NZ, so that idea went up the road. The only draw back with ATC2K is instant replay or viewing without a PC, but this can be overcome by using a MP4 player or media player that accepts SD cards (small units seem to be going for $20 on Trademe, but not sure of their video quality). All things considered this set-up works well for us at a cost of $200.

[Headbanger]

When we first looked at recording our rides the initial idea was to use a bullet camera (cost $194 from Jaycar Electronics) and a camcorder, but on looking at camcorders available (cost $600 to over $1000) none had AV/in video enabled, where it stated AV in/out, only audio was enabled in NZ, so that idea went up the road. .

I don't quite follow you there, There are dozens of cameras available in NZ at any time over the last decade that have AV/in AV/out.

I use a JVC that can be had for about $600 for my offroad helmet camera footage, and a Sony (which also allows use of the Linc) for onroad.

[motorbyclist]

The only problem was that the straps supplied were to small to fit a motorcycle helmet, so made our own from an old cycle inner tube, and works fine.

i used a combination of furry velcro and 3M "dual lock", works like magic, holds to the side of my helmet up to atleast 180kph +-wind

fell off my mate's tank at an assumedly high speed though... still works! but no video of the fall, either lost video or wasn't filming

These things are good value for money in my opnion but I have several mates with them and from what I've seen the motion kind of waves through the screen like a flag. Do you have a link to some online video content too?
Youtube encoding doesn't affect the flag waving thing I'm talking about, I'd like to see if yours is doing it too.

i've seen it slightly once or twice myself, comes down to having a steady mount as it seems to be caused by the camera scanning the image as the thing wobbles or something

i've had a problem where the whine from my gear driven cams on my vfr makes a horrible screech making the sounds useless above half revs, but on other bikes i don't have that problem

and i've seen on many different cameras mounted near the engine seem to get affected by the spark plug leads or something - and when they used the electric starter the whole image was blacking out

I don't quite follow you there, There are dozens of cameras available in NZ at any time over the last decade that have AV/in AV/out.

well i couldn't find any for less than $800, and frankly i'm not taking more than $300 or equipment on my dirbike unless it's entirely shock and waterproof....

actually, i could hardly afford the $250 for the ATC2k anyway

(and i got a 2GB sandisk sd card for $30 pp on trademe)

[Headbanger]

well i couldn't find any for less than $800, and frankly i'm not taking more than $300 or equipment on my dirbike unless it's entirely shock and waterproof....

http://www.helmetcamera.com/Camera-Compatibility.html

Though I'm not suggesting spending big dollars is necessary. When I bought my helmet camera setup a few years ago the cheap options as best I could tell were rubbish, Since then there has been many suitable products hit the market. I would probably prefer not to have to carry around the camcorder all the time.

[motorbyclist]

http://www.helmetcamera.com/Camera-Compatibility.html
I would probably prefer not to have to carry around the camcorder all the time.

yeah that too lol

for youtube, the atc2k is fine
for "disposable remote video camera" it's good too

for dvd/professional footage, 640x480 isn't exactly high def and you really want a seperate mic

[Number 5]

I don't quite follow you there, There are dozens of cameras available in NZ at any time over the last decade that have AV/in AV/out.

I use a JVC that can be had for about $600 for my offroad helmet camera footage, and a Sony (which also allows use of the Linc) for onroad.

Disagree, there were cams that had AV/in available in NZ upto approx 3 years ago, but word from Sony is 'no more, because of import duty,' apparently if it has no Av/in it is classed as a camera, but if it has AV/in it is classed as a recording device, (ie record of the tele, illegal copy of movies), as such attracts a lot higher import duty into NZ.
The lists online are not NZ sites and not the ones imported currently into NZ, example - JVC GS 55 and 70 have AV enabled, but here in NZ we get the JVC-GS 60, which does not have AV /in enabled.
Sony also say be careful what the sales people tell you, it may say AV in and out, but in fact it is audio only in.

As a dodge there is a site that tells you how to enable your cam (dvdoctor), apparently it is just code disabled, and you can download drivers to re-enable it, but your warranty is null if you do it.

Don't wish to appear to be an expert, but did a lot of research on trying to find a new cam with AV/in, also if you look at all the cam manufacturers NZ web-sites all the information is on there

[motorbyclist]

well that would explain why i had such difficulty finding a camera with AV in then

[scracha]

My shit is hassel free for me.
I take it you already have one, what did it cost? Where you get yours from?
What do you record on to for archiving?
Do you have some videos up on youtube or LV that we can check out?

Umm...the only thing I "tape" on it is telly but I'll set it to "youtube" settings and record something when I remember. I have mine recording to my NAS (Infrant ReadyNAS NV). I've tested it recording to Windows PC's, SD card, USB drives and other types of NAS too. Got mine from thnkgeek. Came to under 400 bucks including delivery (and hell it was here in two days!) as I didn't pay GST on it.

Only thing I wish it could do is play WMV's (avi & mp4's are no problem).

[Number 5]

well that would explain why i had such difficulty finding a camera with AV in then

Yeah, it sucks, as we really wanted to change our ancient camcorder, and for a little more bucks we could attach a bullet cam for riding.

But we are very happy with the ATC2K, a remote control would be really useful though, as the buttons are a little difficult to work on the move, another plus point is that it is waterproof, so you can swim with it, which is amazing cos I couldn't swim a stroke before.

[Headbanger]

Disagree, there were cams that had AV/in available in NZ upto approx 3 years ago, but word from Sony is 'no more, because of import duty,' apparently if it has no Av/in it is classed as a camera, but if it has AV/in it is classed as a recording device, (ie record of the tele, illegal copy of movies), as such attracts a lot higher import duty into NZ.
The lists online are not NZ sites and not the ones imported currently into NZ, example - JVC GS 55 and 70 have AV enabled, but here in NZ we get the JVC-GS 60, which does not have AV /in enabled.
Sony also say be careful what the sales people tell you, it may say AV in and out, but in fact it is audio only in.

As a dodge there is a site that tells you how to enable your cam (dvdoctor), apparently it is just code disabled, and you can download drivers to re-enable it, but your warranty is null if you do it.

Don't wish to appear to be an expert, but did a lot of research on trying to find a new cam with AV/in, also if you look at all the cam manufacturers NZ web-sites all the information is on there

Uh...what?

The Sony I use is less then six months old, I just consulted that List, Then the regional Sony site, Then rang Harvey Normans and they had them as recent stock.

Plugged the helmet camera in and away we went.

I'll get the model number and post it tommorow.

My JVC is a GR-D70, But that was purchased just over 3 years ago.

[Transalper]

For those wanting good handy cams to plug ya helmet cameras in to....

I bought a Cannon MV960 for $800 fron Noel Leeming in May2006 with AV in/out and firewire play through.
Only feature missing was the LANC port for running the start/record/stop remote that I wear on my arm.

A couple of months ago I bought a new Sony DCR-HC96 over the web for $1000 from Camera & Camera up north somewhere. Good service from them too. I bought that one because it had the LANC port. It also has AV in/out and Firewire play through. Both are MiniDV Tape cameras.