Power Kite Forum

Helmet cameras

joecat - 9-12-2007 at 06:51 PM

Anyone have recommendations on a helmet camera? I went on ebay and saw some really good looking ones for around $100.00. I think one was a ATC 2 something brand. Something like that...... Any reviews on any cameras?

barnes - 9-12-2007 at 07:34 PM

Hey joe.

I can hook you up with one for under $50. I hack apart those CVS One Time Use camcorders so you can upload it to a PC. Its homemade, but its pretty tough. People rig it to RC planes and such: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8415417642483187457

1oldkid - 9-12-2007 at 08:17 PM

That's pretty cool! Complete with sound even! :thumbup:

macboy - 9-12-2007 at 11:06 PM

I've got the Oregon Pacific camera on the Christmas list which gives me full permission to buy it right after Christmas if santa doesn't bring it. If you're not in a hurry I'll be sure to have some vids the day I receive the camera.

NPWfever - 9-12-2007 at 11:41 PM

i saw one i like, water proof and everything, it was called the go pro or something

joecat - 10-12-2007 at 07:20 AM

Hey Barnes,, Thanks for the offer,,, maybe I will take you up on that... I want to check some more into the other options. I saw one of the Oregon Pacific cameras on Ebay for about $80.00 that comes with eveything you need,,,, waterproof, mounts for helmets, cables and all. I checked out the video link and the film looks cool from the remote plane, was that filmed with one of the CVS cams? Thanks to the other guys for the tips also I am going to check into them,,, if anyone has other reviews or suggestions please post them... thanks.

joecat - 10-12-2007 at 11:57 AM

Just ordered one off of Ebay. Oregon Pacific ATC 2000. Color cam with sound, water proof. Comes with 2GB SD card says it can record up to 1 hour and some minutes of video with 2GB card.. I will let you know how it is when I get it.... Still would like to hear some reviews if any out there.. Thanks.. Joecat.

macboy - 11-12-2007 at 06:42 PM

I can't wait to hear. That's exactly the one destined to my mailbox. Can't beat the price - especially if it does what it says it does. I'll watch for your review and any others we might come across in this thread.

Bladerunner - 12-12-2007 at 07:12 AM

Dotto !
If this cam gets a good review I expect to order one in the new year !

elkiter - 12-12-2007 at 02:52 PM

VHOLDR

Has anyone seen one of these?
Might be worth to check them out. A little more expensive than Oregon Pacific,
but I think it's more promising.
http://vholdr.com/

e

macboy - 12-12-2007 at 03:28 PM

That one looks pretty sweet. I wonder what kind o memory card it ships with....if I read that right the sales pitch on that puppy is a floating lens that remains level no matter what predicament you're trying to record. Very nice. Will have to seriously consider.....

USA_Eli_A - 12-12-2007 at 03:57 PM

check out the
Go Pro Digital Hero 3
http://www.bestrestproducts.com/celestia/order/orderform/?re...
lots of good reviews, perfect camera!

joecat - 13-12-2007 at 06:56 AM

Well,,, I placed my order on Monday Dec 10th, from an ebay site using paypal. I got the camera on the following day,,, sitting on my doorstep.. It sat there until yesterday because I dont use my front door that often and never expected to get it the very next day... That was impressive... Of course the company shipped from Northern part of New Jersey and I live in the southern part of New Jersey but still that was good that they shipped it out so fast... Looking at the package and its contents it appears to be just what it looked like on the internet,,, impressive so far,, I did try a little clip inside of my house and it appeared to work pretty good,,,, lighting was not the best in the house but it still was pretty good. The real test may be tomorrow, Friday, I may get to the beach and give it the full test and let you guys know how it works and maybe post a video if I can. This one came with the 2 GB card so it looks as if I can record up to at least one hour of high res video.

khooke - 15-12-2007 at 05:21 PM

I've got one of the ATC-2K cameras - its ok - best thing is it seems pretty indestructible. The picture quality is not great, but ok, and the sound when buggying just picks up wind.

There's a couple of vids here:

http://www.youtube.com/kandc07

- if the camera angle is from the side of my buggy then thats from the helmet cam. The trouble I found if you actually stick the cam on your helmet is that when you're buggying you're looking around all over the place, up and the kite, forward, around you etc, and my experience was that this makes it almost unwatchable. Stick it on something not moving as much, like your buggy and it seems ok.

I'm still planning on attaching it to my kite - haven't tried that yet.

Bladerunner - 15-12-2007 at 05:34 PM

I wondered about this ? Just How unwatchable ?
Does anyone have an example of a film taken using the helmet as a mount ? It seems that supporting it with a backpack and extension and shooting yourself from above makes an interesting and somewhat stable shot ?
Popeye's new film on kiteflix is from the kites perspective :cool:


Quote:
Originally posted by khooke
- if the camera angle is from the side of my buggy then thats from the helmet cam. The trouble I found if you actually stick the cam on your helmet is that when you're buggying you're looking around all over the place, up and the kite, forward, around you etc, and my experience was that this makes it almost unwatchable. Stick it on something not moving as much, like your buggy and it seems ok.


Khooke,
I am healed up and ready to go ! Has the Doctor told you that it's O.K. to kite now ?

joecat - 15-12-2007 at 05:45 PM

Ok here it is,,, not the most exciting video but this was just the test so you can see how the camera worked... I like it. I had to convert the video from one file to another in order to make it fit on Youtube but it still looks good there and even better as the original. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSR6isvaKVQ

khooke - 15-12-2007 at 11:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by snowbird
I wondered about this ? Just How unwatchable ?
Does anyone have an example of a film taken using the helmet as a mount ?


I took some test video from my helmet buggying in a local school field - I'll see if I kept it, and if so I'll try and upload it to YouTube tomorrow so you can take a look.

Quote:

Khooke,
I am healed up and ready to go ! Has the Doctor told you that it's O.K. to kite now ?

Hey Ken - glad to hear you're ok - have you been out yet? I've been good to go for several weeks now but only actually been out twice. Hoping its windy tomorrow because I don't have any other plans tomorrow. I think its actually been good to stretch my arm with my kites! I was reluctant at first to go out in case I pulled something and my arm muscles under my arm were really aching for weeks, still are a bit, but the dr said I've got to stretch more, so more kite flying for me ;)

I've noticed a few kitesurfing videos where the camera is mounted to the surfer somehow from about a 45degree angle from what looks like 6 feet or so back (could be a wide angle lens). Anyone have any ideas what sort of attachment the are using to mount the camera? Its a neat shot. I was thinking of rigging some sort of boom sticking out 6 feet or so from the side of my buggy to stick the camera on the end... but it might not be that practical, especially on a busy beach... have to watch out from snagging people on the boom as you pass by :wow:

Bladerunner - 16-12-2007 at 08:40 AM

The Billy Blackman Video on Kiteflix uses the above head method you describe. It looks like he has a backpack and pole set up.

I read in a review that it is impossible to know what you are actually capturing until you connect and download. I expected it would have a simple view finder like a camera or something for getting set up? Is that the case ??

Khooke, I took a rare snow day a couple of weeks ago against Doc.'s orders and I was fine. My only real trouble was the stomach stretch required to get up after a fall. I found it best to release my bindings to stand back up. Flying the kites and holding the power wasn't a problem at all. I'm ready to go :tumble:

joecat - 18-12-2007 at 09:02 AM

Ok,,, Now I have the camera, does anyone have suggestions for mounting on the buggy.. I have one mount on the front forks. Someone has said about some people mounting some type of pole onto most likely the rear axcle coming up about 3 or 4 feet to give a view as if someone else is taken the film..... Whats out there? anyone!

macboy - 18-12-2007 at 10:41 AM

Just do a quick Google for POV Camera Rigging and you should find a lot. There are some hints to a few solutions here:

http://chasejarvis.com/blog/2007/08/chase-jarvis-tech-pov-ph...

I'm a fan of MythBusters (the TV show) and see quite a few tricks to it on there from time to time.

joecat - 18-12-2007 at 01:14 PM

thanks Mac,,,,, I will check that out....

joecat - 20-12-2007 at 07:53 PM

Ok here is the second video... much better than the first but still much more room for improvement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3IczOklDM4

Bladerunner - 21-12-2007 at 07:24 AM

Very COOL :thumbup:

I know what I want for my Birthday!

What spots did you use for mounts ?

The one when you can see the shadow of the kite is great !

You will notice that when you start flying bigger kites you'll look back at this video and think. That looks like a lot of work compared to going up a size ? Now my video's show me shooting along in a straight line with the kite sitting steady !
Just like Popeye :wink2:

Notice how when his cam is in his kite it is clear it sits steady with only the odd, minor adjustment. I kite cam on your kite would make one dizzy :wink2:

Is there any way to know what this model is picking up? An eye peice or something ?

joecat - 21-12-2007 at 08:30 PM

Hey Snowbird,, I mounted the cam on the front forks near the top. I just switched the camera from looking straigt ahead and then turned it around facing.. No view finder on the camera so you just have to guess and line it up best you can... I was using my 3meter beamer that day I guess if I went to my 5meter it would have been a more steady kite. I am trying to rig another mount on a pole coming off the back axcel but its not easy so far,,, just spent several hours working on it with very little progress. I still have ideas... I was trying a compression coupling over the rear axel it would have worked great I think but I got the wrong size and it wouldn't go over the ax.

DenisLaMenace - 21-12-2007 at 08:56 PM

I need to get me one of these helmet cam too !
nice video


...


finally I just ordered one.

joecat - 23-12-2007 at 12:03 AM

Hey check this one out.... just happened today Sat.... Dec 22nd. hooked up a pvc pole off rear ax,,,, works good,,, alittle shakey but I will take care of that..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGZNqxrlo2k

Bladerunner - 23-12-2007 at 01:00 PM

COOL! Is that group of gawkers standing around watching ?

joecat - 23-12-2007 at 02:47 PM

No its actually pilings from an old drain or something. But it does look like people standing in the background,,, I thought the same thing when I first saw the footage but then remembered it was the pilings.

DenisLaMenace - 15-1-2008 at 05:50 PM

I just got one of these ATC2k helmet cam too.

I did a small test. seems to get better video quality when well lighted.

looking forward for my next kiting day out :tumble: to record some videos

macboy - 15-1-2008 at 06:26 PM

Ordered mine yesterday - Oregon Scientific says it's enroute! Can't wait to give you all some conversational fodder ; )

What package did you order and what attachment means did it have? They were out of stock on the extra strap attachments (presumably for helmet mount?)