In fact in many ways it is already much better.......than a dear I say it....GoPro

HOYT TECH HCX-HD1

I have had a little play, and I am well impressed.... and it records in MOV. format not that MP4, which makes life much easier, loads of mounts and accessories....does everything with a 8mp camera too, and the biggy.....it has a screen so you can set it up right and see what what you have recorded...



My First Testing Video


I have had both the normal and HD GoPro's...the things I like about this cam over the GoPro are

Very easy to turn on and off, I am not looking for tiny icons as on GP

The batteries are Li-Ion batteries, better suited to cold temperature, unlike GP

The LCD screen...a big thumbs up

The rotating lens, even if you camera is at an angle, just rotate the lens to straighten the video.

Records HD in MOV format, much much better the GP's MP4 format

Take 8mp photos, GP takes 5mp pics

Takes much less time to process, being MOV format

Review footage after it has been taken, unlike GP, or more expense buying the new screen.

Stands out much less than a GP, ie less wind resistant

A 16gb card on the highest res will record 5 1/2 hrs of footage.

Batteries will last around 2 1/2 - 3hrs recording....thats a lot of film

Loop Recording, Set loop recording to 15, 35, or 45 minutes and when the recording reaches that length it will stop, save and start recording a new file

simply brilliant

Sounds like a good product. I have enough kites now, but this is something I need to add in soon for those epic lakebed days. I look forward to seeing yours on the playa popeye.

very nice Pops........................waterproof?

Quote:

Originally posted by tridude very nice Pops........................waterproof?

Quote:

Rugged, Weatherproof Housing The HCX-HD1 is tough! The rugged housing is shock proof and weather proof. Rain, mud, ice and snow are no problem. Bring it on Mother Nature!

Can't find that they are available in the States. Am I missing something?

That looks real good Carl. What is the price on this little booger?

Order one direct:

http://www.hoyttech.com/index.cfm/product/35_3/hcx-hd1-1080p...

Located in NH.... if you want to fiddle with the buttons, they currently have about 10 dealers in the US.
http://www.hoyttech.com/Locator/Dealer_Locator.htm

Who knows, if they really develop a following, you might start seeing it pop up at your local power kite store

Considering the UK pricing, I was prepared for a bit of sticker shock, but was pleasantly surprised by the $279.99 direct pricing (even if that is an intro price down from the $329.99). Given the LCD is included, price is in the hunt with GP pricing.

ATB,
Sam

$253

http://www.cycleprotectionproducts.com/hoyttech-m-2.html

i was sold when the bird showed up.

It does look good! Carl, would you have time for a side by side comparison video with the GoPro HD?

Kind of like this one.

ContourHD vs GoProHD


Thanks for test video again it looked like a good video cam.

It only makes sense a better camera is coming out. Just bought a GoPro. I bought my Bullet cam just as the GoPro came out ...

I'm ready to upgrade from the standard GP to something better and easier. This is wide angle too right? And about the same price. And easier for us hopelessly inept folks!!

If I got my geekness down right, .mov IS .mp4 - just a different wrapper. Personally, I hate Quicktime and MOV but that's just me :D

Looks like a Drift - what up with that?

I knew it reminded me of an earlier camera, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it (Drift Innovations). The two of them could have been seperated at birth.

Kind of curious whether either of them haven threaded lens to accept the equivalent of a "skylight" filter to protect the actual lens. Did like that feature of the GoPro.

ATB,
Sam

Another product you can try is the Kodak playsport
http://www.amazon.com/Kodak-PlaySport-Waterproof-Pocket-Came...

I have one and love it, water proof to 3m 1080p at 30fps 720 at 60fps, really nice video 5mp camera
up i think 32gb sd card and it only cost 83$ also has a lipo battery

as for durability
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2PgknnuSVk

how about a 60' drop strapped to the under side of a 13lb heli : ) Its still recording.

picture quality is alot better then what you tube will show
http://www.youtube.com/user/f22warzone#p/a/u/2/liaQfbnxzfM but as you can see its not bad.

Recording didn't even squiggle - you should have added that for authenticity good cheap option there, nice find!

Quote:

Originally posted by Todd It does look good! Carl, would you have time for a side by side comparison video with the GoPro HD? Kind of like this one. ContourHD vs GoProHD Thanks for test video again it looked like a good video cam.

I actually sold my GO HD and then bought the helmet hero (non HD), purely because I was fed up with all the messing about I had to do with MP4...

My other bug bear was the tiny icons on the GP, I know my eyes have deteriorated dramatically during the last few years, but if I left my reading glasses at home, there is no chance I would see them, in fact that's what happened when I took the Crab buggy out...I thought I was recording, only to find when I got home I had it set on the wrong icon...that was the final straw for me with GP, I am not for one minute saying they are no good, the quality is superb, but I dont think very user friendly imho.

The prices you can get these cams for in the USA is a snip, and the other cams show all offer brilliant results, I am not trying to sell these to you guys just spreading the news about a new camera....one that so far, I have been very happy with.

re the mp4 format being the same as MOV format, yes someone else pointed that out to me, but all I can say is, I had no problems what so ever with MOV, and but GoPros HD Mp4 was a sod to work with....for me anyway, I lost a lot of money when I sold the HD with a 32gb card...now I will lose a lot more selling the GoPro Helmet wide as well, but you have to try these things yourself to know whats right or wrong for you.

This is a good thread, and also good seeing alternatives to GP

I enjoyed your test video. The camera looks like it does the job well. I must say it freaked me out when you were in the car and the other car was coming at you. To me you were on the wrong side of the road and I was waiting for the crash lol. That was very entertaining for me to see driving on the opposite side of the road than I am use to.

Car?!?! I was trying to figure out what kind of bike he was riding, as all you ever see of it are the upper edge of the fairing and the mirrors.

ATB,
Sam

Quote:

Originally posted by indigo_wolf Car?!?! I was trying to figure out what kind of bike he was riding, as all you ever see of it are the upper edge of the fairing and the mirrors. ATB, Sam

one of these



Its a Gilera Runner VXR 200cc, twist and go, good for 85mph 4 stroke.... you will also notice it in the background when I am filming the Canaries at the end

Quote:

Originally posted by DAKITEZ I enjoyed your test video. The camera looks like it does the job well. I must say it freaked me out when you were in the car and the other car was coming at you. To me you were on the wrong side of the road and I was waiting for the crash lol. That was very entertaining for me to see driving on the opposite side of the road than I am use to.

I spent a week in the UK and was horrified almost every time we went around a turn or over a hill. That curve in Pop's vid did the same thing again!

Just an update..the video I shot was not in HD, it was recorded on the 30fps 1280x720 setting, I will try to capture some HD footage soon

Ok just made another short video....to test the camera, click the HD setting on youtube

dont know if you can see any difference in the quality, bad light again


Hoyt HCX-HD1 cam HD footage