HD Helmet Camera
 

What is the best buy for a buck? Can be 720p, but must produce decent picture and be Final Cut compatible. Thanks for suggestions!

What sports/activities do you want to shoot, how small do you need the camera to be, and what are your requirements for video quality? If you can deal with something handycam sized mounted on a helmet, there are lots of relatively inexpensive options that will do a decent job. If you want something really small or if you want to ensure that there are no compression artifacts due to large amounts of motion in the frame, things get very expensive very fast.

Check out some of the stuff i do here, mostly on water video footage with POV cams.
Just getting into HD now as they become affordable and available. Lot's of info on mounts and testing, check the categories.

Rambos Locker Outrigger Canoe Blog: New GoPro HD Cam – High Def @ 1080p

Cheers Rambo

It has to be small, the quality is an issue, but not as much. It will be used for filming on alpine climbs (Patagonia, Pakistan and so)- guy is a real hard core, but wants to enhance his still for slideshows with footage. Palmcorder is too heavy, so are the other options. I just wanted to see about something like this: VholdR | ContourHD Wearable Camcorder | 1200 | B&H Photo Video . Sony is too $$$$. V.I.O. | POV.1.5 Digital Helmet Camera System | POV150 | B&H is only 480.
BTW it won't be a fast moving action shots. Thanks

If it's cold conditions he will also need to consider the type of batteries the units will take. Only Lithium's will work in very cold areas. Water and dust proof may be another consideration, most POV cams are water resistant only. The GoPro is the only one i know of enclosed in a small lightweight waterproof case (too 100ft). There are mount options for head, chest, pole, suction, clip-on etc. Wide angle is GoPro is 170 degrees, perfect for HeadCam footage.

Size is smaller than a mobile phone.

Cheers Rambo

I checked the page, but did not see the specs for this camera (size and weight). It sounds like a good unit, but also I could not find it in stock yet at any retailer. Any info on that? Thanks

Hi Robert,

Waterproof: rated to 100 feet/30 meters

Dimensions: 1.75" x 2.30" x 1.25" or 4.45cm x 5.84cm x 3.18cm (H x W x D)

Weight: 4.9 oz or 139g
Rugged and reliable and expendable, i have 15 of the SD models all still working after getting a hard time, some modified with radio control and long delay timers.

Highly recommend them.

HD Available Sept 2009
SD Available now
GoPro - Wearable Digital Cameras for Sports

Cheers Rambo

Just ordered the GoPro HD version. Supposed to ship next week.

Plan on trying it for mountain biking.

What is the format this camera (gopro) recording in?

Lots of Gopro help and info in this GoPro forum
http://goprouser.freeforums.org

If it comes before Christmas, santa would like to see some footage if you have time to post it.

GoPro Hero records in AVI format using the "Sony Motion JPEG" codec. Here's some footage from the one and only day I used it:

http://s94261448.onlinehome.us/video/GoProSample.wmv

BTW, I have it up for sale in the Classifieds forum.

GoPro - do your homework
 

Thought I should add my initial experiences with purchasing a GoPro HD camera. I purchased the unit through B&H Photo and the camera arrived quickly thanks to the great service from B&H.
I asked GoPro before the camera arrived are there any issues with SD cards and specifically about card ratings as the camera ships without a card and I wanted to have a card ready to go with the camera. There response to me was that they sell Kingston cards and that they hadn't had a problem with these cards. Not a complete answer in hindsight.
My camera arrived and it wouldn't record video only still images. I went back to GoPro for help and they told me they are experiencing compatability problems with some cards and here is some of the response:

"We are currently working on doing a full listing of recommended (and not recommended) cards. We are researching further to determine why some cards are not adhering to the spec to which our SD card host adapter conforms. For what it's worth, internally we use Kingston or Patriot brand cards: 16GB, Class 4 without issue, so can safely recommend those."

It would have been nice to hear this on my initial contact so I could have had an appropriate card. I'm currently awaiting a new Kingston card to see if this is in fact the problem with my camera. I'll post my results soon.
Hoping the camera will live up to my expectations.

Jon, Just about any 16Gb class 6 name brand SDHC card is compatible except for SanDisc brand. Steer clear of any Chinese eBay cards, most are not class 6 and don't meet SDHC standards.

Cheers Rambo

Thanks Rambo,

I have a 16gb SD Kingston class 4 on the way as GoPro have advised but I'll keep your advice in mind if I continue to have the problem. Seems like they have a firmware issue with the cameras that may be able to be upgraded at some point hopefully.

Cheers,
John

Jon said ----Seems like they have a firmware issue with the cameras that may be able to be upgraded at some point hopefully.

It's part that but mostly people are buying the cheapest cards they can find and expecting them to be at spec especially the 32gb which are quite new.

16gb class6 is sweet-spot.

Cheers Rambo

ContourHD from VHoldR.com WAY better than the GoPro!

Craig said "ContourHD from VHoldR.com WAY better than the GoPro!"

Thanks for the info. I just took a look and ordered two of them. Should work perfectly with the project we are working on.

They're not waterproof though Jon. Not sure what you mean way better Craig.

Rambo

Rambo says "They're not waterproof though Jon. Not sure what you mean way better Craig."

They have housings available just like GoPro Waterproof Housing | Launch Helmet Cams

Cheers,
John

Just new, available on pre-order only. Let's know how they go fogging wise.

Rambo

Thanks Rambo,

I realise I'm sounding like a turncoat but I was really disappointed with the response from GoPro. They could have saved me a fair bit of time and money if they had simply given me the info I initially asked them for and I still have to wait and see if the camera will operate correctly.

The Vholdr cameras are in stock at VHoldR ContourHD 1080P Helmet Camera | Launch Helmet Cams

Cheers,
John

I was in the market recently for a small HD pov camera, and was really on the fence between the gopro and the contour. I finally settled on the go pro because of all the nice mounts available for it, it came with the waterproof housing, but most of all because it also took stills, and this is a biggy for me...I can change video resolutions in the field, and dont need to drag around a laptop which is needed for the contour. So far I have had no issues and I use a class 4 card.

Well, having shot with both, I found the colors to be more vibrant with the Contour, the user interface is much easier to deal with, and the aerodynamics of the enclosure to be far less troublesome at speed.

I'm much happier with the picture from the ContourHD than I am with the GoPro and if the camera lens ever comes into direct sunlight (pointed right at the sun), the image is far less impacted by that disturbing purple line that appears.

Further, the suction cup and mounting bracket for the GoPro is difficult is annoying.

Granted, I use them strictly for on car mounts and your use is probably different, but my experiences have been much better with the Contours.

Thanks for the info Craig. I will soon have both to test side by side (thats if I can get the GoPro to work) so it will be interesting to see the results. I would have to say looking at the two cameras that the Contour is more functional in its design. I'll let the forum know about my results.
Cheers,
John

Craig are you talking about the HD Gopro or the Std GoPro?
Never seen purple streaks from a CMOS sensor camera before, usually CCD cameras exhibit that.

THe black dot when pointed directly at the sun is eliminated now with the HD GoPro. if that's what you are referring too.

Cheers Rambo

I just got a GoPro HD, and can't get video to play on windows media player.
I kinda liked the black dot of the sun effect on my standard def go pro.
I chose the go pro because of fixed focus--I use it clamped to a rail in the cockpit of an aerobatic plane, and just 2 days ago used it on the headband under the headset, and it worked fine (Standard-def model). The HD model is a bit heavier, so I'll see about pulling Gs with it. I could get the HD video on my computer, but not onto sony's PMB program, but the standard def stuff would go right onto it with no problem, and windows Media player evidently can't handle MP4 files. I'm a computer idiot, so any suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks,
Shawn

Shawn,

That's right it won't play unless you have the right codec.

Download either VLC or Classic Media player both will play it fine and require less CPU to do so.

MPC - guliverkli | Get guliverkli at SourceForge.net
VLC - VLC media player - Open Source Multimedia Framework and Player

i really like the idea of these cameras, and wanted to get one as it is perfect for some shots in a doc i am shooting, BUT the footage i have seen (especially of bicycles, which is what i need) suffers from the rolling shutter effect horribly. i think the footage is unusable for anything but you tube...
can somebody convince me otherwise?

You have to remember Brian that most of the users of these cameras are inexperienced with cameras and editing/uploading etc. There are many excellent videos from these cameras both Contour and Gopro. Search vimeo for GoPro or Contour and you will see hundreds. They are designed for specific purpose and that do that well and at the price they are expendable if you put them in risky locations.

Cheers Rambo

Shawn,

Here is another link for a media player codec pack for windows XP (if you are using windows) Free-Codecs.com : XP Codec Pack 2.5.0 is one of the most complete codec packs

It to has some codecs that will allow you to play your video.

I thought this may also be helpful.

Cheers,
Jon

another good media player is splash lite, I just installed it yesterday and it really works well, loads fast, and will play the mp4s out of the gopro camera..
Mirillis - Enjoy High Definition

Thanks, folks.
I'm glad I found this site

What would be the best choice to sh'oot inside a fighter jet cockpit?From the image quality i would say gopro.What would u think

I agree Marcus, amazing quality I think

Marcus, I have some experience of working with Go Pro footage mounted inside aerobatics aircraft, and I'd say that it works well for in cockpit stuff although you do have to look out for skew.

In a prop plane facing forward, where you can see the prop, the skew will turn the prop into a continuous curve which looks terrible.

In a fighter plane, I'd imagine you'd have less issues - especially shooting back toward the pilot.

Shooting forward outwards you might have more issues with skew under heavy G's, but because generally the wide angle look means lot of distortion anyway, and the subject matter isn't changing in such a way that it's a huge problem, I'd say skew isn't a big issue at all, unless you were looking for accuracy or trying to capture say other planes passing the jet, like a dog fight type situation, in which case the skew will probably be a problem.

Mounting may also be an issue, because if it experiences a lot of shake inside the plane, it what it is on vibrates because of resonance or turbulence or something, then your picture can turn a bit jello like.

For the money they are good value, but limited.

Here is a story I shot last week. I used a Contour HD 720p model for the shot looking back at the pilot.

Take to the skies in '20s-style warbird - National - Video - 3 News

at 1min 50sec you can see the image shift, but for such a short shot, cut in with my other two cameras, it is fine. I use these as 'bonus cams' and put them where I want, not worrying about the cameras safety too much. For this plane shot I just gaffer taped it into a hole on the dashboard in about 1min.

The Contour has been good for me, but I am also keen to try the GoPro.

Ben

Ben Ruffell

Hi Ben,

I'm assuming you shot in 720p60 mode, but since New Zealand is PAL, you then needed to convert to 50p or 50i. Was this a simple process? Personally, I find it frustrating that PAL versions of these types of cameras don't exist.

Geo.

So what's the mount you suggest me to buy to avoid the G's bad surprise?
I was also considering the fact of the PAL-NTSC conversion....
have a good weekwnd guys