Helmetcam?

Anyone used an Oregon ATC-2000 digital video camera since they were
discussed briefly here a while ago? I'm lining up my next birthday prez!

http://www.oregonscientific.co.uk/prod_allterraincamera.htm (although I've
seen them for £80 + p&p).

 

Yup, got one.

The image quality is not good under low light conditions. By low light I
mean overcast autumn afternoon, not twilight or dawn. The image appears to
shear. Drop the in camera quality and it improves the watery shear effect
somewhat.

The sound is dreadful, the picture not great most of the time. However, in
brightish light at 320x200 it was more than adequate for filming DAS
students. The 1GB memory cards I used held close to 2 hours and a set of
NiMH batteries lasted all day.

As a teaching tool, I found it useful. As a fun item I suppose it's OK for
youtube and such like. Once I've bodged a mount up for it, I intend using
it on this years trackdays. The helmet mount sucks big time BTW.

Still, it is cheap, self contained, water resistant and uses SD cards.

 

You can get them cheaper if you shop around, I think I paid £72 delivered.
As the other poster said, not good in low light, poor sound and I find my
batteries don't last long
..
There are a few mods you can do to make them better, such as un-waterproof
the mic for better sound and glue on a wide angle lenses (See
http://www.digitalphotographystuff.com/BLOG160.html). Have a search on
youtube, there are numerous examples of video quality. I have the ATC2K
mounted to a fairing bolt and try to keep it running at all times, just in
case.

However, for £51(inc p&p) I bought a Canon MV-450i camcorder off ebay. A 420
line bullet camera cost me about £24. Helmet mount made from 3 rubber
suckers and plastic 'P' clips cost less than £1. I also knocked up an
isolated power supply[1] so I can connect it to the bikes battery without
any chance of interference. Video quality is vastly superior to the ATC2k.

[1] Using a Traco Ten 5-1212, works from 9-15v, so can even use a PP3.

 

Got one of thesde, not to bad at all in daylight

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130928

 

Ooh, ta - and thanks to everyone else who replied. Now, what to do... what
to do..
-
R.

 

Do you have any pics of your setup, or would you mind being bugged for
some more info by email ?

I'm trying to setup a decent helmetcam solution, but I want to see if I
can end up with something that works for more than just the bike.

I assume that the bullet cam attaches to the lid, and then has cables
trailing to a standard mini-dv camera somewhere? Where do you stash the
mini-dv camera and how do you route these cables so that you don't end
up with them pulling against stuff when you turn your head.

Sorry for all the questions

Wayne