Helmet Cam?

[Douglas Spotted Eagle]

Originally Posted by Tony Macasaet

Cool. How do you exactly accomplish this... how do you mount the A1 to a helmet?

Same way I mount the V1/Z1, or any other camcorder of this type.
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=77973 has pictures.
Manfrotto quick plate releases it.

[George Ellis]

A little off topic, but I wanted to let you folks know what I have found as it is sort of on topic, but different subject matter. But it can be used to cover helmetcamming a HC1/HC3.

Originally Posted by Douglas Spotted Eagle

Same way I mount the V1/Z1, or any other camcorder of this type.
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=77973 has pictures.
Manfrotto quick plate releases it.

I now vow NEVER to pick a fight with DSE. Neck muscles alone can kick my butt! :D

There is some discussion about helmet cams in the mountain biking community. The guys that have been doing it are using cameras and not lipsticks. You get better resolution and OIS. Tradeoff is weight. Pete Fagerlin has about the best running currently using a Sony PC-1000. He and Mountain Bike Bill add a wide-angle for additional image smoothing. Here is a link to Pete's page http://www.petefagerlin.com/. Download his large Norway 06 video from the video gallery for a sample.

I am working on a project will probably use a Canon HV10. 1 lb and fits the same form-factor as the PC1000. It should work with this enclosure http://www.thinkhelmets.com/XJAKETprod.htm

Another resource, Mountain Bike Bill's http://www.mountainbikebill.com/HowToVideo.htm

Both Bill and Pete have some links to pieces to DIY on a mount and to a helmet mfgr for helmets for cameras (I think I recognize Douglas' helmet from one of them.)

[Douglas Spotted Eagle]

you do not want an HV10 for any Xtreme sport or high vibration situation. It's been proven by at least 2 dozen Xtreme sports folk that you cannot, should not count on this camera.
Search Skydivingmovies.com for at least 10 uploads from bad HV10's. I've got bad ATV footage as well.

[George Ellis]

DSE, did you try the HC3 also? I would like to author in HDV and then downres to SD for what I am going to distribute. But that way I can also offer HD when the time is right. For awhile there, I was thinking the HC3 was 3 lbs. Looks not to bad at 1lb 3oz with battery and tape.

[Douglas Spotted Eagle]

Ive got a lot of experience with the HC3, it's perfect for a lot of work and my helmet is configured to hold two of them for critical competition work.
I set them up so one has a very wide angle lens adaptor, and the other is simply set to wide.

[George Ellis]

Thanks Spot. That is where I will go then. Either Bill or Peter have links to mount hardware. About the same size as a GS500. According to the stats at B&H, the HC1 is not heavy at all. I will be shooting wide angle to help kill the 'noise'. I have to get a FS (full suspension) bike too.

The big risk is if you do have to 'use' your helmet, the camera can twist your neck. Won't do the camera much good either.

[Douglas Spotted Eagle]

Check out Cookie Composites or Bonehead composites websites for protective boxes that will protect the camera in the case you dump it. I've had some exceptionally successful biffs where the camera isn't damaged at all.