Bullet Cam

[LondonLad]

Hello Folks - does anyone on here use the "Bullet Cam"

can you answer a few questions for me -

1) wheres the cheapest place to get one?

2) Does it have to connect to a camcorder or will a digital camera with filming capabilities do - will any other devices record film using the bullet cam (media players etc)?

cheers!! :lol:

[kinesin]

AFAIK all bullet cams require a camcorder with analogue AV in, however it's possible to use something like a an Archos (http://www.archos.com/products/video_recording/camcorder.html?country=global&lang=en) digital recorder instead. Unless your camera has AV in, then that will be unsuitable.

Another solution is something like ATC2000 (http://www.actioncameras.co.uk/ATC-2000.html) (or ATC2K) depending on the how the reseller names it. These atm are imo the best all-in-one solution, fairly cheap and if you look around come with a 2GB SD card (tho these are cheap as chips anyway). Previous models were limited to resolution and fps, while this is 640x480@30fps. It's possible to get them via ebay for about £120,however postage and tax might hurt a little (know anyone in the US forces based in the UK? :wink: )

Personally I've been trying to get a ATC2k, just as it's less to strap to your head/backpack while cycling/skiing/MTB/running/climbing/swiming/riding etc. (yes it's waterproof to 3m :D ) Tho a full on bullet cam has better lens (and changeable lens) and will provide better image quality all conditions conditions, but £500 cost is expensive for a one-off toy. The ATC does also seem to suffer image tearing at speed, due to the way the motion is captured.

I would suggest a couple of youtube/goggle/google video search.

HTH

[Jelster]

I've had one for a few years now... My advice is try http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/ They have a good range of units and also do complete kits.

Here's a video during Eurotour '04. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhGfC6bSgLM) The camera is mounted on one of the fairing bolts on my old GSXR600.

.

[biketeacherdave]

here is some of my footage with a kit from rfconcepts it records to an 80g hard drive pvr unit but to be honest it has lost a lot of quality with the upload to "youtube" the footage and home made dvd is much better i also record using the same bullet cam direct to a 12 volt vcr recorder mounted in my back box when i need perfect play back and upto 8 hours of recording

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsQuQRMX2w4

i have got the new ATC2k but its not very good even with the reccommended very expensive memory card in the sound is worthless there is no stabilisation so the picture is always jittering, indoors its been a let down but out doors in bright sunlight its a bit better, dont waste your money it gives an hours recording at most on hi res.

[northwind]

Does the ATC need a fast SD card then? I got my 2gb Sandisk SD for about £25, didn't really consider that expensive considering I paid more for my 128K 2 years ago :)

I might suddenly have entered the market for a video camera/bullet cam setup too, so watching this topic with interest...

[Razor]

I've been thinking about this for awhile, but I was thinking more of mini DV camcorder with bullet cam.
What I want to know is; if your camcorder has image stabiliser, will this still work with your Av input?

http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/DogcamPro.htm
I've been looking at these, but haven't decided on my camcorder yet.

[biketeacherdave]

ATC2k does need a high speed memory card i had to buy the scandisc 2 plus which cost almost as much as the camera its self.
but the cheaper one will do

if you use your cam corder wih a bullet cam attached the image stabilisation is electronic and applied to the recorded image so it should be ok


http://upload5.postimage.org/116685/helmetcam.jpg (http://upload5.postimage.org/116685/photo_hosting.html)

my current set up with pvr recorder

[netsurfer]

eek!

Nasty glue chemicals on a good Shoei! :shock: :shock:

Pete

[Peter Henry]

This clip is the poor man's version of an improvised set up with a digital camera.

Techy bits:

HP Photosmart 735, 3.2mp.

1 x piece of packing foam.

1 x empty cigarette pack.

Gaffa tape.

The clip at least gives an idea of what can be achieved with a less than perfect set up. :wink:

http://www.dailymotion.com/veetwinducati/video/xqxcp_heading-down-ronda-road-spain

[northwind]

Heh, I've done that as well with my wee Ixus, worked surprisingly well- very shakey, but that was my rubbish mount not the camera.

[gettin2dizzy]

i've got one of these
http://images.play.com/covers/1005007m.jpg
it can be tied down to anywhere on the bike with an elastic strap it comes with. Quality is good considering its size- and batterys about an hour and a half.
this is obviously compressed for youtube- as well as at night. But i'll get a video of day time up tomorrow if anyones interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0pJoUJyZY0
oh - and it comes with a waterproof remote with a huge button for power/on/off/record which is easily used with gloves on.

[biketeacherdave]

eek!

Nasty glue chemicals on a good Shoei! :shock: :shock:

Pete

Its velcrow and sticks harmlessly to the helemet

[biketeacherdave]

i've got one of these
http://images.play.com/covers/1005007m.jpg
it can be tied down to anywhere on the bike with an elastic strap it comes with. Quality is good considering its size- and batterys about an hour and a half.
this is obviously compressed for youtube- as well as at night. But i'll get a video of day time up tomorrow if anyones interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0pJoUJyZY0
oh - and it comes with a waterproof remote with a huge button for power/on/off/record which is easily used with gloves on.

and just what is 1 of these then ? the qualitys not bad at all i suspect better than my pvr

[DarrenSV650S]

i'll get a video of day time up tomorrow if anyones interested.
I like watching these on-board-bike videos :) Have you got any when your on twisties though, straight dualys don't really do it for me :lol: It's really interesting watching other peoples lines and lean angles

[sinbad]

i've got one of these
http://images.play.com/covers/1005007m.jpg
it can be tied down to anywhere on the bike with an elastic strap it comes with. Quality is good considering its size- and batterys about an hour and a half.
this is obviously compressed for youtube- as well as at night. But i'll get a video of day time up tomorrow if anyones interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0pJoUJyZY0
oh - and it comes with a waterproof remote with a huge button for power/on/off/record which is easily used with gloves on.

and just what is 1 of these then ? the qualitys not bad at all i suspect better than my pvr

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/GENNA/253/333/-/1005007/Samsung_VP_X220L_Sports_Camcorder/Product.html?searchtype=genre

[Luckypants]

eek!

Nasty glue chemicals on a good Shoei! :shock: :shock:

Pete

Its velcrow and sticks harmlessly to the helemetAnd how does the velcro stick to the helmet? :roll:

[northwind]

The glue's very unlikely to attack the painted surface, and the actual protective shell of the helmet is under that, and itself is very unlikely to suffer from the solvents in the glue- it's poly helmets you need to be very wary of with glue.

[DarrenSV650S]

The videos from helmet cams are usually shaky and difficult to watch. Why not just put it behind your screen or similar :roll:

[Jelster]

The videos from helmet cams are usually shaky and difficult to watch. Why not just put it behind your screen or similar :roll:

Have to agree with that. My first attempt was with a camera on my lid, and you don't get a good perspective of lean as you tend to keep your head upright. You also get all the head movement from looking at the clocks, mirrors etc...

.

[biketeacherdave]

The glue's very unlikely to attack the painted surface, and the actual protective shell of the helmet is under that, and itself is very unlikely to suffer from the solvents in the glue- it's poly helmets you need to be very wary of with glue.

i thank you

[northwind]

See, I remember my CBT :) But also, I know that there's more evil solvents in the painting process than in most commercial glues, certainly worse than in anything you'll use for a job like this.

[WicklowSV]

The lid-mounted bullet cam can give pretty good results. The feel of the video is more involving than when the cam is just mounted to the bike. It really depends on what you are looking for. I've been using one of the RFConcepts kits along with a Sony PC101 Handycam with an AV input.

Here's a clip using a bullet cam gaffer taped to the bike - love the way you can see the front suspension compress!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5017043796972297071

Here's a clip with the bullet cam mounted on the side of my lid:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6525203218551284009

Lastly here's one I shot using a tank mount for the actual vidcam - no bullet cam used here at all...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6870902053857671750

Quality of all clips is reduced for webhosting - the original footage looks a lot better.

[Razor]

Those are pretty darn good Wick ;)

[biketeacherdave]

See, I remember my CBT :) But also, I know that there's more evil solvents in the painting process than in most commercial glues, certainly worse than in anything you'll use for a job like this.

Glad to see some remebers at least some of there cbt training and as an instructor, my user name gives it away a bit, i think i know what i can and cant stick safley to my lid :D :roll:

[northwind]

Something like this-

Little camera- safe
Kite- not safe
Ears-safe but stupid
Stepladder- unsafe, but no less stupid.

[WicklowSV]

Those are pretty darn good Wick ;)

Cheers - just wish the nice weather would come back so I could make some more!! :lol:

[Razor]

I just bought myself a Sony handycam with AV input so I can add the bullet cam and make some flicks of my own :D