Bike camera buying advice?

Some advice please...

It's my brothers 40th in a couple of months and I want to get him a video cam for his bike/helmet. He spends most of his biking time on a motocross doing endurance events and I know he would like to film some of the fun he has.

The question is... Can anyone recommend a good video cam for a bike that can take some knocks, mud and general all weather conditions?

Thanks

Standard answer is probably a GoPro. I have the Hero2 and the GoPro 3 came out a few months ago. If aanyone is selling Hero2's I'm guessing they'll be reduced. Trying to work out where to mount mine on the bike. Use it on my road bike and in the car for track days with no problems. Even taken it up Snowdon

Alternative to the GoPro range is a Drift 720/HD/Ghost

http://driftinnovation.com/

[Fallout]

Drift lens break quite easily. Just to bear in mind. It won't take a stone hit and survive, so the go pro with a shock proof case may be better, or some sort of bullet cam.

Go pro here too, ive owned several cameras, and have taken part in enduros, etc.++
Hero 2 is what I have picture quality is exeptional. Worth buying him a spare battery (the ebay non oem are fine)

[MJC-DEV]

Latest Drift cameras have replaceable lenses are are easier to mount on a helmet than a GoPro. They're also cheaper than a GoPro so you pays your money etc. depending on what you want.

GOPRO Here are the best cameras.

The next question is how much do you want to spend?

If you have about £400 then I'd buy the GOPRO Hero 3 Black, its best the GOPRO camera out right now, don't buy any of the other GOPRO 3 cameras, they are simply the GORPO 2 repackage.

In your situation, I would suggest buying a second hand GOPRO2, with case, mounts, spare battery, several class 10 HD SD cards, it must be class 10 nothing else will cut it. The chest mount is a good extra to have.

I wouldn't bother buying the Black unless you are going exceed the need and techinal ability of the GOPRO2.

[jambo]

I've been considering a camera for a bit. I'm happy to start another thread but this seems to have some good advice already. My requirements, however, are rather different:

I want a camera to capture, with the minimum of fuss the forward view from the motorbike in case I get knocked off the bike. I ride in London, there are a LOT of side turnings for people to pull out of on my commute. I've had to argue a couple of 50/50's in the past and I hate paperwork.

1. It must be waterproof.
2. It must be very easy to start recording and wipe a card (If I get to the destination, the recording's probably useless to me)
3. It should be easy to mount discretely so if I get pulled over it's unlikely to be used against me.
4. HD not of any major importance.

I've seen good write ups of the Polaroid XS 100
Go Pro Hero's seem a bit chunky to go un-noticed...
I've seen various other brands such as Chilli but have no concept of how good they are.

Any experience that would help guide me?

Jambo

Originally Posted by jambo

I've been considering a camera for a bit. I'm happy to start another thread but this seems to have some good advice already. My requirements, however, are rather different:

I want a camera to capture, with the minimum of fuss the forward view from the motorbike in case I get knocked off the bike. I ride in London, there are a LOT of side turnings for people to pull out of on my commute. I've had to argue a couple of 50/50's in the past and I hate paperwork.

1. It must be waterproof.
2. It must be very easy to start recording and wipe a card (If I get to the destination, the recording's probably useless to me)
3. It should be easy to mount discretely so if I get pulled over it's unlikely to be used against me.
4. HD not of any major importance.

I've seen good write ups of the Polaroid XS 100
Go Pro Hero's seem a bit chunky to go un-noticed...
I've seen various other brands such as Chilli but have no concept of how good they are.

Any experience that would help guide me?

Jambo

(This thread will decend into a "my camera is best" match) Jambo, to answer your question, the new Drift HD does all that.

It has a much smaller profile than the GoPro (i.e. in most mounting positions its less obvious to tell its there).

It is water proof out of the box and the lens is replaceable. I've dropped mine a couple of times and its has a sort of rubber plastic skin so it doesn't get scratched easily - its not bullet proof though, it requires a reasonable amount of care.

Now to your specifics. This camera has a screen so you can line up shots on the go or more importantly, review footage then and there. It won't be cinema screen clear because its only small but it shows the footage you have caputured.

Also, you can delete that footage on the spot to free up space. Its a one botton click from viewing the video playback.

Mounting positions are only limited by your creativity. If you were so inclined you could make a hole in the fairing, as some have done (not me though) but my bike is black and I forgot to take it off once and no one even noticed it (the unit is matte black).

Hope this helps.

Polaroid and Chilli look good. Smaller than the DHD but not so much. Polaroid would be my choice for the money.