Onboard alternative - everyones pocket! (video solution)

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

The footage is indeed dull as dishwater (didn't watch the whole thing mind ) but nothing wrong with the quality which is what we were viewing ... that mount is vibration resistant too isn't it - if/when I get a bullet I'll have one of them sir!! ... sorted

Yeah, was my first attempt at putting a video together. It becomes a bit more exciting towards the end when I chase my mate after the cars have got out the way....

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I'm currently trying to hunt down a gadget that an American colleague of mine has. It does the same job as mentioned before, takes RCA audio/video in, records to SD card at up to 30fps in 640x480.

Only with this one, there's an LCD preview screen, rechargeable Li-ion battery, SD cards up to 4GB & 512Mb built in. Not to forget it's got a 3MP digital camera bolted on for good measure.

The price? $199 USD. So far, I haven't found any UK retailers. If any of you guys want a look, it's the Cavalry CAPS06 (A slightly expensive retailer with specs here)

[northwind]

Originally Posted by Jelster

so I can give commentary as I ride

Sort of like, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGHHH!

Would these be any good with regard to insurance claims or as evidence in criminal cases? I'm guessing you'd want two cameras, one rear-facing and mounted to the bike to watch your ar*e and one attached to helmet. Still wouldn't be 100% coverage, obviously, but would stand some chance of capturing the event or at least of recording your own position, which combined with point of impact may be enough.

I'm not interested in filming my maaad byker skilz, but making sure the chav that knocks me off doesn't get away with it might be worth a little expense.

Originally Posted by robaker

Would these be any good with regard to insurance claims or as evidence in criminal cases? I'm guessing you'd want two cameras, one rear-facing and mounted to the bike to watch your ar*e and one attached to helmet. Still wouldn't be 100% coverage, obviously, but would stand some chance of capturing the event or at least of recording your own position, which combined with point of impact may be enough.

I'm not interested in filming my maaad byker skilz, but making sure the chav that knocks me off doesn't get away with it might be worth a little expense.

If you want it to be admissible in court, it will need to have a date & time printed on the video as it's filmed.

Other than that, no problem. Date/Time units go for around £60 for a home system, and you could probably get a smaller one that'll fit the bike, if the recorder itself doesn't do it.

However, be aware that if you intend to use this in court, it can work both ways. You may well be able to take Mr Nova to court, but also, if you're stopped for being naughty & Plod see a camera on your bike, you might as well hold your hands up to everything.

Here's another interesting machine. Not quite the "everyones pocket" category, but the spec is very interesting.......

http://www.ishop.co.uk/ishop/883/shopscr438.html

There is even a regulated adaptor to suit in-car (bike with a socket).....

http://www.ishop.co.uk/ishop/883/shopscr10.html

With a big drive and a viewing screen, this could be a lovely setup.

Cheers,

Garry

Hi Baph

Thanks for the response. The info about whether it would be any use in court is exactly what I was after. Can you tell me where you got it from? I'm guessing it's likely to change over time so it's worth knowing where to go to check in future. There's little point recording it if it can't be used.

Regarding your second point, maybe having a built-in screen is a disadvantage in this scenario.

Originally Posted by independentphoto

Here's another interesting machine. Not quite the "everyones pocket" category, but the spec is very interesting.......

http://www.ishop.co.uk/ishop/883/shopscr438.html

There is even a regulated adaptor to suit in-car (bike with a socket).....

http://www.ishop.co.uk/ishop/883/shopscr10.html

With a big drive and a viewing screen, this could be a lovely setup.

Cheers,

Garry

Cheers for that Garry, may have a closer look at one of those. My only worry is that it has a hard drive, I'd rather work with something that has "no moving parts" that will vibrate on the bike...

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Originally Posted by robaker

Hi Baph

Thanks for the response. The info about whether it would be any use in court is exactly what I was after. Can you tell me where you got it from? I'm guessing it's likely to change over time so it's worth knowing where to go to check in future. There's little point recording it if it can't be used.

Regarding your second point, maybe having a built-in screen is a disadvantage in this scenario.

The whole principal is that you can prove something happened. You can prove the actions of a given person/persons. But you can't prove when it happened. So most judges (from what I've been told) simply throw it out because it doesn't do the job of proving without reasonable doubt. There's still a doubt left over when.

I forget where I originally read it, but I used to sell CCTV systems, and always advised customers if they wanted to gurantee it could be used in court, that it contain the date/time, ideally referenced to the atomic clock at rubgy by RF. Of course, some folks went for it, some didn't, no skin off my nose, but they knew the risks.

The built-in screen isn't the problem. The problem is that the police are quite within their rights to "ask" you to come to the police station for questioning to help with an outstanding matter. If you refuse, they can interpret that as an attempt at perverting the course (or similar offences), and can insist that you come to the police station. When there, they can view the media on their screen.

Recording footage is a risky business, best to enter it with your eyes open. Another point to be wary about, is the affect of the Data Protection Act (use of images containing personal information - eg number plates posted on the net).

[northwind]

Originally Posted by Baph

The whole principal is that you can prove something happened. You can prove the actions of a given person/persons. But you can't prove when it happened. So most judges (from what I've been told) simply throw it out because it doesn't do the job of proving without reasonable doubt. There's still a doubt left over when.

I think it can be independantly verified, the date stamps' only 100% needed if it's to be standalone evidence, ie, CCTV. Not all of the security gear we used in the bank datestamps, the main systems do but the 35mm systems don't, as they're only ever used along with the CCTV. Likewise, if you're using your onboard stuff to prove how an accident happened, the time of the accident will be a matter of record, unless the other party's denying it entirely, so it should come under the same rules.

(disclaimer: Scots Law isn't always the same as UK law, and is often more common sense, so this might not be the case nationwide )