Four HD Camera Review

magnatom

Hi Guys,

I thought some of you here would be interested in my review of 4 HD helmet cameras. http://www.magnatom.net/p/ultimate-ish-helmet-camera-review-part.html

I wore all four cameras simultaneously. It's worth a look just to see how ridiculous I looked wearing them all!

There are some discount codes as well.

meanredspider

Given the cost of some of these cameras, isn't it a bit of a "miss" not to include the Go-Pro HD? It is, after all, probably the benchmark (certainly the most popular "premium") camera

magnatom

As the review was commissioned I could only do four cameras. I'm happy if someone wants to loan me a gopro to compare that to my Contour GPS (which I bought).

I must admit I don't like the form factor of the GoPro.

EKE_38BPM

I agree that not having a GoPro in the line-up is a huge omission. A bit like reviewing family hatchbacks and not including the VW Golf.

I also agree with Magnatom that the form factor of the GoPro is not good for helmet cam users. Fine in a car or on a chest mount, but on a helmet you'd look like a drone from the Borg Collective!

magnatom

The problem was I had to have at least one cheaper camera (DogCam) so I had to go for 3 HD cameras that were helmet mountable, and the GoPro on a helmet, as you say is a bit over the top.

However, as I've said, I am more than happy to test one and compare simultaneous footage from the GoPro and my Contour GPS.

Dogcam are sending me a Dogcam Bullet HD Wide to test. This should solve some of the problems of the standard version.

king_jeffers

magnatom wrote:

I wore all four cameras simultaneously. It's worth a look just to see how ridiculous I looked wearing them all!

You just reminded me, I forgot to turn my camera off this morning :roll:

I have the DogCam Bullet HD - well built but the footage and built in mic sucks. I thought the article was good, it was nice to see alternatives to the GoPro even tho that is probably what I'll end up with

meanredspider

The Go-Pro HD might not be the best shape as a helmet cam though it does have a helmet mount for the front which works fine.

jeremyrundle

I will stay with my £12 ones from ebay, the output is as good as these.

meanredspider

jeremyrundle wrote:

I will stay with my £12 ones from ebay, the output is as good as these.

magnatom

LOL! There is no way that a £12 camera from e-bay will come anywhere close to one of these (I've tried a Muvi and it was pants!). Of course if you know different and I could be convinced that it was possible, I'd happily by one and test it.

You are setting youtube to 1080p mode aren't you?

Berk Bonebonce

The point with the cheap MD80 cameras is that the quality of the video footage is acceptable for most needs. And if your commute is shorter than the runtime of an MD80 they are easily the best option because of their size and light weight.

magnatom

The MD80 etc are IMO a false economy. In ideal conditions, i.e. bright, dry etc they can produce reasonable images. However, it is when you move away from ideal that the problems become apparent.

I found at night, it was next to useless, if it got wet it broke and the battery worked well for a while but then got progressively worse.

If you are buying a camera for evidence, you want the best chance of getting that evidence as possible, therefore, I would suggest within reason, buy the best camera you can afford.

Of course, give it a year or two and HD cameras will be cheaper and better, but if you want a decent one now, you need to pay a bit.

optimisticbiker

magnatom wrote:

The MD80 etc are IMO a false economy. In ideal conditions, i.e. bright, dry etc they can produce reasonable images. However, it is when you move away from ideal that the problems become apparent.

I found at night, it was next to useless, if it got wet it broke and the battery worked well for a while but then got progressively worse.

If you are buying a camera for evidence, you want the best chance of getting that evidence as possible, therefore, I would suggest within reason, buy the best camera you can afford.

Of course, give it a year or two and HD cameras will be cheaper and better, but if you want a decent one now, you need to pay a bit.

I use a DV007 HD keycam and the quality is pretty good (tho I've not worked out how to upload HD to youtube yet and my editing skills need some work!) but see my vids... (link in sig)

dilemna

But Magna did you get any close passes or record any "incidents"?

Couldn't do this if you were a helmetphobe .......

EKE_38BPM

Ah JR and his £12 ebay specials. He thinks they are the best thing since sliced bread, but as been pointed out, outside of perfect conditions they are pretty pants. Yes, for the price and size they are amazing, but you get what you pay for and £12 does not buy a quality camera.

I have one and it is gathering dust at the back of a drawer somewhere.

magnatom

Part 2 is now live http://www.magnatom.net/p/ultimateish-helmet-camera-review-part-2.html

This is the interesting night time footage. Does cost give you better night time video?

magnatom

Oops! I forgot to update this when I posted part 3. It's here http://www.magnatom.net/p/ultimate-ish-helmet-camera-review-part_20.html

I've also added a review of the Dogcam Bullet HD wide here (http://www.magnatom.net/2011/06/dogcam-bullet-hd-wide.html)

It's better than it's wee brother and I ended up buying it as a rear view camera.

Don't forget there are discount codes on my site (no commission for me unfortunately!)

jeremyrundle

magnatom wrote:

The MD80 etc are IMO a false economy. In ideal conditions, i.e. bright, dry etc they can produce reasonable images. However, it is when you move away from ideal that the problems become apparent.

I found at night, it was next to useless, if it got wet it broke and the battery worked well for a while but then got progressively worse.
.

I don't ride at night so £10 for a camera is a better buy than any of these

magnatom

Perhaps, but they can't be used when it rains, the batteries often fail after a short while, mine stopped working after a month, and the ability to resolve registration plates is a lot poorer.

I have no personal stake in selling these cameras, just lots of experience in using them. In my experience buying a camera like these is a false economy, but I am happy to be proved wrong.

jeremyrundle

magnatom wrote:

Perhaps, but they can't be used when it rains, the batteries often fail after a short while, mine stopped working after a month, and the ability to resolve registration plates is a lot poorer.

I have no personal stake in selling these cameras, just lots of experience in using them. In my experience buying a camera like these is a false economy, but I am happy to be proved wrong.

Of course they can be used in the rain in fact any downpour, it doesn't take much initiative to place cling film over them, and I have nothing gain to be made from promoting them either.

I have had mine for over a year, use one front and back on both helmets, and have had no problem at all, that equates to 23p a week, and at £10-12 wow what have you to lose trying one if you don't have one or can't afford £100+

If 23p a week is "false economy" god knows, I am glad I don't smoke or drink or gamble, talk about a waste.

Oh and I have dropped my helmet with them on and they still work, even if they didn't I would rather have an accident with a £12 camera than a £100 plus one, £200 fror front and rear, £400 for two helmets, as opposed to my £40!

magnatom

Oh, I'm not saying 'if you haven't got the cash don't bother'. For £10 you do get a camera that will work, for a while (I know quite a few folk with broken MD80 clones). For some it is a good introduction to filming whilst riding.

But, at that price point you have to accept that there are a number of compromises and video quality is certainly one of them. I upgraded from a good SD system (a dogcam HQ2 camera). It produces better pics than the MD80 clones, I know as I had them at the same time to compare. However, my contour now has much better video than my old SD system.

I did compare these although I've never published the comparison videos.

As for using cling film in rain..... you've obviously never cycled in Glasgow. Here we have rain that could strip your skin, never mind cling film! :shock:

jeremyrundle

magnatom wrote:

As for using cling film in rain..... you've obviously never cycled in Glasgow. Here we have rain that could strip your skin, never mind cling film! :shock:

No but I have cycled where I lived, Invergordon, try the real Highlands sometime

regards

Mr Plum

For £33 I just bought a 720p 808#11 HD cam with an external power supply giving me nearly 3 hours of continous recording time. I'll post some sample footage when I get a chance. Low light quality is impressive as well - not on the level of the Condor HD or GoPro, but certainly clear and stable enough to see everything that's going on. My only criticism is that it obviously has no built in image stabilisation so the image is a bit jerkey and the camera takes a couple of seconds to adjust to different light levels. Apart from that it's a very impressive camera, and that's not just for the price - it's tiny and weighs about 20g making it unnoticable when attached to a helmet.

alfablue

Mr Plum, can you share details of that camera? Link? Many thanks

Mr Plum

alfablue wrote:

Mr Plum, can you share details of that camera? Link? Many thanks

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/11-808HD-Micr ... 4aac488598

That's the camera on its own. The battery works fine for about half an hour but I'm sure it will die out soon and be terrible in cold weather, that's why I went for the package with the black external battery pack. Order from ebay.com in $ as it's a few quid cheaper - mine should have been £40 from ebay uk, end up costing £33 from the USA ebay.

Trying to upload a sample from this mornings commute but I'm at work right now and I'm not sure it'll work...

Mr Plum

Sample of the 808#11 here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niIv-hX8ZwA

Definitely suffered from being converted to wmv then uploaded to YT.

AndyManc

I want ZERO LUX headcams :evil:

I bought a Sony handycam Hi-8 zero lux video camera about 10 yrs, it's great quality and night time shots are very,very clear.

Whats stopping helmet cam manufacturers from incorporating that technology (with the aid of a switch), ? Nothing as far as I can see .

Make it happen



.

Mr Plum

AndyManc wrote:

I want ZERO LUX headcams :evil:

I bought a Sony handycam Hi-8 zero lux video camera about 10 yrs, it's great quality and night time shots are very,very clear.

Whats stopping helmet cam manufacturers from incorporating that technology (with the aid of a switch), ? Nothing as far as I can see .

Make it happen
.

Probably the physical size/weight of the hardware and the battery power required to run it. Off the top of my head that's the only reason I can think of.

The Contour HD has very good low light quality though.

AndyManc

Mr Plum wrote:

The Contour HD has very good low light quality though.

I'm not impressed with the Contour HD low light performance.

I don't believe size and power consumption is an issues, many bullet cams have a separate PVR , I doubt if latest zero lux technology will impact design on headcams .

The MUVI has the best low light video quality I've seen, but it could/should be much better on all cams.

.

Mr Plum

AndyManc wrote:

Mr Plum wrote:

The Contour HD has very good low light quality though.

I'm not impressed with the Contour HD low light performance.

I don't believe size and power consumption is an issues, many bullet cams have a separate PVR , I doubt if latest zero lux technology will impact design on headcams .

The MUVI has the best low light video quality I've seen, but it could/should be much better on all cams.

.

That's pretty weird because to my experience the exact opposite is true; generally MUVI cams have a very average low light quality while the Contour HD probably has the best low light quality of any helmet cam I've seen.

MattJ88

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product ... _id=110355

Good enough picture for the price for someone wanting a basic camera to play with...more footage on Youtube

Only downside is it records in 5 min segments and there is a 1 sec gap inbetween segments