Cheap Helmet Camera Recommendation

[andybesy]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a cheap helmet camera?

I'm on a budget and so limited to the cheap ebay stuff, rather than brands like Go Pro or Drift etc.

I only really want it for for insurance purposes and so don't need great quality, just sufficient.

My main requirements are:

- Can charge and run permentently from bike battery (USB, cigerette lighter etc - I don't mind getting cables etc separately)
- Can record while charging
- Waterproof, or waterproof casing (unless suitable to be installed inside helmet)

And my wish list nice to haves would be:

- Rolling recording, so it records say past 1 hour on rolling basis
- Starts recording automatically when powered on

Any recommendations, advise, suggestions welcome.

Thanks, Andy

[richfzs]

Www.Roadhawk.Co.Uk

They have a product that does everything on your list. I've had one for about a year, and am about to buy a second so I don't have to switch it between vehicles. It's 150 notes though, so may be too pricey?

[Enceladus]

have a look on fleabay for act20
720hd
£45
can set it to record on external power if needed.
picture quality is ok (look at the rear view on some of my later vids  )
just bought another one to put in the car permanently for insurance purposes.
only downside i've found is it cuts the clips into 20 min sections and leaves about a second gap between them.
hope this helps

[simonm]

have a look on fleabay for act20
720hd
£45
can set it to record on external power if needed.
picture quality is ok (look at the rear view on some of my later vids  )
just bought another one to put in the car permanently for insurance purposes.
only downside i've found is it cuts the clips into 20 min sections and leaves about a second gap between them.
hope this helps

You can sometimes find these on the UK eBay site but I ended up getting mine from china, it's an act20 and a lot of guys on foc have them.  The only problem is the microphone is just windnoise.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HD-720P-Waterp...1243324917

[richfzs]

Is this act20 still waterproof, when connected to an external power source? Does it start/stop recording, when the external power is applied / removed?

[simonm]

Is this act20 still waterproof, when connected to an external power source? Does it start/stop recording, when the external power is applied / removed?

The one I have has a configuration setting for continuous record and record n power in a settings .ini file.  It isn't waterproof when connected to 12v as the power is supplied from a mini usb connection, although I'm sure some silicone sealant could resolve that.

[richfzs]

Ta Simon. Am considering one of these for in the car, where obviously it doesn't need to be waterproof, but the record on power is important (for me).

The roadhawk one (as above) I use on the bike is waterproof even on external power (the supplied leads include waterproof caps) which is where at least some of the extra money goes, but saving a chunk on the one for the car is v tempting...

[simonm]

YouTube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMkfRFkLo28#ws


Will append pic of the rear in a sec

[Punkstig]

For that price you can find 1st edition gopro's on eBay.
Just sayin

[simonm]

For that price you can find 1st edition gopro's on eBay.
Just sayin

I wanted something discrete and hd when I bought mine.  I have to admit I never looked at go pro's cos I thought they'd be second hand and abused.  Your go pro wasn't discrete, it made me smile.  Did you get any decent footage ?

[richfzs]

Do go pros run from a permanent supply, and be waterproof while doing it?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

[Punkstig]

Do go pros run from a permanent supply, and be waterproof while doing it?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

With a bit of bodging to the waterproof casing they can be made to but as the batteries run for about 2 hours and spares from china are about £15 for three of them there's little need!

[quote author=Punkstig link=topic=8740.msg86675#msg86675 date=1373382100]
For that price you can find 1st edition gopro's on eBay.
Just sayin

I wanted something discrete and hd when I bought mine.  I have to admit I never looked at go pro's cos I thought they'd be second hand and abused.  Your go pro wasn't discrete, it made me smile.  Did you get any decent footage ?
[/quote]


I've not looked at the footage yet, and yes, the lack of discretion is the Bly downside to the gopro's!

[richfzs]

With a bit of bodging to the waterproof casing they can be made to but as the batteries run for about 2 hours and spares from china are about £15 for three of them there's little need!

Well, since the OP said it was one of his main requirements, there is a need!

I'm reading between his lines, but I suspect he wants to (as I do) leave the camera on the bike, in a fit and forget manner, until either a) he needs the evidence, or b) rides a nice bit of road that he actually wants to keep the film. As mentioned above, GoPros are not discrete, and would likely get nicked quicker than you can say "arse". While they are great cameras, they are not suited to what the OP wants.

The act20 looks as though it's a possible option though, just the waterproofing to get round, although that would likely mean you were never getting the card out again (at least not easily/ cleanly)

[FuZzBoM]

Not sure this will suit your needs but I have a Liquid Image Ego camera. For a tech junkie like me its amazing.
Hooks up to android and apple phones via wifi and can adjust many settings on the Liquid Image app. also allows you to copy the files to your phone over the wifi.

Quality is very good I feel. a friend has an older GoPro and footage take on the ego looks a little nicer to me
Found a few youtube vids that are worth watching
http://youtu.be/_Eb_YwY_PrA

http://youtu.be/GwSFyU0r_EM

on top of this I have just seen how cheap it has become..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Liquid-Image-E...3a8164bb91

Also has a host of addons such as a waterproof case and a chest strap.

Maybe not for everyone but I love it.. Can you tell  :lol

[simonm]

Liquid ego ?!  Sounds like some kinda pron lube  :lol

[Enceladus]

i have done a bit of a bodge job on the act20 i have on my bike.
gaffer tape and silicon sealant work wonders !
plus with the usb cable in you can still access the sd card (although not directly) if needed.

[rayburn600]

I have one of these. Paid £26.50 + 4.50 P/p
Water proof Only inside the van.
Connected via cig lighter permanent whilst ignition/aux on.
Easy removable micro sd.
Records over top of unless you press the save button.
For the money brilliant. And its proper HD.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271221047100?s...1439.l2649
R

[simonm]

UK, ACT20, £35.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HD-720P-Helmet...43b9c13d8b


Job done...... after silicon, and wiring and faffing and all kindsa profanities whilst siting, re-siting and fiddling.


The website for the manufacturer is http://www.campark.cn/main.asp?id=5&bigp...classid=13


You could also try the 1080p version for ~£55:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ACT35-Full-HD-...3a78f17e07

[Punkstig]

[quote author=Punkstig link=topic=8740.msg86682#msg86682 date=1373384923]



With a bit of bodging to the waterproof casing they can be made to but as the batteries run for about 2 hours and spares from china are about £15 for three of them there's little need!

Well, since the OP said it was one of his main requirements, there is a need!

I'm reading between his lines, but I suspect he wants to (as I do) leave the camera on the bike, in a fit and forget manner, until either a) he needs the evidence, or b) rides a nice bit of road that he actually wants to keep the film. As mentioned above, GoPros are not discrete, and would likely get nicked quicker than you can say "arse". While they are great cameras, they are not suited to what the OP wants.
[/quote]


I was taking the title of 'Helmet camera' being just that and not reading between any lines!

[andybesy]

Thanks folks, loads of good suggestions here, just got home so knackered right now but will take a good look in morning and let you know how I get on.