For those that use video cameras while riding...

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

We have had many here record video while riding.
I'm just wondering how many use their digital pocket camera in video mode, and how many use a "real" video camera (digital) and how many use a mini camera connected to a remote box?

I figure when I get my bike running again, it's just a matter of time before I will start.  
I will never forget that video of the girl riding in traffic in San Francisco and getting hit.  It might not be a bad idea to have one running at all times on a long loop, sort of like cops.

I have been thinking about (the first part) after watching trolle's video.
You may select more than one choice if applicable.

[darrylri]

Rob, those videos I put up were shot with one of the first really small mini DV camcorders (Sony DCR PC-10) in 1998.  I made a rather crude cradle for it that mounted to the side fairing of my R1100RS.  It was a pain to get it aimed each time I used it, and the vibration killed the mechanical image stabilization in the camera after a while.  

I haven't shot any video since 1999 because of that.  However, I routinely take "grab shots" with my point and shoot digital camera, and I often get a pretty good result.  

I've been looking at the specialty video cameras for action sports (like the Hero and the Contour, for example) and waiting for them to develop a little more yet.  

[dav]

After watching Trolle's vid I'll have to dig out my cam one of these days & strap it to the crash bars & go for a blast through my local twisty roads.

Here's one i shot about 2yrs ago heading down the coast, (not on the R65)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jyWDYhNDhQ

[marcmax]

I've tried at different times using a digital video camera but never came up with what I thought was a good enough mount that didn't cost a fortune. After all it was just for fun. This thread got me curious again and I found this.

http://www.meritline.com/car-keys-micro-camera-camera---p-45412.aspx?source=s2010

It seems that with a little tinkering (isn't that what we all do here) this might be the ticket. The site listed in the comments has some links to sites that are RC plane, motorcycle, etc. using it.

http://chucklohr.com/808/

It is so small that using a velcro dot it could be placed almost anywhere, on a fairing, on a front fender, or even on a helmet for a riders eye view. The video clips shown are pretty impressive.

http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20986

I figured for $9 it was worth the risk and ordered one and plan to velcro it to my helmet.

[trolle]

I am using a Canon PowerShot SX10IS mounted on a tripod strapped on top of the tank with masking tape. I am thinking of supporting the tripod on some spongy material to minimize the vibrations.

The camera is behind the screen and records the sound of the engine in stereo. It can be operated while driving.

greetings from a sunny  north

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Wow!  That seems like a lot of camera to have perched on your tankbag!  I take it the legs of your tripod are able to go flat?

Nice camera, though.  Are you able to interchange lenses?

[trolle]

Yes it looks cumbersome, but it works and I can handle the camera while driving.



Regretably the camera is with a fixed lense, but has a range from 5.0-100 mm ~ 28-560 mm and takes very good pictures.

greetings from a semiclouded north

[azcycle]

I've tried at different times using a digital video camera but never came up with what I thought was a good enough mount that didn't cost a fortune. After all it was just for fun. This thread got me curious again and I found this.

http://www.meritline.com/car-keys-micro-camera-camera---p-45412.aspx?source=s2010

It seems that with a little tinkering (isn't that what we all do here) this might be the ticket. The site listed in the comments has some links to sites that are RC plane, motorcycle, etc. using it.

http://chucklohr.com/808/

It is so small that using a velcro dot it could be placed almost anywhere, on a fairing, on a front fender, or even on a helmet for a riders eye view. The video clips shown are pretty impressive.

http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20986

I figured for $9 it was worth the risk and ordered one and plan to velcro it to my helmet.

I've been considering a GoPro, etc as well and still might. But that cheap little keychain camera is just too tempting, so I'm ordering one.  I'll take a few videos and post 'em soon!

[DeeG]

I picked up one of these last month:

http://store.kodak.com/store/ekconsus/en_US/pd/Zi8_Pocket_Video_Camera/productID.156585800

Got it on eBay from Otter Creek Trading. refurbished model, works great not a mark on it, for about 120. I use a RAM mount to attach to the bike.  Did a couple of 10 second test videos, as I'm still trying to find the perfect angle/setup for it.  

Friend has the PlaySport version.  He's done some neat videos with it.  

http://www.youtube.com/user/23Porterhouse#p/u

[azcycle]

My little Chinese $13 keychain camera came in the mail the other day.  It's not very user-friendly but if you don't mind perusing a few websites on how to use it, and it's pitfalls, it's not so bad. It also doesn't ship with a mini-HD card and typically the USB cord that comes with is bad (which mine was) so my $13 camera actually turned out to be a $75 camera because I had to buy a new USB cable and a memory card.

That being said, it takes fairly good video and passable photos. It's nowhere near the quality of even the base GoPro but eh, it was an experiment. I used a small strip of velcro on the front brake reservoir and made it *slightly* higher in the back as otherwise it pointed a little to far skyward and didn't show enough road.

I filmed a little 15-minute spin around the Saguaro National Park this afternoon and as soon as I edit it down just a bit so I can upload it to YouTube, I'll post the results.

[azcycle]

So here is the video I shot yesterday afternoon here at the Saguaro National park (West) and up and over Starr Pass, into Tucson.  Sound quality is pretty good but there is a lot of whistle through the pinhole "mic" at the front  of the keychain. Perhaps glue a tiny, thin piece of foam over the hole... The camera also doesn't seem to like too much vibration as the image gets wobbly. Again, maybe mounting it on a piece of foam will help cut that down. But overall, it's fun to play with!  I'm going to mount it to my bicycle helmet and film some of my mountain bike rides, too.

By the way, you can see a fellow airhead go by at 11:43.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyq-9HXhwG8[/media]