Helmet Cam -- Or Where NOT to Mount the Video Camera

jcarleto

Aluminum Supporter
Joined
Jun 5, 2007
Messages
3,571
Location
Taylorsville, GA
Aircraft
Beech Bonanza G-35 N4638D/"The Bulldozer" 2-Place Gyroplane N575EE
Total Flight Time
Several
I was flying the Bulldozer around yesterday, and tried a new placement of the video camera. It turns out (for what should be fairly obvious reasons) that I'll not be publishing this video.

The good news is that my video camera doesn't eat the tape when mounted to the Bulldozer like it does on the GyRonimo. I'm thinking that perhaps a better connection point may be in order.

Here are a few pictures extracted from the video. Just look at that scenery! The action views! That big head in the middle of everything like a big ole' egg! This is certainly the true meaning of the term "Helmet Cam."

*JC*
 

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Giorgos,

That's a great price, but I haven't really been pleased with the quality of the videos from that camera. I have to admit they are inexpensive enough now to just try as an experiment these days. They seem to have image stabilization circuitry that makes it look like you are viewing the video through a puddle of water with a slight breeze blowing over the puddle. Perhaps that has been improved lately and it is worth another look.

My problem isn't really the video camera. The one I have does pretty well if I am not bone-headed enough to put it in a stupid place, as exampled above. By "Helmet Cam," my intent was to indicate that all it took pictures of was my helmet. I'll try an alternate mounting position today.

*JC*
 
For what it may be worth ...

I think ROTOPLANE is right, about a foot/30cm higher and you'd have had some excellent views to share but in my book you get an "A" for trying anyway.

tyc
 
Bad video

Bad video

I would have to agree about that Oregon camera...Not very good video quality. I have one and I don't ever use it because of that.
You get what you pay for....

I would recommend something like this instead
http://www.vio-pov.com/
A lot more money but MUCH better video!

I have a customer who has used A LOT of them....He is very happy with them.
Here is the product that I make for my customer if anyone is interested...
http://www.horizontrue.com/

Maybe when I get my gyro done some day I will try taking some video off of one of these mounts.

Denis
 
Debbie and I counted 39 deer in just a mile or so from the runway.

Most of the deer were LARGE Bucks still in velvet.. I would have loved to been able to get these animals on film..

I believe it will cost a pretty penny to get a quality camera system that'll catch the shots I would have taken. Whatever it cost will probably be worth it..

Steve
 
One thing to keep in mind with some of these cameras is the lens view. Some have too wide an angle so everything on the ground looks very small. Others have interchangeable lenses so you can change them.
 
I would have to agree about that Oregon camera...Not very good video quality. I have one and I don't ever use it because of that.
You get what you pay for....

I would recommend something like this instead
http://www.vio-pov.com/
A lot more money but MUCH better video!

I have a customer who has used A LOT of them....He is very happy with them.
Here is the product that I make for my customer if anyone is interested...
http://www.horizontrue.com/

Maybe when I get my gyro done some day I will try taking some video off of one of these mounts.

Denis

Dennis,
Have you tried your mounts on a vibrating surface to see how well they remove the shake? I am looking at a contour HD helmet camera, but would rather use a handicam HD. or similar type
 
Mark,
No I have not. I really don't think it would work to well however. These were designed for rotational dampening only to keep the horizon level due to the "heel" of the sail boat. I think a RAM style mount http://www.ram-mount.com/ would probably be the best for vibration...
Tim is right. the lens choice is critical. I use a wide angle when filming some trail riding on my dirt bike, but there is a big difference between filming trees and rocks 5' away rather than aerial filming with your subject 1000' + away...
 
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