Bike Cam

Andy, that looks like a nice setup:thumbsup: I like the front cam point of view, should make for some interesting water crossing vids :deal:

I purchased a similar setup for about $350 USD with 4Gig memory, one camera, and four lenses. Here is the brochure

Single heavy duty water proof connector splits to microphone and camera.
http://www.contactdi.com/2008/fix/cam02.jpg

I played around with RAM mounts etc, trying to find a good point of view.
http://www.contactdi.com/2008/fix/cam04.jpg

Finally settled on mounting under the front headlights. I like this location because people can't really see the camera unless they look closely.
http://www.contactdi.com/2008/fix/cam01.jpg

Andy, I like the the fact that your setup is multi cam capable, mine is only made for a single camera.

A couple of issues I have:

#1 The technology used in these setups is very dated. If you're trying to make videos for youtube, the 640x480 resolution is sufficient, but the analog interlaced signal they use is not ideal for DV production.

#2 It boggles my mind that $300 digicams are coming with image stabilization and 720p HD video yet people are still selling PAL and NTSC equipment. You can see the pixel differences very clearly in the following single frame captures.

640X480 520 Line Camera
http://www.contactdi.com/2008/fix/cam05.jpg

720p HD video (half original size) from my Panasonic Lumix camera
http://www.contactdi.com/2008/fix/cam07.jpg

1080i HD video (half original size) from my Sony HD video camera
http://www.contactdi.com/2008/fix/cam08.jpg

1080i video from a HDV cam is just mind blowing, even a single frame looks like a 2 megapixel photo.

#3 VholdR has a nice camera that uses lasers to remain level, but the video quality is not that great http://www.vholdr.com/shoot/camera/features

#4 Sony's HXR-MC1 is due out in February, but my guess it's going to be very expensive and still lack any kind of stabilizer. Check out the specks at http://www.xdcam.com.au/modules/news...hp?storyid=476 Very sweet piece of kit.

http://img.skitch.com/20081112-g2wky...k4k45yw2iu.jpg



Cheers!
ChinaV

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jim

Carl, go to youtube and click watch in high quality, it looks much better.

Andy would you mind doing a cost breaking down and where you got the stuff? This is exactly what I want, only I need NTSC...

---

I purchased all equipment from Germany.

1. Cameras + switchover box + wired remote

3 Cam sets
- 3 cameras
- 3 Lens protection glasses
- 3 lens covers
- 3 camera mounts, which are useless on the bike)
- 2 additional lenses (2.9 and 4.3 mm)

1 Controller
- switchover box for 3 cams
- wired remote
- battery holder for 10 AA batteries
- cigar lighter adapter
- 2 sets of cables for the cameras
- 1 microphone

This came from Pacelog, the English camera specs are here.

Price for this was EUR 550

2. Recorder

- 1 solid state recorder
- IR remote
- power adapter 12V
- power adapter 1100 - 240V
- 16G CF card

I ordered from Hekasys, specs in English are here.

Price was EUR 499


3. Fixtures

priceless :icon10:



I just found a shop in the US, they sell, what I believe is exactly the same camera I have, for USD 159.99 a piece.

It all seems quite expensive, the recorder in particular, but I couldn't find anything lower priced fitting my specs.

You can also look around at chasecam or xsportscam.

Andy

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ChinaV

Andy, that looks like a nice setup:thumbsup: I like the front cam point of view, should make for some interesting water crossing vids :deal:

---

I am looking forward to capture these. Can't wait to see how it looks like when the camera submerges and comes back up, me still on the bike.:lol8::lol8:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ChinaV

#1 The technology used in these setups is very dated. If you're trying to make videos for youtube, the 640x480 resolution is sufficient, but the analog interlaced signal they use is not ideal for DV production.

---

I saw a HD bullet cam, but it doesn't seem to be rugged enough and looks very expensive.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ChinaV

#2 It boggles my mind that $300 digicams are coming with image stabilization and 720p HD video yet people are still selling PAL and NTSC equipment. You can see the pixel differences very clearly in the following single frame captures.

---

It seems there is not enough demand from semi-pros or amateurs. I tried to figure out who is supplying the stuff for Moto-GP but couldn't.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ChinaV

#4 Sony's HXR-MC1 is due out in February, but my guess it's going to be very expensive and still lack any kind of stabilizer. Check out the specks at http://www.xdcam.com.au/modules/news...hp?storyid=476 Very sweet piece of kit.

---

Yeah, but thats gonna be $$$ and the camera is not waterproof.

Andy

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyCarl

Andy, that's slick! When you have some spare time, would you mind putting up a short sample of less compressed footage somewhere we can download to see better what it looks like before youtube compression?

Where are you going to place the mic for sound?

CC

---

Here a 12 second cutout.

Several options for the mic location

- under the tank
- somewhere in the fairing
- in the fuse and relay box

Andy

Cool, thanks for the information Andy :)

I took another test video on Feb 15th, this time on a real mountain road.

Still without audio, but it was too damn (-5 C) cold to mess around with the microphone.



Andy

Guys,

Check out Go Pro's HD motorsport kit....
http://www.goprocamera.com



http://www.goprocamera.com/images/pr...01-683x426.jpg

After shooting a motorcycle sequence for the the TV show on CBS "The Amazing race" I saw how great this unit is.....

Sorry did I mention is an HD cam.... hi def baby:icon10:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shanghaifingers

Guys,

Check out Go Pro's HD motorsport kit....
http://www.goprocamera.com


http://www.goprocamera.com/images/pr...01-683x426.jpg

After shooting a motorcycle sequence for the the TV show on CBS "The Amazing race" I saw how great this unit is.....

---

This is a great post (thanks Andy for starting this off and great work on the photos of putting together your kit -nice!) :clap:

I and a mate have been talking and toying a little with the idea of a helmet cam for some time now, and this post above with the link, was a bonus. The HD Helmet Hero at US$299 might be exactly what we are looking for. Ever since I watched the long way down, and the guys use of helmet cams, I've thought that would be a great way to go. I must add though, that I'm a fan of the Amazing Race series. Any adventure or reality type series. Amazing Race I'd luv to do that...

Thanks for sharing ! I heard about this cams earlier but don't know how to fix & how it works. But you have cleared all my queries & now i am also planning to have cam in my bike to get better high quality pictures.