Latest posts for the topic "Helmet Video Camera"

Helmet Video Camera

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 16:51:04 GMT

Recently while skiing in Colorado, many people had video cameras mounted on the top of their 'safety helmets'.

Are these available to rent in 'Val Thorens' or is it more typical that they are privately owned???

where can they be purchased and what is the 'ballpark' price???

Cannot wait 'till monday 9th April!!!

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 18:19:07 GMT

Hi there

You will find that people generally own them. The one that the guys on here tend to use is the GoPro. Have a look at the thread link below that talks about it - should have all the info on it

http://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/11526.page

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 18:56:05 GMT

The one i use is on the link below, it is not the high end product that the gopro is but does more than a good job and is half the price and a fraction of the size of the gopro.

http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/dogcam-bullet-hd-camera-WIDE.html

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 19:48:59 GMT

There seem to be lots of this type of video camera coming onto the market at moment. The CamOne infinity http://www.camonetec.com/ has a built in screen and interchangeable lenses. GBP209.96 from Amazon

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sat, 7 Apr 2012 15:41:39 GMT

There's a lot to chose from with a wide range of prices. From the cheap and small Muvi Veho to the GoPro. Having worked with the Muvi Veho for 2 years I upgraded to the Contour HD. Mainly because I didn't want to look like a TellyTubby.

The choice is all about quality vs. budget, and what you want to do with it. I doubt very much you would be able to rent one. You will also need video editing software to make the most of the footage you've taken.

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sat, 7 Apr 2012 18:50:05 GMT

Get a hand held and improve you skiing, without looking like a dork 8)

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sat, 7 Apr 2012 19:02:21 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:Get a hand held and improve you skiing, without looking like a dork 8)

easier with a pistol grip version like the Sanyo. But helmet cams are good, especially on the tougher slopes.

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sat, 7 Apr 2012 19:06:18 GMT

Volf wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:Get a hand held and improve you skiing, without looking like a dork 8)

easier with a pistol grip version like the Sanyo. But helmet cams are good, especially on the tougher slopes.

Thats my whole point don't make it easy, even a pistol grip is a no no for me, VC's are small enough to fit nicley in your hand.

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 08:41:58 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:

Volf wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:Get a hand held and improve you skiing, without looking like a dork 8)

easier with a pistol grip version like the Sanyo. But helmet cams are good, especially on the tougher slopes.

Thats my whole point don't make it easy, even a pistol grip is a no no for me, VC's are small enough to fit nicley in your hand.

They are, but the arm position is all wrong. With a pistol grip you know that holding your arm out straight will be aiming in the right direction. This allows you to look where you are going. A traditional VC doesn't give you the same option. It's not about skills, so much as safety. If I'm moving with a skier at 40mph, it's important that look where I'm going.

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 09:20:24 GMT

Volf wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:

Volf wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:Get a hand held and improve you skiing, without looking like a dork 8)

easier with a pistol grip version like the Sanyo. But helmet cams are good, especially on the tougher slopes.

Thats my whole point don't make it easy, even a pistol grip is a no no for me, VC's are small enough to fit nicley in your hand.

They are, but the arm position is all wrong. With a pistol grip you know that holding your arm out straight will be aiming in the right direction. This allows you to look where you are going. A traditional VC doesn't give you the same option. It's not about skills, so much as safety. If I'm moving with a skier at 40mph, it's important that look where I'm going.

I think you get a fake video shot with a pistol grip .... and for what you film is all in the edit so you don't really have to worry what you are filming.
I have seen in the past people hold their VC up to their eyes .. now that is dangerous but to ski with out poles holding the camera at low height adds for a great natural shot. Give it a try :thumbup:

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 12:45:07 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:ski with out poles holding the camera at low height adds for a great natural shot. Give it a try :thumbup:

GPWM, but probably works best if you can already ski like Graham Bell! 8) One of the chest-mounts will give a very similar perspective but leave your hands free for the poles...

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 13:23:05 GMT

Admin wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:ski with out poles holding the camera at low height adds for a great natural shot. Give it a try :thumbup:

GPWM, but probably works best if you can already ski like Graham Bell! 8) One of the chest-mounts will give a very similar perspective but leave your hands free for the poles...

I spend a long time working out "GPWM, TVM, HTH...." In a J2 meeting do you all sit there talking in code? :roll:

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 13:28:08 GMT

Hmm...know the 1 st two, have kind of made up a meaning for HTH....but am guessing it might be wrong...

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 14:00:50 GMT

HTH = Hope that Helps
GPWM was a new one to me today = Good point well made?
TVM = Thank you very much

I am sure he uses more...

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 14:21:56 GMT

and, of course, you have learnt TMI Icy.
:mrgreen:

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 17:40:36 GMT

Too much information ;)

TVM

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 17:44:49 GMT

Iceman wrote:Too much information ;)

TVM

PDP

but shouldn't this all be on the general wibble thread as not much content about action cameras and/or skiing?

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 20:20:10 GMT

I've had a Contour 1080HD for some time and got good results on ski and cycle helmets. Using a goggle attachment seems to produce less vibration than on a helmet attachment. But the trouble with both is the difficulty of panning separately to the direction of view (try skiing or cycling while looking sideways ...). This year I did better by hand-holding the Contour for some shots, which allowed me to pan the camera while moving. It also significantly reduced vibration.

I also tried my Canon EoS 5D Mk.II with f2.8 wide-angle zoom in video mode, held in one hand. Of course, the picture quality was much better, but at 2.5 Kg it was hard to hold for very long and I was nervous about falling over onto it. It really needs something like one of those 'C'-shaped brackets that hold the camera under the handgrip (CamCaddie in the USA) I'll give this a go next season.

Examples:

(As described below) Canon iXus held in one hand and poles in the other (as is obvious once I hit the sunshine).
+ Easy to pan
- Unexpectedly hard work balancing (see end).

Contour 1080HD, Hand-held
+ Easy to pan.
+ Less vibration than on goggle/helmet mount.

Canon EoS 5D Mk.II, 22 megapixels, hand held
+ Image quality
- Weight

Re:Helmet Video Camera

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 23:04:47 GMT

I hate myself for disagreeing with Admin, but for many skiers, a chest held cam might give a a great view of their ski tips. Or worse, their boots! But I do take the point about safety.

I looked at a lot of helmet camera videos, but took the view that the output tended not to follow the line. Hence I elected to hold a normal digital camera in my left hand, and two sticks in my right. I felt that I had sufficient control to hold the camera steady, and focus on the line of the run. For both of the following runs, I thought a lot about the safety aspect, and in each case figured out a back up plan.

It should be noted that these are runs I know very well, and I realise this is different from videoing the odd holiday run.

So, at between 85 and 95 kph:

And, at about 65/70 kph: