Helmet cameras

[Nierva]

Hi all, I was wondering whether anyone else has tried using a helmet camera for riding. I find it very helpful to have short videos of my riding sometimes to see how I have improved and what I still need to improve, as do my friends. It's also fun to capture bits of a hack!

As I'm trying to save money at the moment - in theory, though I'm still riding, of course, so bye and nice knowing you, savings! - I invested in a cheap helmet camera from Amazon. It was extremely cheap compared to the likes of the GoPro, so I was never expecting perfection. I'm going to try having it on my helmet the other way in future, as it's been too low down. I don't want it to ping off either, of course, but it seems like flipping it around might help there.

I also can't work what to do with the videos from it, which are absolutely massive .avi files (not something I had even heard of before!) I invested in a small SD card reader as well, so I can get the videos off the SD card and onto my laptop no problem. What I can't seem to do is convert them into a better format, ideally mp4. I can't currently share the footage I have of my friends with them at all. I've found ways of converting them in name (primarily trying to use VLC, as it's something free which I already have anyway), but I keep losing the sound in mp4 format and, if I then go to something like Whatsapp, it claims the file format isn't supported. Mp4s are supported! The converted files are also under Whatsapp's size limit, as I cut them down a bit as well as converting them. It's all very frustrating!

Does anyone have any knowledge/personal anecdotes about this kind of thing? If you have one, what kind, and what do you use it for? Thanks in advance if so!

 

[newforest]

I bought a cheaper version of the go pro initially to see how often I would actually use it.
It came with the SD card option and I just put into my phone and took the stills off.
You need to record in the format that you want, then you don't need to change it after. It should give you that option.
I barely used it, so got rid of it. I have a phone that will take a second of footage with a photo to minimise camera shake. Often I get a better photo that way.
I found the helmet cameras too heavy and there's always been that question mark over safety and whether or not it causes damage to the hat if you fell.

There is a new camera on the market I have only got as far as looking at. Because I need to decide if I would use regularly or not. For schooling I simply set up a camera on the fence and press record. Safer and simple.

 

[Jessey]

I have had a couple, I too didn’t end up using them much and the faf of getting the video to my phone to send to people meant I’d just use my phone to capture anything I planned to send, even when wearing my camera!

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

My husband bought me one but honestly I have never installed it. I often don't even take pictures. I can't work out if that's a shame or if I am just enjoying myself and trusting my memory!

 

[newforest]

My husband bought me one but honestly I have never installed it. I often don't even take pictures. I can't work out if that's a shame or if I am just enjoying myself and trusting my memory!

I love taking photos. I capture something everyday. My grandad bought me a camera when I was ten and I have been hooked every since.
I like sharing them as well.

I can't get into video as you need to go back and look through it. Accept for the odd bit of fun lunging because she might make a few interesting shapes. Plus it's good to see if I am the problem!!

 

[Bodshi]

I have a techalogic camera, can't remember if it's a DC1 or 2. It's quite simple to use and takes both front and rear shots, so theoretically really useful for capturing traffic coming up behind, as well as in front. Trouble is I rarely remember to use it and when I do it's too late to charge it. I also find that if I wear it on a long hack, trying to find the interesting bits when I play it back later is a really boring task!

Im a bit like @Jane&Ziggy - I think I prefer to live in the moment lol. I do really need to start using it on road hacks though, just in case we happen across a dangerous driver.

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

I tried one, found it very temperamental, half the time it didn't record and it was uncomfortable to wear on the helmet. I was going to see if i could use a mobile with a holder on my chest instead of on the helmet but never got round to doing it

 

[Nierva]

I bought a cheaper version of the go pro initially to see how often I would actually use it.
It came with the SD card option and I just put into my phone and took the stills off.
You need to record in the format that you want, then you don't need to change it after. It should give you that option.
I barely used it, so got rid of it. I have a phone that will take a second of footage with a photo to minimise camera shake. Often I get a better photo that way.
I found the helmet cameras too heavy and there's always been that question mark over safety and whether or not it causes damage to the hat if you fell.

There is a new camera on the market I have only got as far as looking at. Because I need to decide if I would use regularly or not. For schooling I simply set up a camera on the fence and press record. Safer and simple.

Thanks for your reply! I bought another SD card reader for my laptop and then ended up finding my old one too, of course, after looking for it and not finding it for weeks.

I don’t get any options for formats, unfortunately - that’s how cheap it was, I imagine. As cheap as they come (about £25). It’s only .avi and it’s AWFUL.

I always wear gloves when I ride. Oh my gosh, I don’t know what’s going on with my brain today - the heat, that’s a good excuse, maybe! - but I initially typed “I always wear clothes when I ride”, haha. Yes, I do wear gloves, but I also wear other clothes. Anyway, I can never get my glove off, phone out and film and then put my phone away and my glove back on fast enough in a lesson. It’s always my turn in the blink of an eye, which is great, but it isn’t great if my instructor is waiting on me faffing!

 

[Nierva]

My husband bought me one but honestly I have never installed it. I often don't even take pictures. I can't work out if that's a shame or if I am just enjoying myself and trusting my memory!

You’re letting yourself be in the moment - that’s got to be good, surely?

 

[Nierva]

I love taking photos. I capture something everyday. My grandad bought me a camera when I was ten and I have been hooked every since.
I like sharing them as well.

I can't get into video as you need to go back and look through it. Accept for the odd bit of fun lunging because she might make a few interesting shapes. Plus it's good to see if I am the problem!!

I find it helps me see where I’m going wrong and improve…and see the improvements. Obviously, I aim to commit everything correct to muscle memory, but until I can do that, I find it helpful to be able to see myself ride sometimes. It isn’t always enough for me to have someone tell me what to do.

 

[Nierva]

I have a techalogic camera, can't remember if it's a DC1 or 2. It's quite simple to use and takes both front and rear shots, so theoretically really useful for capturing traffic coming up behind, as well as in front. Trouble is I rarely remember to use it and when I do it's too late to charge it. I also find that if I wear it on a long hack, trying to find the interesting bits when I play it back later is a really boring task!

Im a bit like @Jane&Ziggy - I think I prefer to live in the moment lol. I do really need to start using it on road hacks though, just in case we happen across a dangerous driver.

Some people really don’t seem to know the first thing about animals/have any common sense whatsoever…

 

[EllaMae]

Thanks for your reply! I bought another SD card reader for my laptop and then ended up finding my old one too, of course, after looking for it and not finding it for weeks.

I don’t get any options for formats, unfortunately - that’s how cheap it was, I imagine. As cheap as they come (about £25). It’s only .avi and it’s AWFUL.

I always wear gloves when I ride. Oh my gosh, I don’t know what’s going on with my brain today - the heat, that’s a good excuse, maybe! - but I initially typed “I always wear clothes when I ride”, haha. Yes, I do wear gloves, but I also wear other clothes. Anyway, I can never get my glove off, phone out and film and then put my phone away and my glove back on fast enough in a lesson. It’s always my turn in the blink of an eye, which is great, but it isn’t great if my instructor is waiting on me faffing!

So true, Gloves make filming such a hassle in lessons. Some riders use touchscreen gloves so they can just use their phone without taking them off. That way you don’t miss your turn or keep your instructor waiting.

 

[newforest]

Just in case you are still looking I have actually bought one and have used it.
I wanted it to be able to get random stills off, but, it's also shown up something I am doing while riding that I wasn't aware of until I saw the footage. This is great as I can work on that.