Best helmet cam in Q1 2018

Keith_Beef

Keith_Beef

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I've been looking at getting a helmet cam, and found this old thread from 2015.

A couple of years later, new products on the market, can anybody recommend something small, good resolution, frame rate and field of vision, that accepts a high-capacity SDXC card and is weatherproof (I'm not interested in ging swimming with it)?

Preferably a tubular format, that clamps to a plate that can be permanently or temporarily stuck to a helmet; plates should be inexpensive and readily available, so that I can attach one to a my horseriding helmet, another my daughter's, another to a cycling helmet, and so on.
 
Can I jump on this thread to follow please :-) was going to ask the same question as I've been looking for similar that will attach to a strap on riding hat somehow and hopefully double up as a dash cam as increasingly having some scary/intimidating encounters on local country lanes :-(
There are some highly recommended ones on Amazon at reasonable prices but I’m always put off when product descriptions are badly translated into english and I’m not really sure what to look for lol
 
I originally bought a bullet head cam called HEDCAM (I then bought a GO-PRO).

I took this pic for you just now on my phone but photo has squashed up a bit widthways - this cam is actually about the length and width of a finger.
It attaches very firmly to it's headband. Velcro adjustment on headband. I bought additional holders/stands for it but I can't remember what I've got now, haven't used it for ages.

Pic:

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PS: Look in your local cheapie shops for a Dashcam, my local cheapie place has them in at the moment for £10 (I bought one as just a spare).
 
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I've got a SOOCOO quality is easily comparable to the Go Pros, it uses their attachments and cost me £50 inc 14 different fittings and a memory card. Its also waterproof to 50ms :biggrin3:
 
Keith_Beef said:
?

Preferably a tubular format, that clamps to a plate that can be permanently or temporarily stuck to a helmet; plates should be inexpensive and readily available, so that I can attach one to a my horseriding helmet, another my daughter's, another to a cycling helmet, and so on.
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Do you really wish to turn into a cabbage like a certain famous exF1 driver do not attach to helmet.
 
Leo Walker said:
I've got a SOOCOO quality is easily comparable to the Go Pros, it uses their attachments and cost me £50 inc 14 different fittings and a memory card. Its also waterproof to 50ms :biggrin3:
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Now that I've taken a look, that soocoo is very similar to an 12 MPixel action cam I bought in February 2016, when it was at a reduced price on Amazon. It's OK, but the software and the app to control it are absolutely rubbish.

At the moment, you can get this camera for less than twenty quid from Amazon in the UK.

But curiously, the name and description are in French... :rolleyes:

I've not thought about this before, but I might be able to attach this to the top of my helmet. There's a kind of plastic button on the crown, that screws into a socket in the helmet shell. It would be a wonderful coincidence if it was the same thread as a camera tripod screw...
 
Keith_Beef said:
What's that all about? I don't remember seeing this in the news...
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OK, I searched for "formula 1 driver accident helmet cam" and found the Schumacher reports... I had completely missed the story about the possibility that it was the camera that could have caused his helmet to split open.

I'll not be screwing my Excelvan camera to my helmet, then.

But I've seen so many photos of people wearing a camera in that position, that it makes me think that this information about Schumacher's camera should be spread around more. Thanks for opening my eyes to the danger.
 
Keith_Beef said:
OK, I searched for "formula 1 driver accident helmet cam" and found the Schumacher reports... I had completely missed the story about the possibility that it was the camera that could have caused his helmet to split open.

I'll not be screwing my Excelvan camera to my helmet, then.

But I've seen so many photos of people wearing a camera in that position, that it makes me think that this information about Schumacher's camera should be spread around more. Thanks for opening my eyes to the danger.
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I found this quite worrying so have just done a very quick bit of research.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/safety/resources/safetynews/whatsnew/helmet-cams

This seems to suggest that the safety risk isn't particularly increased by a helmet mounted camera, providing it is mounted correctly.
 
Sheep said:
I found this quite worrying so have just done a very quick bit of research.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/safety/resources/safetynews/whatsnew/helmet-cams

This seems to suggest that the safety risk isn't particularly increased by a helmet mounted camera, providing it is mounted correctly.
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That seems to be the thing to look out for: the mount.

A camera mount should allow the camera to detach if submitted to an amount of force that does not increase torque on the wearer's neck and does not compromise the structure of the helmet shell. But at the same time, the mount shouldn't allow the camera to detach in normal use, which can involve quite a lot of vibration and jolts.
 
Keith_Beef said:
That seems to be the thing to look out for: the mount.

A camera mount should allow the camera to detach if submitted to an amount of force that does not increase torque on the wearer's neck and does not compromise the structure of the helmet shell. But at the same time, the mount shouldn't allow the camera to detach in normal use, which can involve quite a lot of vibration and jolts.
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Yes, that makes perfect sense. I have stick on mounts for gopro and I will probably use it skiing.
I am rubbish at skiing so very slow ;) I feel the increased injury risk in my case is minimal. I probably won't even use it much as the footage would be too boring!
The mount feels secure but as it is self adhesive, in theory it should easily detach if force applied.
Anyway useful point definitely wise to consider how the cameras are mounted.
Good luck in your search!
 
Keith_Beef said:
Now that I've taken a look, that soocoo is very similar to an 12 MPixel action cam I bought in February 2016, when it was at a reduced price on Amazon. It's OK, but the software and the app to control it are absolutely rubbish.

At the moment, you can get this camera for less than twenty quid from Amazon in the UK.

But curiously, the name and description are in French... :rolleyes:

I've not thought about this before, but I might be able to attach this to the top of my helmet. There's a kind of plastic button on the crown, that screws into a socket in the helmet shell. It would be a wonderful coincidence if it was the same thread as a camera tripod screw...
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Mines the newer one, theres about 10 different versions. The quality is brilliant and its easy to use. Its the same thread as a tripod. Mine has a harness to go over your hat as well as a chest harness and 12 other attachments.

I did look at the very cheap ones and they are ok quality wise, just not great. It depends how important it is to you. I use mine carriage driving where there is an incredible amount of bumping about so needed a better quality version. If you look on youtube you will find all the main makes have side by side videos comparing them to Gopros. I watched hundred of them before deciding on the SOOCOO
 
Leo Walker said:
Mines the newer one, theres about 10 different versions. The quality is brilliant and its easy to use. Its the same thread as a tripod. Mine has a harness to go over your hat as well as a chest harness and 12 other attachments.
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I strongly suspect that there are five or six factories in China, each producing two or three variants of these cameras, that then get sold under a score of names... and that they are all pretty much "as good as each other". Which is to say that they all have a reasonable sensor and lens, but all have abominably bad software.

When I mentioned tripod screws, I was thinking of the screw for the button of my helmet. But since reading about Schumacher's accident, I'll not be trying that method of fixing...
 
There were differences when I looked, some quite significant esp at the cheaper end. There isnt any software to be bad either. You plug it in and drag the files from it. So easy to use I havent ever bothered to read the instructions etc. This is a clip from mine. I was trying the camera on the carriage itself so its too low down, and you cant really tell from the video just how rough the ground was. Its all really old ridge and furrow and felt like being on a roller coaster most of the time! Not bad for the money though! :biggrin3:

https://www.facebook.com/vickie.aldus/videos/vb.606503666/10155052126188667/?type=3
 
Having had a first hand experience of a near relative sustaining a head-injury resulting in craniotomy, basal skull fractures, subarachnoid haemorrhage etc. I would never attach anything to my helmet. A harness camera as worn by the police and other emergency services seems a much safer option. I have been told about one make called Reveal but can't find them on the open market in the UK.
 
Violet said:
A harness camera as worn by the police and other emergency services seems a much safer option.
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I've seen chest harnesses for action cameras, is that what you mean?

My other thought was a shoulder cam, that some police forces use.

So I did a bit of ferreting around and found those Reveal cameras. The body can be clipped to a shirt front or to an epaulette, presumably would be tethered so it can't be lost and dropped.

The D5 model looks the bee's knees, but must cost an arm and a leg, because the much lower specification RS2-X2 already costs around $500! :eek: No wonder prices for the D5 are unpublished.
 
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Leo Walker, which SOOCOO model do you use? On their website they have S series, C series and then a sort of bullet one they say is good for cycling... my brain is boggled by all the techy stuff, but the quality of your video is great so I'm going to go for whichever one that is!
 
Its an S30 I think. I can double check when I get home.

It came with a chest harness and a hat harness. I'm assuming the hat harness is safe as its not attached, it just slides on and off. I prefer the chest harness though as you don't get the camera moving everytime you turn your head!
 
Leo Walker said:
Its an S30 I think. I can double check when I get home.

It came with a chest harness and a hat harness. I'm assuming the hat harness is safe as its not attached, it just slides on and off. I prefer the chest harness though as you don't get the camera moving everytime you turn your head!
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Cool, thanks :)

I'd mainly be using it for hacking, in case of dangerous drivers/other incidents - so think maybe I'd want it to move with my head, so I could point it at them easily just by looking in their direction! But I don't know, would have to try it out.
 
I had a bullet head cam, and attached it with the elastic harness and velcro. I did not worry abut the safety as it would have popped off very easily BUT when I got a GoPro chest cam type the picture was a lot better. This is a still pulled from the moving film...

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And this is the camera I bought... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Campark-AC...d=1516266876&sr=8-1&keywords=4K+sports+camera

It can also attach on the head, but is a bit cumbersome, and actually, surprisingly, I find the picture more stable on a chest mount!
 
Keith_Beef said:
I've seen chest harnesses for action cameras, is that what you mean?

My other thought was a shoulder cam, that some police forces use.

So I did a bit of ferreting around and found those Reveal cameras. The body can be clipped to a shirt front or to an epaulette, presumably would be tethered so it can't be lost and dropped.

The D5 model looks the bee's knees, but must cost an arm and a leg, because the much lower specification RS2-X2 already costs around $500! :eek: No wonder prices for the D5 are unpublished.
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Yes, this is the type I mean although perhaps a bit pricey. Easy to switch on, waterproof and long battery life.
I ride out with an air vest every day and they are not cheap either...
 
There is definitely a lot of rebadging go on, and then of course at least for gopros there are fake go pros, and then fakes of the fakes :D and it is hard to tell what gubbins you are getting inside.
 
There will always be generics. Some of them as good as the original, some not so good.

At the time when I bought it, the cam in my photo was smallest bullet cam available.

In the photo it is held firmly onto a headband which then goes around the hat and is secured with velcro. The cam also attaches securely to an epaulette or arm/ankle band.

As I recall when buying this style of camera there were quite a few mounting packages available to choose from, there probably still are for other similar style/generic models too. I think there were about 8 mounting options in the kit I bought.

:)
 
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