Instant Replay - Helmet Cameras

All of a sudden, your simple re-telling of last
weekend's ride is kinda boring. Did you happen to video tape
that?
Even just a couple years ago, asking the "video tape that?"
question was unheard of. Today - thanks to helmet-mount cameras
like GoPro, MotoComm and Contour - the days of picture-less story
telling are numbered.
Like some of the best powersports inventions, most of these awesome
story-tellers were created by enthusiasts simply looking for a
better way. Today's "helmet cameras" are actually action-sports
cameras that will mount on and film almost anything and anyone that
moves. From motorcycles to skateboards, surfers to parachutists,
anyone with a moving story to tell can use one of these
cameras.
Contour
Even smaller than the GoPro, mountable hands-free video cameras
from Contour also shoot in 1080p high-definition. (If the name
"Contour" seems new to you, don't worry. The company has been
around for years, they simply changed names a few times, from
Twenty20, to VholdR, and now Contour).
The Contour 1080p camera ($250) is about four inches long and
weighs just about five ounces; you won't even know it's mounted to
your helmet or handlebars. You can change the video resolution from
1080p down to 720p, and there is also an "Action 720p" setting to
capture high-speed action
at 60 frames per second, and for slow-motion editing. The Contour
camera uses a 135-degree wide-angle lens that delivers amazing
point-of-view without fisheye distortion.
Contour has taken action sports filming to a whole new place -
literally - with the ContourGPS, which retails for around $350.
With this camera, you get all the easy mounting and quality
playback features, as well as GPS receiver tracking and
documentation. When you view the action, you also get a
Google-earth style playback of your exact location. It also allows
you to track altitude and speed - it's a video and lap-time
recorded in one.
Using the ContourGPS mobile application and Bluetooth connection,
you can watch the filming in realtime on your iPhone or iPod
Touch.
Motocomm
In 2000, MotoComm introduced its communication systems to
motorcycle riders. The company has developed high-quality
helmet-to-helmet communicators, using experience in electronics
manufacturing and a love for motorcycles. Now MotoComm has
mountable video cameras as well.
The Ridercam 30F ($190) is a small package camera that delivers the
basics of videography. It shoots in VGA (640 x 480) or QVGA (320 x
240) resolution - fine for watching on your laptop and loading to
YouTube. The package includes a variety of mounting accessories as
well as a handy carrying case.
MotoComm recognized the boom in mobile video and created the
DSR-100 3G camera. This small mountable camera records 3G file
format to an internal 1GB memory space. These files are optimized
for use on mobile phones. You can add a 4GB SD card for extended
storage. This kit retails for $360 and includes a handheld video
playback monitor with a 2.5-inch LCD screen. It also includes a USB
computer connection and an RCA cable for TV playback.
The DSR-100 3G system also plays MP3 music files, and it comes with
helmet speakers - so your camera is now a complete music
system.
Go Pro®
The idea is not new. Nearly every teen-age boy in the 1990s used a
HandyCam and a roll of duct tape to film a skateboard trick or
motocross jump. Fortunately, in 2002 two guys created a company
called GoPro - and we no longer need duct tape.
The GoPro HD Hero line of cameras has revolutionized action sports
filming. The relatively simple cameras were first connected to
surfboards, but found an even larger
world of opportunity in powersports. Today, GoPro video cameras are
sold in more than
The original HD Hero shoots professional quality video and still
photos, all while securely strapped to your helmet or your
motorcycle. For powersports enthusiasts, there are two main camera
packages to consider. The HD Hero 960 is the least expensive at
about $180. It shoots in 960p, 720p or 480p modes, and also snaps 5
megapixel still photos, even in a hands-free, automatic time-lapse
mode. The package includes a variety of mounting accessories, a
waterproof housing, and all the connection cables you need. The
rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery will provide up to 2.5 hours of
filming time.
If you can swing a $300 purchase, the HD Motorsports Hero gives you
1080p HD shooting, plus the ability to film at 60 frames per second
(fps) in 720p mode. That will give you slow-motion replay
capability to embellish your story-telling prowess. This
Motorsports Hero package also includes more camera-mount hardware,
as well as built-in expansion ports for use with an LCD screen and
enhanced batteries.
GoPro has spent much of the last two years improving sound quality,
with a focus on eliminating wind noise. The cameras will pick up
engine sounds but not the wind noise that plagued so many camcorder
action video attempts. The company has also developed dozens of
accessory mounting options, making it easy for you to secure the
camera
to any helmet, motorcycle, ATV or side-by-side vehicle.
Best of all, you're not sacrificing film quality for the sake of
features or unique mounting capabilities. The GoPro cameras deliver
professional quality video and
still imagery.