Best value Helmet Cam ?

[VladTepes]

I hesitate to use the word 'best' but buying any such camera even a 'cheapie' is still a significant $ investment from my point of view.

Also a helmet cam (which obviously moves with ones head) is much better at capturing things (eg drivers on mobiles etc) than a forward facing camera fixed to the bike.

I don't like the bulkiness of hanging a GoPro or similar off a helmet and am looking into the tube camera style ones. 

I'd want to record video (obviously) and live commentary (aka vlogging)

The main options appear to be the HD Contour series and Sena Prism Tube (the latter being significantly cheaper).

Concerns obviously include:
- Charging / Battery life.
- Quality of footage incl low light performance.

Interested to hear from anyone with a helmet cam please.

Cheers

[Proteous]

You know what Mike, I have also thought about this many MANY times. I agree that a gopro just seems a little bulky for helmet recording.. I looked at the Drift which is an awsome piece of kit but its comparable in price to the GoPro. Eventually i gave up and decided to just stick with my fixed position Gopro and not bother with helmet cams. My cons list for helmet cams is 10 times longer than the pro list. And now with the bluetooth mics and other wireless conectivity of the Gopro i dont need one anyway.. As you mentioned the ONLY benefit of the helmet cam is to catch the cagers being twats as you ride by looking in.

[KiwiCol]

Here's an idea, how about the (or one anyway) helmet manufacturers actually building a 'gopro' spec unit into the helmet from scratch!!  There'd be a point of difference & loads of guys would buy one just to try it our if nothing else. 

Have to be better that going around looking like a telly tubby!

[Blubber]

The Tom Tom Bandit camera is being dumped on the market, seems reasonable priced at €150 ish.

No personal experience with it, reviews are mixed.

[Red Biker]

Here's an idea, how about the (or one anyway) helmet manufacturers actually building a 'gopro' spec unit into the helmet from scratch!!  There'd be a point of difference & loads of guys would buy one just to try it our if nothing else. 

Have to be better that going around looking like a telly tubby!

Great Idea Col, they do it on lap tops at a similar size to that required for a helmut, they build them with LED's in now so I'm sure it's not too much of a stretch.

I have the Senna prism which is fine but the issue I have which maybe the same for all is the positioning or aim of the lens. You have a marker at 12'oclock but it's not until you downlaod and see the footage you can see if the angle is correct! Many times I've filmed for an hour or so only to discover I've had the angle slightly wrong and have 60 minutes of 'crotch action' or just the clocks! There is an art to it and in particular if you turn it off on the move which is via the slider it can easily move the angle and you cant refer to the 12'o clock marker if you are riding.

Quality is great and it's very aerodynamic and compact, I carry it in my pocket every journey but have rarely used it recently which I guess says a lot!

Red

[grog]

Red, do you get more crotch action aiming or in your pocket. just wondering as i dont get much at all these days. hoping it might help.

[gsxbarmy]

The Drift Compass is really quite small and compact, but no idea how good the camera itself or the battery life is

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DRIFT-COMPASS-COMPACT-ACTION-HELMET-CAMERA-1080P-MOTORCYCLE-SKI-MTB-SPORTS-BIKE-/121997797129?epid=1670315726&hash=item1c67a2a709:g:fBQAAOSwagdXRsln

[Red Biker]

Red, do you get more crotch action aiming or in your pocket. just wondering as i dont get much at all these days. hoping it might help.

I can relate Grog, the wife drip feeds me viagra now! Nothing to do with having more 'action' it's just to stop me pissing on my slippers 😩

[northern]

DRIFT COMPASS have very narrow field of view - just 78°.

I have DRIFT Ghost HD, which is deasent quality, but quite bulky. At the same time, it have great replaceable battery (3.5h).
I have GoPro Hero5, which is looking silly on a helmet side or helmet chin. Replaceable battery live is 1.5-2h.

My son have DRIFT Stealth2, which is small and picture quality in not very bad. I would say, it's sutes to be motorcycle camera, but I never had a chance to test it on my bike. Only downside - battery is not replaceable, even it's lifetime  is 2.5-3h.
https://driftinnovation.com/collections/cameras/products/drift-stealth2

[VladTepes]

I agree that a gopro just seems a little bulky for helmet  As you mentioned the ONLY benefit of the helmet cam is to catch the cagers being twats as you ride by looking in.

And if there's an accident - looking at it to see the whole thing rather than what is just happening in front of the bike (if anything).

Or as happened this morning I saw a McLaren and a Ferrari in the pace of a minute, but I doubt much was captured on the cam I have mounted on the bars, they are probably obscured by the clocks...

I don't think a helmet came replaces a fixed GoPro etc, but augments it particularly for commuting and that type of riding.  Out on the open road or in the hills a fixed camera works perfectly well.

[ARH]

Guys... one word of caution regarding helmet cams... fitting them to your helmet creates a huge pressure point on the helmet shell if you have the misfortune to have a spill and connect with something immovable on that part of the helmet (i.e. the road!).  Look at what happened to Michael Schumacher... and he was not moving as fast as a bike!

My roam is fitted to the bike.... safe riding all! 

[froudy]

Three years on and still using my SJ4000 camera. Either lid mounted or on the rear of the bike.
Cost me about £45 with 32Gb memory card and accessory case as extras.
It's basically a GoPro copy, but in my opinion far better value for money.
Just be careful though as there are some really cheap and nasty SJ4000 copies out there, and they're crap!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_HnldNNEXU

[VladTepes]

I bought a Sony one for a good price. Has. Yet to arrive but in due course ill post some vids.

[V_i_c_i]

But be careful not to buy fake SJ4000. It's a favorite model for fakes...

[Gx51]

Been looking at the sjcam m20 as I dive a little too... anyone ?!