HD Helmet Video Camera

[bfrancis827]

http://vholdr.com/

I came across this camera the other day and was wondering if anyone here owns one or has any experience with one. Looks pretty cool and is relatively inexpensive at $299

http://vholdr.com/contourhd/img/overviewFooterLeft2.jpg

[flat4motorsports]

they work very well you just have to make sure the driver doesnt bang it around when they take the helmet off. they are sort of fragile. but they give a good picture.some of them will do the shake thing right out of the box so test it out before you take it home. you can get just as good video in a less expensive model.the hd fills up a card really fast.we used to sell them but we found a better camera.
hope this helps

[bfrancis827]

yeah, thanks. So what did you find that is better?

[flat4motorsports]

we sell this kind
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/automotive-racing-chase-camera-with-recorder-scca-nasa_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZQ7c293Q3a3Q7c294Q 3a30QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em14Q2el1262QQhashZitem5 881cded8aQQitemZ380134878602QQptZRaceQ5fCarQ5fPart s

we also have them in our flat4 store $250 free shipping we prefer to sell them in our flat 4 store , its cheaper that way. but the ebay add has a example video for video quality even on youtube the videos are great.we also have a few different mounts for the cameras so let me know if you need something diff.
anyway hope this helps too. not trying to promote our store just trying to help.
so i hope this helps . i have had lots of chase cameras but this was the one i like so i put them in our store.

[paktinat]

I'm trying to see what the advantage of that over the GoPro Hero wide is, other that not having to use batteries.
Unless youtube messed your video up when you uploaded it it looks like this has much better quality versus your video when both are viewed in the high quality mode
GoPro:
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Your Video:
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[Newk_Rally]

does anybody have any experience with the bullet cam i was thinking about picking that up it's fairly cheap so if it falls of at a rallyx or meet no biggy

[scootfd3s]

i'm really diggin the Wide angle lens. i think most other companies would charge extra for a feature like that.. but just to let ya know. i've seen other simular cameras at my local radio shack. same mounting style and sleek tube design.

edite: wow the features are pretty nice too! very resistant to the elements. but the fact that it's the First of its kind, kinda sucks.. that just means it has the oldest technology of its competition. but from what i see.. it's totally worth the asking price. i can't get over the colors, soooo nice.

[rollo]

does anybody have any experience with the bullet cam i was thinking about picking that up it's fairly cheap so if it falls of at a rallyx or meet no biggy

Yeah, I have a bullet cam. They're fine, but with the one I have, you have to hook them up to power and a recording source - for years I used my old Sony Digital8 camcorder in VCR mode, shoved in the glovebox and cushioned with a towel or whatever. And I spliced together an old 12v cigarette lighter socket with the power connection. So it's a bunch of hassle. And the mic sucks pretty bad if you use it outside, although the same is true of most of those cameras. Wind noise FTL. To get good sound you can record it elsewhere and sync it afterwards. Kind of a PITA if you just want to take vid and upload.

Here's my selection of cheap/old cameras.. so far:

Old old Canon Hi8 camcorder - have mounted on outside of car with hacked together mount, worked pretty well
Not quite as old Sony Digital8 - a decent camcorder for its time, and as mentioned above, very useful in that it has video in.. v heavy though. Optical zoom still the only choice for filming exterior action
Fry's generic bullet cam - tough as nails, so-so quality, cons as mentioned above
Vivitar DVR-530 - cheap, has video in, records to SD cards.. but records in ASF format so much hassle editing - did okay in the TGR car at Gorman though. Covered it in mud at GH and it survived too.
Flip Ultra - small, portable, convenient (no tapes, uses AA batteries), good quality, great sound, but only an hour's worth of space and getting a bit temperamental after ingesting a lot of dust, light and easy to mount so good for in-car, digital zoom only so not too great for exterior unless you can get real close to the action
Flip Ultra HD - as above, except HD, better controls and now two hours
Oregon Scientific ATC-2K - cheap, light and very small, comes with lots of mount options, records to SD, fairly crappy quality but waterproof (submersible) and dustproof means you can use it to get the shots you wouldn't risk your other gear on.


For exterior mounting, there are super expensive pro-level suction cups you can use, but I went with a Panavise for less than $20. It held up fine on the outside of the car during rallycross runs.

Next up I'm looking at the high-FPS Casio Exilims, but that VHoldr looks cool too.

Checklist for buying something like this, assuming you already know what quality you want:
- Records in a format you'll be able to edit
- Has enough recording capacity and/or removable media
- Convenient battery options and battery life
- Convenient/flexible mounting options (standard tripod mount a big plus)

[bfrancis827]

Anyone have any reviews for this yet? How about this vs....VIO POV, GoPro???

[SubieNate]

GoPro is by far the king of the hill for it's price. Great little camera.

[UP2MTNS]

I have the VIO POV 1.5 and I like it, although its not 'HD'. However, I'm rough on all my equipment and they're MIL-spec, so that was important for me.

comes with a 110 degree wide angle lense, you can also get a narrow one. Kind of expensive brand new, but I've found good deals on 'barely used' POV's on ebay and they've worked great.

I like that it has a remote control, oh, and ability to record audio from my intercom is a must as well.

Here it is mounted to my helmet, and audio plugged in from my Peltor Intercom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zJqLDt30YA


the Smoking Tire guys used the Contour HD's and they like it, but again, no remote, so if its outside the car, you have to remember to click it on. Actually, you can see it mounted in this video pointed at me, haha.

[bfrancis827]

Yeah, I remember that you had one of those. I think that is actually how I heard about the POV 1.5. It seems like a sweet setup and I would also like to plug into the intercom. To bad they don't make a POV that can have multiple lenses attached to one recorder.

[UP2MTNS]

To bad they don't make a POV that can have multiple lenses attached to one recorder.

that's a complex setup for any equipment. I just saw a slightly used POV go for $206 on ebay the other day, I was pissed I didn't just snag it.

YOu can set them up so that 1 remote control will turn on multiple POV's....so I want to get 1 or 2 more and just have them lined up in the cabin and I can hit 'play' once and get all 3 cameras rolling at once.

[ScoobyDoo8]

I remember seeing that video on youtube a little while back!!! Those roots looked pretty gnarly!! What kind of suspension are you running and any damage to the car from those?

Sorry to hijack thread a little, I am also looking for camera setups as well! :D

[bfrancis827]

that's a complex setup for any equipment. I just saw a slightly used POV go for $206 on ebay the other day, I was pissed I didn't just snag it.

YOu can set them up so that 1 remote control will turn on multiple POV's....so I want to get 1 or 2 more and just have them lined up in the cabin and I can hit 'play' once and get all 3 cameras rolling at once.

Really, that is cool. Having a couple POV's would probably cost the same as one that recorded from multiple lenses (if they made one).

You are the freaking eBay/deal KING. Every time I look on eBay they are all going for $400+

[UP2MTNS]

I remember seeing that video on youtube a little while back!!! Those roots looked pretty gnarly!! What kind of suspension are you running and any damage to the car from those?

Sorry to hijack thread a little, I am also looking for camera setups as well! :D

DMS 50mm....do damage to the suspension, the front end took a beating though.

[rollo]

Recently I've been using a GoPro Hero HD for exterior, with a Flip Ultra HD mounted inside for in-car footage and the great sound that is the hallmark of the Flip. Seems to work well, although the GoPro is picky about memory cards.

The Jackson Rally car has for the past year used the Flip Ultra HD mounted on the middle of the rollcage - it can be turned on and off by the driver as long as the belts aren't tight, and the footage has been very well received.

The GoPro is really flexible - lots of fun to be had with that thing. But it's nice to have choices.

[WhiteZenki]

having used both the contour and the gopro
gopro ftw.

[rhegel]

just got my gopro!
its amazing!
i got to buy a new computer though now cuz mine is 10 yrs old now haha it caint handle th go pro videos
but watching them on the HD 46" plasma they look amazing! and clear