GovernorSilver

This might interest me. I don't need the creme de la creme video quality, just want something to record a ride for fun. I see there is a handelbar mount for it. If there's a quick release so I can take Drift out and point it at a motorist or whatever in a hurry, that'd be great. Otherwise I'll use the iPhone for that.

molten

No apology needed.
That was an observation that I made.
Just as My watching of so many bicyclists being what I call "off-duty-car-drivers." "Sharing their car driving attitude in the bike lane."
Those are the ones that need to apologize, for the attitude they give to the cyclists who are sideswiped; attitude problems given to, etc. Via the car-driving attitude used from the certain cyclist's norm of life.

digger

I like that Replay mini.

But, it has an internal battery for "up to 2 hours"

That's not enough for me. I'd like at least 4 hours of battery time. That's why I use the Contour HD (1080) with changeable batteries. When new, I get 2.5 hours on a battery, so I carry 3.

I can't understand why Cycliq can produce a camera (Fly6) with 6 hours run time, and the new Fly12 claims as much, but yet, other companies have, at most, 2 hours.

Shimagnolo

Yes, the Mini has a more attractive price, but it is their previous generation tech.
The Prime X goes up to 3.5hrs, and can run up to 60fps at 1080, (even higher at lower resolutions).
And it can take up to a 64GB card.

Also, look over the accessories.You can get rear caps for the Replay cameras with power leads, and they have 2 sizes of external battery packs that can add 3hrs or 6hrs to the run time.

Shimagnolo

BTW Here is a trailer from the movie "Kingsman: The Secret Service" (2014).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkX8jKeKUEA&t=1m37s

Stop it at 1m38s and you can see that every jumper has a Replay mounted to the right side of their helmet.
Playing the video, it is very difficult to see because both camera and helmet are black.

Chris516

I don't have room on the seat bracket. I looked at both the Fly6, and Contour Roam. The Fly6 doesn't look very good for a rear-facing camera on the helmet.

Shimagnolo

Here is a skydiving photographers side-by-side (literally) comparison of a bunch of the POV cameras done last year:

GoPro 3+ ($399.00)
GoPro 3 Black ($349.00)
Sony AS100 ($299.00)
Sony AS30 ($299.00)
JVC Adixxion ($299.00)
Midland XTC400 ($249.00)
Polaroid XS100 ($169.00)
ReplayXD Mini ($199.00)
Liquid Ego ($179.00)
Drift Ghost S ($399.00)

Note that the Drift he evaluated is the more expensive Ghost S, (the Stealth 2 was not yet released).
And the Replay was the the previous version Mini, (since the Prime X was not yet released).

Best Action Camera 2014 - Ultimate POV Camera Shootout : Skydiving Articles - Dropzone.com

Shimagnolo

If you are interested in a Roam, you can buy "refurbed" Roam 1 directly from Contour: Roam - Contour
This is what I have right now.

Chris516

Do you mean the model on their website that is $50?

Shimagnolo

Yes. I bought mine from user "kauf106" on eBay. I didn't realize I was actually buying from Contour its self, until I had problems with additional units I bought, and got emails with Contour return addresses. Since then they have gone to selling them from their website instead of the eBay account.

In short, I bought one unit with worked perfectly and upgraded it to the latest firmware.

So I thought I'd buy another for backup since you can't swap batteries in the Roam.
But the second one I bought produced garbage video.
They took it back and refunded my money.

Then I ordered a third one.
It worked, but I could not upgrade the firmware.
They took it back and refunded my money.

At this point I got annoyed and didn't order anymore.
The battery life in the Roam is at least twice the old 720 & 1080 Contours, so I rarely run them down anyway.

The Roam is great for bicycle/motorcycle helmet use due to:
- Good battery life.
- Single switch to go from off, directly to record, that can be activated even with thick motorcycle gloves.
- Rotating lens so the video is level even if the side of the helmet is not.
- Laser sight (like a firearm) so you can rotate the lens level while wearing the helmet.
- Water resistant.

The only thing I don't like is the inability to read license plates when the other vehicle has too much relative speed to the camera.

BTW If anyone wants to turn a Roam 1 into a Roam 2, here are the instructions: https://forums.mtbr.com/videos-pov-ca...-a-858497.html

Chris516

That kills it for me.

Because, It isn't like I want to 'catch the scenery'.

ItsJustMe

Very simple. On most cameras, size is at a premium. Bigger batteries cost size. Most cameras are not built for the cyclist that needs to record many hours at a time; in the scheme of selling mass market electronics, even if every cyclist that rides > 2 hours at a time bought a camera, it's still a small market.

The Fly6 is basically a battery with a tiny camera strapped to it. I've never cracked mine open but there's an exploded view on their website and it looks like it's an 18650 LiIon cell, which takes up 90% of the inside of the case, and what's essentially a keychain camera like a Mobius, and a blinkie.

The Fly6 is a pretty chunky thing compared to any other taillight. It isn't a lot bigger than most cameras but that's because they have forgone several space-taking things like a lot of controls, a screen, the doors to change the battery, etc.

On most cameras, the battery takes up 10 or 20% of the case. On the Fly6, more like 80+%.

no motor?

Did he finally finish probation? This guy sounds like he has some issues.

KD5NRH

What voltage and current draw? I've thought about getting some sort of long-life camera for touring, but I'd like something that can easily share one big battery with the lights. (With self-contained AA/AAA based lights as a backup, of course, though I'd not expect to do a whole lot of night riding on the tours I'm looking at.) Anything with USB power input I could run a single regulator on a higher voltage battery to give me 3-4 amp capacity at 5V to supply the phone, camera, etc.

Chris516

Since the original incident was in 2013, and the most recent article on the Net, is from last year. I am sure he completed his probation. But I definitely agree with you, that he has some serious issues. He was supposed to have a mental health evaluation. We can't go on what his son said, "He's just a gentle old man. I don't know what precipitated it."

howsteepisit

One has to wonder how much of a problem is out there, when examples are follow-up stories dated over a year ago, from stories 2 years old.

Shimagnolo

Omigosh!
I did some digging and found that James Ernst lives at Parkland Estates Airpark, i.e. a private airport with attached residences.
And he apparently owns, (or did own), a business at nearby Erie Airport.
In other words, he undoubtedly has a pilots license, which is still valid as long as he can pass the periodic physical exam.

Chris516

The pilot re-certification would have been yearly.

howsteepisit

Not much of threat to bicycles in an airplane. I cannot recall ever seeing an airplane/bicycle incident.

digger

IThen I wonder just how big the Fly12 will be? With that 400 lumen light, and 1080p, wifi, and Bluetooth, the claim is 6 hours on blinking mode.

Chris516

Exactly. I think it was in the Middle Ages, when humanity was dabbling with basically trying to imitate birds. There was one flight invention/contraption where several sets of wings were affixed to a bicycle. Like the bi, and tri-planes of the pre-World War I era. It was an epic failure. The bike just fell over from the weight, never getting off the ground. No chance of getting killed on a bike in flight.

Shimagnolo

Flying bicycle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRyyKQQtYqg&t=1m47s

Chris516

Thanks for the reminder. That technology has come a long way. I should have emphasized, back in the Middle Ages.

ItsJustMe

They have an exploded view on the website. Looks like two 18650 cells. It's not small.

Not that interesting to me, I find that the video from a bar mounted camera is too shaky to be of much use.

Shimagnolo

BHPhoto is really making the Mini attractive at $95: Replay XD 1080 Mini Action Camera System 01-RPXD1080M-CS B&H
And the fact the Replay cameras can also be configured as dash-cams is making me very tempted.