General Cycling Discussion - Portable Video Recorder

Does any one know of a portable video recorder. something that I can hook a basic small camera up to (the kind that are used for sercurity with just a basic video output). What i'm basically looking for is a portable vcr.

well, i'm looking for something similar. not sure what you want, but what i want is a camera i can attach to my helmet and run a cable to a videorecorder in my backpack. i have seen some of these before as well as videos from some, but i don't know if they are homemade or what.

i currently have a Cannon digital camera and it takes short videos, but the problem is a) i have to hold the camera and b) i have to press the button to start filming so it's tough to do any high-speed stuff with the video rolling... although i do have a few cool ones.

anyway, i don't even have a videorecorder, so even if i found the camera accessory i might not have the funds for it now, but it would be cool to know what's out there.

does anyone know of a small lens that can attach to the helmet? or of a plan to home-build something?

I actually wanted to get one also that would attach to the helmet so I could do something for a website I'm thinking of putting together. I would love to do a live video feed.

Anyone with good ideas on how to do this?

KB

What i'm looking for is basically a portable vcr (does't have to be VHS though). something I could hook a camera like this up to. http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=135&item=VC-127&type=store

Here you go, viosport sells the camera to mount to your helmet.

http://shop.viosport.com/store/customer/search.php

THen you add the Archos Digital Jukebox.. and the JBM digital video recorder to that, to hook up the cam.

http://www.archos.com/lang=en/products/photo_video_product_list.html

This would give you a very samll recorder that could store LOTS of video (40 gigs).. But would keep the size and weight down and let you store lots of video. You could fit this record in the back pocket of your jersey even.

Thanks Kev!

KB

Was just reading your earlier post.. live video feed from on the road would be really hard to do.. not impossible. There is wireless internet access available via sattelite to notebooks, it is not extremely fast as of yet, but it does work. So if you have a notebook you could get a video capture PCMCIA card for it... hookup the camera that way.. Dont' remember the company off-hand that offers that wireless internet.. but is possible just would be fairly expensive.. not sure on your budget.. I would opt for just recording the video..

If you figure on using a standard video camera instead of soemthing like the archos, you would also have to invest in a video capture card to inport the video from the video camera to you're computer.. so in long run the archos would probably be a cheaper option..

That archos thing is pretty much exactlly what i was looking for execpt for the price. Does any one know of a cheaper alternative (although I don't think there is one).

You can find them a bit cheaper if you look around, but not a whole lot cheaper.

Yikes!

Thanks Kev! I think I will modify this idea about the live video feed.

Koffee

It doesn't have to be soild state and if it was I don't need 40 hours

an hour would be more than enough.

Just a hour, I would search for a old video camera with video inputs then.. would be your best option..

Kev,

for the Viosport helmetcam what input capability do you need in a cameracorder to use it? does any analog input work? and do most camcorders have these?

the archos jukebox looks pretty interesting. so you would need the Jukebox multimedia 120, plus the digital recorder accessory, plus a camera like the viosport (or another analog camera with its own power)... not bad, but a little spendy (550 + 80 + 160 = 790)

Hey guys, I just did this!!. First you need the portable video recorder, usually a camcorder. Second you need a small camera. What I am using is a Sony HandyCam DCR-HC30 (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_BrowseCatalog-Start?CategoryName=dcc_DICamcorders_MiniDVHandycamCamcorders&Dept=dcc_DICamcorders) and a Swann DIY Security Cam SW-P-DSCEX (http://www.swann.com.au/show_item.php?item=155)

I opted to get the Swann DIY camera at Fry's Electronics because it was cheap and perfect for a helmet cam, only for $45 and it includes a 90 degree bonus lens. It runs off a 9V battery for 10-12 hours!

It connects to the sony camcorder via rca cables. You can use any camcorder that has video in capability. The sony handycams also connect to the computer for editing, email, websites....and it is very small. My mom just happened to buy the camcorder for the "family" and I got the idea of making a helmet cam. The picture quality is not sacraficed one bit by adding the "cheap" security camera. Its very easy to set up and use. If you have a fairly new camcorder the chances are that you can add a small camera to it.

To sum it up all I did was buy a small, cheap security camera that included all the cables, and hook it up to a camcorder. Its that simple!!! do some research and you'll see you can save $$$ buy putting together your own system rather than buying an existing "helmet cam". There are many options too.

Let me know if you have any questions and I can help you out

Here you go, viosport sells the camera to mount to your helmet.

http://shop.viosport.com/store/customer/search.php

THen you add the Archos Digital Jukebox.. and the JBM digital video recorder to that, to hook up the cam.

http://www.archos.com/lang=en/products/photo_video_product_list.html

This would give you a very samll recorder that could store LOTS of video (40 gigs).. But would keep the size and weight down and let you store lots of video. You could fit this record in the back pocket of your jersey even.

also on that first page listed, there is a thing called ClamperPod 2, it connects the camera to any tube. this would also be perfect for cycling so you could mount it on your handlebars, or any tube u wanted.