toobspunk

With my accident the other day, I think it is finally time to get a camera that I can attach to my bars.
Anybody have any experience with bike cameras? Any suggestions for something cheap, I want it to record video and take pictures. But video is most important. Also I would like something that is easily transferable to a computer. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

dorkypants

A cellphone with camera is quite serviceable as an instrument for recording video or photos of accidents. It's small enough to carry in a pocket.

Ordinary point-and-shoot compact cameras typically record video, as well as photos. You can find handlebar mounts for cameras on eBay. They attach to the tripod mount socket on a camera and clamp onto the handlebars.

The cheapest "action" camera I've seen is the Muvi VCC-003 aka AEE MD-80. It's often discounted to about $65. It's strictly a video cam, no still photos.

Seagull01

check out the Olympus Stylus "tough" series cameras. They are waterproof to either 10 or 33 feet (meaning rain is not even a concern), they use XD memory for super easy transfer to a computer (connect the camera to a USB port, or remove the XD card and stick it into the internal card reader on your computer if it has one), you can carry multiple XD cards for pretty much unlimited capacity, and the battery can also be swapped out for as much run time as you care to carry batteries for.

They are also rugged, so you can drop them and they still work.

They have a standard tripod connection on them, so they will work with any camera handlebar mount.

ItsJustMe

DealExtreme has a camera with a bike mount that shoots acceptable quality video and is quite small, for $20.
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.32022

You have to add your own microsd card. 2gb will shoot for about 2 hours. The battery is also good for about 2 hours on a charge.

Here's a sample video shot from it:
https://www.youtube.com/user/demjp8Rq.../5/WR6P7O9Cs0I

Youtube reduced the resolution, it actually is a bit more clear than that.

nwmtnbkr

I've been trying to use my tape-based digital video camcorder mounted to my handlebars to shoot videos of the forest I live and ride in. Although this camera isn't heavy at all to hold and has electronic image stabilization, it's just got enough weight to have camera shake be an issue mounted on my handlebars when I'm riding many of the unimproved gravel roads in the forest, plus it's not HD. I finally bit the bullet on a Kodak Playsport HD, which is on sale at Amazon right now for $129.99 with free shipping. This camera can record in both 720p and 1080p and works well in low light settings. I should be getting it in about 10 days and hope I have less camera shake. (The camera can also shoot under water to a depth of 10 feet.) $129.99 certainly beats the price of the GoPro and other sports-specific video camcorders.

ItsJustMe

Camera shake is inevitable. Look at the DeShaker plugin for VirtualDub - it does wonders.

nwmtnbkr

I've tired deshaker and although it helps, it adds some effects I don't particularly like. I've been able to reduce shake with my existing camcorder some by modifying my mount more. However, I just think that the weight of the camera and the force of gravity makes the shake worse with it. I'm hoping that shake's reduced with the Playsport; it's definately lighter than my current camcorder. Kodak actually markets an attachment for bicycle handlebars so people can use the camera to get action shots while riding.

ItsJustMe

Some people have built cantilevered parallelogram spring mounts for their cameras to reduce shake. Something to think about.

Personally I have so little trouble with traffic that although I have a camera, I don't ever wear it. I keep it around for taping to kites for aerial photography and such.

nwmtnbkr

I've looked at the DIY threads on building a steady-cam mount for a bike. It's more effort than I want to undertake at this point. I'm filming bike rides in the forest for my family since none of them live in the area where I retired--I've toying with the idea of HD anyway. Price-wise, this beats the GoPro and Contour. I've got a small boat that I get out once in a blue moon; I may get inspired to get it out this summer and enjoy some of the local lakes and test the camera underwater.

opie

Go Pro camera's get good reviews. Lots of my buddies use them on their motorcycles during trackdays (they have a lot of video of me in front of them )

Go Pro Camera

ItsJustMe

Yes, a friend just bought a GoPro HD, and it's really nice.