I got the HD GoPro Hero a couple of weeks ago...been playing around with it a bit...few questions...
what are you guys using to film?
where are you mounting it? helmet, bike, stem...seat post etc.
what do you use to edit your film? Ive seen some vids with ride stats etc. in a live feed along with it, wondering what you're using to do this.
I use my Samsung F50 camcorder. Only 8 oz., so weight is negligible. I tried the handlebar mount with a bracket from DealExtreme (great product and price, long wait for shipping), and it was a little too shaky. I mean the mount was solid, but the vibration was unacceptable. I then went to the helmet with much better results. You get past the way others look at you with a camera on your head. I have used Windows Movie Maker with some success, but do not know how to integrate ride stats into the vid.
Check over in the Electronics/Gadgets forum, lots of good advice there.
did not even think to check there...will do thanks!Originally Posted by RTDub
I use this which weighs less than 2 oz and costs about $50. I just electrical tape it to my fork or stem. I just use Windows Movie Maker since the price is right and it's easy to use.
Can you post one of your videos or link to me to one? Thanks.
Here's a weekend ride video I posted just yesterday. It ain't super fancy, but you can take the camera in risky places without worrying about losing anything of value. I also use it for skiing.
I got one of those from DX and the frame rate caused wavy playback. I would love to see what your camera can do, might be worth the upgrade. I look like a Borg drone with my camera on top of my helmet. Also pics of the mount would be nice
These seem to be popular alternatives to GoPros and they have a more discreet form-factor:
(Not my video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeWKZtBv3YA
More info:
http://www.chucklohr.com/808/
I have a GoPro HD that I use for track days but have never wanted to try it on my bike/helmet due to its blocky/bulky shape. I was thinking of picking up two 808 #11 for use on my road bike.
As for video editing, I'm using Sony's Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10.
If you follow this link, you'll see the camera taped to my stem just near my right knee.I got one of those from DX and the frame rate caused wavy playback. I would love to see what your camera can do, might be worth the upgrade. I look like a Borg drone with my camera on top of my helmet. Also pics of the mount would be nice
Frame rate is an issue. Here's another video (go to 1:50) where you can see my spokes look funky because of that issue. The camera is also not good in low light conditions.
But for the price and portability, it can't be beat. I could easily get a contour or go pro, but those are just too bulky.
I got the ContourHD 1080p model a couple weeks ago. I mount it on my helmet, which eliminates annoying rattling noises from rough roads (as long as I keep the helmet mount straps tight, that is). I record at the lowest setting (Fast WVGA), which is 848 x 480, 60 fps. It is still great quality, so I feel there's no need to use the memory-hogging, battery-draining HD settings.
I use DashWare software to overlay the data from my Garmin onto the video. Here's a steep climb from last weekend with the GPS data overlay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_NanMq4-xw
I also use a Kodak Playsport Zx3 mounted on the handlebars with a Pedco UltraClamp universal mount. I record at the lowest setting (WVGA 848 x 480, 30 fps), again, to save space. Video quality is still very good, though not as good as the Contour.
I use Windows Live Movie Maker 2011 on a Windows 7 computer to edit. This version of WLMM will edit the .mov and .mp4 files that Contours, GoPros, and Kodak Playsports produce.
Here's the last video I recorded with the Playsport before the tripod hole broke clean off (that was captured on video too, btw).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmgIKnW_gAg
Last edited by freighttraininguphill; 08-23-11 at 02:32 PM.
According to the 51, when you have a video camera on your bike and use it to record your ride, then ride with a married person, you have a porn video on your hands.
Don't believe everything you think.
According to the 51, when you have a video camera on your bike and use it to record your ride, then ride with a married person, you have a porn video on your hands.
I can make a porn video on a solo ride. All I have to do is use the Playsport and climb a steep hill. The microphone on the Playsport is much more sensitive than the Contour's.
The price of the Veho Muvi VCC-003 is enticing. It records 640x480 30fps, right? I see that it has a "2 megapixel sensor", which seems to be a marketing exaggeration of some sort.
I have an ATC2000, but I misplaced the strap I used with my helmet, and it is too big and heavy anyway.
That sounds about right.
Short version is that it's good for youtube, but if I wanted better quality than that, I would have gone with the Contour.
The thing that's nice about the Muvi is that there are no settings so you just press a button to start/stop filming. It's light and cheap so you can take it anywhere -- you can literally just toss it in your pocket with other crap. BTW, it is not good in low light conditions, but you gotta temper your expectations for that price.
After watching this vid, I kinda miss MTBToo bad I'm too addicted to 41.
I sell post-production equipment to professional video editors. Unfortunately, I am new to the profession but am learning a lot. We don't sell to the prosumer market but I can ask some of my technical resources what some of the better prosumer video editing applications are.
The GoPro is a very nice video camera capable of doing a great job I know people with them, I have a Countor 1080HD I like the size myself.
I mount mine to my fork I made my own mount very solid and no vibration like when using the mounts they make for these cameras, working on a few others for bars and helmet using the same material should work well when done.
I also use Dashware to overlay GPS data on some of the videos makes for interesting viewing.
It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
http://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
I like the shape of the Contour also. Since it looks more like a bike light than a camera it attracts less attention.
I just watched a couple of your videos. I like that mounting location. Very smooth and great audio!
A lot of people ask if it's a light. I've had angry drivers (who I caught up with) make comments about "oh, you trying to get my license plate? that might help." kind of stuff, not realizing the "light" was a camera, and it was recording.
I started out with a proper camcorder recording a feed from a slim cam (chasecam 520 line feeding into a Canon something-100, $200 camcorder that accepts video in). I've also used the GoPro (pre-HD version) - the most success I had with that was recording off the tail of the bike when descending down Palomar Mtn.
The camcorder I'd either carry in a Camelback or in my jersey pocket. I had to use 8xAA batteries to power the chasecam on the helmet. All my 2007 and earlier Youtube clips (username sprinterdellacasa) were recorded with that camcorder, using that set up, except two 3rd person clips. It was a pain to set up and use (I couldn't tell if I was recording because cam corder was in pocket or camelbak).
The GoPro seems to work best on the bike, like under the bars or on the seatpost (pointing back). For me those locations worked well.
I currently use the Contour. All 2010 clips, after the Feb race Red Trolley, were recorded with the Contour. The Contour works well under the stem (a couple zipties - I watched the banned person umd ziptie my camera on his bike in about 45 seconds just before the start of his race earlier this year). I personally use it on my head so it records my head movements. I set mine to the one below highest, it's the highest 60 fps setting (720xsomething). On long rides, like centuries, I'll either carry a second battery (no longer, but I started out doing that) or judiciously turn the camera off/on.
I train with the Contour all the time, mainly so that if I get killed/maimed because of an accident someone else will know what happened. Kind of gruesome I guess but whenever someone gets hit by a car the first thing I think of is "if they had a helmet cam on". It can catch close calls too:
The truck is going about 35-40 mph, we are going about 21 mph according to my captured ride data. The truck never hit, but it's so close I can't believe my friend didn't freak out.
For the Contour it's a .mov file format. I use iMovie (included with Macs) for editing. It's fantastic, much easier to use than Windows Movie Maker (which is how I imported camcorder DV clips previously).
I crashed once with the Contour on my helmet, at about 30 mph, and the Contour hit the ground. It's scratched up but otherwise okay. I like it enough I bought a second, a (third) battery, and a few extra 8GB micro SD cards for it. At the 720xwhatever 60fps setting it uses 2GB/hour. I've run out of memory on long rides without recharging or swapping out the battery (I carry an extra battery only when I know I started with a partially discharged battery). The Contour is nice, it beeps to let you know it's dying or ran out of memory.
Me too, but now I notice just how much I move my head around while climbing. I also tend to tilt my head to one side a lot while climbing.I need to stop doing that, but when I'm suffering up a climb I tend to forget. You can see for yourself in the video I posted in my first post in this thread.
I use the lowest setting, which is "Fast WVGA" 848 x 480, 60 fps. I use a 16 GB Class 4 memory card, and I came within 1 GB of fillling up the card on last weekend's ride. I rode for about 4 1/2 hours. I also carry an extra 16 GB card. The WVGA setting is still much better quality than any other camera I own. With the higher framerate and the helmet mounting, I don't get any of the waviness in the picture from the rolling shutter, which the Contour supposedly has. I've seen waviness in other people's videos when they had the Contour mounted on the handlebars.
I carry two extra batteries. On last weekend's ride I used all three of my batteries. I didn't completely drain the third battery though, so I probably could have ridden another hour.
I record all my rides too. Before I got the Contour, I captured this moron in a WORK truck buzzing me and yelling at me to get off the road. This was in the Sierra foothills near Placerville. This was the first time I've ever had trouble with a motorist in the hills. Most people up there are very considerate.I train with the Contour all the time, mainly so that if I get killed/maimed because of an accident someone else will know what happened. Kind of gruesome I guess but whenever someone gets hit by a car the first thing I think of is "if they had a helmet cam on". It can catch close calls too:
The truck is going about 35-40 mph, we are going about 21 mph according to my captured ride data. The truck never hit, but it's so close I can't believe my friend didn't freak out.
I was able to get the plate number after playing it back and pausing it a few times when I got home to my computer, even though I recorded it on a handlebar-mounted Kodak Playsport Zx3 at the lowest setting (WVGA, 848 x 480, 30 fps).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqAng5CRsOM
I have a Mac too, but iMovie takes much longer to encode the movie than Windows Live Movie Maker 2011. I still use iMovie if I want to change the speed of the video, since iMovie doesn't mute the audio when you change the speed of the video, unlike WLMM 2011. I also find WLMM much easier to use, but that could be because I'm still learning the Mac OS.
I had a few issues with mine when I first got it. Sometimes it refused to turn on until after it was hooked up to the computer and then safely disconnected. After I stopped recording on my first climbing ride with it, I couldn't get it to turn off. I had to pull the battery, then it wouldn't turn on again. I'm just glad I was able to get it to stop recording successfully.
The problems continued even after formatting the card with SDFormatter 3.0, which is what Contour recommends.
The camera had the latest firmware (1.17). I tried reloading the firmware using my 16 GB card. The problems worsened. Then I read something in Contour's support forums about using the supplied 2 GB card to reload the firmware. I did that, and now the camera is working flawlessly. Of course, I also refuse to hook it up to a computer any more unless I need to configure the camera or update the firmware. I haven't hooked the camera up to the computer or an external charger since this latest firmware reload. I put the card in a card reader to get the files off it. I no longer use Storyteller. I charge the batteries in an external charger, not in the camera.
Wind noise on descents is a problem. When I got the camera, the default microphone gain setting was at 33. Since I wanted to be able to record background sounds, gear shifting, and conversations between me and other cyclists, I removed the sticker over the microphone and turned the mic gain up to 40. I tried higher settings, but the distortion from loud engines and wind was even worse. I still get a little distortion when Harleys or other loud vehicles pass, or from wind noise, but I consider that a trade-off for being able to capture stuff like this accidental conversation, where the rider thought I was his riding partner after I caught up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA_TUThZ-Bg
I have a goPRO hero also, but not HD. Under absolutely no circumstance are you to use the handlebar mount! I repeat, do not use the handlebar mount. It is crap. I've broken two already not from crashing or anything like that, but from the natural vibration in the road. The mounts are flimsy and shoddily made. They were nice enough to send me a new mount adaptor piece for free the first time. I made the mistake of using it again and then it broke again mid ride. luckily I was able to pick it up, but the case had been scratched on the lens. I gave up on this camera after that. I should get a new case since I dropped 100+ on the camera. I say if you aren't racing, get the helmet mount. They also have a chest mount but I don't know how good that works or how it feels.
I think if I got a GoPro, I would get their tripod adapter and mount in on my existing handlebar mount, a Pedco UltraClamp. Hopefully that would be sturdier than the regular GoPro handlebar mount.
All the mounts they make are to high from the mounting surface which adds to the shaking and vibration, forget the brackets they sell.
My solution was to make my own which sits solidly onto the surface I'm mounting it to so I get no real extra vibration for any brackets.
I made one for my fork the bracket is molded to the shape of my fork and the camera is mounted directly to it their is no extra play anywhere its solid.
For wind I put a small piece of weather strip over the mic it cuts wind noise down on the video by 70-80% I'd say.
It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
http://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
JTGraphics, are you using the GoPro in those videos where the camera is mounted on the right side of the fork? If so, you're one of the few people who's managed to get great audio from a GoPro, with no aliasing. The vast majority of GoPro videos I've seen have horrible aliasing in the audio, like a cheap sampling keyboard from the 80s, or a 90s-style WAV file (remember those?).
I avoid aliasing by encoding the audio at the same sample rate as the original audio in the raw file. The Contour's sample rate is 48 kHz, so that's what I use. I keep the bit rate the same also, since it's only 128 kbps. With other cameras that have a higher bit rate I can get away with lowering it to 128 kbps and not lose enough quality to be noticeable. I always keep the sample rate the same as the original raw file though. I think that's the key to avoiding aliasing.
Two ContourHD 1080P cameras
Front under-bar mount
Rear under-saddle in the Fizik ICS connector
Dashware for data
Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 for merging ride with data, slicing, text and render
I'm still working through technical challenges and implementing new ride features. Big time suck but I just stack it on top of all the other hobbies I have.
This is a paceline workout and it uses a compass gauge with an estimated wind speed and direction. Shows why, on the unprotected side of the island, the echelon is needed.
This was the first one I used the blue screen video in Dashware. It allows me to have seperate movies for the ride and data so I can move the gauges around, mask gauges at times, control the transparency using premiere tools, etc. It also results in higher quality ride video since it only needs to render once.
Stuff happens on every ride (as evidenced by the close call link in the 2nd video). Training, solo or group ride, doesn't matter. It's fun to relive it and share with the group for educational purposes.
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