After reading posts about using helmet cams to record idiots throwing things, bad drivers, or just your commute, I'm now wanting to get one and see just how my commute looks like on video. I've looked on Ebay to see what's out there. Completely new to this camera thing.

I see there are some $40-$60 cams and there there are the $100 and up. I want to get something with decent image quality that will at least catch license plate #, record audio, uses SD card for added storage, and uses rechrageable battery. I also want something that is all packaged inside the camera itself, as I don't want another attachment that goes on your waist or in your backpack.

I see that the Contour 1080 is a decent camera but they are in the $200 price range. Is this cam good for a novice? What about cams on Ebay that have 720 or lower resolution that goes for about $60? Are they of good quality?

What's the lowest resolution I can go? I don't want to get a cheap camera only to find the resolution makes using the camera useless as it can't get license plate #.