can you take contours underwater ?

I disagree. Own your geekdom....revel in it!

I use a GoPro on a stem cap mount found on ebay. Depending on the angle and stem length, you might need extensions so you don't have too much handlebars. I don't remember if the extensions came with the camera or the original GoPro handlebar mount.

I got the Contour Roam, like said, the clock is crap, changes time every use. It also doesn't record sound very well unless I'm not moving, the auto mute keeps muting with every bump in the road, but I didn't get it for sound so not such a big deal. What I do like is it's small size, 1080 HD recording, and water resistant in case I get rained on while out. Most people think it's a head light, or don't even think about it. I use the handlebar mount, hanging it under the bars, blends in well with the black bar, stem, and riser.

How and what are you mounting these little cameras to? I'm definitely going to start with one of these. I'll then re-evaluate the need for a better camera.

This works for me, but there are many options.

I use industrial strength Velcro affixed to the bottom of the camera to attach it to a handlebar mount left over from a previous bike computer. Since the primary reason I record rides is to record license plates a frame mount works better than a helmet mount. I tried a helmet mount but a lot of the video was of the ground! When I adjusted the camera to compensate the next video was of the sky! So much for that!

I use a 808 #16 camera to which I added a female JST type plug. I use an external 1600 or 1800 mAh lithium polymer battery charged externally with a dedicated Lipo charger. With a 16 gb Sd card I can get 3 hours of video, more or less, depending on battery size and capacity. I attach the battery to the bike stem with a Velcro strap.






DPN

For those wanting a rear facing camera, I saw some saddle rail mounts for GoPro at JensonUsa and Ebay.

I have a Contour ROAM ($200) mounted under my handlebar just left of center using the Contour Bar Mount ($30). It's pretty new and I've been on perhaps a dozen rides with it. I'm a satisfied customer. What I like and don't like:

LIKE: Size (small, unobtrusive and lightweight); mount (quickly clips in and out of the bar mount, and has a safety cord in case the camera or ball detaches from the bracket), color (flat - not matte - black); flexibility (lens rotates 270 degrees); media (micro SD card with a USB 2.0 cable in the box); HD (1080p & 30 fps), USB charging; 170 degree angle view; IPX7 waterproof rating; software is intuitive; the laser level is kind-of cool to set pre-ride, but I don't have the bar mount tight enough yet - the camera will sometimes tilt during rides.

DON'T LIKE: Must connect with computer to change settings for resolution, frame rate and volume; internal battery (can't charge and swap); poor sound quality.

When I review rides, I am amazed at the image clarity in all kinds of light (low-light and riding into early morning sunlight), the depth of field, and wide angle of view with minimal distortion. I can view individual frames, and the "freeze-frame" quality is superb - license plates would be a breeze to capture and I can tell what gear other guys are in next to/in front of me. The audio is lousy - even with the volume set at maximum, you can barely make out conversation when stopped (except for my cursing when changing out a flat 1.1 miles into Saturday's t-shirt ride).

I shot a few pictures of how it's mounted, but I'm on my iPad right now and can't get them uploaded. Let me know if you'd like to see my setup.

I'd buy this again in a heartbeat.

A couple o' pics of my Contour setup...

Is it possible to read license plates from the 808 camera output? I tried to in some youtube samples and could not.

Also, has anyone tried this camera?[TABLE="width: 820"]
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Swann 720 HD ThumbCam Mini Video Camera and Recorder : SWVID-THUMBC-GL
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I use a Swann Freestyle HD on a Minoura handlebar mount.

The Minoura mount is a better handlebar mount than anything I've seen from the bike camera manufacturers -- quick mounting, easy adjustment, stays put.


Swann Freestyle HD camera on Minoura handlebar mount by joshua_putnam, on Flickr


Sample output at https://www.flickr.com/photos/jputnam/7469800704/

I tried to make out the lic plate in the sample video with HD resolution and was not able to for the couple of cars parked on the right in the beginning of the video. Is that the case or am I viewing incorrectly?

I reduced the resolution setting on my Contours from hi res 1080p to 720p to gain more recording time, but my ability to read license plates and view scenery in more vivid detail was considerably reduced. If you wish to see license plate numbers in detail, a higher resolution camera is in order, along with one that has a high memory storage capacity or can be upgraded to a higher capacity.

After using the 808 #16 a few times, and my new GoPro Hero3 Black, I have to say the 808 is so simple to mount and use, I can see it becoming my go-to camera for the bike. Just tape it to a tube, such as the top of the handlebars, or down on the chain stay. Next I will see If I can mount it under the crown of my cyclocross fork since there's some clearance there. Here's a couple samples of each camera, shot simultaneously, and edited as such to play side by side. Attached is a photo of how I taped the 808 on the chain stay as well. The GoPro was mounted to the seatpost with the GoPro handlebar/seatpost mount accessory. You can hear a little rubbing on the thighs each pedal revolution.

I want a GoPro, because, Contour doesn't have a Chest Mount Harness.

Bump. 2013 now.
Any new video cameras out there that people are using?

I've switched from my GoPro Hero3 White (the cheap one) to an RD32II. I'm finding that the video quality (at least as far as being able to read license plate numbers off of still frames) is better, and the camera is $125 rather than $200, and it mounts a little better too. Also I had a hell of a time getting SD cards to work with the GoPro (the company just said "so stop using crappy cards" even though every one of my cards works perfectly in every other device)

Downsides to the RD32II: proprietary USB connector, non-changeable battery.

Unfortunately the RD32II seems to have the same problem as the GoPro - when you turn on loop recording, it works fine as long as the camera is rolling, but if the card is full when you turn the camera on, it just says "card full" and refuses to start recording.

I recently took a driver to court who passed me within a foot. He was charged $285.

He mentioned in court that the video should not be used because it could have been tampered with. I guess, like the popular YouTube video of the eagle lifting a small baby of the ground. The judge ignored him.

I'm wondering if this could become a viable defence, that the video should not be admissible because it may have been tampered with.

If not, it should be.

If your goal is to avoid the "he said, she said" in the aftermath of an incident of some sort -- occasional ground shots are fine. Just make sure the helmet cam is pointed where you're looking most of the time. For that sort of thing, if you're only running one camera -- a helmet camera is more likely to catch what you need.

If you're looking to make a video to share with people just to show what's going on ... cameras on the bike work better, as they don't shake all over the place like a helmet cam does. Make sure your mount is solid so it minimises wobble as much as possible.

As for how much to spend, well, people are correct that unless you get something that's HD you won't reliably pick up license plates, the reality is -- you only need license plates if people don't stick around. If you're the victim of a hit and run, you want license plates. But if somebody gets out of their car and does bad things, you'll usually get their face and license plate even with a cheaper camera.

Being able to make out license plates reliably certainly is nice, but it's not needed for solving the "he said, she said" business.

It's possible to design cryptographic systems into cameras to reveal when footage has been tampered with.

If they're not willing to allow for that, then they should not allow video taken by police officers to be admitted into evidence either.

Did he also have to pay your court costs?

If that premise were accepted (evidence gathered by a sworn law officer and maintained with a semblance of legal controls has no credence) what evidence of any kind gathered by anybody would ever be admitted into evidence?

Best solution to this, is to immediately surrender your camera to the officer taking the report, to be admitted as evidence. If there's no chance to tamper, since it was immediately surrendered, then that defense falls flat on it's face.

Even CCTV systems with no crypto controls are admissible, if proper procedures are followed.

That I don't know. Nothing was mentioned during the trial regarding costs.