Video on bike

[Brodyku]

I would like to add a video camera to the bike for long trips or "letter" roads (Wisconsinites understand the term). With a little bit of research this is what I have figured out so far. DVD camcorders can and will skip when recording so it is either a mini DV or a Hard drive camcorder. Traveling to Europe this summer so that is why the mini DV has a shot over a the hard drive because of size.

 

Here is the main question. If you attach or mount to the bike through an arm mount or whatever, do you get excessive shaking and poor video?

 

It seems better to lipstick camera to the helmet where the view is more dynamic off your head but I am not sure I want to go that far just yet.

[RickP]

Make sure you buy a camera with "image stabilization".

 

The rubber balls on RAM mounts and the suction cups on others help with vibration also.

 

You're are correct about the lipstick camera (helmet-cam). It's just about how far you want to go. I've always wanted to build a tower-mount on the top-case.

 

-RickP.

[BamaRider]

I use a RAM mount on the brake reservoir with a Sony DC 46 with image stabilization. For a motorcycle application the general consenus is tape is the way to go. Footage from the RT has been smooth and glitch free. You can see the results on my web site videos.

 

The BMW was the bike used on the "Cheaha Video"

[Gregori]

Go with tape. If you fill up the hard drive on a camera with one of those, you're pretty much done shooting. With tape, you just swap in a new tape and keepon rolling.

 

And tape is ALSO the least expensive way to keep footage archived.

 

G

[Horse]

http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/helmet_cameras.htm

 

Anything useful there?

 

It would mean that, when touring, you'd only have to stop and look around to get the scenic shots.

 

I knew a guy who had the bullet cam inside his helmet, at eye level, in the padding. It meant the cam was protected from wet & dirt.

[Carnadero]

It seems better to lipstick camera to the helmet where the view is more dynamic off your head but I am not sure I want to go that far just yet.

Why not use Velcro or tape and attach the little camera to some part of the bike itself? Every now and then you can change camera positions, so you have footage of your journey from differing vantage points. Digitize the clips, trim them to a relatively short duration, then put 'em all together. Makes for a more interesting video (see AC Schnitzer video of motorcycle vs. car at Nürburgring).