$30.00 Bike Cam

[RangerG]

I wanted to video some of my riding but the Go Pro stuff is too expensive for me.  I bought a key chain video camera off E-bay for $10.00.  A 4 GB video card cost $15.00.
 


I cut a piece of steel I had laying around and drilled a hole so I could mount it with my mirror.  I JB Welded a rare earth magnet - $5.00 @ Princess Auto, to the steel.  



I used double sided accessory tape to attach a magnet to the back of the camera and then just stick the two magnets together.



I have about 1 hour of video time with this set up.  It doesn't work good at highway speeds but for around town and on twisty highways it should be good.  Link to a You Tube video I shot the other night.  Towards the end I bumped the camera when I reset the odometer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCXGw2V4DZU

Rob

 

[dentedvw]

Wow, it works a lot better than I thought it would.
 
Why didn't it work well on the freeway? Too much vibration?
Maybe it should be put on the helmet instead.

[Formerly Known as Bigfoot]

Not bad quality when driving like a Grandma.  Would have like to have seen some twisties and a little speed to better judge the quality.

[CLAY]

Wow- that is awesome.  Great find!  

[MGoBlue]

I have to say I was surprised. Video quality was acceptable but the audio was crap. Awesome find for 10 bucks!

[RangerG]

I'll have to try it with the chain and caribeaner off it.  I didn't expect much as far as audio because there is usually a fair bit of rattle from the fairing.  I don't think it will fall off.  The magnets are pretty strong.

Not bad quality when driving like a Grandma.  Would have like to have seen some twisties and a little speed to better judge the quality.

I could be a Grandpa.  Were you referring to my age or the fact I was within the speed limit?
  I'd like to try it in the twisties too.................too bad I have to ride 6 hours to get to any!

[Formerly Known as Bigfoot]

I'll have to try it with the chain and caribeaner off it.  I didn't expect much as far as audio because there is usually a fair bit of rattle from the fairing.  I don't think it will fall off.  The magnets are pretty strong.
 I could be a Grandpa.  Were you referring to my age or the fact I was within the speed limit?
  I'd like to try it in the twisties too.................too bad I have to ride 6 hours to get to any!

Definitely the speed.  We're pretty close in age so I won't go there.

[jeepinbanditrider]

If Vibration was a problem try some velcro and sticking it to the top of your helmet.  Your body is an excellent shock absorber and does wonders getting rid of that annoying vibration.

Looking at buying one now what the hell is a TF memory card?

[chornbe]

at 1:15, I thought the white SUV in the driveway on the right was a "Look for bikes" PSA about to  happen.  

That video, vibes aside, is at least as good in quality as my Archos setup for way more $$$.

A digital video camera the size of a key fob. Explain to me how we're not living in amazing times! Technology is cool.

[Scratch33]

A digital video camera the size of a key fob. Explain to me how we're not living in amazing times! Technology is cool.

Great.  Now all the nude beaches will have to change their signage.  "No Keys Allowed"

Seriously though - that'd velcro to the side or top of a helmet pretty easily as well.

[stinky93071]

that would work great for what i want, just to get the past 30 mins or so.. if something happens have video of it.. do you have a link to the cam?

[chornbe]

that would work great for what i want, just to get the past 30 mins or so.. if something happens have video of it.. do you have a link to the cam?

Look on eBay for "digital keychain camera". I just bought two for $.99 each. You'll need to plan on buying micro-SD cards, too.  

[theWolfTamer]

Look on eBay for "digital keychain camera". I just bought two for $.99 each. You'll need to plan on buying micro-SD cards, too.  

Make sure the MicroSDs are Class 4 or higher or you videos will have stutters and other problems.

[chornbe]

Make sure the MicroSDs are Class 4 or higher or you videos will have stutters and other problems.

Good catch. I got my digicams in the mail yesterday. I have to stop at Walmart or The Shack or somewhere to grab a card or two.

[chornbe]

I'll have to try it with the chain and caribeaner off it.  I didn't expect much as far as audio because there is usually a fair bit of rattle from the fairing.  I don't think it will fall off.  The magnets are pretty strong.
 I could be a Grandpa.  Were you referring to my age or the fact I was within the speed limit?
  I'd like to try it in the twisties too.................too bad I have to ride 6 hours to get to any!

You could use a rubber band or piece of string with lasso knots at each end to secure it. They wouldn't transfer any more noise, but would still be good safety lines if the magnet(s) lets go.  

[theWolfTamer]

Good catch. I got my digicams in the mail yesterday. I have to stop at Walmart or The Shack or somewhere to grab a card or two.

Only the pny cards at my walmarts are class 4.  None of the others are higher than class 2 so look closely if you buy from there.

[chornbe]

So, I ordered two of these things. They're the "Camera #7" as described on http://www.chucklohr.com/808/

One works, the other doesn't (DOA). For $.99 I'm not returning it.  

The one that works, the video quality is "meh..." and the audio quality is crap. It's always clipping and distorting, so plan on dropping the audio channel and mixing your own.

With indoor lighting the quality is so, so. Tomorrow I'm gonna slap it on my helmet with velcro and see how it looks.

So far... it's $.99 plus the money for the memory card which I needed for my daughter's camera anyway.  

[theWolfTamer]

I like the md80 or md91 knockoffs better.  That is what I'm using right now and a d011 flashlight style cam.

Md91/d005/rd52 camera


Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N-pHt_uEfo

D011 camera


Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BCXZUUmSm8

The price for these can still be under $30 + MicroSD card.

[GTS_Rider]

Thanks for posting this. I think the video quality is about par with my $500 Archos setup with external wired camera I was running about 3 or so years ago. I ordered 4 of the #3 versions on the slow boat from China for 10 bucks a pop. Should have them in about 2-3 weeks.

Though the date/timestamp feature is oft reported as annoying, I see it as an opportunity. I'm thinking if the time is synced through multiple cameras (ie, set each camera as close as possible to atomic clock reference), you could chop together pretty cool vids with multiple real-time switching views. It might be four different views off one bike, or two different views off two bikes, or four different views off four bikes. And the views could be switched in realtime easily from the collection of all seperate vids, in post video editing.

Going off this notion, you could come out with a cool multi-view video of a single road. And, with a bit of Algebra, you could come out with a cool multi-road video from a single time.    

 

[theWolfTamer]

Link to program to auto set time:
software-schlosser

I haven't tried it, but if you have the one with the yellow timestamp in the bottom right corner, it should work. (The #3 camera is supposedly the best and is basically the same as the ones I have RD52/D005, D011, and D001)

Been doing some searching to see how folk have mounted these cameras and came across this for the 808:
RSVzone - View Single Post - Onboard camera

RSVzone - View Single Post - Onboard camera

this one might be vibe prone:
RSVzone - View Single Post - Onboard camera

RSVzone - View Single Post - Onboard camera

It's an alloy plate encapsulated in epoxy filler then secured by the light mount screw.

I was going to velcro the cam under the light but when I looked into it there wasn't enough room to fit it properly IMHO.

This way it sits in a nest at the correct angle and it also has a cable tie looped thru' the front of the housing & secured to the subframe by a quick release hook under the seat cowl for total security.

CHEAP HELMET CAMERA -MD 80

md80/d001
R6-Forum.Com - View Single Post - $16 Helmet cam

So far the best places I've found is on the stock turn signal stem--right side gives a bit of the bike--and the left rad cover.  I haven't tried the right one yet.

More Camera Mount Tests

Also, the 808's can be hacked to add an external mic.
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