Filming my ride

[Running_Man]

You guys may be surprised. My footage taken with a $40 camera. As good, if not even better than GoPro, which cost > $100.

 

Of course some ingenuity and sacrifices must be made. The mount is very important. Battery life another issue. Lastly, post processing must be done.

 

If you are planning to source, some specs are very important.

 

It must be able to capture at least 30fps. Most handphone cam only captures at 25fps. Next is resolution.

 

Anything less than 720*480 is unacceptable. Lastly, the write speed of your media. If using chiong memory card, video will definitely be laggy.

[ORen]

Thanks Running Man, what software do you use to post process your videos ?

Regarding the quality, it all depends what people intend to do with the videos.. some just want a rough souvenir of their rides, some want just to be able to use the video in case of an accident , and some really want to awesome HD-super-clear-and-clean picture

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Hmm, alright thanks for the heads up. Might wanna buy a small camera to record oso, but my video editing chui. Lol.

 

Not an issue - windows movie maker is your friend :3

 

Chop off all the boring bits from the ride and show only cornering moves and traffic light acceleration. When people complain that you're riding dangerously, you got the action directing spot on

 

You can then fire them back by saying "never make movie before don't talk hor" because on small lenses, motion appears very much faster and more exciting!

[Running_Man]

Thanks Running Man, what software do you use to post process your videos ?

Regarding the quality, it all depends what people intend to do with the videos.. some just want a rough souvenir of their rides, some want just to be able to use the video in case of an accident , and some really want to awesome HD-super-clear-and-clean picture

 

Use VirtualDub for splitting, joining of files, simple post processing.

 

Deshaker is a must. But use it sparingly. The end effect relies heavily on your mount. DO NOT DESHAKE ZOOM unless you want to achieve motion sickness.

 

As suggested by Kalyan, windows movie maker is good enough. But I used premiere. The more adventurous ones can use after effects. I only used VirtualDub and Avidemux 2.5 for my youtube video.

 

As for the mount, I highly recommend you mount it to your bike instead of helmet. Somewhere with a clear view. For me, I mount it with 3M industrial velcro on the front of my bike. Very sturdy. This will ensure a more consistent footage as opposed to mounting on helmet.

 

Only con is that the camera will only point to the front but vertical/horizontal motion is greatly reduced, which also produced better deshaking.

 

Lastly, my camera is very light. It's only 175 g with battery. This greatly helps with reducing camera shake. Will post a picture with my setup next time.

 

But of course, battery life is a concern for cheap cams. They only last about 90 mins when in use. Thankfully my bike has a cigarette lighter socket so that I can charge the cam using USB when parking. Sufficient for recording on local roads. Also my cam has no live view, so positioning is a trial and error affair.

 

For those interested. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.34157

It cost a whopping........$25 USD.

 

Same specs and function as the Muvi Veho, but at a fraction of a price.

 

By the way, this is the plastic body "Muvi Veho"

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.32022

 

Don't bother to get any memory card with more than 2gb. The battery will not last that long.

 

Also Mustaffa selling this cam at $100. Sim Lim selling at $110. Some local sellers and shops selling at $180.

 

I think I've said enough. hehhe.

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Imagine the possibilities of having multiple cameras on several bikes in convoy. Whomever's lucky enough to go through the nightmare of picking through all the footage can do something like this with Premiere!

 

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1Yu_TNJ9Uw[/yt]

 

Premiere is lovely for special effects, custom titles and picture in picture. Needs a decent video card though!

[ORen]

Thanks a lot to both of you for the tips !

I'm a bit worried about fixing the cam to the bike, I'd be less concerned if I went with Lutein's set up I think, fixing it to my jacket and always keeping it with me.

But I'll try both soon and test it to see what's best.

Running, when you said industrial 3M do you mean the 3M Dual Lock ?

[Running_Man]

Thanks a lot to both of you for the tips !

I'm a bit worried about fixing the cam to the bike, I'd be less concerned if I went with Lutein's set up I think, fixing it to my jacket and always keeping it with me.

But I'll try both soon and test it to see what's best.

Running, when you said industrial 3M do you mean the 3M Dual Lock ?

 

Yup. Dual Lock. Very sturdy. I attach my GPS to my IU using that as well. No problem. Just no HUGGGGEEE bumps. hehe.

 

As for my cam, I attached a lanyard from cam to handlebar. So even if it dislodged from the velcro, it is still secured. No mishaps yet. Cross my fingers.

[Vashie]

I'm currently using Sony Vivaz.

Not so sure about using phone to film rides as I'm worried that phone might subject to sudden weather changes or having it flying off during rides.

 

@Running_Man

I'm interested in both the camera you mentioned! May consider getting one.

Edited July 26, 2010 by Vashie

[Running_Man]

I'm currently using Sony Vivaz.

Not so sure about using phone to film rides as I'm worried that phone might subject to sudden weather changes or having it flying off during rides.

 

@Running_Man

I'm interested in both the camera you mentioned! May consider getting one.

 

It's small. Probably about 6cm in height. A good toy cam before you progress to more professional setups.

 

Stop hesitating.

[Vashie]

Hey...let you caught my post before I saw the dimensions on the site.

How long does it take to arrive after you order?

 

Just wants a camera to film silly drivers doing their usual stunts. I think this camera suits my purpose well...should get one for myself as my birthday present.

 

Anyway...please share pics on how you mount it on your bike soon! Am curious. Thanks!

[Running_Man]

Hey...let you caught my post before I saw the dimensions on the site.

How long does it take to arrive after you order?

 

Just wants a camera to film silly drivers doing their usual stunts. I think this camera suits my purpose well...should get one for myself as my birthday present.

 

Anyway...please share pics on how you mount it on your bike soon! Am curious. Thanks!

 

2 weeks if you're lucky. Dealextreme aren't really known for their efficiency.

Just remember to remove my riding footage should you happen to film me doing stupid things.

[Vashie]

Good things must share!

Anyway...did you do any kind of water proofing? Or just don't use it when it's raining?

[Running_Man]

Good things must share!

Anyway...did you do any kind of water proofing? Or just don't use it when it's raining?

 

Bro, the only water proofing I have done is...............Don't Ride When It's Raining. hahahaha

[Vashie]

Well...so far that's my waterproofing plan also.

But sometimes can't help it when it suddenly rains while riding...

[ORen]

Running, is the Dual Lock sticker side enough to maintain it on any surface? or did you add additional fixing method ?

As for waterproofing, a small waterproof piece of material (can be cut from an old rain coat, a old bag cover etc..), with an elastic sewed to create a sort of a collar, then you just cover the cam with it - you can even add a transparent window (platic? ) to film while riding in the rain !

[Vashie]

I was thinking of putting it in zip lock bags...but this way cannot use the larnyard to double secure in case it flys out. And maybe the zip lock will block the lense and affect the video quality.

 

When the camera comes then see how again...ordered yesterday night.

[Silent Hunter]

Can use "Cling Film" (Bao Xian Zi) the type use in NTUC to wrap the fish one.

Can see through, good visibility, very water proof as long as don't puncture and can take out to change when it gets dirty.

 

Cheap too, can buy 1 whole roll use many times!

 

I used that once to wrap my GPS before.

[ORen]

Never thought about using kitchen plastic wrap I would think it's too thin to sustain usage, but actually if you wrap stuff in a few layers, that might do the trick, yeah - brilliant thanks !

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

I shall add that to my list of kopitiam engineering materials

[Running_Man]

Running, is the Dual Lock sticker side enough to maintain it on any surface? or did you add additional fixing method ?

As for waterproofing, a small waterproof piece of material (can be cut from an old rain coat, a old bag cover etc..), with an elastic sewed to create a sort of a collar, then you just cover the cam with it - you can even add a transparent window (platic? ) to film while riding in the rain !

 

Well I changed the 3M velcro to those from $2 shops. One long strip for $2. Pretty sturdy. Lanyard is tied from cam to handlebar in case of mishaps.

 

Lots of hot glue used on the mount itself.

 

No water proofing done yet, but might try the cling fling method suggested by Silent Hunter.

[piggyback1974]

found a clip on go pro HD. watch it

[piggyback1974]

the brake disc getting red hot under hard braking...

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Gopro is excellent - see Silent Hunter's footage on the phantom knights video; but requires very fast video card as it captures at 60fps. Which is great for action.

 

As for me I'll be taking an old radio controlled aircraft camera and hooking it up to the bike's battery for unlimited recording time

 

I ditched this one as the internal Li-po battery had died from constant use.

[Running_Man]

Alright, some pictures of my set up. Poor man's GoPro.

 

http://imgur.com/H8Vw3.jpg

 

http://imgur.com/y5kVV.jpg

 

http://imgur.com/HJ7k8.jpg

 

http://imgur.com/iOtOO.jpg

 

HTH

[Vashie]

Finally some pictures!

Why do you need to hot glue that part?

And...did you secure the camera to the mount?