"Helmet Cams"

[ExtremeShot]

I think this was discussed in the past, but Im interested in trying out one of the "helmet cameras" like is shown in the links below (especially the Action Sports site).

The problem is that these dang things are way expensive ($300-$400). If im going to spend that much, I'd rather save up a little more and buy one of the new Canon's.

Anyway, surely we can make one of these things ourselves for no more than a couple hundred bucks? Does anyone have any information or want to tackle trying to make one? Unfortunately, I am a dirt and water engineer, not an electrical.

Action Sports Camera (http://www.actionsportscams.com)
Helmet Camera (http://www.helmetcamera.com/index.htm)

[Jim Thompson]

Hey extreme,

A friend of mine makes one called the HuntCam. It retails for about $230. It hooks up to your digicam and the camera clips on your hat bill.

I have not personally tried this product yet, but will have one soon for review.

Jim

[ExtremeShot]

You got a website for that HuntCam?

Thx.

[pmc]

Check out these sites
http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/helmet_cameras.htm
http://www.sportsmansview.com/home.htm
http://shop.viosport.com/
Looks like some good prices.

Pmc

[Jim Thompson]

PMC got it, www.sportsmansview.com (http://www.sportsmansview.com)

I should have one up and running in a week or so. Will give a full report then.

Jim

[ExtremeShot]

Has anyone got any footage to show using one of these helmet cams?

Darren

[Jim Thompson]

Darren,

Some videos are listed here http://www.sportsmansview.com/video%20gallery.htm. Sorry that I do not have a review as planned, the unit never showed up as offered.

Jim

[CAMOBIKER]

I just bought a Bullet Camera on E-Bay will be posting some video when I get it and try it out

CAMO

[ExtremeShot]

Originally posted by CAMOBIKER@Jan 2 2004, 11:54 PM
I just bought a Bullet Camera on E-Bay will be posting some video when I get it and try it out

CAMO
I can't wait to see some footage from a bullet cam.

I wonder if there is a way to use one of Haymaker's boards to take two video feeds and put them together as one? Wouldn't it be cool if you could record the action from the main camera and then have a bullet cam facing the hunter?

Darren

[bzzboyz]

Camobiker, If you don&#39;t mind me asking, what did you have to pay for it? http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-wave-hello-yellow.gif

[CAMOBIKER]

I paid about 65.00 after shippin. Can&#39;t wait to get it will make a walk trough my hunting area and see how it looks.

[CAMOBIKER]

I just got it today Im working on getting a portable 12 volt power suppy thats affordable yet easy to carry. Any sugestions?? Im looking into a coleman powermate car starter set up. They got a real small one that weighs about 2 lbs. I can then use a cigarete lighter plugged into it with a 12 volt DC plug on other end.

[ExtremeShot]

Originally posted by CAMOBIKER@Jan 4 2004, 07:54 AM
I paid about 65.00 after shippin. Can&#39;t wait to get it will make a walk trough my hunting area and see how it looks.
$65.00??? Are we talking about the same thing, because all the cameras I saw cost several hundred dollars.

[bzzboyz]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>
because all the cameras I saw cost several hundred dollars.[/b]

I was thinking the same thing. Can you possibly post pictures of it.

Thanks http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-wave-hello-yellow.gif

[CAMOBIKER]

Here is pic from the ebay site that I bidded on. Its actualy a color survalence camera 3.7 mm lense i think its 380 line resolution I hooked it up to the tv and picture is crystal clear and in good focus I dont have a portable 12 volt power supply yet so taking it to the woods would need a very long extension cord LOL.

[bzzboyz]

That was not the one I was thinking of. The ones I saw on e-bay were sent ready for the field. In the ad it was being used by mountain bikers. They were in the couple of hundred range as stated before. But if you figure out a way to make that one work, let us know. It sure would be a cheaper alternative. http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif

[CAMOBIKER]

Originally posted by Extreme Hunter@Jun 23 2003, 10:23 AM
I think this was discussed in the past, but Im interested in trying out one of the "helmet cameras" like is shown in the links below (especially the Action Sports site).

The problem is that these dang things are way expensive ($300-$400). If im going to spend that much, I&#39;d rather save up a little more and buy one of the new Canon&#39;s.

Anyway, surely we can make one of these things ourselves for no more than a couple hundred bucks? Does anyone have any information or want to tackle trying to make one? Unfortunately, I am a dirt and water engineer, not an electrical.

Action Sports Camera (http://www.actionsportscams.com)
Helmet Camera (http://www.helmetcamera.com/index.htm)
This is what im trying to do is make a resonable priced unit instead of paying $289.00 for 1 of the cameras at sportsmanview site. I have a passion for making things outta of an idea and then seeing a result after im done just like my scent steamer I made. I found a power supply on e bay after getting it I will need a cable and I&#39;ll be done maybe have less then $100.00 wrapped up in it.will post some video when im done. Also working on a mounting system too that will be free it helps to be in Maintence at a Injection Molding Factory

[ExtremeShot]

Originally posted by CAMOBIKER@Jan 10 2004, 07:03 AM
This is what im trying to do is make a resonable priced unit instead of paying $289.00 for 1 of the cameras at sportsmanview site. I have a passion for making things outta of an idea and then seeing a result after im done just like my scent steamer I made. I found a power supply on e bay after getting it I will need a cable and I&#39;ll be done maybe have less then $100.00 wrapped up in it.will post some video when im done. Also working on a mounting system too that will be free it helps to be in Maintence at a Injection Molding Factory
Cool. My only concern is the quality of the lens. I&#39;m not an expert, but I was told the expensive cameras have really good lenses and this is the primary reason for the price. The Action Sports Camera also had a cool remote.

We ought to get Bill Powers (aka, "Haymaker") involved. If anyone could figure this out, I bet he could.

Darren

[CAMOBIKER]

well I finaly made it out into the woods with my Hat Cam I made up it seems the video quality is exellent i will post some footage tonight at www.huntingfootage.com

[CAMOBIKER]

here is the link to my video I shot today


http://www.huntingfootage.com/showphoto.php?photo=474

[MudKat]

Hey, nice video CB http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif Though watchin it thru a computer doesnt show much.

i was at the WI Deer/Turkey expo this past weeknd and i was keeping my eye out for various video and camera accesories.

one company i saw had a WIRELSS camera they called the BowCam (but not positive). It also recorded audio and you could get 420 line resolution. Only problem was it wasnt rain freindly and looked like it was fairly fragile.

here is a link to a SIMILAR product: http://www.timbucktuoutdoors.dnswh.com/prod02.htm

when i get home, i will check out the borchure and get a link to the actual company i talked to. I believe they are outa WI too..... http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-clappin-yellow.gif http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-ugly-lol-bashing-sign.gif

[Arrowhead]

CamoBiker >> Great job..... I was searching for this last year and gave up when looking for a decent power supply. You got me fired up again.

[OhioBowHunter]

Thats Very neat... I been considering one of these for the Upcoming season... Looks like a practical way to go... Gonna have to keep my eyes open on Ebay for one of these...

Thanks for sharing

Dan

[grayghost]

I have been looking at these things. It is hard to know which ones are any good. I have about settled on this one. Bullet Cam (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5701928774&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1) It has 480 lines of res and a sony chip. I have played around with connecting two cams together and it is pretty easy to do. A battery source shouldn&#39;t be a problem. I am still working on a mic to use. My little TRV22 will go in a small pouch and it should work great if this cam is any snuff. Have any of you researched this any more? For $140 it might be worth a try. I believe they make 2X lenses for these also. I need to find a source. That is, if I need a 2X. What do you guys think?

[grayghost]

No one may be interested in this but I am about to put my hatcam or what ever you want to call it together. I have to buy a XLR to RCA adapter tomorrow and I can plug things up. I got the 480 line color cam in today. Here is a pic of most of it and I will let you know how things work as soon as I can field test it. I will probably take it to a 3D shoot this weekend if they will let me. It is a traditional shoot in OKC. It should be fun to watch those arrows fly off the old stick bow and sail through the woods. Maybe with this, I can pin point where in the woods to look.

http://www.hunt101.com/img/172251.JPG (http://www.hunt101.com/?p=172251&c=500&z=1)

[grayghost]

I forgot to put my LANC controls in the pic. Everything should fit easily in a camo pouch. I&#39;ll take more pics when I get it worked out.

[ExtremeShot]

You spent $140 on the camera....how much did everything end up being? Do you have to be an electrician to put everything together?

[grayghost]

480 line bullet cam $147.50 (shipping and all)
RS, # 270-387, 8 AA battery holder $1.89 + tax
RS, # 270-325, 9V battery connectors (5) $1.99 + tax
RS, # 278-303, XLR to RCA gold adapter $5.29 + tax


Things I had

8 AA Duracell batteries
Camo pouch (el cheapo)
Sony TRV22 MiniDV camcorder with video cable ($270 clearance from Sears)
Belt clip from MP3 player or old cell phone cover. I am adapting this to hold the cam on the bill of my hat. I am also looking into modifying a small flashlight clip as an alternative. All stuff I had laying around the house.

The only thing I am still working on is the microphone. Not sure which way to go on that yet. I have several to try.

I am an electronics/computer tech so the soldering or wiring is no problem. The only soldering or splicing I will have to do is the 9V battery clip to the Power connector. The cam comes with an AC/DC adapter and I will just cut the connector off of it and splice it to the battery connector. This plugs straight onto the battery holder. 8 AA batteries will give me 12 V but I don’t know how long they will last. We will see if this is going to be enough.

[grayghost]

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I hooked everything up today and decided to shoot a few arrows in the back yard. I was impressed with how clear the little camera is. However, 20 yards looks like 100 yards. You can see what it is you are shooting at but it is just too far for me. If I am reading the specs correctly, the camera has a 4.3 mm lens and there are other lenses available up to 16 mm. Now I am going to show my stupidity here. It states that a 4.3 mm lens has a field of view of 78&#39; and an 8 mm lenses view is 39&#39;. I would read this as the 8 mm lens is 2X the 4.3 mm lens. Does anybody know if this is correct? If so, I have to get the 8 mm lens. The one that is one it just doesn&#39;t cut it. Their web site shows lenses available for $10 so if I can do this, it is not too expensive.

It took a little while positioning the cam on the bill of my cap to find a place that it can see around my bow. It is almost directly behind my string at full draw and I can&#39;t move it much further to the left. I have not worked out the mic problem yet. You have to use the RCA audio inputs on the video cable. They expect an amplified audio signal. I tried my NADY wireless mic and receiver and that worked OK. That mic is ment to be used as a lapel mic and doesn&#39;t pick up distant sounds very well. I have more research to do. If anyone knows of a cheap battery powered pre-amp, let me know. I can build one but was wanting this to be stuff you can buy.

More later.

[swampbait]

I&#39;ve been looking into this idea and for $150 you good be ready to go. this is what I&#39;m looking at
http://www.palmvid.com/content/categories/..._flag=specs#tab (http://www.palmvid.com/content/categories/video-cameras/sub-categories/standard-cameras/products/bullet-shaped-weatherproof-camera.html?tab_flag=specs#tab)
or this http://www.c-source.com/csource/newsite/tt...art_no=CCM660Wd (http://www.c-source.com/csource/newsite/ttechnote.asp?part_no=CCM660Wd)
What do you guys think of it ?
If you have some free time go to www.shopping.com and do a search on bullet cameras

[Carphunter]

I had been looking for a gun/helmet cam for a while last year... but found it real hard to come up with good info on what would work best.

I even met a guy skiing out west who had two cams on his helmet, and had hardwired controls he could keep on his collar while skiing so he could turn cams on and off to save tape.

Crappy thing now is I can&#39;t remember which ones he said worked well (he had done some gun cam work too).

obvious trick is getting the right lens for a gun cam. many cams have a wide field of view that ends up making the 20 yard shot look like 100.

Wish you guys well in your tests and hope you find "the ticket"

[elimsprint]

Before you get a helmet cam make sure your video camera supports it. Check out this ebay dealer, his add gives you all the need to know stuff
Kim
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Helmet-Cam-Sony-520-Res...1QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.ca/Helmet-Cam-Sony-520-Res-Vivid-Video-Color-Bullet-Camera_W0QQitemZ300053579509QQihZ020QQcategoryZ486 29QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
ps. This is the one I have along with the PTZ remote, Cam-Eye Sport LANC remote(controls vid cam, Canon ZR50-MC), 12mm & 16mm lenses for hunting apps( mounted on my crossbow) and 3mm lense for dirt biking. I don&#39;t know how this would work on a gun, maybe with bigger lense but then the cam is not waterproof as you have to remove lense protector to fit anything larger than 16mm.