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| Lincolnshire |
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 #27 Re: head cams 16/09/2008 @ 23:55:44 |
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| In reply to post #26 ... |
Post from my Mate 
I use adobe premier pro cs3 for video editing but thats expensive (£700 +) and I use it for adding sound tracks etc, I have also used the standard software that came with my camcorder (panasonic) which works very well. Nero is also pretty good if you upgrade to the full version for adding in chapters and things.
As far as actual recording goes I use a camcorder with a monopod attached to the bottom which keeps it steadier on runs and reduces camera shake. I use standard MiniDV tapes and have bought some larger batterys for the camera to allow for longer recording (4 hour batteries) as it is roughly thought that a battery life can be halved in cold conditions - if you treat them well I've found one lasts a day althought thats not constant filming.
I usually take a laptop with me and transfer the tapes to hard drive each night - this is the downside of the solution as it does take a long time having to do it in real time but I usually just set it going then go for beer and food The size of the files as you stated can be quite large I took over 40Gb worth of film in Banff this year and that was over 4 hours of footage, however after editing and then adding a soundtrack I use Nero to burn it to dvd.
Because a dvd (TV) is not as high quality picture as a PC Nero can compress the files quite significantly and when played back on a TV it shows little loss of picture quality so this years 40Gb came down to a two hour dvd with an image of 4Gb obviously I edited quite a bit but this will always be the case I suspect I could have fitted all the footage onto 2 DVDs if I had wanted to I hope this helps
PS I've been practicing boarding whilst filming my M8's using a camcorder including off piste powder work for sometime now ( 3 or 4 years) and it does get easier I promise |
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One Man, One Board, One Mountain
- Whistler December - Morzine/Avoriaz January |
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| #26 Re: head cams 08/09/2008 @ 11:06:40 |
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| Revision #1 (Last edited: 08/09/2008 @ 11:06:55) |
| I reckon for first person camera angles on the slopes the only way forward is to hold the camera at arms length or on a pole of the lead arm, pointing back at the rider holding the cam, like Ed Leigh on BBC Ski Sunday - I got some great footage of me riding in the powder at La Plagne using this technique, I never thought you'd get facial expressions slashing powder, but you sure do...plus you can play around with angles, getting the feet and back of board shots of rooster tails. Great stuff. |
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"You're so adrift in far off places and hilly strangers you adore, that you're riding blind through eden lying right outside your door"
Pistehors.com |
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| Ranked Posts: 305 |
| Lincolnshire |
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| #25 Re: head cams 07/09/2008 @ 13:44:04 |
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| In reply to post #24 ... |
Hi,
Headcams are good, if you set them up correctly, and prep for the holiday by looking at all the different mounting options. Either Goggle or top of helmet. I have used both and work really well.
If you fail to prepare you will get shots of the sky or the tip of your board 
They are a great first person view of the mountain.
I started off with an Archos 405 setup which worked really well in Banff and Morzine, the images were pretty good. Not as good as a video camera, but then again most of us don't want to carry one around with us all day or attempt to do runs with one in our hand.
My friend does but he's a bit of a legend with it now and has been using his for 4 years.
The problem with the Archos was not the image quality, it was the fact it was not developed for snowboarding...I say this because after the second trip mine packed up! It doesn't like low temperatures or moisture, the battery life was the main issue. I got about 2-3 hours total use, not recording time out of it, which was good but needed more. You also ended up exposing it to the elements many times, which of course put it into contact with a great deal of moisture.
I was pretty impressed but the fact remains to really provide 100% confidence you need to invest in the right technology...which is why I bought a POV.1 from Vio. It's great, better quality image, water resistant and works to -40 degrees. It's well proven in extreme sports, the military etc.
It's a sturdy piece of kit, great features.
Also the price has come down considerably. I actually purchased mine online from a US store and saved a few hundred pounds. The other benefit is that it saves onto solid state memory and it uses normal batteries, so you can keep it running all day I have a 4gb SD card for the morning and 1 for the afternoon, which takes about 2 hours a pop. It only records on the first 2gb, however a firmware upgrade is expected allowing you to use all 4gb, so probably extending record time to 3 hours per card.
It's great fun using the headcam, so think about the POV.1, rather than the Archos (which is currently in RMA with Archos to be fixed and sold to my mate for mountain biking)
Steve |
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One Man, One Board, One Mountain
- Whistler December - Morzine/Avoriaz January |
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| Ranked Posts: 38 |
| West Yorkshire |
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| #24 Re: head cams 30/08/2008 @ 12:02:31 |
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| In reply to post #17 ... |
| You want to get yourself on Dragons Den.... I'll be your first customer!! |
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| Ok so I have a problem with white powder... so send me to Rehab! |
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| Ranked Posts: 19 |
| Hampshire |
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| #23 Re: head cams 30/08/2008 @ 11:57:39 |
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| In reply to post #22 ... |
| make sure you get the snow goggle mount from dogcamsport |
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| Ranked Posts: 16 |
| Greater Manchester |
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| #22 Re: head cams 29/08/2008 @ 13:23:01 |
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| In reply to post #21 ... |
LOL
I already have an Archos |
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| Ranked Posts: 19 |
| Hampshire |
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| #21 Re: head cams 28/08/2008 @ 22:39:24 |
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| In reply to post #20 ... |
| dont forget you need the helmet camera and the archos for it to work |
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| Ranked Posts: 16 |
| Greater Manchester |
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| #20 Re: head cams 28/08/2008 @ 13:57:59 |
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| In reply to post #18 ... |
Cheers Nigel
Looks like I'll be getting myself one of these for this winter then.
Only around £80 too |
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| Ranked Posts: 194 |
| Staffordshire |
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| #19 Re: head cams 28/08/2008 @ 12:41:30 |
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| In reply to post #18 ... |
I use an Action Cam 520 kit and a Sony DCR PC109E camcorder. Works well one you shell out for all the battery packs, power savers and Lanc remotes etc.
I spent ages searching and the Sony was the smallest option I could find that worked with remote controls etc at a reasonable price. Im sure there are more options out now, the Vio POV 1 looks the best! |
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| Ranked Posts: 19 |
| Hampshire |
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| #18 Re: head cams 27/08/2008 @ 23:21:34 |
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| In reply to post #15 ... |
heres a quick video using it
Movie.wmv |
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| #17 Re: head cams 27/08/2008 @ 16:40:11 |
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| #16 Re: head cams 27/08/2008 @ 14:23:45 |
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| In reply to post #14 ... |
| I thought mounting the cam on some sort of telescopic aerial above and behind me so that I got a video game view would be cool. |
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| Ranked Posts: 16 |
| Greater Manchester |
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| #15 Re: head cams 27/08/2008 @ 13:52:17 |
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| In reply to post #13 ... |
Nigel
What's the quality like on your Archos helmet cam? I've got an Archos 605 and was toying whether to get the helmet cam for the Archos, for my camcorder or some other stand alone
Cheers |
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| #14 Re: head cams 27/08/2008 @ 12:21:43 |
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| Ranked Posts: 19 |
| Hampshire |
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| #13 Re: head cams 27/08/2008 @ 11:48:34 |
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| In reply to post #1 ... |
i use an archos 605 with the archos helmet cam(sony ccd lense)
i bought the dogcamsport goggle mount too!
ive seen some of the £100 helmet cams and the quality or recording time isnt great |
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