Review - Trademe Sports Helmet Camera (headcam) 32Gb

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MrWestie

116 posts

Master Geek

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#282955 15-Dec-2009 22:27

My China ones arrived.
Packaging was little different to the one I got locally.

Good news it works with the 16gb SD I had even though the supplier lists 8gb max.

Now to get the battery mod going so we can get some footage this weekend.

Tradepub

Free professional, reference and technical white papers (affiliate link).

paradoxsm

3000 posts

Uber Geek

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#282960 15-Dec-2009 22:55

Have you tested the video smoothness with the black metal one? the plastic ones appear to have jittery video performance but it could be photobucket?

It's a cool small unit. Have you investigated those keyfob ones?

MrWestie

116 posts

Master Geek

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#283004 16-Dec-2009 07:35

paradoxsm
I would say the same performance as it looks like it uses the same chipset.
Just laid out differently.
Smoothness will depend on how much the scene changes.
When the camera is jerking around like I was, it would be 100%

I looked at the spy pen one, my guess is the keyfob would use the same internals.
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=48&topicid=42685

I am uploading a video shot with my LS75 digicam for comparison.
it's 26Mb as well so will be a few minutes.

edit:
I have just tested the Ultrafire AAA(10440)
FAIL!
I did read that they were over spec'ed on the capacity but I though with a lower draw they may have come close.

At 200mA down to 3v, they lasted 247mAh.
About 50% rated capacity.
I purchased from here
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Batteries/Rechargeable/AAA/auction-260282465.htm
They are happy to sell direct and will reduce the amount by the trademe tax.

It looks like I may be using a single lipo cell externally on the strap as the most cost effective power source.

edit:
Video uploaded

MrWestie

116 posts

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#289640 13-Jan-2010 14:19

Got a chance to finally test in the field.

Took out 4 cameras.

Only got semi usable footage from 1 of them.

1. Aiming is critical.
Otherwise you will be looking at the ground or sky all the time.
You can not rotate the camera so that will need to be done in post processing.

2. Recording capacity is greatly reduced in the real world.
50 minutes per 4Gb.
Compression is MJpeg.

Not the most efficient but the least cpu intensive.

Maybe not low enough as there is still image sheering

3. Needs wider angle.
Current angle is ok but not very forgiving on mounting errors.

4. Sun shield required.

Image extract

Short clips
10mb. During briefing

28mb. Running.

Still worth $50 :)
Might need to spend more if I want better though.

One has been modified with a lipo pack.
Picture to be posted.

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