Wearable Camcorders

[patric]

Geek-out time.

It's amazing how many people are using these things for their vacation camera, biking, skiing, etc.
$900 from Amazon.com is a bit steep for only 4 hours recording time in VGA, but the link has less expensive models:

http://www.amazon.com/Vievu-PVR-PRO-video-camera-Green/dp/B002E9HBGG

[dbacks fan]

This is what you want. For around $450.00 you can get the camera and a 32GB SDHC card and get about 10hours of video.

http://gopro.com/products/

[patric]

This is what you want. For around $450.00 you can get the camera and a 32GB SDHC card and get about 10hours of video.

Now that was cool, but I'd want something that clips to a shirt pocket rather than a helmet.

[Ed W]

Do you mean like this?



http://www.ktul.com/story/14380015/owasso-cops-will-soon-be-wearing-cameras?redirected=true

Someone already pointed out that the cameras are sure to 'malfunction' at the most inopportune times.

[DolfanBob]

I saw that on the news last night. Owasso P.D. is pimpin these things as the next big thing for Law enforcement.

[Ed W]

If you haven't already seen it, take a look at Carlos Miller's "Photography is Not a Crime" for some interesting stories of police reactions to citizens taking photographs and videos. 

http://www.pixiq.com/contributors/248

It should be interesting to see how this works when a defendant says the arresting officer had a camcorder pinned to his shirt.

[Conan71]

Any chance there's a personal HD cam with 12 hours recording time which isn't too cumbersome?  I got in to the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race later this summer and I'd love to capture all the punishment.  I'd like to think I can finish in less than 10 hours, but you never know what can happen

[patric]

Do you mean like this?


Someone already pointed out that the cameras are sure to 'malfunction' at the most inopportune times.

.....something like that...or the one I posted at the top of the thread 
Trying to introduce video that has been paused at critical times as evidence in a court of law has got to raise all sorts of red flags, so for honest police use you need to record continuously, and a 4-hour capacity isnt going to cut it.
But if I were making an epic surfing video or skydiving, that (or dback's HD camera) would be perfect.

[patric]

Any chance there's a personal HD cam with 12 hours recording time which isn't too cumbersome?  I got in to the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race later this summer and I'd love to capture all the punishment.  I'd like to think I can finish in less than 10 hours, but you never know what can happen

Flash memory is so cheap these days, there's no reason not to have these with either 16 or 32Gb of memory, or a SDHC slot so you can add memory as your budget allows.  4Gb is just lame.

[nathanm]

Flash memory is so cheap these days, there's no reason not to have these with either 16 or 32Gb of memory, or a SDHC slot so you can add memory as your budget allows.  4Gb is just lame.

Buy a cell phone with HD video recording. N8 is $400 and comes with 32GB and has an SDHC slot. Plus it's a cell phone. You might need a microUSB battery pack to make it go 13 hours though. I think it's only rated at 5 or 6. Seems like four rechargeable AAs should at least double that time.

It probably wouldn't be too comfortable biking in a Scottevest, though.

[Hoss]

Buy a cell phone with HD video recording. N8 is $400 and comes with 32GB and has an SDHC slot. Plus it's a cell phone. You might need a microUSB battery pack to make it go 13 hours though. I think it's only rated at 5 or 6. Seems like four rechargeable AAs should at least double that time.

It probably wouldn't be too comfortable biking in a Scottevest, though.

Just got me a Moto Atrix that does 720p recording, and will do 1080p recording with a firmware update later in the year.  It takes good video, but the zoom is digital so it creates some artifacting.  But zoomed out full the picture is pretty damn good.  Here's a sample:

[DolfanBob]

Hoss. Your camera angle brought this video to mind.
This guy is great. Makes me laugh everytime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RxH1CnYhd8

[Conan71]

Buy a cell phone with HD video recording. N8 is $400 and comes with 32GB and has an SDHC slot. Plus it's a cell phone. You might need a microUSB battery pack to make it go 13 hours though. I think it's only rated at 5 or 6. Seems like four rechargeable AAs should at least double that time.

It probably wouldn't be too comfortable biking in a Scottevest, though.

The race starts at approx. 10,000 ft. and I get to do about 14,000 feet of total ascent over 100 miles.  Less equipment and weight is appreciated in the thin air.  When I go out to do a three day mini camp in July, I'll likely film the three day segments so I can review the more technical parts of the course.  For that, it sounds like I can use something with 4-6 hours of record time mounted on my helmet.

[nathanm]

Just got me a Moto Atrix that does 720p recording, and will do 1080p recording with a firmware update later in the year.  It takes good video, but the zoom is digital so it creates some artifacting.  But zoomed out full the picture is pretty damn good.  Here's a sample:

You also had to take a 2 year contract to get it for a reasonable price and take one of at&t's ridiculous new data plans.

Conan, it seems like for what you want, a good quality SD video recorder would be just fine. Tons of cell phones take good 480p video, but for longer life at the same or less weight and price, I'd bet there are better options.

[Hoss]

You also had to take a 2 year contract to get it for a reasonable price and take one of at&t's ridiculous new data plans.

Conan, it seems like for what you want, a good quality SD video recorder would be just fine. Tons of cell phones take good 480p video, but for longer life at the same or less weight and price, I'd bet there are better options.

Actually, no I didn't.  You might ask first before assuming.