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| < Review: Viosport POV.1 Helmet Cam System |
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 Posted:
Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:52 pm
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Newbie
Joined: 18 Jan 2007
Posts: 16
Location: Idaho, USA
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Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:15 am
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Site Admin
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 3922
Location: Portland, Oregon
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Great write-up, bwhip 
I've been reluctant to switch to anything that records to static media because I haven't seen anything that matches the quality of recording to miniDV.
I'm completely on-board with pain in the arse factor when dealing with a bunch of cables and stuffing junk all over the bike to make it fit, but I don't know if the trade-off is worth the loss in quality...especially since I still throw stuff on DVD from time to time.
Were you able to edit the video using Premier or another application? I haven't tried using Premier CS3, but I believe Pro 1.5 wouldn't work with a MPEG4 file (or even a MPEG32 file). The compression used to fit media on a SD card was too much...Premier just didn't like it.
I'm still interested in picking something up in the future as the wear and tear on the miniDV camcorder makes 'em go bad after a while (too much vibration).
Definitely post up when you've received the new lens...being 3ft away from your subject is damn risky on the track (or street).
_________________
"Riding a motorcycle is like playing chess. Anyone can learn the moves, but it takes a lifetime to master the game."
I roll with Max Biaggi...LOL...nice one superbee |
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Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:55 am
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Racer
Joined: 07 Jan 2005
Posts: 708
Location: D.C.
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Agree with everything Brad said.
I'm dying to find a solid state device that does it all (quality, focal point, recording time, etc.) ... so I'm very interested in these kinds of write-ups.
Keep em coming.
_________________
-- Rat
"Ride to the sound of the guns."
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Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:25 pm
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Newbie
Joined: 18 Jan 2007
Posts: 16
Location: Idaho, USA
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Thanks. Yeah, I edited it very easily using Adobe Premiere Elements. I'm really hopeful they can get the lens image quality issue fixed - there is SO much else to like about the unit. I'll keep you posted.
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Every ride a gift... |
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Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:11 am
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Newbie
Joined: 18 Jan 2007
Posts: 16
Location: Idaho, USA
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FINALLY got the new lens for this thing from VIO. It's the wide angle unit they've been promising. The video quality and focus are excellent! The only downside (I've e-mailed them about it) is that the lens cover glass is not replaceable, so when you get the inevitable pitting from track debris, etc., your lens is pretty much ruined. I hope they figure something out for that.
Here's a quick new video I made at some trackdays in Michigan last week.
The video is of a lap of Grattan in Michigan with a friend of mine. He's in front of me on his formerly-raced-by-Larry-Pegram-superstock CBR1000RR. The other part of the screen is me (well, parts of me, anyway), and the sound is all Ducati/Termignoni.
I hope you like it!
Right-click and save mpeg high-res version (77 MB):
http://www.bwhip.com/images/B_B.mpg
Faster-loading Flash version:
http://www.bwhip.com/images/b_b.flv
_________________
Every ride a gift... |
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Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:13 am
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Newbie
Joined: 18 Jan 2007
Posts: 16
Location: Idaho, USA
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Pics from the same event (in some you can see the cam clamped to the fairing):
_________________
Every ride a gift... |
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Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:26 am
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Site Admin
Joined: 29 Jun 2004
Posts: 482
Location: Portland, Or
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| I just got one of these things... I have to say i'm really impressed. I've tried just about every helmet cam system on the market and this one is by far the easiest to use, and has the best overall quality of any. The audio is really good to. |
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Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:24 pm
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Newbie
Joined: 18 Jan 2007
Posts: 16
Location: Idaho, USA
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| phlewid wrote: |
| I just got one of these things... I have to say i'm really impressed. I've tried just about every helmet cam system on the market and this one is by far the easiest to use, and has the best overall quality of any. The audio is really good to. |
On mine the audio is pretty choppy with wind, so I've been attaching the Sony ECM-719 mic to it, which works very well (as long as I remember to turn it off between sessions - the batteries wear out fast when I forget!).
_________________
Every ride a gift... |
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Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:42 pm
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Racer
Joined: 07 Jan 2005
Posts: 708
Location: D.C.
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Very nice. Looks better than MotoGP.
Yup ... the solid state stuff is there now.
I just bought three VuPoint model DV-DA1-VP solid state DVRs. They cost $86 each refurbished. Almost disposable.
It's only 20fps at 640x480 when using an external bullet camera ... 30fps with the built in lens ... but for the price ... it's good enough. They are small ... and the fit & finish is nice (not super cheapo feeling).
... and it's a good thing. LOL.
Sample .avi from one of them ... and it did survive.
http://www.magicratvideos.com/Temp/RennerCrash.avi
(the vibration is from my crappy mounting job ... just velcro.
All I had to do is install the device driver that came with it (just the driver ... CODEC ... not any of the crapware). Adobe Premiere and Window Movie Maker can both import the files ... no issues.
_________________
-- Rat
"Ride to the sound of the guns."
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