BNA was invited to test Kali Protectives’ Amara helmet. The styling of the Amara (Sanskrit for “immortal”, which is reassuring) follows the trend set by Fox with their Flux helmet, and provides greater protection for the rear of the head by extending down lower than most cross-country and roadie helmets. The weight is at the higher end of the range, coming in at around 350 grams, about 10 grams lighter than my equivalent size Fox Flux.

The front visor is of a break-away design, but is actually not removable. The Amara uses mid-to-high end in-mould technology, where the foam is moulded into the polycarbonate shell so there is no air gap. Kali calls this their “Composite Fusion Technology” and has taken it a step further by using separate polycarbonate bridges and inserts at various points to improve strength. Pleasingly, the outer polycarbonate shell extends all the way to the bottom at the helmet’s rear, leaving no bare foam unsupported at the base of the skull (unlike like many others in the same price bracket).

This helmet is without doubt the most comfortable I’ve used. The previous benchmark was set by a $300+ European roadie helmet, which unfortunately was non-AS compliant and which I did not buy, but which opened my eyes to a comfort standard I have been unable to match until the arrival of the Amara. This high end helmet combined the usual Coolmax + foam cushion strips with an integrated bug net.

The Amara does the same, with the padding and bug net forming a one-piece construction that is easily removed for washing. This may possibly make the helmet a little warmer during the summer months, but an unseasonably warm July mid-20-degree ride last weekend showed that for most conditions these concerns are unlikely to be a problem. Seventeen large vents ensure excellent air flow. Another upside is that I no longer present at work with Darth Maul helmet hair until I can get to the showers.

With the use of adventure helmet cams strongly on the rise, Kali have moulded an integrated mounting rail along the crown of the helmet. Four separate types of mount adapter are included, which will provide coverage for LED torches, “bullet” style cameras, GoPro-compatible cameras, and some types of helmet light.

I tried the Kali Amara with both GoPro and Swann HD helmet cams and found it to offer a significant improvement over the normal strap-on type vented helmet mounts (where it is almost impossible to prevent camera shake and fire cracker-like rattling noise across rough ground). The helmet offers similar mount rigidity to stick-on adhesive mounts, with none of the hassle of trying to find sufficient surface area to ensure the bond is secure. The video results were markedly better than any of my previous attempts with helmet mounted cameras.

In the event of a collision with a tree branch, the adapter will pull free, preventing you from “coathanger-ing” yourself.

The rear adjustment mechanism is identical to the Fox Flux, and provides easy to use and secure adjustment. Coming from the exact same Asian factory, I suppose that is no surprise!

On my particular review helmet there were a couple of small rough spots in the finish, but nothing to detract from the Amara’s function or aesthetics; a casual observer would probably not notice them at all.

I have been looking for a replacement helmet for a while, and after trying on multiple models in 7 or 8 different brands, I was prepared to spend a significantly higher amount to get similar comfort levels to the expensive roadie helmet I liked. I found nothing suitable until the Amara. To get similar results for a spend of under a hundred dollars was outstanding.

Likes:
Comfort – exceptionally good
Integrated camera mount
Competitive weight
Extended head coverage at the rear
Voluminous venting
Outstanding value for money
Styling

Dislikes:
Some small finishing issues
Possibly warmer to wear on 40C+ days

You can find the Kali Amara helmets online at Velogear.com for $79.95.

There is also the sporting sector and documenting rides and radical manoeuvres, in this article however we are concentrating on using a video camera for urban cycling and commuting by bike and aim to provide an introduction so that you are better equipt when choosing the right bike camera.

Which Features are Important:

WaterProofing: Will you be using it during winter and in rainy conditions, or even for other purposes?

Mounts and Accessories: If you intend to use this for other sports, a good selection of mounts and accessories will be important.

Audio: Do you need audio? If you also need water proofing, you may find the audio lacking. If the camera is sealed in a water proof case, this will affect the audio quality.

Recording Times: Cheaper cameras tend to have shorter recording times, usually between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours. While the higher end cameras are typically 2.5 + hours. Recording times will also affect the size of the memory card that is needed.

Video Resolution: High Definition (HD) is preferred, this offers sharper clearer footage. Examples of HD resolution are 1080p (1920×1080 pixels) or 720p (1280×720 pixels). Compared to HD, Standard Definition (SD) looks blocky or blurry. Examples of SD are 640 x 480 or 720 x 480 and some maybe up scaled from 640 x 480 to 1280×960.

Video Format: High Definition cameras are typically use the .H264 MOV format while Standard Definition are AVI or MJPEG format.

Settings: While cheap cameras usually only have one resolution setting, higher priced cameras can offer several resolutions options and also allow the user to change various settings. Being able to change settings easily on the fly makes a big difference. There are some cameras like the Contour that need to be connected to a PC. This can be a pain if you forget to change the settings before you head out.

Lens Angle: This is how much information is captured by the lens. Cheaper cameras tend to have a narrower lens angle and this can make it difficult to frame your shots. Mid and high priced cameras tend to have a wider lens angle, something like, 130º (1080p) or 170º (720p). They might also have a screen or laser pointer, these make it easy to frame your shots.

The following set of image shows the differences between the various lense angles. See how the length of wood looks further away the wider the lens angle and how close it looks with a narrow lens angle.. The cameras used are the MD80, Jumbo 808 and GoPro HD Hero 1. The shots have only been scaled so the black bands provide an indication of the respective video dimensions.

(Path: 1500mm, Camera Position: Centred, Camera Lens Height: 654mm)

MD80 720x480

Jumbo 808 720p

GoPro 720p

GoPro 960p

GoPro 1080p

More information about cameras as well as FAQ’s can be found here, >>>Camera FAQ’s <<<

Bike Camera Mounts:

The camera mount is critical and directly influences the quality of the video. You need the mount to be rock solid, with no movement and it also needs to hold the camera firmly. Any movement in the mount either at the base, or the point where the camera connects to the mount will allow vibration or rattling. This will make your video look jerky and spoil your footage. Because the microphone is internal, any rattles will be amplified.

In the Australian Cycling Forum I have prepare detailed info and FAQs on mounts and DIY mounts for cameras.

Types of Cameras

Although there are a lot of different cameras on the market they are not all the same and the old rule still applies, you get what you pay for. To get an idea of the quality of the cameras on the market I am presenting a short overview of the cameras that I own, however in the Australian Cycling Forum there is an ongoing discussion (with over 1000 posts) where the members present and discuss their bike camera: Video Camera – Who uses one?

I am presenting two low cost camera’s and one pricier camera for comparison.

MD80 Mini DV

Price: $15
Resolution: Standard Definition 640×480.
Video Format: AVI.
Registration Capture: Poor unless vehicle is directly in line and close to lens.
Lens Angle: Narrow 80°
Size: 55mm (L) x 20mm (W) x 20mm (H)
Water Proof: No

This is a classic case of you get what you pay for. This is a standard definition camera and for the money it does a pretty good job. But don’t expect clear video footage. If you want it to be able to capture number plates, you may be disappointed. In order to capture plates the vehicle needs to be rather close and directly in front of the camera.
Battery life is approx 1 hour and the mounts are cheap and flimsy, so you will need to make your own.

Bottom Line: If you cannot afford the extra money to get the Jumbo, it’s better than nothing.

Jumbo 808 #11

Price: $47
Resolution: High Definition 720×1280.
Video Format: MOV H.264 compression
Registration Capture: Very Good
Lens Angle: Medium 100°
Size: 65mm (L) x 34mm (W) x 18mm (H)
Water Proof: No

For the price, this is the best bang for the buck IMHO. It is High Definition, the video footage is very good and it can easily read number plates. Battery life is approx 1.5 hours and can be extended by purchasing and external battery pack $17, this gives an extra 2.5 hours. No mounts are included, so you will need to make your own.

Bottom Line: If you are in the market for a decent HD camera but don’t want to outlay hundreds then look no further. This camera will serve you well with very respectable video quality and battery life.

GoPro HD 1

Price: $309
Resolution: High Definition 1080p = 1920×1080 pixels, 30 fps, 960p = 1280×960, 30 fps, 720p = 1280×720, 60 fps, 720p = 1280×720, 30 fps
Video Format: MOV H.264 compression
Registration Capture: Excellent
Lens Angle: 127º wide angle in 1080p mode, 170º ultra wide angle in WVGA, 720p, or 960p mode
Size: 42mm (H) x 60mm (W) x 30mm (D)
Water Proof: Yes to 30 metres.

This is the bee’s knees in my opinion. The camera is housed in a case that is just about bomb proof, it is extremely tough and can take a lot of punishment. It is water proof and there are a range of mounts that are included in the price.

GoPro also has a wide range of mounts available, optional add-ons are also available such as LCD BacPac, Wi-Fi BacPac with Wi-Fi Remote (coming March) and the Battery BacPac. It is High Definition, with a various resolutions. The video footage is excellent and it can easily read number plates. Battery life is approx 2.5 and can be extended by purchasing the Battery BackPack $69 this will give you 5 hours recording time.

Bottom Line: If you can afford it, buy it! The build quality is excellent as is the video and battery life. The range of mounts and the ability to add one of the optional BacPacs makes this a very versatile camera.

In Summary

There are a lot of cheap cameras coming onto the market and on paper these may seem to be a real bargain, but it’s not always the case. Make sure you do your homework, compare specs, video footage and ask questions and read reviews etc.

In the Bike Camera FAQs you will find more detailed information and answers to the more frequent questions. Part 1 of this looks at what you should take into consideration before purchasing a camera. Part 2 covers information about memory, general FAQ’s, Editing and FAQ’s about the Jumbo 808 and MD80. Otherwise you can jump in and ask your questions and share your experience with other forum members in the Video Camera thread.

Some recent footage from a BNA forum member and reports of attractive local pricing inspired me to pick up the second generation GoPro Hero2 HD Professional as a self-funded Christmas present.

First impressions during a ride around the local Terrey Hills and Cascades trail networks, and some local road riding were excellent. Image quality is top notch, especially at 1080p Full HD at 30fps. It is evident why the 170 degree wide angle field of view is so popular.

The quick release mount was a little disappointing, transmitting plenty of rattles to the cameras microphone on the first outing.

However, the application of two layers of electricians tape to pack up the base of the mount was enough to remove the free play and the quality of sound capture improved out of sight.

The menu system is easy to see and navigate, and camera performance in shadow and the speed of exposure adjustment from bright sunlight were both good. The optional chest mount works well, and allows the installation of the camera upside down so that the it can be easily hung forward to obtain a straight-and-level view in the typical cyclists’ riding position. An easily accessed setting inverts the image capture so that you don’t have to worry about time-consuming flipping of the footage on your computer later.

A more detailed review is in the pipeline. In the meantime, take a look at the initial results for yourself at resolutions all the way up to 1080p.

Their uptake among commuting cyclists is also growing. Spectacularly, footage recorded on a Contour camera made it into mainstream press and Sydney prime time news, when a Forest Coach Lines bus driver tried to squeeze a cyclist into the gutter outside Warringah Mall and the cyclists video was posed on YouTube.

Like its predecessors, the ContourGPS it is compact enough to be hidden in the palm of your hand and light enough to be worn on a helmet for a considerable period of time. It is self-contained, so tangle-prone video cables leading to a processing unit are done away with, and it has enough memory and battery power to capture several hours worth of 1080p high definition video.

GPS functionality enables viewers to put what they’re seeing in context on a map overlay for greater interest, or if you are in the racing scene, allows your team-mates to see exactly where on the circuit that gnarly obstacle or tight corner with the tricky exit sits.

The ContourGPS Close-Up
The casing looks and feels tough and solid. One tale from a skydiving enthusiast on a Contour forum describes how it survived a fall from a ridiculous height during a jump. Handed into the club by a nearby farmer, it still operated flawlessly with the only damage being the memory card getting jammed in by the impact.

Powering up and starting the unit for the first time could not be easier. The instruction manual is quite sparse, but the unit is so simple to use that it is all that is needed. A considerable amount of thought has gone into ensuring ease of use in less than ideal conditions, especially when users are likely to have to work with gloved hands in frequently hostile environments like mud and snow.

The power switch is easily operated with a gloved hand, although I found initially that it was better to power up with the helmet off my head until I was a bit more practiced at locating the switch. The more crucial recording on/off slide switch is super easy to locate and operate on the top of the camera. No need to shuck gloves off and fiddle with little buttons to get the recording started or stopped.

The camera face can be twisted through 180 degrees within the housing to restore the image sensor to level, enabling fitment to either side or top of your helmet or anywhere in between without the video image appearing tilted to one side on playback.

The downside of this simplicity and ease of use is that changing configuration settings such as resolution, frame rate, light metering and so on cannot be done on the camera, rather requires connection to a PC and the use of Contour’s StoryTeller software. The only on-camera configuration is the ability to select between two pre-configured modes via a small switch under the back cover.

Telling The Story
The Contour Storyteller software allows easy archiving and replaying of your captured videos, and uploading of your files to the Contour community site could not be more straightforward. It is simply a matter of marking which section of the file you consider “awesome” and the program does the rest.

Storyteller is also used to configure the camera settings that are applied to each of the two mode options that can be changed using small mode switch under the camera’s rear flip cover.

Initially I had problems with the StoryTeller software crashing whenever the camera was connected, but I have to say the commitment and follow-up of the service people and engineers at Contour to resolving my dramas was outstanding. I deliberately didn’t tell them about this review, so as to ensure I got an unvarnished view of their responsiveness, and I was impressed. If I didn’t post a response on their forum for a couple of days, they followed up directly via email to chase up.

After a few test rides to acquaint myself with the camera, some group rides were organised and footage was duly shot and uploaded to Contour’s video community website.

One neat feature of the Storyteller software is being able to see the GPS data overlaid on a map in real time along with an elevation chart in a separate window while the video runs.

Contour Community
Contour’s video hosting community is rather cool. With the GPS logging enabled, not only do you get the rider’s eye view of the action, you also get the location, route and elevation displays from Storyteller available online such as in this example by Troy Brosnan:

Video Performance
The resolution of 1080p is impressive, and the field of view excellent for trail riding and commuting. Video capture was smooth and sharp, with no lag or missed frames that we could detect by viewing.

The detection and adjustment to changes in light levels was excellent, the speed especially noticeable during rapid flickering between light and shade whilst I was riding the Kiwarrak State Forest singletrack. The only downside was that I was caught out being too slow to dodge a jumping tree and my tumble was caught on video for the world to see:

Setting the camera to “dusk” mode provided a surprise during the evening commute home. Street lights and car headlights provided adequate illumination to capture usable footage, although the faster action did tend to blur slightly and vehicle registration plates tended to blow out a little from over-exposure when reflecting back the “hot zone” from the helmet lights.

On unlit streets, relying on just my Ay-Up helmet lights tended to result in “tunnel vision”,  showing up the inadequacies of the beam pattern for camera use. This wasn’t surprising: the human brain tends to cope better with a hot spot in the centre of the field of view than the camera.

To my eye, the colours seem a little washed out in strong sunlight, and I found myself wishing for a compatible Skylight 1B film camera filter to correct this.

The ContourGPS will accept up to 32Gb of flash memory, meaning you will be able to will run out of battery four times over before running out of storage.

Enter the Android
Towards the end of the review period, with the helmet mounting stability niggles and hassles around aligning and setting tilt I had been experiencing (more on this in a moment), I was tempted to look at other options.

However, I then received an email that the free Android version of Contour Connect was now released and this turned out to be a game-changer. This little smart phone application fixes all of the ease of use issues around aiming the camera and changing the settings in one fell swoop.

iOS devices like the iPhone require the Connect View card, which is available at a small extra charge.

With camera on and record mode off, a five-second press of the hidden Bluetooth button in front of the slider, followed by starting the Contour connect app on your phone is all it takes.

With just a few of dabs on your phone display you can change just about every setting on the camera. You can choose between full HD 1080p, 960p and 720p at 30 frames per second, Action HD mode at 720p and 60 frames per second, or continuous photo mode. The 720p/60fps mode is great for shooting fast action where you might want to do slow motion replays.

Quality can be set between Medium, High or Max, and for continuous photo mode, you can choose between 3, 5, 10, 20 and 60 second intervals. You can turn GPS mode on or off, and set it to work in everyday outdoor or dusk light conditions. There is also a Custom light metering mode where you can manually set sharpness, exposure and contrast, and where in the frame the camera meters light input. Microphone gain can also be dialled up or down as required.

The switch under the rear cover on the camera now takes on a new usefulness, giving the user the best of both options. You can use the Android or iPhone connection to set up your options at the start of the ride to take account of the conditions, and use the switch to quickly flick between them later without having to wait for link to your phone to connect or to navigate menus. Choices might be bright daylight or evening recording, or (my favourite) normal and slow motion modes if you think your mate is about to do something especially dodgy that is worth recording for maximum possible embarrassment!

You can use your smart phone to make sure that the camera is pointing in the right direction on your helmet and the image is level and not tilted. It isn’t a real-time viewfinder and playback feature however as the screen refresh rate is only once a second or so and the Bluetooth connection cuts off when you start recording. This would certainly be a nice feature to have, perhaps in a future upgrade if Bluetooth bandwidth is not a constraint.

It’s all in the mount
The vented helmet mount was easy to fit and allows for three positions in tilt to get the elevation angle right.

Unfortunately the sample provided wasn’t really rigid enough. Flex in the detent mechanism allowed for noticeable camera shake over rough ground, which you will see in the video mentioned earlier. I have heard similar comments from a couple of other users.

Once you’ve got your placement sorted out, using Aralditing or super glue to fix the tilt mechanism in place would be recommended. This would also cure the rattling sound generated by this mount. Replacement mounts at approximately $15.00 are cheap enough if you need to change helmets at a later stage.

The stick on side mount is also prone to flex, but much less and was a definite improvement over the stock vented helmet mount. The resulting video was noticeably smoother.

While short sharp sessions on a Downhill bike with the one-sided weight of the camera on your helmet would be a non-issue, but I did notice some stiff neck muscles after carrying it on the side of the helmet for an hour or more. Perhaps a counterweight fitted on the other side would help, such as the battery from your helmet-mounted Ay-Up lights, but that is starting to push the helmet weight up past what some would find comfortable.

Using the vented helmet mount to place the camera top and centre is the most comfortable for longer rides.

The concern I had with the strength of the adhesive on the stick-on mount has so far proved to be completely unfounded: it is very strong. A short clip-together security lanyard is provided that can be cable-tied to your helmet at one end if you are concerned.

Despite the rugged construction and low profile, it is still possible to knock the camera about if you are unfortunate enough to get struck from the wrong angle. On one ride while using the ‘stick on side’ mount, I noticed that the rear hinged cover had come unlatched and was open leaving the battery and ConnectView card exposed. Initially thinking I’d just not fastened it correctly I closed the cover and slid it down into place and kept riding with no further issues.

However, as I looked more closely after the ride, I noticed that when the slider is in the Record position, a small lip on the top of the back cover sits up and is exposed to passing branches, and this is evidently where I’ve taken a hit. The rear cover hooks on to the body at three places besides the hinge, and two of the three hook points have broken off. This leaves the rear cover held in place by the one remaining catch point. Given the frequency with which your helmet gets brushed by low branches on the trail, this is something I feel that could have been done better. Removing this lip is something I’d like to see Contour do as a design tweak.

The battery will last up to three hours per charge, and spare batteries are available at relatively low cost if you need to continue shooting.

The GPS does tend to consume a fair bit of the battery’s capacity and limits use to about an hour 50 minutes per session with the GPS logging turned on. The GPS captures your position every second. For mountain biking purposes, I think every three seconds would be sufficient and I’d like to see a software update to allow users to select a longer tracking interval.

While Contour’s Australian reps confidently asserted the water resistance of the unit would be more than adequate for wet weather riding, I would be reluctant to risk the camera getting fully immersed in a race like the Dirtworks 100km, with its well-known (and infamous) canoe pontoon river crossing. There are two optional water casings available, a heavy duty one for diving and one for light immersion. Alternatively, the newly released Contour Roam unit may be what you’re looking for with a one metre immersion rating, although it lacks GPS and Bluetooth functionality.

Camera shake was quite noticeable off-road. Part of this is terrain, part movement of the helmet itself on my head, and part was shake in the mount. I would like to see better mounts for vented bicycle helmets, probably something with a wider base that can be trimmed as required by the user to suit the shape of their particular helmet.

Some kind of image stabilisation filter in the Storyteller software would be a welcome feature.

Conclusion
This is a seriously good camera, with outstanding resolution and
rapid responsiveness to changes in light levels. The Bluetooth connectivity and the applications for Android and iOS mobile phones make configuring the camera and confirming the aim delightfully simple and easy, and render the fitment of a viewfinder pretty much unnecessary for the camera’s intended hands-free point-of-view use.

The low profile of the camera minimises the risk of getting “hung up” by your helmet or having the unit knocked off on a passing tree branch. The solid construction makes it tougher than most. The ability to twist the lens to level the field of view is a nice touch that means the inevitable shaking and vibration the camera will be subject to is less likely to result in the aim being shifted and missing out on capturing the action.

Image capture in low light was much better than expected, making it eminently suitable for recording your commutes to and from work year-round.

While there are some niggles with the vented helmet mount, these can be addressed with relatively simple modifications.

ContourGSP Pluses:
+ Easy to use
+ Robust construction
+ Low light performance
+ Responsiveness to changes in lighting levels
+ Full 1080p high definition
+ Contour Connect mobile phone software makes confirming camera aim and changing settings brilliantly simple
+ Great customer service backup

ContourGPS Minuses:
- Vented helmet mount allows some camera shake and generates noise when riding rough surfaces
- Side helmet mount not ideal for bicycle helmets

The (VHR 1400) ContourGSP camera is distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Meeco Sales with a RRP of $399. The handy website includes a retailer locater and you will find the camera available at a lot of electronic entertainment and camera stores: www.contouraustralia.com.au

Look out for the summer promotion with free Contour backpack available with the camera at selected dealers.

Contour also have the lower price ContourROAM available as a ‘fun’ camera for RRP $299 as well as top model Contour+ with live streaming capabilities that retails for $699.

The two most popular bike cameras on the market are from GoPro and Contour, while they offer great usability, high resolution (1080p) and a large range of accessories, it can still be hard to justify an investment of $300 plus.

At the lower end of the market there are a plethora of cameras, however the old adage applies – you pay for what you get. Many of the low end cameras perform poorly with terrible image quality, have poor mounting solutions and accessories and most importantly – many have reliability issues.

I have purchased and tested a number of cheap and moderately priced ‘bike’ cameras and all of them have failed to deliver. They didn’t deliver as specified, had fogging issues in wet/cold conditions and loved to turn themselves off randomly along with a plethora of other assorted failures.

Enter the Minidv – an affordable camera solution
Firstly, the Minidv camera from iDV is small, and I mean SMALL!  It is literally the size of my thumb.  Why does that matter? Convenience and portability – if you have to take it off after a commute it easily fits in a jersey or pocket, and while riding it takes up absolutely minimal real estate on your handlebars, a common sticking point with many commuters.

The low weight also plays a huge part in performance, the lighter the camera is – the less is suffers from vibrations and movement while mounted, if a camera is above approximately 130g then its almost impossible to get good performance when bicycle mounted.

With a retail price of $135 including delivery, this initially seems expensive for a 640×480 resolution camera, it is however a good reflection of the Minidv package which is simply superb.  The build quality is second to none, very solid, tight tolerances with no mould markings.  The supplied waterproof enclosure is as nuke proof as a cockroach, 3mm thick clear plastic case with a  tight fitting silicone seal – if it does take a tumble, it shouldn’t be any cause for concern.  The camera sits rock solid inside this enclosure with absolutely no movement in any direction.

Inside the plastic casing, the window in front of the camera lens is a separate piece of glass – not plastic, This gives superior clarity and means it is a lot harder to scratch or get damaged, particularly in gritty wet commuting, or if you put it in your pocket/bag with some keys or other items. If it does get damaged then it is a quick and easy replacement.

This waterproof housing features a single clip-lock to secure the camera inside, which means it is very fast to install and remove the camera, and its not going to come loose or wobble off during even the most rigorous use.

The current recording status and operating mode of the camera can easily be viewed on the top of the camera through the clear plastic  enclosure.  A pair of LEDs which use a sequence of flashes indicate battery life, operating mode and operating status. This makes it quick and easy to tell if you are recording – this makes sense when you are commuting.

Another feature not to be overlooked is that the camera is being imported and distributed from Sydney, NSW and this means there is local support! For low priced cameras purchased online, often there is no after sales support. With the Minidv however, if you have a question you can quickly fire off an email, and if for some reason there is a technical issue or manufacturing fault then it is easy and cheap to send it back for replacement. In the case of a cheap internet camera, the cost of sending a package back to the supplier in another country typically outweighs the cost of the camera itself. Local warranty and support is invaluable to ensure a reliable and working camera for every commute.

Mounting the Minidv
The camera was tested within its waterproof enclosure and while it comes with a range of mounts for the camera alone and also the camera within the waterproof enclosure, the bicycle handlebar mount is an optional extra available for $55. I chose to use a RigidMount generic mount instead. (For full disclosure, I hand make RigidMount mounts for cameras and lights).

The quality of image is by far the best I have seen come out of a camera with this resolution. While it may possibly use the same or a similar sensor and/or processor as other lower end cameras, there is clearly a big difference with the quality of optics used.  The image has higher contrast and better definition and clarity with a lot less smudge and blur.

The waterproof case is easily and quickly mounted to the handlebars – requiring a single bolt into the base.  The clear plastic housing can remain permanently on the handlebars and you can quickly and easily remove the camera from the inside the housing when you need to transfer files or charge the batteries. This also saves you from continually re-aligning the camera each time to make sure that it is pointing in the right direction.

The Minidv performance
While commuting on rough roads there was no smudging, blurring or wavy artefacts which are common problems for bicycle mounted cameras. The camera performed identically regardless of whether I was riding billiard table smooth hotmix or rough concrete spotted with expansion joints and cracks.

Minidv Camera Test Video: riding fast with a poor surface

Minidv Camera Test Video: slow riding with variable conditions

The video does appear a little choppy and not as smooth as some other cameras (higher resolution with MOV/h.264 format) this is most likely due to the internal processor and AVI/MJPEG format used.

Performance in low light levels was also solid, no additional blur was introduced and the image was still clear at dusk, rivalling similarly priced and more expensive competitors.

Wet weather performance was also exceptional, no water penetrated the enclosure at all and most importantly the camera remained properly focused, it did not attempt to adjust to water droplets that were on the enclosure. The glass provided the advantage of ensuring that any droplets in front of the lens did not remain there permanently. The complete image was as clear and visible as any camera I have used.  Most importantly there were absolutely no fogging issues along my 35 minute commute. Given the small size and minute power consumption of the camera coupled with the internal air space in the enclosure I cannot see any fogging issues (due to internal vs external temperature differences) arising.

While commuting in good conditions, the clarity of image was fair, number plates directly in front of the rider are visible up to around 10 metres. This would certainly make it usable for “evidence” as both a forward facing and rear facing camera.

A really nice feature was the viewing angle of the lens. It is wider compared to most other cameras – the exception of course being “wide angle” cameras. This allows the camera to show what happens around the cyclist and not just directly in front, plus minimises of effect of vibration and movement. The narrower the field of view and the more “magnified” the image, the more a small vibration translates to a huge movement of image. This will start to give you motion sickness pretty quickly!

Minidv Accessories
This is an area where yet again the Minidv proves that it is not just a low resolution camera and really differentiates itself from the market.  The accessory package is not only extensive but incredibly good quality.  It includes:

- Waterproof case
- Lanyard
- arm strap
- Head/helmet strap
- General small strap
- Shirt/tie Clips
- Desk stand
- Velcro straps
- Silicon protective case

The quality of accessories is not just a ‘nice to have’ but important for performance of the camera and also influences the life of the device.  The included straps for fastening on the arm or helmet were very well stitched and the elastic was nice and firm, easily put on and taken of quickly with Velcro.  Most similarly priced packages come with very weak straps that quickly fray and come apart.

The most important detail on any accessory is the mounting clips – these are used to attach and release the camera (or housing) quickly to the mounts.  If there is any play in a mount, no matter how small,   it will have a serious impact on the image. Vibration and noise can make a camera close to unusable.  I have received feedback from owners of ‘market leader’ cameras which have suffered from these issues!  Each clip of the Minidv had an incredibly firm and snug fit ensuring there was absolutely no movement, and that there was no chance of the camera coming loose or falling out/off, they give a nice sharp ‘click’ so that you know it is correctly in place.

All of the accessories worked as expected and as well as being intuitive and easy to use, they offered an incredibly amount of versatility to the camera.

Conclusion
A great all round camera package. The camera simply works properly with everything provided and it works well. The accessory range makes it an incredibly versatile tool, and not just as a bicycle camera, but a general little household camera. It is a camera that can be on hand and is ready to record in seconds, where ever you are.

The main downsides are the low resolution, only 640×480 which is below my minimum recommendation of 1024×720 (720p) for bicycle commuting, and the video is a little choppy. These are both due to the internals of this model of the camera, perhaps an updated 720p version could offer improvements.

To help you decide whether this camera suits your requirements you can watch the sample footage. If you are happy with the quality of the footage then it is a package worth buying. Personally, I’ll be keeping an eye out for a HD model, if Minidv were to create a HD version it would have the potential to decimate the competition.

Thumbs Up
- Packaging: size and weight
- Automatic rollover – new files are created every 30min, keeping the file size low for when you need to transfer data
- Battery Life
- Bomb-proof casing

Thumbs Down
- Slow transfer of data on my computers, even after installing software/drivers
- The video seems choppy and not as smooth as other cameras (typically higher specifications)

Neutral
- Resolution – only 640×480, I consider 720p to be the “minimum” for bicycle commuting
- Uses a metric 6mm mounting thread, not a standard 1/4″ – so wont fit standard camera mounts/tripods

Technical Specifications
- Size: 60mmx50mmx40mm
- Weight: 64g (with enclosure)
- Memory: Micro SD (TF), 2Gb supplied, 16Gb max supported
- Battery Life: 2.5hrs (approx)
- Resolution: 640×480 @ 30fps, AVI (MJPEG)

The Minidv retails for $135 and can be purchased online from www.idv.net.au (with local support and service).

Whether you are documenting your daily commute (to catch traffic offenders) or want to edit together your own personal best of – a portable video camera is almost about to become a standard cycling accessory.

GoPro’s HD Helmet HERO has captured our attention because of the resolution and price. We look forward to testing it as the price is fantastic… does it actually deliver? GoPro say that it is one of the best 1080p HD video and still photo camera available on the market for cyclists today. Lets take a look at the specs.

GoPro’s HD Helmet HERO offers a 1080p HD video and still photo camera in one unit. The HD HERO  gives you three filming mode. The HERO can record at 1080p / 960p / 720p HD resolutions at 30 and 60 frames per second (60 fps in 720p). Record up to 2.5 hours on a single charge and up to 9 hours total on a 32GB SD card

The HD HERO can shoot hands-free, 5 megapixel photos automatically at  2 / 5 / 10 / 30 / and 60 second intervals until the batteries die or the SD card is full (2.5 hours). Or set it to single shot, triple shot, or self timer for more traditional photo taking.

Included are mounts for attaching the camera to three helmets and two pieces of gear or vehicles, as well as a head strap allowing you to wear the camera like a headlamp. You can also pull this strap over helmets for easy camera sharing between friends. One of the above mentioned helmet mounts is a lace-through strap-mount designed for vented helmets.

The HD Helmet HERO is compatible with all other GoPro HERO camera mounting accessories, so it’s very easy to expand the functionality of your camera to also suction cup to vehicles, and clamp to bike handlebars.

Protected from rocks and other hazards thanks to its removable polycarbonate housing. Replacement housings and lens kits are available, making repairs to the HERO possible.

What’s Included:
- 5 Megapixel HD Helmet HERO Camera
- 1 Rechargeable 1100 mAh Lithium-Ion Battery
- 1 Waterproof Quick-Release Housing (180′/60 m)
- 1 Headlamp-Style Head Strap
- 1 Vented Helmet Strap
- 2 Curved, 3M? Adhesive Mounts
- 2 Flat, 3M Adhesive Mounts
- 1 Three-Way Pivoting Side Arm Assembly
- 2 Quick-Release Buckles
- 1 USB Cable
- 1 Component Video (HDTV) Cable
- 1 Composite Video + Audio Out Cable
Warranty: One Year