Just thought I'd mention that GoPro is coming out with a new HD helmet cam soon, the Hero HD, estimated price $299.

http://helmetcameracentral.com/2009/...-cam-announce/

The sample videos are pretty spectacular:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMwczh0tvwI

Not only is the video quality great, but from what I've read they have spent a lot of effort on the audio quality as well, and greatly reducing wind noise. The audio on the older ones and other cameras in this price range is pretty poor, by comparison, for example, to much more expensive cameras like the VIO POV.1. But with the better audio, and superior video quality, and affordable price, I'll for sure be checking these out very closely. I'll likely pick one up shortly after they are available and I free up some $$ for one.

Just thought I'd mention it here, since these are becoming more affordable and a lot of folks are interested in them. I'm really glad to see HD quality with good audio in this price range.

 

Developments like that could lower the price of the "not so High" Def cams, and put them into the reach of people that couldn't justify the cost before.

 

That Looked Real Clear
sick trick in Vid
Thx N.B.

 

Great cam, great jump. I've seen RenDawg do that one before. Pretty cool


Side note, RenDawg's an A-hole.

 

Holy crud, these look so good!

 

One certainty with technology is that what ever you buy today will be better and cheaper tomorrow.
And that process is accelerating.

I always buy the best I can afford on the day when it comes to stuff like this.

That looks a good unit for sure.

 

Same here. Back in June of '08 my VIO was $600. At the time, I was guessing there would be an HD version out at 1/2 the price within a year. I wasn't far off. But if you keep waiting for the next best thing, you'll always be waiting. I now have a year and a half worth of some pretty decent helmet cam footage that is worth well worth the price of the cam to me. Upgrading for $300 in the near future doesn't sound too unreasonable.

I like the VIO unit a lot, though, mostly for its ruggedness, simplicity to use, decent video quality and great audio. But I don't like that it's tethered, i.e., cam on the helmet, recorder in the pack. I think the GoPro with the recorder and cam all in one unit will be a bit easier to manage. Hopefully. Not that the VIO is hard, but you have to wear a pack to hold it or have a big pocket to put it in. Sometimes that's inconvenient.

 

I hear you Brian.
I think the VIO has long been considered the best hemet cam setup.
My mate Doug has it and he is also happy enough, but not 100%.
Mainly the tethered issue you mention.

The picture from the HD GoPro looks awesome.
It looks a bit ungainly perched up on top like that.
Looks likely to get knocked around a bit.
But its certainly value for money.

 

I agree the GoPro mounting seems a bit ungainly. I think the best setup would be a recorder about the size of the GoPro with a short little cable, connected to a bullet type sensor. The recorder would mount on the back of your helmet, and the bullet sensor portion would mount low and out of the way similar to the way I have it now. That way, the bulk of the recorder is mounted in back out of the way, and the sensor doesn't stick out too far. Yet it's still nearly self-contained, all mounted on your helmet.

 

I'm working on something.
I'm having a bit of trouble finding the time to finish it but when its finished it will tick a few boxes for me.