"Keychain" bike camera observations

[grandpaul]

For what it's worth, once you get past the Chinese translated into English by French-born Mexicans, they are really unbelievable values.

- I got TWO of them to my doorstep for $15. The 4GB memory chips cost me $16 each at WalMart. (+/- $15.50 for camera + 4GB chip)

- The tiny LED is hardly visible in the sunlight, you have to cup your hand over it or you'll miss the "signals"

- Duct tape holds 'em on fine for 20 minutes in the hot sun and at ton-topping speeds

- a 20 minute ride uses a bit over 1.5 GB (18:30 = 1.43GB, 19:12 = 1.59GB). So, 2GB card = +/- 24 min., 4GB card = +/- 48 min., 8GB card = +/- 96 min. (1-1/2 hrs.), 16GB card = 192 min. (3 hrs!)

- The units have sound/noise level limit circuitry that lets you hear a nice exhaust note up to a certain level, then it's muffled above that, but still audible

- Amazingly, not a lot of wind noise.

- You get no real sensation of actual speeds. 45 looks like 20, 60 looks like 30, 110 looks like 45 or 50. Crazy.

Altogether, very nice!

 

[CarlS]

Paul, do you have a link to these? I'd like to take a look.

 

[grandpaul]

They are all over e-bay.

 

[CarlS]

Thanks, Paul; I will hit Ebay.

 

[DaveM]

How about letting us see the videos as well then :y114:

 

[grandpaul]

This afternoon is carved out to open a youtube account and do my first video editing.

 

[avion]

My mates got the 'Action Cam'. We found that sticking a piece of duct tape over the mic cut the wind noise but still allowed a noticable exhaust note.

...

 

[CarlS]

Good old duct tape!

 

[grandpaul]

What a mess!

Youtube needed the video limited to 15 minutes, that took well over an hour to do after dowloading a free editor software.

Then, it had to be converted to reduce the file size, another hour.

Upload failed after over an hour, restarted, then took 2-1/2 hours to fully upload.

My video career is destined to be extremely SHORT.

legend081410

 

[CarlS]

Good job, Paul. I recognized portions of your route - especially the arrival at the end. I want to see you do a video of the Trinity! You have convinced me that I need a keychain camera.

 

[grandpaul]

I want to see you do a video of the Trinity!

That's EXACTLY what Sally said!

I want to do one, too. Maybe it'll feature Carl & Mae Lynne in some of the footage?

I also had a camera pointing back, but it's not as fun to watch becasue nobody was riding behind me, and it's WAY too much hassle to upload!

 

[DaveM]

Paul that was so cool, the quality of the video and sound is outstanding. I think I must loo into one of those cameras :y115:

 

[avion]

Cool vid -what bike was that?

I'm still buffering for the end. 'net is very slow tonite. :<

...

 

[grandpaul]

The bike is my 2000 Triumph Legend 900TT triple with "off road" mufflers, airbox mods & K&N filter. Gives it a nice throaty sound, but I've never tuned out the popping on decelleration (it doesn't bother me).

Another thing, the cameras apparently default to 29:59 (30 minutes) max video clip length. However, a subsequent video clip is automatically created, runs 'till the chip fills up, then automatically saves. Not bad.

Instructions only mention how to set the date by uploading a text file with the info on it. There are no other instructions such as setting video quality, video clip length, or file format.

Also unknown if using different size memory chip will result in different length max video clip length.

My biggest disappointments are how time consuming and convoluted it is to do a simple clip length edit (chop off start and end segments to get under youtube 15 min. max length), length of time to convert file type to get a smaller file size, and how ridiculously long it takes to upload the finished file to youtube.

 

[DaveM]

Well Paul look at it this way after you have done it and posted about 100 videos here you should be a pro at it :y24: :y24:

 

[grandpaul]

[quote author=DaveM link=topic=9763.msg48728#msg48728 date=1282068841]
Well Paul look at it this way after you have done it and posted about 100 videos here you should be a pro at it [/quote]

I honestly don't think that day will come...

 

[grandpaul]

Best source for info on various camera models. You want the #3 camera.

http://www.chucklohr.com/808

I bought mine from e-bay seller "auctioninchina"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190388697155&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

There is no guarantee that all the ones this seller has are #3 cameras!

(However, for $2.50, you can't hope for much)

 

[DaveM]

Wow I really like that one and the price is right

 

[avion]

The bike is my 2000 Triumph Legend 900TT triple with "off road" mufflers, airbox mods & K&N filter. Gives it a nice throaty sound, but I've never tuned out the popping on decelleration (it doesn't bother me).

Sounds great!
I have popping too, but I don't mind either.

...

 

[CarlS]

[quote author=DaveM link=topic=9763.msg48722#msg48722 date=1282061214]
Paul that was so cool, the quality of the video and sound is outstanding. I think I must loo into one of those cameras :y115:
[/quote][quote author=grandpaul link=topic=9763.msg48721#msg48721 date=1282058667]
That's EXACTLY what Sally said!

I want to do one, too. Maybe it'll feature Carl & Mae Lynne in some of the footage?

I also had a camera pointing back, but it's not as fun to watch because nobody was riding behind me, and it's WAY too much hassle to upload!

[/quote]

We would sure like that!