helmet camera experience question

[ocatoro]

hi folks... i'm lagging behind the rest of the world. mid road trip in europe with couple of mates.

i'm using a drift x170 (poor bastard, right)

mates have go pro hero2 and the hero 3+ respectively.

have decided i need an upgrade.

go pro hero2 footage is good enough for my needs and pocket.. so frget the 3 for now.

i'm looking at either:
a used hero2, for around the £150-180 mark (from what i can see on ebay and amazon)
a new drift hd 1080p for £100-150.
or a new contour roam 2 for £150...

can anyone chime in with reasons for picking one of those 3 cameras, or even reasons to avoid any of them specifically.

+ for the drift is i'm acquainted with their interface, i really like the rotating lens, and i already have the mount kit.... i AM willing to change though, just obviously it adds cost.
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CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[TheArchitect]

I have the roam2. Does what it does very well for my needs. For me the plus points for the roam2 are:

Waterproof out of the box so no bulky cases.
Rotating lens with laser guide to get horizon line correct.
Shape, I find the sight of a box popping out the top or side if a helmet ugly. The roam2's shape sits nicely on the side without looking odd IMO.
Easy to start/stop recording with gloves on. Bear in mind i've not used any of the others you have listed so can't say if usability is better/worse in comparison.
____________________
GSXR 600 K6 - Stolen
GSXR 600 K6 - Stolen
MT09 - Almost stolen

[ocatoro]

yeah the go pros mountings are something i don't really like at all. and all the cases are just ways of grabbing a tonne of money on top of an already expensive camera.

how does the slider button work on the contour? does it just slide back and forth and click into position? that's something i like about my drift is the remote, and it beeps for on and off... so i know it's actioned my request.
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[TheArchitect]

[ScaredyCat]

[weasley]

I also have the Roam 2 and used it extensively over 450 miles this weekend. My observations:

Battery life was better than expected. I got nearly 2 hours of full HD footage on one charge.

It charges via a mini USB port, but to do this you have to open the hatch on the back, rendering it unwaterproof (and quite vulnerable). I wouldn't use it plugged it. However I have a mini USB cable on my bike to run my satnav, so I charge it using that at break times.

The form factor is useful, although I bought the optional strap-on mount for use on the bike (you get the stick-on ones bundled with it).

It is pretty light.

Footage is good enough, although not up to GoPro IMHO.

You can't review the footage at all and neither can you change any camera settings without plugging it into a PC. You can download video files to an iPad if you have the camera connector kit.

I think Contour have gone under.

It has a tripod screw thread on it, so you can use all sorts of mounts for it. I also have a cheap windscreen sucker mount for it.

The on/off switch is very easy to operate with gloves on. Mine beeps when recording starts and again when it stops. There is a lock on the switch to prevent accidental activation.

It is waterproof to 1m. I rode through Welsh storms this weekend at a variety of speeds and it came through fine.

Overall, for the money I like it.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[barrkel]

GoPro has the best sensors / circuitry for equivalent generations, but the form factor - i.e. the shape - is very awkward for a helmet. If it was barrel-shaped and water resistant out of the box, I'd have one, but instead I've bought two Drifts over the years - HD170 Stealth and HD Ghost.

The remotes with the Drifts are pretty pointless IMO, since they don't save much battery life. Standby on the Drift is about the same as recording in 720p - about 2h30m - though less than recording 1080p or higher frame rates. The continual record with marking feature is also kind of pointless if you're wearing a helmet cam in case you have an accident - if you're not unconscious, you'll probably be in shock and forget to mark it.

So to my mind it comes down to a compromise between the form factor of the Drift products vs the slightly higher video quality and broader range of accessories for GoPro.

I have two batteries for my drift, and a charger. That means I never have to wait for it to charge up, and the only time I plug it in over USB is when touring, where both batteries will have been drained over the day and I need to charge both in parallel. I say this to make the point that battery life on any of these devices isn't long enough for all day use when touring, and more than long enough for most commutes, so comparisons based on battery life don't point strongly one way or the other.

For me it all comes down to the shape.

Contour are out of it unless you're specifically looking for a bargain, IMO.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[jonbee56]

Roam 2 here as well & likewise the battery only lasts over 2 hours. So I bought 2 of them

Quality isn't A1 but I don't think it's as ostentatious as a Go pro stuck on top of the head. Sleek & easy to operate. Takes a few hours from flat to full charge, & yep Contour have gone under so I'm not sure of any warranty now.
Not really for public video, more like an insurance option & the sound recording is crap.

You get what you pay for, but I class the Roam 2 as good value for money
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CBF125 > Hornet 600 (x2) > CBR600F -- slowly getting better
"If you can't turn it, then burn it"

[ocatoro]

this is the drift i was looking at. seems like nobody here actually using it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Drift-Innovation-DHD-Action-Camera/dp/B005H2RDK6

essentially it's better than mine but sort of the same. i think i'll stump for it (seen it cheaper, but amazon link was easy as i'm in france atm)... until i can afford the ghost... and then be wholly satisfied

been touring in mx5, with mate on bike... jealous, hopefully come back asap on 2 wheels..., journey's been epic! my x170 has been pretty good really, just obviously not the same sort of quality as newer gear. it's been plugged in the whole time as it takes AA batteries which it eats in all of 5-10 minutes...
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[groovylee]

if you want to go cheaper, and dont mind the gopro style, then take a look at the AEE SD20 on Clas Ohlson. pretty much the same as the gopro, but only £70 delivered. i have one, and got 3 hours recording out of the battery, a 32GB card will last way longer than the battery, and you get all of the stuff included that you have to pay extra for with the gopro.

a remote can also be had for about £20
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Past - 1988 honda revere 600, 1996 kawasaki gpz500s, 1999 Yamaha R6

Current - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R & 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R

[-Matt-]

I'm using a Drift 720. Paid 99 quid for mine new a few months ago so should be fair bit less if you look around and check ebay regularly

Love it personally - actually prefer it to the 1080 resolution cameras personally, as the quality is good enough for me and it means i'm not flooding the memory card in a matter of hours. Two 32gb cards can last me literally days of solid all day riding recording.

Like the mounting options with the Drift too compared to many of the GoPros and similar on pod-mounts etc.

[ginny]

I'm selling a GoPro HD Hero 2 for 160... includes everything from the motorsports pack (inc. suction mount) minus 2 curved mounts and the J hook...

Very good condition, I'm bikeless at the moment and only ever used it to record a few commutes and a holiday in Greece.

PM if interested.

[ScaredyCat]