[Closed] Camera required for Work Commute.

Budget?

If you're after a helmet mounted one I'd say gopro session or some kind of bullet shaped cam. You'd want to make sure the bullet cam has a decent enough battery though, a lot are crap.

I've got an sj4000 at the mo but it's a bit bulky for helmet mounting, I've got it under my garmin, but it's no good for grassing up phone users there.

Some of these car drivers need reporting or I will end up in prison.

Whilst I sympathise, all that will happen is commuting will be even more faff with charging another device, you'll send any footage to the police, and nothing will happen.

Spend the money on the BC cyclecraft book instead.

Won't you need a camera for at least forwards and backwards?

There are those fancy Fly6 rear lights now that have a camera.

I use a Contour Roam 3.

Nice compact camera, waterproof without additional case, lots of resolution/sounds level customisation etc. Loads of mounting options and battery lasts just over 2hrs per charge at a decent(will have to check) resolution. Takes maximum 32GB micro SD cards.

Was a gift so can't comment on cost, but it's good, also gets used snowboarding.

I have a Fly12 and a Fly6. You wouldn't want to mount the 12 on a helmet. Image quality is very good. I mount mine with a dual K-Edge Garmin on best bike and a standard supplied Go Pro mount on others. I also run them both on low flashing during daylight.

Not cheap, but very good.

the camera will make you less safe.

Whilst I sympathise, all that will happen is commuting will be even more faff with charging another device, you'll send any footage to the police, and nothing will happen.

Spend the money on the BC cyclecraft book instead.

I agree with the 'nothing will happen' comment. Don't get one thinking you'll be cleaning up the roads by reporting people, you'll just waste your time.

I still think a camera is a useful tool, as an insurance policy rather than as an 'active' thing though. Should I get run over I'll have evidence that I was acting correctly and that the driver was at fault. I'll also hopefully have the number plate of the car and a good shot of the driver to avoid any "wasn't me guv" nonsense.

I use a gopro fixed to my backpack shoulder strap for the front and a (currently broke, but being replaced under warranty) Fly6 for the rear. They're both good, and also both subtle. It's not obvious that the Fly6 is a camera at all, and the GoPro is only visible once someone has passed me, there's no obvious silhouette on my head.

Used to use a helmet mounted Contour, wouldn't want a GoPro shaped camera on my helmet.

I've been considering a camera recently too, I'd want a helmet mounted one.

Problem is they're so big and obvious- I really want a very discreet one so other road users are totally unaware that they are being recorded.

I think it will make you less safe too. Cyclist with cameras always seam a bit angry.

Won't help you if you get hit either

Won't help you if you get hit either

What do you mean? It won't stop a collision, sure. But in my experience it helps when a dodgy driver with a history of failing to name drivers (herself, probably) knocks you off your bike.

If you want it for the purpose of evidence of close passing then a rear facing one is much better than helmet mounted forward facing.

FunkyDunc - Member
I think it will make you less safe too. Cyclist with cameras always seam a bit angry.

Won't help you if you get hit either

How wouldn't it?

I was following a car the other day that had just turned into a side street. Suddenly stopped barely into the street so I was directly behind it with nowhere to go. He suddenly reversed straight into me. Had I been knocked off/bike damaged with no one around he could have quite easily claimed I'd gone into the back of him.

How wouldn't it?

In your specific case, if you had gone into the back of him then you were going too fast to stop in the distance you could see was clear. That he didn't indicate might have made it knock for knock, but it's still your fault.

A back on your last post, but there's no point being dead right and dead as motorcycle instructors are always saying.

Problem is they're so big and obvious- I really want a very discreet one so other road users are totally unaware that they are being recorded.

You'd be safer painting your Go-pro fluorescent yellow and getting high-vis tabards with "cameras recording" embalzened on them. Then you won't get close passes, left hooks, or 90% of other car-bike issues. In the same way speed cameras don't to catch people speeding, they pretty much stop it entirely (for that small bit of road anyway).

Cyclist with cameras always seam a bit angry.

You don't see all of the people who have cameras that DON'T post anything online. You also don't see videos from all of the angry cyclists who don't have cameras, because there isn't any video. And you don;t see videos from the angry cyclists who have cameras but don't post the footage online. You probably also don't see footage from all of the non-angry cyclists who do have cameras and do post the footage online, because it's boring so stays low in the youtube rankings and never gets 'suggested' or pops up on a road.cc story or goes viral.

In your specific case, if you had gone into the back of him then you were going too fast to stop in the distance you could see was clear. That he didn't indicate might have made it knock for knock, but it's still your fault.

I think you'd better read that again...

I was following a car the other day that had just turned into a side street. Suddenly stopped barely into the street so I was directly behind it with nowhere to go.[b] He suddenly reversed straight into me[/b]

EDIT: that's actually a pretty perfect example of why a camera would have helped!

I have one of these mounted underneath the bars, hardly noticeable. Not the best picture quality, but it doesn't need to be, can clearly see reg. plates.

http://www.veho-muvi.com/muvi_product/muvi-micro/

I got knocked off twice, first time lady admitted fault to the Police, they did nothing, second time, hit and run from a Transit van, witness behind gave Police the registration and said they were happy to have a statement taken, police did nothing despite me suffering broken ribs.

So i don't want to be a "road-warrior" and i'm sure if i reguarly posted up every idiot that pulled out of a junction or passed to close, my wife would never let me on a bike again.

But the next time someone knocks me off and Police do nothing, i'll have evidence to seek a Civil prosecution at least.

thisisnotaspoon - Member
In your specific case, if you had gone into the back of him then you were going too fast to stop in the distance you could see was clear. That he didn't indicate might have made it knock for knock, but it's still your fault.

Sorry this is a little off topic now, how is that my fault?

Maybe I didn't explain the situation better; I had been following him up an empty 20mph road (v.good distance away) in the right hand position indicating to go right, he suddenly stopped after turning into the right hand side street (without indicating but that's not important). I was directly behind as there was no way anyone could have predicted a stop on an empty road, say 3-5 foot away. I myself had stopped but still clipped in, and was waiting to see what he was doing (again no indication & didn't want to overtake for him to set off while I was). But I didn't get a chance to do anything as he suddenly whacked it into reverse and went straight into me.

Sorry this is a little off topic now, how is that my fault?

Yep, sorry, I read it, read another post then went back to my reply with the scenario in my head that you'd just ridden into the back of a car after turning into a side street.

Back to the OP's question: I tried one of those Raider 30 bullet cams, but found that although it was pretty small, the way it attached to a helmet and the user interface was pretty naff. A couple of firmware lockups, and I returned it.

I've been running a Drift Stealth 2 HD for the last month. Pretty small, battery lasts me for 3-4 days of 20-30 mins commuting each way, attaches easily via a decent clip to the helmet (or bars). Key for me was also being able to have it record a date/time stamp on the output, and run in loop mode, so it just overwrites once the memory card is full. Seems good so far, and pretty good value for about £87.

Without responding to the trolling buffoons (entitled to their stupid opinions, I suppose), there are plenty of cameras, HD, pen style, so not so obvious as a helmet mounted one, on eBay.
Can't provide links at work.
I had a little sports bullet cam thing for a few years, was £60, worked really well.
Now have a stem mounted Shimano one, which isn't as good in one respect in that it's too wide-angle. Nice, stable image from a top-cap mount though.
It also has a iphone app, which makes reviewing (and mostly deleting) the footage quick and easy.
I did try it helmet mounted, but, even though it's tiny, was always aware of the weight and wind resistance of it and couldn't reach the button or see the "filming" light without taking my helmet off, so didn't like that.

I've ridden every day for the past 3 months with it and only had 2 "post-worthy" incidents. Despite obviously riding to work really angry and looking to get knocked off so I had something good filmed. 🙄

I'm happy to say that my rear facing Fly6 has provided Police with all the evidence they need, and will now be used as part of a very serious civil prosecution.

It's a good light that happens to also be a camera. The Fly 12 on the front is a bit more bulky, but is really a joystick taped to an HD camera. Mounted under a Garmin, it takes little space.

I'm pleased with both and not particularly angry 😉 . I have however been assaulted and subject to a serious hit and run accident in the past.

Spotted these earlier: iVUE Camera 8GB Crossfire 720P HD Action Camera Glasses Sport POV Video Recording DVR Eyewear (Black, 140° Wide Angle Lens) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CB25RCQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_o5l7xbG8Z71VZ

a few of us in my group have the gopro session. one of the guys also has a hero 4 and 3. he also has a mobius action camera. very cheap in comparison to the gopros and the picture quality is quite impressive.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mobius-Action-Camera-1080P-Sports-Black/dp/B00DP1WYD2