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POV Helmet Cams
from Dirtvideo
The VIO
POV 1.5 sports helmet camera is an integrated unit that
sits at the higher end of the helmet cam market in terms of price.
Given that there are plenty of cheaper options out there why did I buy
one of these helmet cams and
more importantly why should you buy one from me instead of one of the
cheaper helmet cameras?
Like anything else the
reason is simple. The more
money you spend on a helmet cam the better the image and sound, the
easier it is to setup and use and the
more durable the product is. Contact me for
competitive $NZ price. Visit our home page
and video page for examples of footage we
have
taken with a POV1.5. for more reasons to buy one.
The POV 1.5 comes
pre-loaded with the firmware
upgrade that allows you to use up to an 8GB Sd card and comes with its
own 4GB SD card. The 4GB card will hold almost 3 hours of footage on
the highest
quality settings.
A further firmware
upgrade that enhances image quality is available
from the VIo site-now
that's something that you don't get with most cameras!
The other great thing
about these units is that
they are powered by 4 AA batteries. After three hours you just slip in
another card and 4 more rechargables if you need to and carry on
filming.
The POV 1.5 is a great
way to capture your action footage for a wide range of sports or
activities. Mount the camera on your helmet, in your car. Take it
parachuting, skiing, kyaking, or skateboarding. Use the footage as a
training or analysis resource.
Purchase via Bank
Transfer.
Packs include:
- POV.1.5 recorder with LCD display
- Wide Angle camera head 110 degrees
- LVDS Cable
- POV Manager software
- Wireless Remote Control
- 4GB SDHC Card
- USB cable
- Analog A/V cable
- Quick Start Guide
- Carrying Case
- Double-Hook and Loop Mount
- Star Mount
Features:
- High-quality wearable video camera records with
720 x 480 resolution at 30fps
- Ergonomic user interface design enables
single-handed operation and hands-free video capture
- Modular mounting system provides camera
stability while attached to helmets or other high impact gear
- Components are shock-resistant, water-resistant
and dustproof for use in the most hazardous environment
- For NZ conditions get the Nuke proof mount.
More Technical stuff (PDF
file) User Guide
Pictures and a sample of the accessories available
for the POV 1.5
The Unit:
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Nuke Proof mount (recommended) |
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Tubular rail mount |
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C Clamp |
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Mount kit |
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Wide flange mount |
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Ultra clamp |
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Roll bar mount |
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Universal mount |
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Adjustable goggle strap |
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Adjustable headstrap mount |
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Replacement Camera head |
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The sample videos in the lower panel were created
using a combination of the VIO POV 1.5 and a Panasonic handy cam
Go to the Home page and all Video page to watch longer versions of
some of these movies.
FAQ
How
much recording time do I get on the 4GB card?
Video
yield rates for the 4GB card are:
Highest
Quality Setting (720x480, 30fps, high quality): approximately 3 hours
Lowest
Quality Setting (320x240, 15fps, low quality): approximately 30 hrs
What
is the largest card size I can use?
8GB
(6Hours
How
long will the batteries last?
This
depends a lot on the type of batteries you use. A good set of Ni-MH
rechargeable batteries will
last approximately 4-5 hours and a
good set of Lithium Ion batteries will last approximately 10 hours.
Does
the POV shoot in widescreen?
You
can select the 720*400 resolution which will record in widescreen
Is
a wide angle or telphoto lens available?
The
POV1.5 comes standard with a 2.97mm wide angle lens, which gives an
effective field of view of 110 degrees.
Is
the POV1.5 waterproof?
The
POV1.5 camera is waterproof to 1m (including the recording unit).
There is also a waterproof bag available that is rated to 3m.
Do
I need a video camera to record onto?
No,
the POV1.5 is a complete system that comes with it's own recording
device that records the video onto an SD memory card.
Does
the POV1.5 record audio?
Yes,
the POV1.5 has a microphone embedded into the cable that joins the
helmet camera to the recording unit. It has been specially designed
to cut-out wind noise and you can adjust the sensitvity to suit your
use (i.e for motorsports, reduce the microphone sensitivity). There
is also an external microphone input (3.5mm jack) so you can hook up
your own microphone - great for hooking up to intercom systems.
Can
I watch my videos back on the POV1.5?
Yes,
the POV1.5 has a colour screen which you can play your videos on
straight away. When you get home you can also hook the POV1.5 up to
your television with the supplied AV cable and watch the videos on
your TV.
A few Helmet Cam tips
and tricks:
- If you are anything like me when you go riding
the last thing you actually think about is making sure that the cam is
actually pointed in the direction required to get the bike in front of
you in shot.
- Experiment with your cam before you go riding
and mark some mounting points on your helmet or bike so you don't have
to experiment on the day.
- The mic on the POV is very sensitive-I tape the
cable to my helmet so that it sits low on the back of the helmet-at the
nape of my neck and for good measure tape over the mic itself to cut
down on wind noise.
- Experiment with the sound settings to get the
bike noise right.
- Make sure that your batteries are charged and
you have spares and spare recording media.
- When you are out riding stop every so often and
get someone to check that the camera lens is free of dirt,sand, and or
water.
- Carry some duct tape and cable ties in case the
mount comes loose.
- Match your mount position to the riding
conditions-putting the camera on the top of your helmet when ploughing
through a pine plantation is an invitation to get it knocked off. No
matter how robust these units are they will only take so many hits.
- The lower the mounting position the faster it
looks as if you are moving.
- Edit your video and be ruthless about what you
keep.
- Units like the POV compress the video using the
DVix codec. If your PC struggles to edit your video covert it to
another format prior to editing. I convert the files to mpegs.
- External microphone level- I have this set in
the midrange (5) as
the mic is very sensitive. I tape it to the back of my helmet and have
the mic at the nape of my neck and covered with duct tape it
still
picks up any (my) speech and bike noise ok.Depending on what you want
you will need to play with this.
- I have the video settings on the highest
quality setting and a
resolution of 720x480-I still have the recorder screen on high
- The polycarbonate screens for the nukeproof
mount are not very scratch
resistant so you need to be careful cleaning them. I am investigating
silicon sprays and getting extra screens from my optician.
- The kits come with a USB cable and AV cables so
hooking the unit
into your TV or computer for playback and downloading are simple. The
PC will pick it up as another drive..
- Depending on
what you are going to store the footage in you might need to get some
more SD cards. The unit will take an 8gig card that would give you
almost 6 hours of filming at the highest quality settings. I am not
sure if the batteries would last quite that long.
Sample videos made by us and others using the VIO
POV 1.5:
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