Motorcycle action camera

In recent years, more and more cyclists or bikers can be seen, with cameras wearing helmets. The task of these devices is to fix events on the road. In both cases, not ordinary video recorders are used, but action cameras. And this is a logical explanation. A camera for a motorcycle or other two-wheeled vehicle is better for several reasons. Below they will be discussed in more detail.

Why does a motorcyclist or a cyclist need an action camera?

Most often, when seeing a biker or a cyclist with a DVR on a helmet, the thought arises that they take off their races in order to show off. To some extent this is true, because motorcycle and bicycle racing can be attributed to extreme sports, and there is something to see.Many cyclists perform a trick and carry out descents along difficult tracks - it is very interesting to see it from the first person. Bikers can shoot great views and convey the beauty of movement at high speed, but in their case, the action camera also helps to capture what is happening on the road, so that in the event of an accident you can understand what was happening at that moment.

The main reasons why fans of two-wheeled transport prefer to use action cameras, rather than DVRs, are as follows.

1. These devices are designed for extreme use, they not afraid of shock, water and shaking. The last fact is very important, because riding a bike on the road and making a high-quality video without constant jerks is very difficult. In addition, when riding in the open air there is always a chance to get under the rain, a regular recorder will not survive such a trip.
2. Modern action cameras have remote control functionThat is, the record start button can be attached to the steering wheel, and the camera itself is at that moment on the helmet. The driver does not need to search for the button, just press it on the steering wheel.And in general, such a device has a simpler control, designed for the user to turn on or off recording in gloves, that is, there is a need for a minimum of buttons with a maximum size.
3. The action camera is equipped with a huge number of useful accessories that allow you to fix it on the helmet, mount on the bike. Special protective box allows you to attach the camera to the helmet and make it as ergonomic as possible so that it does not blow off at high speed.
4. Another important advantage of action cameras is long battery life and excellent shooting quality. A high-quality camera has 4K video resolution, devices with FullHD video quality, less often HD are also widespread. A smaller resolution does not occur, and there is no sense in such a camera, because the high quality of shooting can be called their distinctive feature. As mentioned above, they are not afraid of shocks, blows, water, dirt and other natural phenomena.

Criteria for choosing a camera for a motorcycle

Considering the fact that riding a motorcycle or bicycle implies increased danger, exposure to natural phenomena, as well as the employment of both hands,There are several important points that can help you buy the perfect camera for your bike or motorcycle.

1. Low weight and size.
2. Ergonomic box with protection against impact, falling, dirt and water.
3. High quality video and stabilization.
4. Wide viewing angle.
5. Record video with fixing time and date of shooting.
6. Existence of fastenings of the camera for the head or on a wheel of the bicycle / motorcycle.
7. Convenient control on the case or a separate power button.
8. Capacious battery.
9. Availability of GPS - sensor and G-sensor. The first one marks on the video the geographical position of the location of the shooting, and the second one automatically turns on the devices at the slightest camera movement.

How to attach a camera to a bike or motorcycle

There are several ways to attach the device to a bicycle or motorcycle: on the steering wheel, on the forehead, on the chest, on the tank or on the frame, on the remote mount.

In the first case, it is necessary to check that it has the correct viewing angle, because it is very dangerous to reconfigure it while driving, and it may turn out that the video will only see the ground under the front wheel. At mounting device on the steering wheel It is best to make it closer to the axis, so that when you turn the steering wheel, the shooting angle does not change much.

Mount on the steering wheel is a preferred option, if the recording is not for further display familiar, but only to have a video in the event of an emergency or any other unpleasant situation.

Motorcycle helmet mount carried out with the help of a special holder. It does not interfere with the use of the helmet itself and at the same time holds the camera securely. For extreme shooting, such a device placement option is preferable, since the captured video displays exactly what the driver sees.

Can secure the camera on the chest, the view in this case is quite interesting. The advantage of such a device location is the most stable shooting.

At mount the camera on a motorcycle tank should use special double-sided tape or stickies. In this case, the holder must be high enough for the camera to be above the steering wheel.

Lovers of unusual angles used all sorts of remote mount, which can be located in the area of ​​the legs, on the frame, on the steering wheel and on the same helmet.The peculiarity of such a shooting is that it is being conducted as if from the outside. Here the angle will be the original, the longer the fasteners.

In most cases, the camera is sold with a protective box, but without mounting for a bicycle or on a helmet. Buying them is not any difficulty. Currently, the cameras have enough standardized appearanceThat is why there are a lot of accessories for sale that will fit the models of various brands. The most preferred option for a bike or motorcycle is a type of camera with a rectangular shape, the matrix in this case is located on a larger face.. A prominent representative are the devices from the brand GoPro.

Important rule! It is impossible to mount the camera on the unfixed elements, for example, the wings above the wheels. In addition, a bad place is the exhaust pipe. They have a very strong heat, and any plastic mount on it will melt in a few minutes.

Tips for shooting a video while riding a motorcycle

In order for the video quality to be at a decent level, and the camera itself does not get damaged while driving, it is recommended to use a few simple tips.

To mount the camera should use keyto tighten the bolts. He will allow this to be done more firmly than his hands. When tightening it is necessary to act carefully so as not to damage the plastic fasteners or to disrupt the thread. In addition, it is important to check before each trip how firmly the device is fixed, because during vibrations or shakes, any fastenings have the properties to loosen.

While driving, you should remember that the camera shoots what you need. If the device was bought with a headband, then after setting it will remove everything that the operator is looking at. Models with fixation on the steering wheel or frame are usually removed straight ahead. It is also required here. adjust viewing angleand also periodically correct the camera. You can follow what is shooting the device on your own screen or via a smartphone, which can get a picture from the camera in real time. This is achieved by wirelessly connecting two devices.

It is worth noting that it is very inconvenient and dangerous to use a smartphone on a motorcycle or bicycle when driving, so it is better to carry out the setup and a small test drive to check that everything has been shot correctly.

For different weather conditions, you must configure the device in different ways. When driving at high speed With the camera mounted on your head, it is best to set the FullHD format and the number of frames from 60 to 240 per second. This will provide high-quality video. If shooting is in progress poor lighting conditionsit is better to stop at 30 frames, because otherwise the video will be grainy and of poor quality.

Optimal camera angle - from 100 to 170 degrees. The greater the angle, the more it will be fixed in the picture, but at the same time in low-cost devices, the clarity of the image may suffer.