My camera's and set up, inc helmet camera

Ekka · 28th April 2007, 04:03 PM

I get asked this all the time so I'll sticky it.

The Helmet Camera (Helcam)

I bought my helmet mounted camera from

http://www.helmetcameras.com.au/

And I bought what they call their Six Day pack. Unusual name but that's what I got.

Quote:

"SIX DAY" is a 580 line Sony based camera system with all the features of the top of the line "killer".. excellent colour reproduction, the fastest aperture shifting camera in it's class and broadcast quality reproduction.

580 line waterproof SONY super HAD CCD colour camera with sunhood

Now you have to know that in Australia we use the PAL system. Our standard cameras shoot at 576 pixels verticle resolution not 480 pixels like NTSC from USA.

More info about that here.

So I chose a matching helmet camera.

The helmet camera has excellent colour and light/shade reproduction, better then the video camera itself. There's different degrees of lenses as far as wide angles go ... I just got their most popular one and it doesn't compress too much at all.

The actual bullet camera that velcro's to where ever is only around 20mm dia and 75mm long. It has a little sun hood thing which did put a round shadow on the corners of the picture so I filed it off.

You'll notice in this video of Graeme's that the very corners have a slight rounding, that's the bits I filed off. Also you'll notice the wider angle lense he has really "bubbles" the tree trunk out. So these are things you need to be aware of.

Also a small mono mic which is pretty sensitive is connected, I just have this taped to the bullet cam and connected to left channel audio, I could connect it to both but I like to put music on the clips.

The Camcorder

First of all the model I use takes mini DV tape. There's models that burn direct to disc, store on hard drives etc but so far the best recording medium is digi tape and that's from the pro's telling me.

My camera is a Sony DCR-TRV15E PAL about 4 years old now. About 2 years ago a customer accidently knocked it off a balcony and it fell about 10' onto gravel/stones ... damaged the heads. I took it to the Sony repair guy and looked new models over when he gave me the news, $550 to fix! Now you can buy new cameras for that much but I didn't ... coz the new cheap cameras dont stack up with features or the strength as this one has a lot of metal in it.

So the camera was repaired and hasn't missed a beat since. This camera in the field gets some rough treatment. Heat, dust, vibration and the occasional dropping and wetting! But it cranks on, tough.

I like Sony's for camcorders. If I were to buy a new one it would be a Sony HD top end job around $2k here.

The picture below shows the connections it has.

The best feature is the LANC controller, a Sony and Canon only feature. What the rave about this feature is when you plug in the helcam you plug a little thumb operated controller into here.

A green light indicates power on and standby. A red light indicates recording in progress An alternating green/red blinking light indicates low battery and warns you when you have less than 5 minutes left on the tape. A blinking red light indicates that the camera is in PHOTO mode or in other ways not yet ready for recording.

When climbing trees and using the helcam, I have a camel pack on my back which has the camcorder, battery pack for helcam etc in it ... out of that camel pack comes a little wire with the thumb controller to turn off/on for taping.

Streyken · 28th April 2007, 04:55 PM

Thanks for the info! Been thinking about getting a setup.

Kevin · 28th April 2007, 05:16 PM

Good info on that Eric, thanks.

allmarktree · 28th April 2007, 07:14 PM

I use the same camera with the same lanc remote on a sony hc32 handycam for all my videos. Simple and works great.

Ekka · 28th April 2007, 07:19 PM

I always wonder how awkward the show would be without that little LANC.

Also, how many times to you headbut a branch with the camera and wonder if it's OK?

The camera that is.

mdvaden · 29th April 2007, 09:39 AM

The website you posted has good information. It's nice that they labeled the components and explained how to mount it.

shaggs · 2nd October 2007, 01:27 AM

ekka
i know you get it all the time (and the fence sitting flack!) but we really appreciate your vids. just watched you pine tree one and will certainly be trying out thosed double braid loops. the learning curve just gets steeper and my kids love them too!!! pretty soon they will be putting up ekka posters next to their spiderman and high 5 posters......just as long as the mrs dont ask for one!!!!! ha ha ha

TrevMcRev · 26th December 2007, 02:41 AM

Going shopping for a video camera tommorow

TREEMONKEY · 26th January 2008, 07:16 AM

I just bought this helmet cam no wires seems really nice i will post videos once i get cutting again and the 1 1/2 meters of snow goes away. water proof shock resistant and fire resistant.

Firefighting Helmet Video Camera - Fire Helmet Camera Home

Greg

Ekka · 26th January 2008, 03:16 PM

Says only $170, must be USD, I think that's with everything ready to go.

Well, grab it and lets see what it's like, cant go wrong at that price.

TREEMONKEY · 27th January 2008, 01:27 PM

I just found 20 of them on E bay this morning I showed friends i work with at the fire hall and now I am ordering 4 more for friends 99$ each Canadian. I am not sure of the exchange

fire helmet cam, Digital Cameras, Cameras Photo items on eBay.com

I am Working At the firehall till Monday so should have videos buy tuesday night i will post some videos then to show camera quality.

Greg

squad143 · 23rd March 2008, 06:32 PM

With the F.D. I work for, its big trouble if you video or take pics at a call (or going to). Been thinking on getting a setup for treework.

This camera you posted seems a lot less expensive than the units I've been looking at.

Post some footage when you get a chance, even if it is of some snow banks.

28th April 2007, 04:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Streyken Fly'n Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 206	Thanks for the info! Been thinking about getting a setup. __________________ Trimmin' bush and caring for flowers is good 'n' all... but sometimes ya gotta let the big wood fly and pound the garden.

28th April 2007, 07:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,669	I always wonder how awkward the show would be without that little LANC. Also, how many times to you headbut a branch with the camera and wonder if it's OK? The camera that is. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

29th April 2007, 09:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
mdvaden Astronaut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 578	The website you posted has good information. It's nice that they labeled the components and explained how to mount it. __________________ ____________________________________ Grove of Redwood TITANS Oregon BIGOOT trap

2nd October 2007, 01:27 AM	#7 (permalink)
shaggs Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: May 2007 Location: sydney Posts: 459	Re: My camera's and set up, inc helmet camera ekka i know you get it all the time (and the fence sitting flack!) but we really appreciate your vids. just watched you pine tree one and will certainly be trying out thosed double braid loops. the learning curve just gets steeper and my kids love them too!!! pretty soon they will be putting up ekka posters next to their spiderman and high 5 posters......just as long as the mrs dont ask for one!!!!! ha ha ha

26th December 2007, 02:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
TrevMcRev Astronaut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Posts: 672	Re: My camera's and set up, inc helmet camera Going shopping for a video camera tommorow __________________ Melbourne Arborist, Total Tree Care, Pruning, Tree and Stump Removal

28th April 2007, 05:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kevin Gettin' motoring Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 19	Good info on that Eric, thanks.

28th April 2007, 07:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
allmarktree Fly'n Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Albany, New York Posts: 132	I use the same camera with the same lanc remote on a sony hc32 handycam for all my videos. Simple and works great.

26th January 2008, 07:16 AM	#9 (permalink)
TREEMONKEY Cruisin' Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ONTARIO, CANADA Posts: 84	Re: My camera's and set up, inc helmet camera I just bought this helmet cam no wires seems really nice i will post videos once i get cutting again and the 1 1/2 meters of snow goes away. water proof shock resistant and fire resistant. Firefighting Helmet Video Camera - Fire Helmet Camera Home Greg __________________

26th January 2008, 03:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,669	Re: My camera's and set up, inc helmet camera Says only $170, must be USD, I think that's with everything ready to go. Well, grab it and lets see what it's like, cant go wrong at that price. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

27th January 2008, 01:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
TREEMONKEY Cruisin' Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ONTARIO, CANADA Posts: 84	Re: My camera's and set up, inc helmet camera I just found 20 of them on E bay this morning I showed friends i work with at the fire hall and now I am ordering 4 more for friends 99$ each Canadian. I am not sure of the exchange fire helmet cam, Digital Cameras, Cameras Photo items on eBay.com I am Working At the firehall till Monday so should have videos buy tuesday night i will post some videos then to show camera quality. Greg __________________

23rd March 2008, 06:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
squad143 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1	Re: My camera's and set up, inc helmet camera With the F.D. I work for, its big trouble if you video or take pics at a call (or going to). Been thinking on getting a setup for treework. This camera you posted seems a lot less expensive than the units I've been looking at. Post some footage when you get a chance, even if it is of some snow banks.

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