Bikers What Cam Do You Use?

TallPaul_S · 12 Oct 2015 at 10:57

Do it! Apart from the battery life it's a great bit of kit. You'll get some condensation when it's cold outside as the camera heats up in the case, but even gopros do that. Some of the anti-fog sheets and some anti fog spray on the inside of the case should sort it.

wazza300 · 12 Oct 2015 at 13:14

is it the same model as yours? im reading different versions and early versions suffered from poor mic/out of focus (hardware fault)

TallPaul_S · 12 Oct 2015 at 23:43

The out of focus thing - I think they're meant for the 'selfie' market and have the focus set at a close distance - mine seems to have stuff nice and sharp between 2ft and 20ft, with stuff in the distance being out of focus. It should be anything from 2m to infinity that's in focus, mine is deffo focused a little too close, but I've just adjusted the focus on mine - it's not that hard a job tbh. Although I'll have to wait to see what it's like as I don't have a micro HDMI cable, thought it was a mini HDMI port. Doh!

bimbleuk · 13 Oct 2015 at 01:30

I haven't read the whole post as I'm not a biker but has anyone mentioned techmoan.com as he rides and has tested a few "helmet" cams.

Evil^ · 13 Oct 2015 at 02:09

Xiaomi Yi

Day was very overcast doesn't do it justice.

Maybe this is better?

I've used the KingMA waterproof case for it and the official and the official is miles better than the KingMa (the latch was funny on it) I have had to use the anti mist pad things in though especially on warm days!

You can get the official case for like 8 quid takes about a week and half to come maybe.

TallPaul_S · 13 Oct 2015 at 09:09

I find it's the opposite for misting - the camera gets warm after being on for 20 minutes, and when it's cold outside the temp difference means you get a ring of mist on the inside.

Do those anti-fog pads work? I'm finding as it's cold it the mornings I'm misting up half way through my commute!

gcaster · 13 Oct 2015 at 12:47

Anyone know if John Lewis price match Tesco Direct? I'm gonna get myself a GoPro after a close call with some daft cow yesterday morning (deliberate as well!). Was gonna go for Innovv but a fixed cam would have missed it all.

Evil^ · 13 Oct 2015 at 12:56

TallPaul_S said:
I find it's the opposite for misting - the camera gets warm after being on for 20 minutes, and when it's cold outside the temp difference means you get a ring of mist on the inside.

Do those anti-fog pads work? I'm finding as it's cold it the mornings I'm misting up half way through my commute!

The reason I say this is I have been out in a belter of a day and in about 20 minutes the camera lens was completely misted up.

I have used them about a week but with the recent dip in weather I've not been able to get much footage anyway the only bits I have got are going over and back to Bradford haha but it does seem to be better.

were as in a cooler day after the same amount of time

wazza300 · 13 Oct 2015 at 13:03

if you can show john lewis Tesco's price,then I cant see why they wont match it,they are usually good like that

gcaster · 13 Oct 2015 at 13:11

Just got my email through, took them about 2 hours to confirm it and yes they will.
I was a bit dubious with it being Tesco Direct (online only pricing) rather than just Tesco.

TallPaul_S · 13 Oct 2015 at 13:44

That misting :eek:

I've never had it as bad as the first picture, only the 2nd one, although I have had it when it's in direct sunlight in the watm and in cold.

TallPaul_S · 13 Oct 2015 at 19:27

You guys seen the rare and exclusive "semi blackout" version of the Xiaomi Yi?

As it's getting darker I'm more aware that the blue (and some of the time, girly pink) ring LED is seriously bright, so I've modded mine a little

And the blind focus adjust has made a bit of difference, will have to wait until the weekend until it's light to set it properly, but it's definitely better.

wazza300 · 13 Oct 2015 at 19:38

isn't the case vented? supposed to stop it misting up like that

I bet a spray of that antifog for visors would work aswell

TallPaul_S · 13 Oct 2015 at 19:53

It's a waterproof case, if it was vented, well, it wouldn't be waterproof

wazza300 · 13 Oct 2015 at 20:00

haha that's why then,steamy windows

surely a tiny pin hole at the bottom would be fine

Evil^ · 13 Oct 2015 at 22:28

That was my next try, anyone recommend any? (antifog stuffs)

I forgot to pick some up when I was last at squires

One · 15 Oct 2015 at 22:47

TallPaul_S said:
You guys seen the rare and exclusive "semi blackout" version of the Xiaomi Yi?

As it's getting darker I'm more aware that the blue (and some of the time, girly pink) ring LED is seriously bright, so I've modded mine a little

And the blind focus adjust has made a bit of difference, will have to wait until the weekend until it's light to set it properly, but it's definitely better.

You can just turn the ring led off in the settings lol

Also it's worth pointing out that you need a smart phone to properly operate the yi. There's also a python script you can download to do from your laptop.

TallPaul_S · 15 Oct 2015 at 23:01

But if I turn the ring off I can't tell if it's recording, as the 3 tiny little red lights are impossible to see.

You need a smartphone for doing time lapse stuff, and altering the settings, yes, but not for normal video. Set it whatever you want, 1080/60 etc. turn on, press record, job done.

One · 16 Oct 2015 at 19:26

TallPaul_S said:
But if I turn the ring off I can't tell if it's recording, as the 3 tiny little red lights are impossible to see.

You need a smartphone for doing time lapse stuff, and altering the settings, yes, but not for normal video. Set it whatever you want, 1080/60 etc. turn on, press record, job done.

The last sentence negates the first sentence

TallPaul_S · 16 Oct 2015 at 20:07

Well... yes you don't need to see that it's recording - but it's always good to be able to check to make sure it's not run out of battery, or died for some other reason.