Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: tunnie on 04 March 2011, 12:45:44
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Some may remember the cheapo eBay camera for a tenner I bought, think quite a few of you bought one!
It did not suit my needs, I wanted a bullet style camera with preview and larger storage, I saw some at the Isle of Man TT last year, but most systems where £300+
So que another eBay special:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mini-Bullet-Camera-DVR-Sony-HAD-CCD-Camcorder_W0QQitemZ320512577532QQcategoryZ11724QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp5197.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D2%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7497888816655390873#ht_5742wt_905
It comes with various mounts, 8Gb built in storage, and SD card slot for extended storage.
I 'bodged' a camera mount on my helmet and took the GS for a Spin, quite pleased with the results:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhVsMeCPsVM
Welcome comments on my road positioning at about 1 minute in, Bruccie? :)
I left it recording for some time, but it automatically cuts as it records into 10 minute chunks, (which is good when working with the clips)
Each 10 minute clip is about 220mb.
Wanted this so I can use it not only on my GS, but on my bicycle and when I go snowboarding.
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Got bored before you got to the A34, but can I point out (yet again!!) you lack of the 'lifesavers'. They are called that for a reason ;)
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Got bored before you got to the A34, but can I point out (yet again!!) you lack of the 'lifesavers'. They are called that for a reason ;)
Keep watching, before i reach it, the clip cuts to section on way to Stratford...
I looked all around before joining the Oxford Road :-?
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Got bored before you got to the A34, but can I point out (yet again!!) you lack of the 'lifesavers'. They are called that for a reason ;)
Keep watching, before i reach it, the clip cuts to section on way to Stratford...
I looked all around before joining the Oxford Road :-?
10s of watching someone else ride was enough to set the terribly sorry old boy, I am a little tireding off...
As you pulled out of the gayboy garage, I saw what looked like a glance at traffic on the dual carriageway, didn't look like a life saver. And certainly no left lifesaver ;)
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Got bored before you got to the A34, but can I point out (yet again!!) you lack of the 'lifesavers'. They are called that for a reason ;)
Keep watching, before i reach it, the clip cuts to section on way to Stratford...
I looked all around before joining the Oxford Road :-?
10s of watching someone else ride was enough to set the terribly sorry old boy, I am a little tireding off...
As you pulled out of the gayboy garage, I saw what looked like a glance at traffic on the dual carriageway, didn't look like a life saver. And certainly no left lifesaver ;)
Afraid to say I would agree... I didn't read any of the comments on this thread before I watched the video and spotted the same thing... Also, as you rode through the town it was obvious you were checking the mirrors carefully because you moved your head... No obvious mirror checks for the rest of the ride though (except possibly at the overtake ;)) :o
One observation on road positioning... There was a right hander about half way through where it looked like you had ended up positioned very close to the line... Great apart from the fact if you're leaning well over your body and head can end up in the flow of the oncoming traffic ;) Sounds petty but I have been out to the aftermath of an accident in exactly the same situation and it wasn't at all pretty :o
As for the camera... Seems to be adequate and suit your needs :y
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the look to the right was life saver, you can't see it from the camera, but I could see the round about in the distance, and both lanes coming off it.
I do fair bit of mirror checking but eyes, as the mirrors are fairly high up on the GS. Its also compilation clip of the fast bits
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Wasn't critising Mr T, just an observation from that short clip, and from our previous rides.
Its all too easy to get out of the habit once you have a licence. Please do try to get back in to the habit :y
I believe you would see head movement on the camera when you used mirrors. Those cameras show head movement when you fart...
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the look to the right was life saver, you can't see it from the camera, but I could see the round about in the distance, and both lanes coming off it.
I do fair bit of mirror checking but eyes, as the mirrors are fairly high up on the GS. Its also compilation clip of the fast bits
I thought that may be the case, which is why my comment was "Obvious" mirror checks ;) ;)
At the end of the day you've not been riding that long and you're still "learning" ;) There were a few points where I would have taken a different line or perhaps slowed more... But (yet again) it's personal preference and interpretation of the road, something very hard to do on a video clip ;)
I still thing the camera would be better mounted on the bike though :-?
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OK, seen all way through now. Really need, imho, to get back into the habit of those lifesavers. I didn't see one I don't believe. I would have used some going though the town (looked a bit like Shipton on Stour?), even though its a through road, I'd treat each sharp turn as a turn from a lifesaver perspective. And only a mirror glance on the overtake.
I hope you take the 'critisism' as nothing more than intended - constructive and helpful.
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Cheers both, I did ask for comments :y
I am concious when riding my position in the road, i feel I do enough, but from comments it does not look like it.
Here is a full clip, TB will get really bored ::)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLB2vL7LEuw
If you skip to about a 1:35 in, there is the main Oxford /A34 Roundabout, where I felt I did all the checks? Any thoughts on that section? :-/ :y
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A lot of those record to flash gadgets wont record more than 0.99Gb or is 1.99Gb cant remember now, despite putting high memory in them, bit of a pain I would have thought if you out for a spin or half down a mountain to keep stopping.
Your ebay one Tunnie says 10,20 or 30mins depending on FPS and image quality, if Im reading it right.
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A lot of those record to flash gadgets wont record more than 0.99Gb or is 1.99Gb cant remember now, despite putting high memory in them, bit of a pain I would have thought if you out for a spin or half down a mountain to keep stopping.
Your ebay one Tunnie says 10,20 or 30mins depending on FPS and image quality, if Im reading it right.
Its on 30fps, I had it recording for 30 mins before I stopped, it split them into 10 minute chunks (you can customise0 I need to do a longer test run to see if it will record past that.
I'll prob keep them at 10 min chunks to make uploads easier, luckily at work does not take long to upload 250mb.
I need to fully charge it to give it a test, the display said 6.2 hours available on its current memory (internal only of 8Gb)
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I'm at work and viewing on a mobile so not the best. Only viewed the one clip so can imprisonment on that one.
The width of your lane extends from the kerb shy line to the centre markings. It's in your interests to position yourself within that so as to give the earliest, greatest, extended view of the road ahead. That said when a vehicle approaches on the offside as well as threatening to emerge froma side road on the nearside you must consider equalising the dangers, i.e. Put yourself equidistant from both.
Lifesavers serve a double purpose. It allows you to see potential dangers before changing position on the road (and that means moving from near to office etc on approach to bends, I suggest as well) but also act as a signal to other road users. They see your helmet moving and realise you are alert and not just poodling along.
You are getting there, just needs some work. :y
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I'm at work and viewing on a mobile so not the best. Only viewed the one clip so can imprisonment on that one.
The width of your lane extends from the kerb shy line to the centre markings. It's in your interests to position yourself within that so as to give the earliest, greatest, extended view of the road ahead. That said when a vehicle approaches on the offside as well as threatening to emerge froma side road on the nearside you must consider equalising the dangers, i.e. Put yourself equidistant from both.
Lifesavers serve a double purpose. It allows you to see potential dangers before changing position on the road (and that means moving from near to office etc on approach to bends, I suggest as well) but also act as a signal to other road users. They see your helmet moving and realise you are alert and not just poodling along.
You are getting there, just needs some work. :y
Cheers B :y
If you get a chance the second clip which is unedited, will hopefully show me doing better checks at the round-about which is what i tend to do at every round-about.
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Blooming predictive texting!!! ;D ;D
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Just watched the second clip and, except for the roundabout at 5:40ish and the previously mentioned moments, you edited out some of your safer riding ;D
I'd be, as H21 says, doing more lifesaver checks and trying to minimise my dangers... As I said above though, you've not been riding that long and are still learning :y
You've gone down a more sensible route than I did... My first proper bike was a CBR600 and I learnt very quickly that the mirrors weren't sufficient (they were shite and couldn't really get past my shoulders and give a decent view ::)), which meant I had to depend on lifesavers more than mirrors ;)
I'd say that I would have been comfortable riding in a group with you for the majority of that clip :y
One observation though... You were fiddling with your visor a fair bit. Is that because it keeps misting up? If so, treat yourself to a decent insert for it. I've got the Fog City Hyper Optics one which served me very well with winter riding as well as summer :y With the added bonus that it changed tint with bright light too
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I'm at work and viewing on a mobile so not the best. Only viewed the one clip so can imprisonment on that one.
Crikey that's a bit harsh! :D ;D
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Just watched the second clip and, except for the roundabout at 5:40ish and the previously mentioned moments, you edited out some of your safer riding ;D
I had to spice it up a bit, as you found, the rest of it was a bit booring ;D
You've gone down a more sensible route than I did... My first proper bike was a CBR600 and I learnt very quickly that the mirrors weren't sufficient (they were shite and couldn't really get past my shoulders and give a decent view ::)), which meant I had to depend on lifesavers more than mirrors ;)
Maybe thats part of the problem, compared to other bikes I rode, visibility on the GS is excellent, the mirrors are in just the right place, a Yam XJ600 i rode, it was impossible to see anything in the mirrors :o
I'd say that I would have been comfortable riding in a group with you for the majority of that clip :y
Cheers :y
One observation though... You were fiddling with your visor a fair bit. Is that because it keeps misting up? If so, treat yourself to a decent insert for it. I've got the Fog City Hyper Optics one which served me very well with winter riding as well as summer :y With the added bonus that it changed tint with bright light too
Yeah, I opted for the tinted one which does not have an anti-fog, my clear one does. Although sun was not out that much, it was quite bright at times, so opted for the tin. Fact it was only 2 or 3 degrees most of the time it I kept misting up.
I was glad of the heated grips though :D
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but also act as a signal to other road users. They see your helmet moving and realise you are alert and not just poodling along.
Something some little tosser on a 125 in Brackley couldn't understand when I went to overtake, only for him to signal and immediately turn right. By the grace of God, no contact was made, but I damn well made sure I caught him up for a chat, and hopefully save his life.
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i bought the one you had originally Tunnie, it stopped holding charge after about a month!
bought another one off ebay from china for £40, with windscreen suction mount and cig charger powered, it has my 8gb card in it, cuts clips every 5 minutes and overwrites from the oldest clip when its full and if i'm honest.... its fantastic! though its not a patch on the one you've linked but i dont think my needs warrant that one
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I think Tunnie should lend this to me next month....
::)
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I think Tunnie should lend this to me next month....
::)
Whats happening in April? Your welcome to borrow it, early May is my first big trip I need it for :)
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I'm at work and viewing on a mobile so not the best. Only viewed the one clip so can imprisonment on that one.
Crikey that's a bit harsh! :D ;D
;D
I think I tried to say 'make comment' or similar, cant remember, but the iPhone thought different! ;D
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Is the camera water resistant?
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Just watched the clip again on a larger screen.
As the camera is mounted on the left side of your helmet you get a skewed view of your view, if you follow. When you look right, the camera view is partly obscured by your helmet/visor.
Still maintain that you occupy the section of road which is the width of one car i.e. between and including the wheel ruts in the road created by 4 wheeled vehicles.
That is where all the dust and crud and drips of oil from leaky engines accumulate. Regularly riding there gets all that crap into your tyres, especially when the compounds are soft and could - potentially - cause you problems.
I was taught to use the full width of the available road from kerb shy line to centre line markings and to run either in one tyre tread or the other, unless positioning requires deviation. And that deviation of route requires a mirror/headcheck. Remember left side headchecks when entering roundabouts. ;)
Further, irrespective of the use of mirrors and/or the knowledge of the position of your wingman, always give a headcheck to ensure that a) the road is clear for where you want to go and b) your oppo knows that you are looking for them.
Same applies when on the open road on your own and potential dangers present themselves, such as the lorry/van approaching from the junction on the left. Eyeball him and that means moving your whole head, as though sitting your (car) driving test. My car instructor drilled it into me that he could not see my eyes move to the mirrors but he could see me moving my whole head.
The bike course changed that slightly into 'Polly wants a cracker' mode, where you conciously nodded your head in the direction of the mirror/hazard/junction/whatever to show that it has registered on your radar. Getting eye contact with the drivers of potential hazardous vehicles is also, I find, essential. You need to see what they are looking at as well. If you can see them seeing you, then alls fine. If you see them looking elsewhere, watch out! The subsequent placement of your machine thereafter is as a result of what you see and what you see them doing.
Ultimately, you are trying to practice defensive riding where you always have an escape route, should the circumstances in front of you develop in an unforseen fashion. Equalise your dangers so that a hazard on your left does not push you into the path of the oncoming hazard. Balance your space between the two.
As said previously, good early work, just need to expand on it a tad. :y
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Thanks B, some useful hints there, most appreciated :y
Guffers - I'd say its splash proof, but as its a compact unit, i'd be tempted to seal it in insulating tape or something, so should be ok in rain, but I doubt it could be dunked in water....
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I'm at work and viewing on a mobile so not the best. Only viewed the one clip so can imprisonment on that one.
Crikey that's a bit harsh! :D ;D
;D
I think I tried to say 'make comment' or similar, cant remember, but the iPhone thought different! ;D
On the gayPhone, you have to talk like Mr Steve Jobs ;D
As I've had mine a while, and the dictionary has learnt, I've found, embarrassingly, it changes some words into 4 letter, dubious words ;D