jarvis
08-09-2009, 01:22 PM
Here's how I mounted the ChaseCam on my BMW. (Text below if from another forum, so it goes into some basic details about the ChaseCam that you all probably know already...)
For some time I wanted to mount a video camera to the bike, for purposes of memorializing rides as well as preserving whatever information possible about (god forbid) a crash.
Since I commute on the bike every day, I wanted the camera to be bike-mounted as opposed to helmet mounted, to minimize the hassle. Likewise, I wanted the system to be as automatic as possible... auto-on and record when the ignition is switched on, and auto-off when the bike is switched off.
My research told me that I should get a solid-state recording system, not one that is tape- or DVD-based, given the vibrations inherent with our bikes.
The perfect system seemed to me to be the ChaseCam system. It comes complete with the recorder as well as the camera components, uses compactflash memory cards, and can be programmed to start and stop automatically with the bike. It also has a "recycle" record feature that starts a new file for each trip, and, once the card is full, begins by recording over the oldest files. The downside is the relatively high expense for the ChaseCam. The package I bought was just under a grand--but a friend's recent close call pushed me over the edge. (Besides, I'm stimulating the economy.) http://www.chasecam.com/packages/Kit-RK1
There are two pieces to the system -- the recorder/control box (called the "PDR100") and the camera. The camera comes with a mount, but the PDR does not, so I included one in my order.
By far the most taxing part of the project was figuring out where to mount the camera, and getting it appropriately aligned. I first tried under the beak, but found the field of view to be blocked to too large an extent. I eventually ended up mounting the camera to one of the windshield mounts, giving a clear view forward and not too much vibration.
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/613456973_RdL3A-L.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/613458928_bgff9-L.jpg
The camera itself is waterproof, so no worries about it being out in the weather. (Note, I covered the camera body with an old piece of bicycle innertube as camouflage and for some added protection.)
The PDR100 fit wonderfully under the passenger seat, in the place of the tool tray. (I carry my own tools in one of the panniers.) The underseat location provides convenient to access the memory card and the programming functions of the PDR. It also is convenient to the switched source for the relay (I tapped into the running light).
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/613464281_MnDMZ-L.jpg
This location also is relatively sheltered from the weather, an important consideration since the PDR is not waterproof. If you look closely (it's hard to see in these pictures--the one below is the best view), I elevated the PDR unit using a couple of nuts so that any water that enters the area will run off and not actually touch the PDR. (In this picture, the CF card access door is open.)
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/613465415_nFJay-L.jpg
If I ever want to remove the unit, the frame handily stays in place and the PDR simply snaps out.
Here's a sample video from my commute home. It's pretty good quality for such a small camera, and reacts well to different lighting conditions. (The YouTube video quality suffers a bit from the original, which is clearer. Maybe I can figure out how to load higher quality video...)
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Mbgqwmj7Ck&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Mbgqwmj7Ck&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Overall, it's a pretty neat little piece of (spendy) equipment. Now, to learn how to edit videos...
For some time I wanted to mount a video camera to the bike, for purposes of memorializing rides as well as preserving whatever information possible about (god forbid) a crash.
Since I commute on the bike every day, I wanted the camera to be bike-mounted as opposed to helmet mounted, to minimize the hassle. Likewise, I wanted the system to be as automatic as possible... auto-on and record when the ignition is switched on, and auto-off when the bike is switched off.
My research told me that I should get a solid-state recording system, not one that is tape- or DVD-based, given the vibrations inherent with our bikes.
The perfect system seemed to me to be the ChaseCam system. It comes complete with the recorder as well as the camera components, uses compactflash memory cards, and can be programmed to start and stop automatically with the bike. It also has a "recycle" record feature that starts a new file for each trip, and, once the card is full, begins by recording over the oldest files. The downside is the relatively high expense for the ChaseCam. The package I bought was just under a grand--but a friend's recent close call pushed me over the edge. (Besides, I'm stimulating the economy.) http://www.chasecam.com/packages/Kit-RK1
There are two pieces to the system -- the recorder/control box (called the "PDR100") and the camera. The camera comes with a mount, but the PDR does not, so I included one in my order.
By far the most taxing part of the project was figuring out where to mount the camera, and getting it appropriately aligned. I first tried under the beak, but found the field of view to be blocked to too large an extent. I eventually ended up mounting the camera to one of the windshield mounts, giving a clear view forward and not too much vibration.
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/613456973_RdL3A-L.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/613458928_bgff9-L.jpg
The camera itself is waterproof, so no worries about it being out in the weather. (Note, I covered the camera body with an old piece of bicycle innertube as camouflage and for some added protection.)
The PDR100 fit wonderfully under the passenger seat, in the place of the tool tray. (I carry my own tools in one of the panniers.) The underseat location provides convenient to access the memory card and the programming functions of the PDR. It also is convenient to the switched source for the relay (I tapped into the running light).
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/613464281_MnDMZ-L.jpg
This location also is relatively sheltered from the weather, an important consideration since the PDR is not waterproof. If you look closely (it's hard to see in these pictures--the one below is the best view), I elevated the PDR unit using a couple of nuts so that any water that enters the area will run off and not actually touch the PDR. (In this picture, the CF card access door is open.)
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/613465415_nFJay-L.jpg
If I ever want to remove the unit, the frame handily stays in place and the PDR simply snaps out.
Here's a sample video from my commute home. It's pretty good quality for such a small camera, and reacts well to different lighting conditions. (The YouTube video quality suffers a bit from the original, which is clearer. Maybe I can figure out how to load higher quality video...)
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Mbgqwmj7Ck&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Mbgqwmj7Ck&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Overall, it's a pretty neat little piece of (spendy) equipment. Now, to learn how to edit videos...