Action camera for motorcycle and bike: how to choose and fix – Setafi

An action camera for a motorcycle should work in conditions of fast speed, sharp maneuvers and shaking. Therefore, both the details of the device and its body are subject to special requirements. How to choose and install a camera, as well as which models you should pay special attention to, is described in detail in this article.

Main criteria

An action camera on a motorcycle helmet is selected based on technical parameters and consumer characteristics. Among them, the quality of the video, the properties and shape of the case, the type of stabilization, and others are of great importance.

Video quality

An action camera for a motorcycle should provide very high-quality shooting even in conditions of constant shaking and sudden movement maneuvers. Therefore, when choosing a model, special attention should be paid to several indicators:

1. Permission.
2. Frame frequency.
3. Matrix size.

An action camera for a bicycle must shoot in Full HD, which corresponds to a resolution of 1920 * 1080. However, many models work in 4K or 5K resolution. Thanks to this, the videos are almost perfect, very detailed.

An action camera on a motorcycle helmet should also be characterized by a sufficient frame rate. It is enough if it is 50-60 frames per second. Such an indicator have devices that shoot in 4K mode. At the same time, you should not choose models with a very high frequency, for example, 100-120 frames. The fact is that because of such a high figure, the resolution itself is reduced.

The camera on the helmet of a cyclist must also have a sufficiently large matrix. Since the devices are compact, the size is 6.17*4.55mm. This is quite enough for high-quality shooting.

Body shape and strength

The action camera on the bike is made in a sealed case, which is resistant to various influences:

• water (including for shooting in a pool, pond);
• moisture;
• dirt, dust;
• blows, shaking;
• high or low temperature.

In addition, when considering an action camera on a motorcycle helmet, you should pay attention to different body shapes:

1. The mini-cube is the most compact device of light weight. Shoots Full HD video with up to 3 hours of battery life.
2. Glasses - the original model that really looks like sunglasses. Mounting the camera on the motorcycle is not necessary, because you just need to put them on yourself.
3. The traditional shape (rectangular or square) is inexpensive, widely found on sale.
4. A motorcycle camera on a helmet may have a lens on the end. This is a very convenient model, since it allows you to get video from the perspective in which the operator himself sees it.

Stabilization type

When considering which camera to choose for a motorcycle helmet, you should take into account that the shooting will be carried out during shaking. Therefore, it is important that the model is equipped with a stabilizer, which can be optical or digital.

The optics simply shifts the lenses in the direction that is opposite to the movement (while driving). As a result, the image will not be blurry or blurry. Such devices are quite expensive and consume a lot of electricity.

There is also digital stabilization - it crops the video along the entire perimeter by 10% of the area. Such a video camera on a motorcycle helmet is cheaper, but you need to be prepared for the fact that the field of view will decrease slightly.

Top 10 best cameras

When choosing a suitable device, several models should be considered at once. If we compare them in terms of technical characteristics, as well as taking into account customer reviews, we get the following rating:

1. Moto action camera SJCAM SJ4000 shoots at 1080p resolution. The body is waterproof, the mounts are sealed. The frame rate is 30 / second, it is possible to connect an external microphone.
2. AC Robin ZED5 – the device allows you to get high-quality 4K video, the frame rate is 240 / sec. Designed for both ground and underwater shooting.
3. DJI Osmo Action - Motorcycle steering wheel camera with 4K resolution and frame rate up to 240 per second. The case is waterproof, the device can be connected via Wi-Fi.
4. GoPro HERO7 Black Edition - an example of a model based on which you can understand how to choose a camera for a motorcycle. Provides detailed 4K resolution video. Works in both day and night mode. The frame rate is up to 240 per second.
5. Insta360 ONE Works in 2K and 4K formats. The frame rate is low - 30 per second, but this is quite enough to get very high-quality, detailed frames.
6. AC Robin ZED2 - Another high-quality motorcycle action camera that shoots in 1080p. The maximum number of frames is 120 per second. Designed for both ground and underwater photography.
7. GitUp Git2 (Pro Pack) - an inexpensive device, one of the best in terms of price and quality. Shoots in 1080p and 1440p. The maximum number of frames is 120 per second. It is possible to use an external microphone.
8. GoPro HERO9 Black - a model that works in day and night mode, provides 2K and 4K format, can also function in Full HD at the user's choice. Supports Wi-Fi and underwater shooting.
9. YI 4K - a device that shoots video in any format from 720p to 1440p, as well as 2.7K and 4K. Has stabilization, supports Wi-Fi. Allows you to take good pictures underwater.
10. EKEN H6s EIS - An inexpensive camera that allows you to get video in 4K format. The maximum frame rate is 60 per second. Stabilization is provided, thanks to which the video is high-quality, without blurry frames.

How to attach a camera to a helmet

The best helmet camera works really well only after you attach it properly. Often it is mounted on a helmet or directly on the steering wheel. In the first case, it works like this:

1. Attach the strap to the camera body.
2. Pass the belt through the holes in the helmet (for ventilation).
3. If the helmet is closed, double-sided adhesive tape is glued to the surface, and a plastic form is already attached to it, to which the body is screwed using hinges and an adapter.

You can put the device directly on the steering wheel. For this, a special mount is used, which is fixed in the center or on the left, on the right with the help of fasteners. It is important to understand that each device uses its own mount.

Thus, choosing an action camera is not so difficult. It is only important to think in advance where to fix it. If you want to get an interesting video without foreign objects in the foreshortening, it is better to put the helmet in the center closer to the eyes. If you want to shoot closer to the road surface, you can put it directly on the steering wheel.