Helmet cam with basic point and shoot camera

[spelunkik]

If some of you want to try something new, you might be interested in temporarily attaching a regular point and shoot camera to your helmet. I did this to get a POV video while crawling through a cave we've been digging in the US. The setup was very easy. All I needed was a segment of 1/4"-20 threaded rod and a nut. I put the rod through a preexisting hole in my Edelrid helmet and adjusted the angle with a modified plastic bottle cap. The result was okay, but if I could do things over I would have used a camera that was better in low light situations or I would have used a stronger headlamp.

Crawling to dig

 

[mrodoc]

My bro in law has done this very successfully in the UK and also used the system for exploring inaccessible passage by mounting it on a trolley with a home made video light.

 

[mrodoc]

PS - same problem as you - viewer gets motion sickness!

 

[spelunkik]

Haha! Yes, after watching this video for the first time, I realized that I also need to slow my head movements down if I ever make another video.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

The one what his BIL made.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

The BIL in action.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

The other part of " The Ferret " remote. Drain rods.

 

[spelunkik]

Very neat! I bet that trolley works perfectly under the right situations.

I notice there is an accompanying light source. This is a DIY too, right? How bright is it?

Out of curiosity, do you have any sample videos using this setup on a helmet or trolley to share? I would very much like to see the results.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Hi.
Peter's BIL makes his own stuff up including the light source. He does not frequent forums but I have the remote video on disc in high res. with no idea how to load it up. The remote went about four metres down a 200 mm high passage ( propelled by drain rods ) including going around a corner. It gave remarkably clear results indicating that the passage stopped at a mud bank and further digging would be worthwhile.

 

[Alex]

We can do with one of those for Lowerarch eh Dunc? I always wondered if I could make one, though my idea was to attatch a camera to a remote control car.

 

[owd git]

Good call, though signal won't go round many corners & 'breakaway' will occur Whoosh.