Are you interested in extreme sports and hunting? If you are, chances are that you already know about helmet cameras. Helmet cameras are small recording devices that fit on hats, headgear, and helmets. They are usually used for racing or hunting videos, as they provide a driver's or shooter's-eye perspective on the action. However, many people do not realize that there are many accessories for helmet cameras that can make a decent video extraordinary. The five basic types of helmet camera accessories are connecting cables, camera mounts, lenses, battery packs, and microphones. This article will discuss each category in detail.
Cables come in two basic types: connecting cables and extension cables. Connecting cables have one end that connects to the camera and another end that has various adapters to fit in the recorder. Usually, the recorder end is an AV jack; however, it could be a standard AV jack, a 3.5mm AV jack, or a 10-chip AV jack. Each recorder uses a different type of connection. Extension cables, on the other hand, do not have specialized ends; instead, they have standard connectors but are much longer than normal connecting cables.
Camera mounts are available in a variety of different styles. Some mount the camera directly on your helmet or goggles; these either have an adhesive back or a small clip. Other mounts attach the camera to a headband or to handlebars. Many experts agree that helmet mounts are ideal, as they provide sufficient stability for high-quality shots. However, if you are not wearing a helmet, a hands-free headband mount is the best.
Helmet camera lenses are almost as varied as regular camera lenses. There are three basic types: normal, wide angle, and telephoto. Wide angles lenses, as the name implies, produce a far larger image size than normal lenses. They are thus ideal for shooting vast landscapes, especially in hunting videos. Telephoto lenses produce a "zoom in" effect, allowing much more detailed and vivid videos. These are perfect for ?up close? filming, like in adventure sports.
Battery packs offer the least choice of any camera accessories. Most cameras require a specific type of battery, so you must purchase a battery pack that uses those batteries. However, try shopping around, too; some packs vary quite a bit in efficiency (i.e. how much battery energy is lost in the wiring of the charger).
Microphones are oft-overlooked accessories that are surprisingly important. Many new helmet cameras have microphones built in to the camera set up. However, oftentimes these microphones produce poor or distorted sound. TO record high-quality sound, consider purchasing a microphone that plugs directly into the AV cable. The other benefit of this is that most accessory microphones have long cords, allowing you to put the camera and microphone in different places.
Helmet cameras are fun, high-tech tools to use. They bring an immediacy and excitement to videos that stationary cameras can?t quite capture. However, it is important to understand that a basic helmet camera is just the beginning of high-quality video production. Many of the accessories mentioned in this article are just as important as the camera itself.
