A van hit me ... luckily I'm fine

[rwm1962]

Glad to hear you got off so lightly. Seen a few videos of cycling in London & so glad my commute is mostly off road.

 

[hookooekoo]

Well...I think that's what people who don't want to spend money on a GoPro would say
The image quality between the SJ10 and the GoPro 8 is quite different. And the microphone is better. And the stabilization is better.
Having said that, I didn't know that a SJ10 Pro can be purchased for a little over £100.
That is a remarkable difference in price, and with some edits in post, the footage from a SJ10 could probably be made to look very similar (to my untrained eyes at least!) to that of a GoPro.

I think I paid about £100 for my SJ4000 in 2014. Just goes to show that the technology gets better and more affordable all the time. Something like my SJ4000 could probably be bought for £25-£30 now. Have you found a review that compares the latest SJCam and GoPro cameras?

This of course because I would use the camera for recreational use too, not just as a security device on the bike.

That's a whole different consideration, and could justify paying much more. The person I know who is recording footage, and submitting it to Nextbase for the police to look at, only paid about £25 for their camera. There's a world of difference between wanting to get footage that records number plates and motoring offences, and wanting to get footage that's really great quality and looks good.

It might even make sense to have a cheap camera for daily commuting use, and a better camera for recreational use.

This I find surprising. In the way of what? Did you have it on the helmet? I was thinking to place it on the handlebar, near the stem. Action cameras are not tiny, but I don't think it would be annoying in that area. Certainly I wouldn't place it on the helmet. It is indeed too bulky for that.
Remarkable the quality of the daylight footage on that tiny camera. I was impressed!! But water resistance is kind of a key quality in London

I agree that some cameras seem a little bulky for helmet mounting. However, the person I know has a very cheap GoPro style camera, and they mount it on their helmet, for the simple reason that they want the camera to record whatever they are looking at. They told me that their standard method for recording a close pass is to gently tap the car with their hand as it passes. That proves to the police that the car was only an arms length away, and was therefore driving far too close. Their video submissions have been used by the police to prosecute quite a few motorists, for offences such as close passes, running red lights, and pulling out without looking. They don't put them on YouTube, for the simple reason that getting a prosecution is the main goal, and putting them all on YouTube would reveal what their regular routes are when they are commuting.

 

[Ugo51]

Yes, there are quite a few of reviews comparing the two cameras. The GoPro is not better in every aspect, but it is the overall winner.
Having said that, the price I quoted in the previous message is not the one of the SJ10 Pro, but the lower end model "action" which I would buy because the footage is really not satisfactory.

There is another camera from SDCAM, the SJ8 Pro, which at £180 offers really good results, but it's "only" £70 cheaper than a GoPro Hero 8 Black.

I must say I'm not really interested in using the camera for policing the streets. I'll leave that to more determined (and less disillusioned) cyclists.
But it is useful to have the possibility to record what's happening around. Although one hopes never to have to use that footage in court....

 

[novocaine]

This I find surprising. In the way of what? Did you have it on the helmet? I was thinking to place it on the handlebar, near the stem. Action cameras are not tiny, but I don't think it would be annoying in that area. Certainly I wouldn't place it on the helmet. It is indeed too bulky for that.
Remarkable the quality of the daylight footage on that tiny camera. I was impressed!! But water resistance is kind of a key quality in London

I've had both a Gopro 3 and an SJCam M10+ so two different form factors but both needed waterproof housing. fitted to the helmet was quite frankly obsurd, even with low profile mounts it stuck up like a beacon. I was fine with it on an offroad lid (although the reason I don't have the GP3 anymore is branches) but on the road bike lid it felt exceptionally vulnerable, weighty (when the camera weighs more than your lid you start to notice*) and at speed you could feel it pull your head back. I also felt like someone could grab it at the lights and with a sharp yank be away with it.

I tried both on the bars, but again, a lot of bulk on an already cramped commuter bikes bars as it sat alongside the lights/lights (I run twin lights in the winter) and GPS, the mounts were never quite right and it stuck out making footage something of a bouncy affair from both as we as having my hands in shot. The last, and most acceptable position for me was off the right drop, this mean't I had offside vision with no obstructing .given that some of my rides could be 4 hours long both cameras had their quality reduced to save on battery and they ran for as long as they could (both around 90 minutes on a good day).
the teeny little thing that does not have that good of an image quality, but it was acceptable was small enough to sit in one of the vents of the lid, almost out of sight, the battery latest about 30 minutes, not great but for 15 quid enough for a short winter commute.

the only footage I have online is from the SJcam on the bars.
I found both cameras the same really, sat still it was crystal clear, as soon as you moved, bluegh.

 

[Ugo51]

Thanks. The video unfortunately is unavailable, not sure why.

I found both cameras the same really, sat still it was crystal clear, as soon as you moved, bluegh.

This is referred to the SJcam?! Not very promising

 

[novocaine]

Thanks. The video unfortunately is unavailable, not sure why.

Ah, that will because it's not been made public. my bad.

Try this link, I've now made it unlisted.

This is referred to the SJcam?! Not very promising

It was in reference to both the SJcam and the gopoo. neither had IS though, the new models do but I haven't tested those. it was smoother on my head but as already mentioned, beacon. the teeny little thing on the head was ok too.

 

[Ugo51]

Damn...the video is indeed bluegh when the bike is moving!
The new models with IS should be much better at keeping things smooth...

Yes, on the helmet it would be too bulky. Also, I think I move my head around too much for the video to make sense. I don't have a cluttered handlebar so I should be able to fit the camera there. Hopefully the hood won't obstruct too much of the view...

 

[novocaine]

I'm all for unclutter bars, but lights are lights and as you can see from the short commute, a lot is on unlit roads.

different story in the summer, where it's just GPS. this year is going to be interesting as the winter bike has just received a new set of bars with aero (like the chocolate) tops (because normal round bars cost more).

how's your bruises?

 

[Ugo51]

Bruises are good, thanks.
Mostly it's the index finger of the left hand that is still sore, but nothing major. I can move it well. I would say I recovered 80% of function already.

The right ankle is also a bit sore, but as long as I don't push too much, it doesn't hurt