Tony Hawk Helmet Cam

• The helmet cam records in 320 x 240 resolution when strapped to your helmet and powered by battery. (The 29.00 CVS disposable records true 640 x 480)
• It records in 640 x 480 when plugged in to your PC. This however is reduced to 432 x 324 when the movie is saved and “created” in the Digital Blue editing software that comes with it.
• If a camera with a good lens recorded at 320 x 240, it would be barely acceptable. I think the lens on this piece of crap was polished with 100 grit sand paper before shipping, and the pictures are totally useless.
• The “Laser” is useless. It flashes off and on constantly like a blinky light, and its very (very) hard to see the red dot in daylight more than 15 feet away. Then, when you start filming, the laser stops. Thats when you NEED the fricken laser pointer, since you don’t have a monitor to make sure your cam is actually pointing at your subject.
• The software is designed for 11 year old boys. For some people that may be OK, I guess. Makes me hurl.

Enough chit chat - check out the video evidence for yourself.

VIDEO 1 - In this first video, see if you can make out the sign on the right side of the road, that it’s actually a Burger King sign. The colors and shape are almost unrecognizeable. Then further up on the left is the AFLAC headquarters building. On top of the building is an 80 foot wide by 20 foot tall sign that doesn’t even show up. You can’t even tell if the building has windows

VIDEO 2 - In this video I get close to some store front windows to check the resolution. Even close up it’s not too good, but better. The other thing this video shows is that while riding in urban traffic, you can’t concentrate on where the helmet cam is pointed, you have to look around constantly. That’s annoying on video later.

VIDEO 3 - (no screen shot) Finally, here is a video off road - a really nice jump. With an 8 or 9 foot drop nearly straight down, a swooping bottom and a 9 foot climb. The helmet cam does not even begin to show the spectacular details of this jump.