Hands-off Head-Cam Review
This week it's been nice to get back to reviewing a mini camera. I never intentionally made a decision to stop featuring them - it's just they all became a bit samey. This is the first one in a long time that's intrigued me.
Due to one thing and another I've fallen a bit behind this week. As a result there will be less of a patreon exclusive window on this video as I'd still like to get it released at the weekend.
Talking of videos, last week's one about Minidisc titling was a bit of a flop - it's had around 50% fewer views than anything I've done for a while. I was wondering if the Friday release had any bearing on that. Probably not - but so much for the idea of cashing in on a wave of Minidisc day enthusiasm. It just shows that sometimes a niche interest topic can be too niche.
Back to this video - it has been uploaded in 1080p60 as many of the clips I show from the head-camera are in this resolution.
Finally - a brief addendum to the recent patron exclusive video - It's looking likely my holiday booked for April is going to get kiboshed - just waiting on finalising the details. So it seems I'll be working straight through to the end of the year - which I'm quite happy about. I only really go on holiday to keep the Mrs happy...and that rarely works out.
UPDATE: I've swapped the video out to make a tiny vocal snip, reframe a couple of things and add a text overlay. The unlisted 4K version I originally linked to - has been deleted.
Comments (32)
I really wish you’d mention battery life.
So you look like the reporters from Star Trek Generations then!
That "mansion" reminds me of alpacas.
I've got a RunCam2 (little orange guy made for radio controlled aircraft) that I stick to my cap with Velcro when I'm at the range. I was curious about this device as a possible replacement, will definitely investigate.
I'm relieved to hear your holiday plans have been cancelled for now, Mat. TBH I was a little concerned by some of the video taken in that park. You sounded like you were about to keel over at a couple of points! :O
In which Mat demonstrates alternative uses for the ubiquitous Biro :) Or as call them on this side of the pond, cassette tape rewinders.
I was a bit tired of people calling out the state of my chapped fingers every winter - so with no hands they’ll have to find something else to complain about (which they will).
Interesting that you did this the same week as Naomi Wu (although your review is so much better of course). She wears hers on the right - so maybe there is a way? Patron-type link - starting at 9:12 for the review bit. Quite amusing. https://youtu.be/hR0ZOx-3lYw?t=553
I’ll watch it later - but I can see that’s the EP7 - it must use a slightly different mount. That’s another difference I’ll be sure to point out in the subsequent review when it turns up.
Great review and great to see you back to dashcam-like products. It would be interesting for you to revisit and update your recommendations every now and then.
I keep meaning to get to that.
Happy to hear the holiday's been canceled, seeing as just about everything else is. Things are getting crazy.
I’m really not sure how much the economy can cope with all this at once. Most businesses were on a knife-edge as it was. Of course Amazon will be having a bit of a boom though.
It looks more comfortable and stylish than wearing an action cam on your forehead. I think I might still reach for a GoPro or Yi though (even if they cost more) Looking forward to seeing how the 'something something 7' does at stabilizing.
Oh nice, a cam review, an appreciated return! Glad you've got your money back from your holiday as you'd hoped, I too had plane tickets booked since January for a quick trip for this very weekend in northern Italy (I'm from the south, never been outside my district and never took a plane before, damn I was so excited), but for obvious reasons everything got cancelled, but hey, health first. Hope you're safe there, looks like UK gov't isn't taking this COVID19 thing too seriously at the moment so I hope citizens will be more careful than them.
I haven't got a refund yet - it's looking like a delay or a credit note. I'm fine with that as long as I can use it when things are back to normal.
Glad to hear you're not endangering your health by not going on holiday, too bad for the Mrs. though--hopefully you'll get some return on your deposit. Also, do you plan to use this camera for hands-free shots on this channel, such as might be useful in a repair video?
That was the plan - I've shot a proof of concept video that I may put out.
I've got a new Motorola phone with an 'action cam' mode which shoots landscape if you hold it upright and portrait if you hold it in its side! Uses a separate wide angle camera for this
I always thought they should use an oversized square sensor and crop to landscape irrespective of the orientation. Vertical video would never need to exist.
Regarding your comment regarding filming with a smartphone: "Who shots with the phone in an upright position?". The answer is: sadly most everyone:-(
Yes it’s a bit of a tongue-in-cheek comment. It seems the world of online video has gone vertical even if scenery hasn’t.
I pay for the misses and her Mum to go on holiday without me. Self isolating. I've been training for this my entire life.
I think it’s my only super power, complete contentment in isolation. I’m the only person who thinks Papillon looked like a nice break.
Very interesting! I really enjoyed that, and its a great little camera for under £100..... But I'm curious, and you didn't mention: what's the battery life on this head-mounted camera? ;) (that bit really cracked me up - the sound effect was marvellous!)
You won’t believe how many people ask about things shown in the video. The 3M Magnetic Tape viewer video was 9 minutes long and I must have seen a good 30 people asking me if it would work on a VHS tape or a Credit Card magnetic strip. Both were shown in the video.
Can you wear it on your right side?
No just over the left ear.
This looks super interesting! The only thing I'd love to know, if you can have a video feed trough your home network to your phone, is it possible to have a local live video feed to your computer as well via the IP and your Browser?
I'm not sure how that would work - I'm not too up on these things. What software would I use. When you connect it to a computer it asks if you want to use it as Storage or a PC cam - is this of any use?
Sorry, but this made me chuckle; "I only really go on holiday to keep the Mrs happy...and that rarely works out.". Oops!
Well you know how holidays are - things can get a bit fraught at times.