Many helmet cams use inexpensive AA or 9V batteries to power the recording unit and camera. This is a feature that, quite frankly, is a burden.

You need to get the most recording time from the batteries as possible.

Unfortunately, due to the consuming power these cameras require, AA batteries just don’t have the shelf life.

The best alternative is called a lithium-ion polymer battery (sometimes abbreviated Li-Poly, Li-Pol).

The lithium polymer battery has technologically evolved from the lithium-ion battery. The lithium salt electrolyte is held in an organic solvent in the lithium-ion design but in the lithium polymer design, in a solid polymer, which means lower cost manufacturing and being more robust to physical damage.

These batteries are rechargeable and work by moving lithium ions between the anode and cathode. They are currently one of the most popular types of batteries for portable electronics, with one of the best energy-to-weight ratios, no memory effect, and a slow loss of charge when not in use.

In addition to uses for consumer electronics, lithium-ion batteries are growing in popularity for defense, automotive, and aerospace applications due to their high energy density.

Current generation cells can be fully charged in 45 minutes or less; some Lithium-Ion variants can reach 90% in as little as 10 minutes!

Ideally, a recording unit with a lithium-ion battery should have at least 2-3 hours recording time as it pertains to battery life and should also be equipped with a battery level indicator that includes an audio Low Battery Alert.

Consumers should also be on the lookout for an auxiliary power port that provides power to not only the recording device but the helmet camera as well.

Extra Tip: The Power Saver Feature

A “power saver” feature will, of course, help save battery power thus prolonging its life. This feature should function automatically when the unit is on but not in use. In this phase, the system will idle and the LCD will be turned off until the user begins operation again. This will dramatically increase the recording time between charges and help you spend more time in your sport and less time waiting on your cam system to charge up.

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Experts agree that consumers should research every product before purchasing a helmet camera.

While these products come in all shapes, sizes, and features, helmet cameras should work in conjunction with a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) so video can be played back, downloaded, and/or edited.

Helmet cameras are also referred to as bullet cams, lipstick cams (resembles a tube of lipstick), or wireless helmet cams. While all of these products are technically helmet cameras, each has its own unique design and technical specifications.

A common mistake helmet camera buyers make is thinking that they think have to buy a “helmet cam” and thus overlook a better choice simply because it is called a “bullet cam” or “lipstick cam”.

The real key is finding a professional quality video cam that is right for your extreme sport enthusiast and doesn’t empty out your wallet.

This report will address the following recommended technical specifications for all types of helmet cameras.

The list below is a guide in determining which product (and features) is right for the consumer.

Appropriate on-board interface and remote control for easy control of the recorder and camera while engaged in your sport

Flash memory-based storage that holds lots of video so you don’t have to change cards or clear the memory often

High resolution and multiple recording frame rate so you get “ESPN quality” video that is crystal clear, not grainy or bumpy

Lithium-ion batteries for safe long lasting power

Mounting accessories so the cam is hands-free and positioned just where it needs to be

Power saver functionality so you don’t drain the DVR between shots

Recording capabilities & resolution so you have full control over the recording features

Right-angle A/V input connector to make the dvr as low profile as possible so the cam cord doesn’t stick out of your gear or catch on something as you fly by at full speed

USB 2.0 port for PC download to make it easy to download to any PC

This article is the first in a series entitled “Helmet Camera Buying Guide”.  Read the Next Article: “Helmet Camera - Why Lithium-Ion Battery Power is Best”

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Last week we provided you with some introductory tips on how to edit your raw helmet cam video. That post proved to be quite popular so we decided to take it a step further.

Some of you will not want to stop at simple edits. No, you will want to add in some music, perhaps a graphic or two and of course a “bumper” which gets people watching your vid on YouTube.com to click through to your site.

The following videos show you how to take you extreme sport video production to the next level using the relatively inexpensive Sony Vegas Movie Studio.

Extreme Sport Video Production - Simple Tips

TUTORIAL - Make yourself Look Like You Were Hit by a Car!

You may not want to do exactly that, but the skills involved in this editing technique can open up some amazing options to spicing up your helmet cam footage.

TUTORIAL - Detailed Tips on How to Use Basic Text

Adding text to a video helps tell the story and give the viewers more information, like where to browse to after the video ends.

TUTORIAL - Using Transitions and Fading

All video has “dead spots” and bloopers that need to be cut. Transition allow you to cut these out and still keep the video looking professional. Its simple once you know how…

Thanks to dillonp23.net for the great tutorials. You might want to check out his site for more cool stuff. He has loads of how-to vids on various topics.

When you are ready to take it to the next level and capture some amazing extreme sports footage, give our exclusive solid state digital recorder and crystal clear bullet cam a test drive.

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Small, personal digital recorders with helmet cams, bullet cams or pocket cams are bringing the world a new perspective. From Nascar to the NFL, we get to see what the athlete sees, first person accounts of high level sports.

The following videos take you outside the norm and show a few helmet cam perspectives that, perhaps, you’ve never seen.

Bring Your Own Big Wheel 2008

Motocross Jumpfest

Iraq Combat

Speed Kitesurfing

Skiing at Mt.olympus

See our helmet cam system…

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So you’ve captured your extreme sport adventure on film with a helmet cam system and now you want to add some music, edit out the embarrassing moments or attach your web address to each frame.

How do you do that?

Well, we have selected a few quality video editing tutorials that should help everyone out there.  Whether you have Final Cut Pro for the Mac or PC with the free Movie Maker software, these tutorials will help you become an efficient editing genius.

Free Editing on the PC with Movie Maker - Free

Movie Maker Video Editing Tutorial

WINDOWS VISTA : WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER (WMM) (Download Link)

Step It Up With Sony Vegas Movie Studio - $

Editing Techniques For Sony Vegas Movie Studio

QSK King - Sony Vegas Tutorial

Go All the Way With a Mac and Final Cut Pro - $$$

Final Cut Pro/Express: The Basics

Audio in Final Cut Pro

Tweak the Audio with Audacity - Free

Audacity Tutorial: Part I

Enjoy your foray into video editing and, if you create something worthy of an Espy, send it our way and we will announce your extreme sport video to the world.

If you are still on the sidelines and have no video, check out our exclusive helmet cam system today.

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We came across a brief but interesting clip on helmet cams produced by none other than the New Your Times.

The folks at NYT see “adventure-sports mavens” as enthusiastic consumers of the new generation of helmet cameras which were once prohibitively expensive but now feasible for even weekend adventurists.

As you know from reading our blog, recent advances in digital recorder and mini-cam durability and resolution are making YouTube the medium of choice for extreme sporters to share their adventures online. With some of these videos receiving hundreds of thousands of views.

The testing was done by NYT contributor James Bogner, a founder of the New York City Mountain Bike Association and an avid helmet-camera user. he tested three systems around his home in Long Island City, Queens, and in Highbridge Park, in Upper Manhattan.

Check out the video and the slides for the rest of the story.

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Each week another extreme sporter and proud helmet camera owner shares their passion and danger-seeking with the world.

<<<<<<<<<<<<< P.S.: This is NOT the type of helmet cam we recommend...

We have brought together the latest & greatest helmet cam videos from the last 3 weeks… Enjoy!

Cool Helmet Camera Video Footage

When you are ready to record you extreme sporting adventures, take a peek at our exclusive high-res solid state digital recorder & helmet cam.

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If you are the adventurous type, and you enjoy amazing extreme sports feats including tricks and stunts, there is now a perfect way for you to capture your accomplishments on video and share them with your friends and family. Today’s newest helmet cameras and bullet cameras offer you the opportunity to be the star of your very own extreme sports videos.

Why Use Helmet Cams?

There are plenty of good reasons for you to use a helmet camera. The best reason is for you to be able to star in your own video, showing off your best tricks and stunts. Your friends and family members will be so impressed with how talented you are! Remember, most of them have never actually seen you perform, so this will be quite a novelty!

A helmet cam allows you to concentrate fully on your extreme sport. Because a helmet cam attaches securely to your helmet, and the mini digital video recorder slips nicely into a pocket, you have a completely hands-free way to film yourself. You have nothing extra to hang on to, which is important during some of the exciting (and dangerous) maneuvers you specialize in.

The old-fashioned way of recording yourself, using your parents’ big, bulky, heavy camcorder, is no longer necessary. Today’s helmet cams are tiny and lightweight, and have a solid-state design with no moving parts. This means that they are very durable and reliable, and less susceptible to being damaged during any of your extreme sports adventures. This is definitely an important consideration when you are making an investment in equipment.

How To Use Helmet Cams

All you have to remember to do, once you set up your system and get ready to begin your stunt, is to press the ‘start’ button. Once you do that, you will have continuous video footage recorded, from the beginning to the end of your feat. The built-in microphone will record everything you hear and say, as well. This will result in a high-quality video that’s fun to watch and share!

Speaking of sharing, that’s easy to do with the mini personal digital video recorder. Simply download the video files from the SD card to the hard drive of your PC, using a basic USB cord. Once the video files are on your computer, you can then make DVDs of the footage and you can watch them right on your television. You can even email the videos to share with your friends and family, and they will love watching you as the star of the show.

Endless Fun!

Helmet cams, and bullet cams, give you endless capabilities for fun. You are already having a great time with your adrenaline-pumping activities, why not consider recording them to enjoy again and again? The next step should be obvious—get yourself a helmet cam and bullet cam with a mini digital video recorder today and start being the star of your very own extreme sports videos!

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Ever since you were a little kid, you may have enjoyed extreme sports.

Were you the first one on your block with a skateboard?

Have you already tried or have seriously considered base jumping, and bungee jumping?

You’ve probably always been the envy of all of your less-adventurous friends, right? While they are safely at home relaxing on the couch, you are feeling the incredible adrenaline rush of some amazing adventure.

Some people may call you crazy, but you are otherwise known as “the person that tries everything,” especially anything thrilling.

Anytime you do try something new, you come home and then spend a whole lot of time and energy trying to make your friends and family members understand just what all the fuss is about.

It doesn’t work, does it? They just don’t get it.

Why would you actually put yourself in danger, they wonder?

You explain that you are, of course, very careful, and that you have practiced and that you have a plan. You don’t want to get hurt, and you avoid that with careful execution of your moves.

They don’t really believe you….

A New Way to Explain

Now there are some ideal ways for you to explain your adventures to your friends and family. Get yourself a new helmet cam, or bullet cam, and, using a mini personal digital video recorder, record your exploits and replay them over and over.

This is the perfect way to make them understand. It’s fun for you to watch, too!

Helmet Cams Are Easy

There are many benefits to using a helmet cam or bullet cam when you are trying to record your extreme sports videos. The small, lightweight camera attaches securely to your helmet, and also attaches to the mini DVR, which can be safely zippered into a pocket.

This hands-free operation keeps you safer, and also allows for complete and accurate recording of everything you see, hear, and say throughout the entire adventure. A solid-state construction with no moving parts makes the setup very durable as well.

Make Your Own DVDs

Once you record your extreme sports video footage, you can download it easily from the SD card to your computer’s hard drive using a simple USB cord.

You can make DVDs and watch them on your television, you can email the videos to your friends and family, or you can even choose to send them in to one of the many, many extreme sports video websites and share them with the world.

Once you see how great the videos can be, you will want to spread the word and show everyone.

Now They Get It

Who knows?

Maybe you will succeed in convincing your girlfriend or your fellow footballers to try skydiving……

While that might be a stretch, at least they will get to enjoy watching the exciting video with you now that you have your new helmet cam and mini personal digital video recorder to capture every second.

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Maybe you’ve tried making your own skateboarding or snowboarding videos yourself. Any extreme sport can be difficult to film.

Maybe you have already tried using an old-fashioned, hand-held, bulky camcorder, attempting to hold it steady while you or your friends try your “almost famous” stunts. It’s probably safe to say that this didn’t work out so well. It’s hard to keep the target in the viewfinder, and hard to hold the camera steady and focus.

If the move covers any distance or height, then the quality of your homemade videos is probably very poor. After seeing the videos once, they aren’t even worth watching again or showing anyone else.

Just not that impressive…..

A Better Way

Now there’s a way for you to easily capture your stunts with high quality video. A helmet cam, or bullet cam, is the best way to get the “bird’s-eye” view that you have yourself when performing your stunts.

When you attach a helmet cam securely to your helmet, you will record everything you see, from your perspective. You don’t have to worry about adjusting the camera’s aim, because it will always be pointed exactly where you are looking and recording everything.

Hands-Free Operation Keeps You Safer

With a lightweight mini digital video recorder tucked safely into your pocket, continuous recording of your entire stunt is possible. No need to worry about having anything extra to hold on to, a helmet cam and mini digital video recorder will provide a completely hands-free way for you to record every second.

This hands-free operation keeps you much safer than traditional recording methods (like a regular camcorder) would, plus you end up with a much higher-quality product to enjoy.

Be the first on your block to make your own high-quality extreme sports videos using a helmet cam and mini digital video recorder. This gadget is great for getting the visuals perfect, and the built-in microphone allows you to also record sound, everything you hear and say.

Feel free to narrate the entire event, at whatever speed or height you need. You’ll always be right there with the camera and microphone, not worrying or wondering if your buddy is “getting this on film.”

Impress Everyone!

If your favorite extreme sport happens to be an individual one, then you probably don’t get a chance to share the experience. In these situations, a helmet cam and mini digital video recorder would be the perfect solution for you. There’s no need to worry about having a recording assistant, you can get the cameras rolling and film everything yourself. You can bring back your own extreme sports videos from every sensational adventure and easily show them to everyone.

A mini digital video recorder will record onto an SD card, and those files can easily be downloaded on to the hard drive of your PC. Once the files are on your PC, you can make your own extreme sports DVDs and watch them right on your television, or email them to everyone you know.

Create ESPN Quality Helmet Cam Video of Yourself! Check Out Our Exclusive SportMaxCam