Front Bike Camera - Specifications

[Aushiker]

If you were looking to buy an action camera for the front of the bike today, its primary use would be daytime riding on the road, and its secondary use would be capturing footage of interesting bikepacking/touring rides. What specific features/specifications would you consider a minimum?

I am more interested in the specifications than specific cameras so that I can get a minimum criteria list, but I am open to suggestions on cameras that can be mounted using a GroPro mount and can be charged whilst in use.

 

[Base]

4k 60fps, EIS, waterproof, rugged, long battery life, charging case rather than internal charging. wide field of view, not to fish eye-isch.

 

[Nvreloader]

Aushiker
I now use this setup on all my bikes, work very well,, all I have to do is move the mini cam to whichever bike I want to ride: See info here:
https://talesontwowheels.com/2023/03/12/diy-bicycle-front-and-rear-dash-cam-part-1/ ymmv

 

[Base]

We run an Osmo action (gen 1) and an Osmo action 5 as main camera's on bike rides, hiking trips etc.

 

[harryS]

I see that Nvreloader likes the Akaso V50. I cheaped out and got the EK7000 in 2023. It's image stabilization was not quite good enough and the view angle was wider than I wanted.

 

[sc00ter]

I lost my temper with a DJI OSMO 3 and the "action cam" didn't survive. I have a Android based phone and when I scanned the QR code on the camera it corrupted my phone! Needless to say I had to go file to file to purge the DJI app from my phone. So be cautious of DJI action cams, as the only action I got was a messed up phone!

 

[Base]

hmmm, weird. We have been using a few different DJI products with different phones/tablets with android and ios, never had any issue.

also had a gopro but never been friends with the device so that was sold. besides the two smal camrea's I use some bigger camera's from jvc, panasonic and sony who all have a phone companian app, works as good as the dji one.

I like the simplicity of the osmo range, combined with a clear image quality and color range. the eis is also perfect. Paired with a mic mini it works superb and in most cases it is point and shoot after basic settings.

 

[sc00ter]

Let me go into a bit more detail. I purchased this DJI OSMO 3 around 2 years ago and FINALLY decided to use it. The camera gives you 5 "demo" runs before DJI forces, I mean makes you, log in to activate it. I'm a Luddite on tech and wasn't in the mood to set it up. But when I scanned that QR code on the camera and my phone told me To Not Allow the app I should have stopped but I didn't. I forced the app by unlocking the security and got a messed up phone. So then it was Hammer Time, and this was NOT MC Hammer!

I have Momento 6 front/rear cameras in both of my cars and they were super easy to activate.

 

[Aushiker]

4k 60fps, EIS, waterproof, rugged, long battery life, charging case rather than internal charging. wide field of view, not to fish eye-isch.

Thanks. I am curious about your reasoning for 4k 60fps, which I assume is demanding for battery life. Maybe less of an issue in daily traffic riding, I guess.

Looking at the Akaso Brave models, for example, they have a separate charger (USB) plus come with two batteries out of the box. I assume that would tick your charging box?

 

[Aushiker]

Aushiker
I now use this setup on all my bikes, work very well,, all I have to do is move the mini cam to whichever bike I want to ride: See info here:
https://talesontwowheels.com/2023/03/12/diy-bicycle-front-and-rear-dash-cam-part-1/ ymmv

I have seen those posts which I have found informative. I would, however, prefer a camera without a case which I can 'lock' to the bike with a security bolt to save having to remove it all the time.

 

[Aushiker]

I see that Nvreloader likes the Akaso V50. I cheaped out and got the EK7000 in 2023. It's image stabilization was not quite good enough and the view angle was wider than I wanted.

Still, using them? A later model Akaso does look interesting I must say.

 

[Aushiker]

Let me go into a bit more detail. I purchased this DJI OSMO 3 around 2 years ago and FINALLY decided to use it. The camera gives you 5 "demo" runs before DJI forces, I mean makes you, log in to activate it. I'm a Luddite on tech and wasn't in the mood to set it up. But when I scanned that QR code on the camera and my phone told me To Not Allow the app I should have stopped but I didn't. I forced the app by unlocking the security and got a messed up phone. So then it was Hammer Time, and this was NOT MC Hammer!

I have Momento 6 front/rear cameras in both of my cars and they were super easy to activate.

I purchased a DJI drone, the cheapest one and found the app a real pain. Not a sophisticated design, IMO. Anyway, I moved the drone on. Turns out that it is not my thing.

 

[mschwett]

If you were looking to buy an action camera for the front of the bike today, its primary use would be daytime riding on the road, and its secondary use would be capturing footage of interesting bikepacking/touring rides. What specific features/specifications would you consider a minimum?

I am more interested in the specifications than specific cameras so that I can get a minimum criteria list, but I am open to suggestions on cameras that can be mounted using a GroPro mount and can be charged whilst in use.

what is the exact use of a front camera for “daytime riding on the road?”

(I understand your secondary use case )

 

[Base]

Thanks. I am curious about your reasoning for 4k 60fps, which I assume is demanding for battery life. Maybe less of an issue in daily traffic riding, I guess.

Looking at the Akaso Brave models, for example, they have a separate charger (USB) plus come with two batteries out of the box. I assume that would tick your charging box?

4k 60fps gives me the option to do slowmo's etc and other trics in post. I get a bit more than 2 hours out of one battery might even be close to 2 1/2

Never had issues with the app in the last 5 years, just use it for remote and not for post production.

 

[Aushiker]

what is the exact use of a front camera for “daytime riding on the road?”

(I understand your secondary use case )

The front camera on the bike, as opposed to the rear of the bike. Daytime (as opposed to nighttime) riding on roads, i.e., in traffic. For example, commuting and local recreational riding in suburban/metro localities.

 

[Aushiker]

Never had issues with the app in the last 5 years, just use it for remote and not for post production.

I suspect that the app for the Osmo is far more developed than the one for the Neo Drone.

Interestingly, the prices of the DJI Osmo 4 are in the ballpark with the Asako Brave 8 locally. The Osmo 5 is, however, ~$300 more.

 

[Base]

you could also opt for something like this https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1231293#overview

 

[mschwett]

The front camera on the bike, as opposed to the rear of the bike. Daytime (as opposed to nighttime) riding on roads, i.e., in traffic. For example, commuting and local recreational riding in suburban/metro localities.

lol, i get that … but what’s it for? watching after the ride, safety, ??

 

[Aushiker]

lol, i get that … but what’s it for? watching after the ride, safety, ??

90% safety

 

[Aushiker]

you could also opt for something like this https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1231293#overview

I saw that yesterday. No local price as yet, but the US price is scary enough, plus I do not need the light. I have a Supernova M99 running continuously off the bike's battery. I think I will give this one a miss.