Hi guys, I'm thinking about getting a barrel cam but I'm not sure which is the best.
What do you think is best and why?
What do you think is best and why?
Best barrel/head cam?
- Thread starter TomF
- Start date
Two choices. Both in the UK by a paintballer for paintballers
http://www.contourscotland.com/
You can also get a discount code if you like my teams Facebook (task force delta)
Why a contour?
They are cylindrical making the front view just the size of the lens,
they are tough and survive paintball impact (in my experience). We have had the case of the rear switch on the back cover dropping in from a direct hit from behind - sent to Matt of contour Scotland and dealt with on contour support
Waterproof cases are available, not essential as the camera is waterproof to a degree (not enough for diving) but also handy if you're worried about it being shot
It has the standard camera mount on the bottom and its own rail mount on each side
The lens rotates so you can mount anyway up
Many mounts are available, some come with the camera, I recommend the mask set as well for load more mounts
The contour plus 2 is top of the range and has many nice extra features
The contour roam 2 is about half the price but most specifications - the essentials such as pixels, frame rate match the +2
Plasma cam:
http://www.freewebstore.org/Plasmalightscouk/CAMERA_KITS/cat457033_809104.aspx
Also a cylinder
Mounted like a sight (anything that goes around the camera and can mount where you want), plenty of mounts around
Again they are tough and have been selected for paintball
The third choice is go pro (or a very similar aee action camera)
They are more bulky, but are the camera of choice in industry when a cameraman doesn't fit
The AEE action camera is a available from maplins, has the same chipset as the go pro, costs less and comes with all the mounts, waterproof case, a clip on LCD screen and a remote control
Go pro style needs the waterproof case for paintball to protect it - this will affect sound
http://www.contourscotland.com/
You can also get a discount code if you like my teams Facebook (task force delta)
Why a contour?
They are cylindrical making the front view just the size of the lens,
they are tough and survive paintball impact (in my experience). We have had the case of the rear switch on the back cover dropping in from a direct hit from behind - sent to Matt of contour Scotland and dealt with on contour support
Waterproof cases are available, not essential as the camera is waterproof to a degree (not enough for diving) but also handy if you're worried about it being shot
It has the standard camera mount on the bottom and its own rail mount on each side
The lens rotates so you can mount anyway up
Many mounts are available, some come with the camera, I recommend the mask set as well for load more mounts
The contour plus 2 is top of the range and has many nice extra features
The contour roam 2 is about half the price but most specifications - the essentials such as pixels, frame rate match the +2
Plasma cam:
http://www.freewebstore.org/Plasmalightscouk/CAMERA_KITS/cat457033_809104.aspx
Also a cylinder
Mounted like a sight (anything that goes around the camera and can mount where you want), plenty of mounts around
Again they are tough and have been selected for paintball
The third choice is go pro (or a very similar aee action camera)
They are more bulky, but are the camera of choice in industry when a cameraman doesn't fit
The AEE action camera is a available from maplins, has the same chipset as the go pro, costs less and comes with all the mounts, waterproof case, a clip on LCD screen and a remote control
Go pro style needs the waterproof case for paintball to protect it - this will affect sound
In all honesty they are all the same really.
I personally have a Go Pro and whilst its really good, I do agree that it is quite big and bulky. With the different attachments I can use it whilst on my head, chest on top of the barrel or hanging under the barrel. With its vast array of attachments you can use it in a variety of sports.
I have seen a couple of guys with the paintball r7 (I think its called) barrel camera. Whilst it fits quite snug on top of the barrel and fitting to the feedneck, I have not used this and do not know what other fittings you can get to use in other sports.
A friend of mine bought a Bullet (think that was its name) and has used this on the side of his helmet for skiing and the side of his goggles for Pball. This did give quite similar images to the Gopro.
If you do a search on you tube I know you can see quite a lot of footage if you type Gopro and theres also an awful lot of pb vids aswell - Some do say what they were shot with.
Hope this helps.
I personally have a Go Pro and whilst its really good, I do agree that it is quite big and bulky. With the different attachments I can use it whilst on my head, chest on top of the barrel or hanging under the barrel. With its vast array of attachments you can use it in a variety of sports.
I have seen a couple of guys with the paintball r7 (I think its called) barrel camera. Whilst it fits quite snug on top of the barrel and fitting to the feedneck, I have not used this and do not know what other fittings you can get to use in other sports.
A friend of mine bought a Bullet (think that was its name) and has used this on the side of his helmet for skiing and the side of his goggles for Pball. This did give quite similar images to the Gopro.
If you do a search on you tube I know you can see quite a lot of footage if you type Gopro and theres also an awful lot of pb vids aswell - Some do say what they were shot with.
Hope this helps.
Barrel mounting is best avoided for game filming as you soon find how much you point at the ground. But does give good footage of shots.
The better location is on your head, but if you have more than one camera then a barrel one gives you more footage for editing in.
The Contour bar mount (meant for bike handle bars)
http://www.contourscotland.com//products.php?40&cPath=15&sid=cee5c5fffedc22922d8d5e3f4ab08640
** However its worth confirming, I believe its fully rotateable.
Or the flex strap
http://www.contourscotland.com//products.php?39&cPath=15&sid=cee5c5fffedc22922d8d5e3f4ab08640
For best value for money consider a mount set that includes those you are interested in
http://www.contourscotland.com//index.php?cPath=15&sid=cee5c5fffedc22922d8d5e3f4ab08640
There is another that I am aware of that is for barrels
http://www.amazon.com/Nummech-Contour-Camera-Barrel-Mount/dp/B007QE94KU
http://nummech.com/prod_item_contourbarrel.html
There can be DIY solutions as well:
A Contour will fit the Enola Gaye smoke barrel mount. However access to the slide switch is limited, and I would not realy fancy relying on it to stay in place. Good convenient way to put on a barrel and a torch.
Could be considered alongside the lanyard to secure the camera
Another DIY one I have made is a the handlebar mount of a Poundland bike torch attached to a standard camera thumbscrew mount
Does your contour have a screw mount at the bottom? Just picked up a used 1080p HD, and mine does NOT have the bottom screw mount. Looking to make a DIY barrel mount, but will have to use the rail it seems :-/
My ContourRoam2 has one in built, you may need to buy this, Mat. It gives you the screw port if you don't have it
http://www.contourscotland.com//products.php?42&cPath=15&sid=cee5c5fffedc22922d8d5e3f4ab08640
I have a teammate with a Nummech mount, works perfect for him. Other than that we simply use the surface mount that comes in with the camera and superglue it to our I4's
works a treat if you position it correctly!
http://www.contourscotland.com//products.php?42&cPath=15&sid=cee5c5fffedc22922d8d5e3f4ab08640
I have a teammate with a Nummech mount, works perfect for him. Other than that we simply use the surface mount that comes in with the camera and superglue it to our I4's
works a treat if you position it correctly!
Yea, I noticed that on the site after posting. It seems they started building them into the camera after the one I gotMy ContourRoam2 has one in built, you may need to buy this, Mat. It gives you the screw port if you don't have it
http://www.contourscotland.com//products.php?42&cPath=15&sid=cee5c5fffedc22922d8d5e3f4ab08640
I have a teammate with a Nummech mount, works perfect for him. Other than that we simply use the surface mount that comes in with the camera and superglue it to our I4's
If you happen to know where your team mate picked up the Nummech, I would be VERY interested. The handle bar mount for this would work, but looks like it has a giant profile compared to the Nummech.I'm also not attaching the marker to my goggles as I want to be able to see the action no matter which side of a bunker I am poking out, and the best way to accomplish this without adding a camera on each side of my head (making me "wider" or on the top of my head, making me "taller") is with a barrel mount. Yes, I know people say I will end up filming mostly the ground using a barrel cam, but then that just means I'm not living behind my gun and need to get that gun up and pointed down field
That makes complete sense. on the i4's there's a sweet spot just where the lens meets the crux of the mask and it slots in- if you take the lens out you can glue it onto there, replace the lens, and it does not obscure field of vision. However, like you say, it makes you a bigger target because there's that extra bit sticking out
The nummech mount, as far as I'm aware, was bought from the site tommikka linked, here: http://nummech.com/prod_item_contourbarrel.html
Works brilliantly, if you put it so the back of the camera is up against your rotor/loader/whatever (we use rotors). He uses a 16" Ultralite, so you see the tip of the barrel on the footage. I imagine with a 14" you would just see the nib, literally. If you wanna see some footage from the mount, take a look at our Captain's Youtube, browse the videos he's uploaded. http://www.youtube.com/user/Either0REither/
The nummech mount, as far as I'm aware, was bought from the site tommikka linked, here: http://nummech.com/prod_item_contourbarrel.html
Works brilliantly, if you put it so the back of the camera is up against your rotor/loader/whatever (we use rotors). He uses a 16" Ultralite, so you see the tip of the barrel on the footage. I imagine with a 14" you would just see the nib, literally. If you wanna see some footage from the mount, take a look at our Captain's Youtube, browse the videos he's uploaded. http://www.youtube.com/user/Either0REither/