The HC-1, sold exclusively by helmetcamera.com, is a helmet camera system pieced together from analog and digital components. The HC-2 system is exactly the same as the HC-1, except that a waterproof box is included, along with a slim rechargeable camera battery that fits in the box. All in all, it’s a heap of wires and batteries, with lackluster video quality. The included DVR is a typical generic digital recorder, similar to the Archos AV 500, which was not designed for rugged wearable video applications. Rather, it is a basic handheld digital recorder, which can function completely on its own. What helmetcamera.com has done is package this general-purpose camcorder along with a lipstick camera kit, necessary cables, a memory card, and power options. The external camera plugs into the recorder’s auxiliary input, causing the integrated camera to be bypassed. Keep reading, as we share our thoughts on this product offering.

Feature Overview for the HC-1/HC-2 Helmet Camera Systems:

• Available with 380, 480, or 560 lines of camera resolution (recorded to 480 max after conversion)
• Records to SD media (4GB Max supported)
• Wired microphone
• USB connectivity
• HC-1 camera uses 8 AA batteries, HC-2 camera uses proprietary battery
• DVR uses proprietary battery
• HC-2 includes waterproof box for DVR/batteries
• DVR unit can also be used as a stand-alone camcorder
• DVR functions as a digital camera and MP3 player

• What You Get
• Where the System Falls Short
• Things we like
• Recording Capacity
• Warranty and Support
• Software
• Summary
• Pricing
• About HelmetCameraCentral.com
• Review Change Log

• Bullet Camera with Rugged Mount
• Camera Battery Pack
• DVR unit with Padded Pouch
• DVR Battery
• DVR AC Charger
• Microphone
• Cables
• 4 GB SD Card
• Waterproof Enclosure (HC-2 only)

We see nothing wrong with the basic concept of the HC-1 system. It includes the essentials all packaged together, and there are certain elements of the kit that we do like. However, we see a problem with its price-point. You’re essentially getting a low-end camcorder, a garden variety lipstick camera, and a cumbersome secondary/external battery pack. In the current helmet camera marketplace, systems providing good picture quality, along with high usability scores can be purchased for $350 and up. Unfortunately, the HC-1 ($629) and its underwater sibling, the HC-2 ($729) don’t match others in these areas.

Aside from the cost-factor, we have some usability issues with the included DVR unit:
1. There is no hold (lock) button to prevent the start/stop-record button from being accidentally pressed.
2. The auto power-off feature doesn’t work when the camera cable is plugged in.
3. From our experience, the one-way remote works only about half the time, even at very short range, and is not accompanied by an audio signal confirmation.

These issues can result in missed video, along with compromised battery and storage efficiency. Aside from the DVR’s quirks, there are some issues with the connectivity of the various components:
1. Connectors are push-on type, as opposed to being threaded. Therefore, the cable can easily become unattached.
2. The camera uses an external battery pack (8 AAs). This component alone weighs more than most other complete helmet camera systems and does not feature battery life indication.
3. There is a seemingly unnecessary cable splice that adds three linear inches of bulk and rigidity to what is otherwise a surprisingly thin and easy to work with camera cable.

There are some additional less critical irritations that we have with DVR. The port cover protrudes up at an odd angle and is bound to break off when the camera cable is plugged in. Also, the DVR’s backup battery life is very low. If you’ve forgotten to charge up before your big day, you’re likely to show up for a day of missed-filming, because of a dead battery. Finally, as stated above, this unit offers poor usability and has worthless menu options, considering the typical intended use. Picture slide show, print, mp3 music player, voice memo recording, etc. do not justify the complexity level and are not features focused on a true helmet camera system.

One thing worth clarifying with this type of system is that actual recorded video resolution may not be as you expect. The system does offer a camera that captures motion with 560 lines of vertical resolution, however this analog image is converted to digital format with a max vertical resolution of 480.

In defense of the HC-1, there are some positive aspects and features worth sharing. Ironically, one of the areas where we ding the DVR above may appeal to some buyers. The DVR unit is actually a stand-alone camcorder when the analog lipstick camera head isn’t plugged in. So, it’s perfect for filming your buddy eating the whole bag of chips after the big ride. It also has a flashbulb, so you can photograph his gluttony even if he thinks he’s under the cover of darkness. If you get bored with his antics, you can pass the time by listening to MP3s that you loaded onto it. Basically, the HC-1 “helmet camera” is like an imitation Swiss Army knife. The HC-1 may feature a knife blade which is rather dull for the most part, but at least you’ve got the cork screw, the bottle opener, and the 5 inch ruler (you know, for measuring things while your camping). Hope you folks got the analogy!

Some other surprising “rays of sunshine” cast by this system are its waterproof case (up to 150 feet submerged!), fairly long battery run times, and higher than typical storage capacity (4GB). It also features a separate camera head housing that gives added protection to the camera body and lens from being crushed on impact. This is a biggie for the HC1… so much so that the manufacturer claims “so durable that you could run it over with a truck”. For most users, this one-of-a-kind metal housing won’t be worth its extra weight. However, it could prove to be useful for “crash and burn” users, as well as for off-road riders who are constantly exposing the camera lens to potential pitting and cracking from pebbles and what-not. The crushproof design is well noted, but beware of the potential for it to trap moisture and fog up.

Another not-so-obvious nice feature is that if you need the camera to be positioned very far away, one has the ability to daisy chain successive camera cables to create fairly long overall camera cable lengths. Helmetcamera.com claims that a 100 ft (30 m) length can be reached. However, because of analog cable impedance, a noticeable degradation in quality could be encountered at a much shorter length. Unfortunately, this option also explains the aforementioned largely unnecessary in-line cable splice that will be the subtle annoyance of most users. If longer cable lengths are a necessity, we suggest looking at other systems that have pre-built cables of various lengths, such as the ChaseCam PDR 100, ELMO SUV, or POV1.

As far as the waterproof case is concerned (HC-2), its bulkiness is definitely worth putting up with for underwater users and it will save you the time and effort of having to go and locate one on your own. However, surfers, wakeboarders, kayakers, and the like will be better served by getting a unit that already is waterproof outside of any cumbersome waterproof casing.

When set to 640×480 mode, the DVR has been tested to record 173 minutes on a single 4 GB card.

The recorder unit has a 3 month warranty. The external camera has a 1 year warranty.

The HC-1 and HC-2 systems do not include any special software for transferring or manipulating captured video.

The team here at Helmet Camera Central is not out to bash products, but to help you make more informed decisions. It’s always tricky when buying fringe technology and “Buyer Beware” is always a good precaution to live by. In general, the HC1 is not a bad system, but in today’s Helmet Cam market, we can’t see the price justification. With its total of nine onboard batteries, the unit might weigh three times more than others systems in its price range, but as far as we’re concerned, it should be priced three times less. This unit provides low-end video quality, and few of the features or conveniences that can be found in other higher-quality systems that can be purchased for the same price or less. If you are considering getting into helmet camera filming, keep in mind that we are at a critical time in the evolution of digital systems. Be leery of multiple detached components and generic types of recorders.

HC-1 MSRP: $629.00 / HC-2 MSRP: $729.00
These prices include a 560 line camera. Lower resolution cameras may be substituted, at a lower price.

Some history on us, the blog, and The Shop. In the Fall of 2005, Helmet Camera Central was born as a result of our helmet cam experiences from our video consulting business Two Brothers Video. Helmet Camera Central is a simple resource designed to help people find objective and pertinent information about helmet camera systems. Over the past few years we have tried to review helmet camera systems with an unbiased and objective point of view. Generally, we focus on the functional and usability aspects of helmet camera systems. We have run the gamut of helmet cam systems and know what works and what does not. The type of reviews we produce are a by-product of our day to day experiences with helmet cam systems. Ease of use, reliability, and quality are at the top of our priority list. The helmet camera systems that we chose to Recommend and Sell at The Shop were chosen for a very good reason: They rock! If a review seems biased, it is only because we strongly feel that particular product is worthy of our bias! There are quite a few systems out there, and the ones we recommend generally provide the most elegant solution and the best return for your investment.

We are always here to answer your questions and help you purchase a helmet camera system that meets your needs. If one of our recommended systems is a fit for you, we hope you will find that The Shop is a trusted storefront to supply your helmet cam equipment. If our recommended systems do not fit your needs we will not hesitate to put you in contact with the right vendor to find a solution.