We get asked lots of questions from bikers who want a camera setup for their bike. There's not one system that completely satisfies everyones requirements so we have put together as many options as possible to address this. From all in one cameras with no wires from £95.00 up to multicamera solutions using the most state of the art digital video recorders, there's not too much we don't know about this subject. If you're still unsure then please give us a call for some friendly advice.

If you already own a camcorder and it has the required a/v inputs then all you need is one of our bullet camera kits.

If you go for option pack 3 then you will get all you need to connect to your camcorder and start filming. Option pack 3 also contains our 3 suction mount kit which is ideal for helmet or fairing mounting.

Using a MiniDV (not DVD) camcorder is still a good way to record high quality footage from a bullet camera.

Check to see if your camcorder has a/v inputs with this list here. Camcorders with a/v inputs

Bullet cameras

DogCam 480 from £100.00

DogCam Pro 520 from £130.00

DogCam Pro Zoom 550 from £160.00

DogCam HQ1 550 from £170.00

You will need a recording device to record from these cameras.

Most new camcorders are moving away from having the av inputs required for recording from a bullet camera. The latest hard disk and DVD models are not well suited for filming on a bike.

There are now plenty of options for recording from a bullet camera without having to use a camcorder. Camcorders are great if you want top quality video but they do have their disadvantages too. Some of our customers tell us that they don't like the massive file sizes that camcorders make. Some do not like the bulkiness not to mention finding a camcorder with a/v inputs is more difficult then ever before.

We have an expanding range of solid state recorders for use with our bullet camera kits. Solid state means no moving parts so the video will not skip under vibration and g-force.

DogCamSport Shop

Secure online ordering. Orders placed before 2pm will be despatched same day.

Our lowest price complete solution is the ATC2000 all in one camera. This is a camera with a built-in recorder. Insert 2 x AA batteries, insert an SD memory card (up to 2gb) press a couple of buttons and you're off. Lots of bikers are having a great time with this camera. If you're just making a few vids to show your mates and put on youtube then this really is a neat and inexpensive option.

Pros: EASY to use, no wires, won't break the bank.
Cons: Larger than a normal bullet camera so difficult to mount, far from broadcast quality, no built-in screen, audio is not great.

More info on the atc2000 including a sample video
(raw footage)

Recording time on a 2gb Card is 60 mins at full quality or up to 5 hours in low quality mode

2 part camera systems

The next step is to have a separate camera and recorder system. This way you can have a very high quality camera and make your choice of recorder. We see this as the way forward for the time being. A 2 part componant system is much more upgradable and provides many more functions and flexibility. If you're a lttile more than semi-serious about making videos then this is the route to take.

These are our highest quality bullet cameras. We only use Sony CCD's (charge coupled device) and only match them with the finest DSP's (digital signal processors) with a physical build quality to match. The HQ1 is the current standard for a broadcast quality output. Any of these cameras used with a quality recording device will give outstanding results.

The following info is about digital recorders. You can use any of these recorders with all of our camera range. Choosing a camera/recorder combination will depend on your requirements and of course your budget. The camera will be responsible for producing the image. A higher quality camera will produce sharper pictures, more natural colour and will respond to changing light conditions much quicker. A higher quality recorder will take the output from the camera and do a better job of storing and reproducing your video. In most cases it is simple to power these systems using a regulator from your bike's power. This will depend on whether you want to bike or helmet mount the cam. Some recorders can provide power for the camera. Others require a separate power supply for the camera by either using 8 x AA batteries or by using a rechargeable power pack.

The DV500 is the most popular of our recorders for bikers at the moment. It can record at 640x480 resolution with a bitrate of 2000kb/s. You can use up to 8gb SD cards with this device which equates to over 6 hours of footage on one card. The DV500 is the most affordable solid state recorder we will consider selling. You can preview the image on it's built-in screen and watch videos you've recorded instantly. DV500 comes with 2 batteries which will give about 90mins record time each. You can also power this device from a 12v supply using a 12v to 5v regulator. It's super small and can be easily hidden away in a pocket or under your seat.

More info on the DV500 digital video recorder

Bike Camera packages with this recorder start at £345.00

 DV-500 Biker camera package 480 camera kit

 DV-500 Biker camera package Sony HQ1

The PV800 is the bigger brother to the DV500 recorder above. It's record quality is exactly the same and it sports the same great functions with some neat added extras. You can use up to 8gb SD cards with this recorder and when your card gets full you can transfer the video on to the 30gb built-in hard disk. When you are riding you will be recording to the SD card and the hard disk will be inactive saving on power and eliminating the risk of corrupting any files. The other main advantage the PV800 has is the ability to connect a wired remote control. With a simple 3 position switch (on, off and record) so you can have the recorder tucked away and operate it from the remote. A neat wireless remote is also available. The wireless remote works in exactly the same way but also comes with an RF keyfob to start/stop recording. When used with a wired remote you can power the bullet camera from the recorder. This is a good option if you're going on a long trip. You can store over 24 hours of footage on the hard disk.

More info on the PV800 digital video recorder

Bike camera packages with this recorder start at £425.00

 PV-800 Biker's Package 480 camera kit

 PV-800 Biker's Package Sony HQ1

The ME1 is a brand new digital recorder from Germany. It has been built specifically for use by the German police force. It's extremely rugged and has some very nice features. The Mpeg4 compression codec has been written by the same people who designed the mp3 audio codec for music. The record quality is the best we have seen in this price range and can be described as DVD quality. It comes with software to convert your video in to a format that can be used by any video editing software so putting your video on to DVD will be easy. It can take up to an 16Gb CF card which will hold about 3-4 hours of footage at full quality. It has a small built-in screen so you can preview your camera and watch your video files. Another thing we like about this recorder is the ability control the gain of the audio input to help stop wind/road noise. It is powered from 4 x AA batteries internally which will last for about 4.5 hours continuous record time. This is an extremely good system for bikers who want to make broadcast quality recordings.

More info on the ME1 digital video recorder

Bike Camera packages with this recorder start at £780.00

Bike mount or helmet mount?

Where are you going to mount your camera? For both fairing and helmet mounting, our suction mount does a great job. If you have your camera on your bike then you should have the recording equipment on your bike. If the camera is on your helmet then the recorder should be on your person. The idea is to not be tethered by cable to your bike. If you want to mount a camera to a rough surface or you have a matt finished helmet then you should use the universal bullet camera mount which comes with high bond velcro. More info on our helmet camera mounts here. Our suction mount design normally sells for £19.50 but you can purchase a set for £10.00 when you add it to the kits below.

DogCamSport Shop

Secure online ordering. Orders placed before 2pm will be despatched same day.

 Bike helmet camera video clips