Innovv C3 camera test request-NGC

[zokn]

Usually by mid-March in Nova Scotia I'm thinking seriously about getting my bike ready for it's first outing, but not this year. We've had an unusually snowy and cold winter and there's 8 to 10 inches more coming this weekend. The V7 will just have to wait while I turn to another, non-bike project: a series of how-to videos on woodturning.

I'm hoping one of you folks here who purchased the Innovv C3 camera during the recent group buy would kindly conduct a test for me.

I am interested in using this small POV camera to record handwork from and operator point of view, specifically at the lathe, as a means of demonstrating and teaching woodturning techniques and skills. My concerns with many of the cameras that have been available are: bulk---I want to get the lens as close to my eye-view as possible; quality of image---many will not produce a sharp, in-focus image at 18" to 24"; and field of view---I want the field of view at 18"-24" from the camera to be as contained as possible to the work being demonstrated and this would ideally be about 14" or less.

On the Innovv site there are posted several jpeg images which are stills taken from video. These stills seem to show an ability to adjust focus and depth of field, which I assumed was beyond the camera's capability. Is this so?

I'd be grateful if someone could set up to do a video test and either post the video, or email me directly (my email is in my profile). The test could be just setting the camera on a tripod or helmet mount and shooting some video of your hands at the keyboard, or some other subject activity about 18-24 inches from the lens. I presume the 90 degree lens would be the one to use.

If anyone has experience with other pov cameras that might meet my needs, or you'd like to provide a test, I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks in advance.

[not-fishing]

Mine's a piece of junk.

You have to take the chip out to view the video and program the camera.  No viewing or downloading with patch cords.

Your better off buying a little sony from Best Buy and rigging up some camera attachment points with velcro. 

The next option is to spend the big bucks and Go-Pro.

I give the Innovv C3 the 4 garbage pail rating because it does somewhat work

Mark

[Triple Jim]

You have to take the chip out to view the video and program the camera.  No viewing or downloading with patch cords.

I agree that this is not good.  On the other hand, I've made some pretty nice videos with mine, with the camera taped to my bicycle helmet, and the remote mic on my collar.  I bought it to install on my Guzzi and use it as a dash cam.  It will work fine for that application, since I'll rarely look at any of the video unless I need to prove the other driver was at fault.

I'd think it will do well as a lathe-cam too.  If I get some time I'll see if I can get a sample video at the lathe or keyboard.  I need to install a hard drive and operating system on my work computer today though.

[190 Octane]

Mine's a piece of junk.

You have to take the chip out to view the video and program the camera.  No viewing or downloading with patch cords.

Your better off buying a little sony from Best Buy and rigging up some camera attachment points with velcro. 

The next option is to spend the big bucks and Go-Pro.

I give the Innovv C3 the 4 garbage pail rating because it does somewhat work

Mark

Did you leave the camera attached to the "dvr" box?  They only show up on the PC with the camera/lens attached.

I can't comment on near vs far focus.  I'll try to get a video for you sometime this weekend.

I know mine does a good job of image stabilization mounted to my handle bars above the master cylinder.

[canuguzzi]

The camera is anything but junk, they work and work very well. Just because something doesn't work the way you want doesn't mean it is junk, all it means is that perhaps you made the wrong choice, but who's fault is that?

I have two and they wonderfully. I mounted one on my 13 Norge and have it plugged into switched 12v from which a USB cord provides power on startup. The camera comes on automatically and starts recording.

Image stabilization is very good and in the location (on top of master cylinder, left hand) the controls are easy to use.

As for taking the chip out, how much more trouble is that than disconnecting the USB from power and then plugging that into some computer. I can take the chip out and stick it in my smartphone, laptop, desktop whatever without removing the camera from it's installed location.

The video it takes is very good and so is the recorded sound. What I really like is the extended cable to which the lens is connected. That allows the lens to be rotated and even moved without changing the location of the camera, great for video from a different perspective other than straight ahead.

I found the stabilization to be very good indeed, even over rough roads. The colors are pretty accurate and the frame rates are more than adequate, motion is smooth.

When I emailed support because of a glitch I found in the firmware, the company responded immediately and fixed it the same day. Try that with some other camera, you're lucky they will answer promptly and suggesting a fix for something is like getting on the list for a sold out concert. The company pays attention.

As I have it installed on the Norge, it is a hassle free way to video while riding, when off the bike and with the on upon added power, a great dash cam sort of thing. The view is straight ahead from the left side and in the view is also the speedometer display. While the camera lens follows the handlebar turns, for most riding the speedometer read out stays in view. The images are very clear so the distance I'm referring to would be from the clutch master to the speedometer, maybe 14" ??? Crystal clear.

I'm using a 64 gig micro SD card and it holds more than enough video for me.

What I like most about it is the small size of the camera processing box itself. I have it mounted via the QD mount supplied and if I park somewhere and the bike won't be within eye sight, I just remove it and put it into my jacket pocket. It is so obvious that the nothing is going to work without the processing box because of the unattached HDMI connector on the lens, so far no one has thought about lifting it.

I have to laugh sometimes as I see GoPros attached to helmets, not only does it look rather quaint, the frame of view will always be whatever your head is doing and I don't know about you but I don't wear a neck brace when riding to keep my noggen straight ahead. I also don't need some bigger box mounted somewhere in the bike. For me, when it comes to cameras, smaller and flexible are better than big and static.

I use the other camera in two different sleds, one an SUV and the other a PU. Since I bought a extra lens I can leave the lens in the vehicle, perfectly set for video and just move the processing box from vehicle to vehicle. With a velcro QD mount, it takes literally seconds to move it from SUV to truck.

Yes, there are higher priced cameras and single unit solutions but it comes down to what you want, flexibility or something that works like a point and shoot. With the long HDMI cable, you can mount the lens just about anywhere you want on the bike and make it work.

I see the designs of this camera as benefits rather than detractions.

[redrider]

I sent mine to a good home far away. PITA to operate. The focus/depth of field depends on lens type and 1080/720 combinations. If you want an excellent system with broadcast quality check VIO-POV.

[not-fishing]

As for taking the chip out, how much more trouble is that than disconnecting the USB from power and then plugging that into some computer. I can take the chip out and stick it in my smartphone, laptop, desktop whatever without removing the camera from it's installed location.

I'm only talking from the prospective that I built my first Darkroom in 1978 and first started taking videos in '84.  I've been using video recorders for a long time.  My present cameras are Leica, Nikon and Sony.

Even back in '84 I didn't have to take the video media out of the camera so that I could view it. 

Of course with my Leica M6 I do have to insert film, expose, develop and print but I use that sparingly.

So how many times do you think that smartcard reader is going to accept the insert and eject before failure to the Innov C3?  This media is not expected to have many install-removal cycles.

I did contact Innov and they accepted the fact that the video was not viewable with the camera attached as a common occorance.

Funny thing is the card is advertised as having the ability to playback through the device with patch cords but that ain't happening.  Even my 19 year old son who's taken video camera course and is PC literate cannot make it playback through the device.

If Innov had marketed their camera as a continuous loop recording device that requires the Smart Card media be removed for viewing then these problems would have been made aware to the Customer.        :beat_horse

Mark

[canuguzzi]

The common mistake when using micro SD cards or any removable media is inserting or removing the media when the device is powered on. SD cards and their derivatives are prone to failure if removed or inserted with the device powered. The same applies to USB removable memory unless there is a eject or dismount function to allow it. They will all fail, it is just a matter of time.

That said, I've removed/reinserted the card more than a couple hundred times and not had a failure so who knows?

Just saying it worked for me, flawlessly and found it to be a good value.

Of course, when considering idiosyncrasies, I ride a Moto Guzzi so... **C

[moto510]

Here's a link to a video I shot for you at my little metal lathe this morning with the 90 degree lens and the provided headset mount.
The lathe is in the back corner or the garage without any direct light over it, 1-4 foot florescent fixture about 6 feet away and the garage door was open when I shot it.

If you plan on shooting a really quiet video you will hear a low beeping noise randomly in the video due to the chipset used for the remote lens, you can hear it if you turn the volume up in the video
Download link for the raw video file.
https://mega.co.nz/#!TwUmlbZI!IVDMH4VWuvNkhX0S87B xyP3qlPV_-uN_CXiqrhC7l48

[zokn]

Thanks very much for the video. I can see some potential, both good and bad. On the positive side, the focus is acceptable at head-to-hand distances and the field of view is tight/narrow enough. On the negative side, the speed with which one normally moves one's head while working leads to poor video smearing - a common problem with digital video and fast panning at the best of times. I'd have to learn to move my head slowly!

The test does prove the concept is reasonable. I think it is worth my while to get one of these and run some tests and do some head movement training. Thanks again.