Before your purchase a POV camera you should know that you do need a separate recording device to store your video footage. The good news is there are several options available beyond just a camcorder, but no matter what you choose your recording device MUST HAVE AN A/V (audio/video) INPUT. The S-Video or DV (Digital Video) inputs will NOT WORK for any helmet cam, period. So don’t be fooled by imitation manufacturers telling you the input doesn’t matter.
 
The Twenty20 camera includes a standard 3.5mm mini-jack plug to connect directly to the A/V input on your recording device. Not all devices use a 3.5mm plug so please visit the Twenty20 Compatibility List to determine if you need any adapters.

Option 1:   Camcorders
Until recently, the camcorder has been the only recording weapon of choice for POV cameras and, due to the quality of the image, it’s still a top choice in everyone’s book. The rule of thumb is your camcorder will work like a VCR to store the footage from the Twenty20 Camera. That means don’t compare the camcorder lens or the additional features if your single goal is to record with your Twenty20 helmet cam or motorcycle cam.

Some camcorder recommendations include opting for the Mini-DV format as this media type appears to handle the vibrations of action sports the best. Additionally, they’re the easiest to find and are offered at various price points. Next, you’ll want to take size and weight into consideration, especially for you cyclists. Third, a LANC port on the camcorder will allow you to purchase a LANC controller so you can start and stop the camcorder while you’re riding. And finally look at where the play/stop buttons are located and avoid units that have oversized buttons (aka easily bumped buttons).

Pros:
Mini-DV is the highest input resolution (720×480 uncompressed, DVD Quality)
LANC controller is only available with a camcorder
Allows for a mix of first and third person footage
You may already own one, which means no further investment on your part.

Cons:
Camcorders can range in price and are the most expensive option
The cost of media tapes can add up, especially microMV tapes
Size and weight can be cumbersome

Recommended Devices:
Sony DCR HC 32 - LANC Controller Compatible
Samsung SC-D365 - Cheapest Camcorder around right now
Canon Elura 100 - Not LANC Controller Compatible

Option 2:   Flash Card Recorders
So you want to know the cheapest recorder that works, and gets good (not great) quality footage? A not so well known company called Aiptek, makes a should be well known camcorder that records at TV Quality (640x480 pixels and 30 frames per second) using SD flash for storage.

That’s really it, pretty simple. The Aiptek won’t be as good as a real camcorder, but at $100 - $150 depending on the sale day at Best Buy, it’s going to save you big in the pocketbook.

Pros:
Low price
Digital recording = no money spent on Mini-DV tapes
Good quality for compressed footage (640x480 300kbps @ 30fps)
Capture 3rd person imagery while riding
Small and light

Cons:
LANC controller is only available with a camcorder
Not raw footage, which means it won’t look as good on your TV.

Recommended Devices:
Aiptek MPVR - SD Flash Card Required
Aiptek PVR - SD Flash Card Required
RCA Lyra x2400 - (2007 Model) 2GB Flash Card Recorder

Option 3:   Hard Drive Recorder
Perhaps you’ve heard of the new wave of Personal Media Players making their way into the electronics market over the past few years. Well if you haven’t, you’re in for a treat. PMPs, as they’re better known, are available with either an internal Hard Drive or a Flash Card. Let’s start with the Hard Drive PMPs.

HD based recorders allow for recording your helmet camera in a purely digital format. The recording resolution should ideally be at 30 frames per second (fps) so the video is smooth and not choppy. Second, look at the resolution. The best resolution for a PMP that we’ve found is 640×480, which is TV quality recording. Lastly you’ll want to take into account the size, weight, and price. You can typically estimate an hour of footage per GB at the maximum recording settings.

Pros:
Digital recording = no money spent on Mini-DV tapes
Downloads to your computer with a USB cable in just minutes
Compact size and weight is ideal for bicycles or long trips

Cons:
You will need a computer to store your footage once the recorder is full
Resolution is only TV quality so it's not recommended for DVD quality productions
Most PMPs are only sold on-line

Recommended Devices:
Archos Products - All Archos Personal Media Players
Cowon A2 - 30GB Hard Drive Recorder
RCA Lyra x3030 - (2007 Model) 30GB Hard Drive Recorder
RCA Lyra RD2780 - (2006 Model) 20GB Hard Drive Recorder

Blog Postings
Are you still with us? I promise we’re almost finished, by now you can imagine how long our phone conversations are when someone asks us about this stuff. We’re still more than happy to do that if you have any questions so feel free to call us toll free: 866-397-6920.

If you’re looking for more information on recorders, connectors, or how a helmet camera works please visit a few of our blog postings.

 Helmet Cameras 101  
 Recorders Available  
 Capture your Adventure  
 What is CMOS