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Camera mounts for a hike?

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sbcooler

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I could really use some suggestions here if any of you can spare a minute. I am going on a 2.5 day hike/climb up Mt Ranier in Washington State.

I wanted to capture some video with my Canon HV20 camcorder. Now my hands will not be free as we hike (hiking poles) and rope. So I was thinking of either trying to mount it to my helmet somehow??? Any ideas on that....or possibly buy this chest mount strap.

Now I just want to stay fully auto and push the record button, hike for 5 minutes and hit the record button again..wait maybe 30 minutes and do the same thing...so I am capturing maybe 5-10 minutes of video for every hour we hike. I figure 2-3 hours of total footage and I'll have the whole climb more or less.

Now if I strap it my chest I can more easily see when the cam is recording as its much more accessible...with the helmet I just have to remember whether its on or off...again we will be on fixed ropes and outside of hit one button I cannot stop and adjust it...or see if its even on or recording.

Anyway I wonder though if the chest mount would be steady enough...any ideas anyone here? Chest mount or helmet mount...and if a helmet mount what the best way to mount the Canon to my helmet...I really want to use this cam as the quality is so MUCH better than those little POV cams plus I already own the cam.

Would love some input and opinion on what might be best for me.

Thanks-

PS Here's what one chest mount I saw looked like (you can enlarge the picture): http://www.adorama.com/UWGCHM30.html
 
Considering how often you're changing layers while climbing I would recommend against a chest mount. Also if you need to self arrest you will get a nice big bruise on your chest.
 
So i could get hurt if I use a chest mounted camera strap if I have to self arrest during a fall...so that leaves a helmut mount...or what about a shoulder mount or do you think that would be too shaky?

So thats my question shoulder mount or helmut mount?

Thx-
 
Do you actually want footage while climbing?

Personally I would just put a tether on your pack and put it in a pouch.

When you stop to drink. Break it out and shoot some footage.

I don't know how many hours of... Step.... Step..... Step.... step.... step.... footage
you need. :D

After a water/food break have the people ahead of you roped in go out to their limit and then just walk 15 feet or so. Stop and put the camera away.

The scenery isn't really changing very quickly and there's very little of interest to shoot except maybe once every 2 or 3 hours.
 
HV20 fits nicely in most pockets, I don't know why you would need a mount. You'll get a much better range of shots, with better stabilization, if you just pull it out and shoot a few seconds than you would with any body mount.

Or instead of a hiking pole, how about a monopod with one of those spiked feet? They're cheap and expendable and you'll stabilize your shots.
 
That's what I'm hearing...is that mounting it will cost good money for a customized helmet and the footage will not be very stabile nor interesting...maybe I am better off just taking it out 3 or 4 times per day and taking 2-3 minutes here and there. I was hoping by mounting it and shooting 2 hours worth..that I'd find 5-10 minutes of 10 second stable clips just by random chance...

Hmmm...not sure...I did check out the Countour HD and at 1280 x 720 it sounds nice but it only records at 2GB per hour...must be massively compressed and such tiny lense and sensors...I am sure my cam is much better for image quality.

In a year from now I'd be interested in what it would take to buy a serious helmet cam and mount the Scarlet!

One of you said something about tethering the video cam to my backpack...not sure what or how that would be? Like strapping it in I guess...I could do that with straps if I rig something...

What I really need is an awesome camera helmet...with inches of foam or rubber to dampen and take away lots of hiking movement...I want this to double for when I get on my bike to...I wonder how much rubber or foam I would need to really stabilize the shot...does anyone make anything like that outside of a steady cam that really is made for walking...I mean a steadycam for a bike or long hike or jog to the park?
 
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