I’ve been working on this for a while. The GoPro seems to have it all but it has it’s limitations. 300 quid for something that can only be an action cam always seemed a bit steep to me.
I took a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 (50fps 1080 video, mech image stabilised), A micro peli-case, some filters and some straps.
The camera cost less than 120 quid, the case 17 quid.
The housing is a bit bulky for anything other than chest mounting but IMO chest mounting is the only way to go.
Initial tests are superb, the video is clear, stable and very sharp. I’ve just got to tweak the mount for correct aim as it’s hard to get it pointing forwards.
The peli-case can be drilled to allow buttons to be mounted on the outside, I’ve got one for on/off and another for start/stop.
It’s showerproof, shockproof and the camera can come out and be a full-featured 12mp stills camera with all the bells and whistles, all for less than 150 quid. Compare that to a GoPro at 300 plus 90 for the add-on screen…
A SHOT OF THE MODIFIED PELI-CASE (it’s a 1010):
I used a couple of old photographic filters to get an optically flat ‘window’. Smashed the glass out of one, glued it to the case and screwed the other one in.
This is version one, version two is being modified, more photos when available and some video footage when I get the aiming right.
The next part of the project is to see if a .45 wide angle converter will fit to give a wider viewing angle.