Action Cameras have brought the price of the ATC3K and ATC5K back down again to a very tempting level of under £100 for the ATC3K and under £150 for the ATC5K! These have always been know in the market as the best value-for-money action cam but a few months ago the manufacturer Oregon Scientific was trying to push the price on both cameras up by £20! Now we’ve convinced them otherwise so you’ll be able to buy them at these fantastic prices from here. Plus we’re throwing in a FREE 4Gb SD Memory Card and FREE batteries with each camera!
You can win an ATC5K Action Camera by simply subscribing to either Action Cameras YouTube or Vimeo Channels and uploading at least one video. One subscriber will be chosen on March 31st to win a brand new ATC5K!
They are both self containned (no cables), record on SD card, waterproof and designed to be attached to any type of helmet.
At Action Cameras, one of the very frequently asked question is: what is the difference between these two cameras?
Check this video, you’ll have our comparaison on top of a split screen with ATC5k footage and Helmet Hero Wide footage.
Are you taking your Action Camera out skiing or snowboarding???
I quick tip from us; you should use Lithium-ion batteries as these aren’t affected by the low temperatures. If you use regular Alkaline batteries then you’ll notice that the battery life will only be a few minutes as soon as you expose it to the temperatures. The plus side is that (while more expensive) the Lith-ion batteries do last about 2 to 3 times longer then the regular ones.
So to make sure that your batteries can last as long as you do, click here to get yourself some Lith-ion Batteries!
Enjoy the slopes! Action Camera Team
I was introduced to the ATC series about 12 months ago when I bought the ATC2K. On May 4 2008, one of my bikes was ‘customised’ by a Bangkok bus along with the ATC2K – I was fortunate and only had a few minor cuts. I did think about replacing it straight away but I had heard that Oregon Scientific was bringing out the ATC3K with an increased capacity and the ATC5K with the LCD monitor. I’m glad that I waited.
The ATC5K is similar in size, shape and weight to its predecessors. It retains the same fitting attachment which locates into the various mounts with a satisfying ‘click’. The control buttons are easier to use than the ATC2K which I found were a bit ‘fiddly’. I found access to the batteries, SD card and USB connected were far easier – just unclip the monitor screen rather than twist off the end cap.
The package also includes a remote control and a webcam mount and CD. When the ATC5K is helmet mounted, I found the remote control very useful as I tended to knock the camera out of alignment when I tried to switch it on to record manually. I never use a webcam but… I found it very useful when trying to align the helmet mount; with the unit connected to your pc, assume your normal riding position and adjust via your pc. If you have a laptop, then sit on the bike and adjust from there.
What I like about the ATC5K is that it is self contained, has a 2 hour capacity and the price.
Where the ATC5K can be improved – I normally have mine handlebar mounted and because of heavy traffic, I sometimes find it difficult to hear the ‘beeps’ so the addition of a small viewing window above the front facing red and green lights would be useful.
I know that you can buy lighter cameras but you need an additional recording device and I have enough stuff in my back pockets to carry around. For the price, it represents good value for money.
Two videos – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrPvrzg6dpk and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH0LFIgqDkQ have just be through Windows Movie Maker which has just edited them using Auto Movie facility, I have not enhanced it in any other way. You may be able to detect some wave motion but this is due to the suspension forks and road surface – not to the unit itself.
The Good: The ATC5K has a 1.5 colour screen for lining up shots and reviewing footage, the buttons are easier to use, it has a wireless remote control and it is still as tough as ever!
The Bad: The remote control works with IR and not with radio frequency, and the menu is not very intuitive.
The Action Cameras Bottom Line:We clearly noticed the higher quality in the picture and were impressed with the photo images. The screen is a first for these all-in-one cameras and we love it. The remote is also a terrific innovation that we found to be quite handy. Overall, it is the best value for money action camera yet.
