The Bullet HD is about as simple as cameras get. There’s a lens at one end, a screw-on cap covering a mini USB port, MicroSD card slot and microphone at the other, and a button in the middle. And that’s about it.
Note: this product was discontinued in 2013
It’s tiny – just 78mm long and 22mm in diameter. And at 36g, you won’t even notice it’s attached. In fact, it’s light enough to be secured by simple self-adhesive Velcro patches, with enough bits and bobs in the box to attach it to a helmet or goggle strap if you prefer.
You don’t get an array of settings and modes – you push the button to start, hold it to stop. The LEDs alongside the lens tell you what it’s doing. It’s admirably straightforward, though confirmation beeps when recording starts and stops would be useful, and the button could be much bigger. With the Bullet HD on your helmet where you can’t see the lights, you’re never quite sure if it’s recording or not.
Picture quality is fine, although it only goes to a (sub-HD) 720p maximum resolution and it struggles in low light. Despite the ‘Wide’ description, the field of view is a relatively narrow 135 degrees – a wider lens works better for mountain biking, as the extra edges give a more convincing sensation of speed. It’s simple, though, and almost there.
This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.