helmet cameras

Hello Martin,

That someone was me. Stories about it appeared in both More Woodturning and in Woodturning magazine. The camera mount was hung around my neck and and a piece of elastic was hooked to one side passed around the chest area and then hooked to the other side. That kept it from flapping around. I More Woodturning I told how I made the camera mount. In Woodturning magazine I talked mostly about the camera but illustrated it on the chest mounting fixture. Incidentally, I don't remember off hand which issues this appeared in.

Fred Holder

I thought it might be you, but I wasn't certain enough to accuse you. Tell us how that arrangement worked out. Martin

I've not tried a chest mounted camera but I would imagine that it would still not be as good as a fixed camera. I do agree with you that there would be less shaking going on as compared to the helmet mounted version. Maybe I move around more than most woodturners. If you could be perfectly still AND have it pointed where you need it AND have it in focus AND narrate/teach AND still manage to turn then I'd say go for it!

I'm not sure what advantage a chest mounted camera would have over a properly positioned fixed camera or two and you'll have far less fuss to deal with. I can certainly see where a glasses mounted camera would help... where your eyes are trained is where the (properly setup) camera would be looking too. Unfortunately, you get into the same problems as with the helmet mounted version. Great in theory but poor in application. Especially for an educational application.

I see that Fred Holder has done this so I'll defer to his actual experience.

- Andrew

The chest mounted camera worked just fine, except that the person wearing it needs to be able to see a monitor to make sure they are positioning themselves properly to keep the camera on the work. When I was recording myself turning using this method, I noticed that my breathing moved the camera which would be a bit distracting. I haven't done anything about trying it, but I think a shoulder mount for the camera might be better than the chest mount. Incidentally, the camera used was the little camera for demonstrators that Woodchucker's Supplies in Canada sells. They were in use at the Utah Woodturning Symposium, the AAW Symposium in Pasadena, and the Seattle Chapter of AAW now has one of the cameras. They have it set up to work overhead and shoot down on the action area in front of the headstock.

Fred Holder

It is possible to do it but it is very complicated. Essentially it requires the images to be reprocessed using algorithms that compare the video feed frame by frame and then make a correction. Essentially the algorism allows the computer to distinguish between the movement of the camera and the movement of objects within the video.

I designed a system, for our club, using a bullet camera to provide the view you are talking about. It is a small security camera mounted on a flex shaft with a magnetic mount. You can easily and quickly re-aim the camera as you move to different positions on the work. Total cost for the system was about $225.00

Frank Sudol demonstrated for us early this year and was very impressed with the picture. It was the first time he ever saw the inside of his vessel while he was turning. It was also the first time many of our members got to see the positioning of a hollowing tool while it was cutting. This camera is great and the angles it can get are only limited by our imagination.

I have posted a few pictures of the setup at

page is just started so it is very rough and the information isincomplete but, the images might give you an idea of what is going on. Alsothis page is not found through any of the navigation links on the site sosave the link above if you want to return to the page.As far as mounting a camera to the body, it is a very difficult thing to doand still get a steady picture. I have been a video photographer for 23years and am very familiar with shaky video (I have shot my fair share). Nomatter how motionless you try to be you cannot hold a camera still. Turningand trying to do this is a real task. If your camera has auto focus thefocus will rack back and forth trying to focus on whatever object is in themiddle of the screen. Also if you pay attention to how we look at things weoften move our eyes back and forth without moving our head. This wouldresult in the camera aiming off target. It is also hard for demonstrators togive a good demo and try to pay attention to a monitor so they can aim thecamera. In addition demonstrators (and teachers) usually like to walk aroundand they would be tethered to the camera cables going to the television orVHS.

Just my thoughts,

Tim Yoder Woodturners of Northeastern Oklahoma

yoda325 at cox dot net

This sounds like the best idea yet I will try this Thanks to all Jim Driskell