Is it true that smartphone cameras break from motorcycle vibrations? A debut with an 'action camera' for those in their 50s!
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A precious motorcycle life. You want to capture your touring trips with your beloved bike and the best scenery in the best possible way, right?
But, I will give you the conclusion straight. 'If you want to record the scenery from your motorcycle on video, you must never mount your smartphone on the handlebars and ride.'
'Huh? Doesn't everyone use their smartphone as a navigation system and record video on the side?' you might think. Actually, this is a huge, dangerous pitfall.
Smartphone cameras 'die instantly' from motorcycle vibrations
High-performance smartphones like the latest iPhones contain ultra-precise features called 'optical image stabilization.' This is the tricky part; if you continue to receive the fine vibrations of a motorcycle with a thumping pulse like the Rebel 1100 for a long time, the focus function of this camera will be physically destroyed.
When you finally launch the camera to take a beautiful picture, the screen ripples with a buzzing sound and it will never focus again. Repair costs are in the tens of thousands of yen. At worst, you'll have to replace the device itself.
Riding a motorcycle worth hundreds of thousands or millions of yen, while living in fear of breaking a smartphone worth over a hundred thousand yen. Don't you think that's putting the cart before the horse? That is why this is a mature decision.
'Keep your smartphone safe in your pocket. Leave the scenery to a 'dedicated camera'.'
This is the optimal solution to completely avoid risks while capturing the best records.
The reason I highly recommend a '360-degree camera' to those in their 50s who are not tech-savvy
'Even if you say a dedicated camera, GoPro and such seem difficult...' 'I don't have the capacity to think about composition or press the record button while riding.'
For us in our 50s, new electronic devices are a high hurdle in themselves. I understand that painfully well. That is why I want to wholeheartedly recommend '360-degree action cameras' like the 'Insta360' to my generation who are not good with machines.
This is revolutionary and simple.
A normal camera can only shoot 'in front,' but a 360-degree camera has lenses on the front and back, recording the 'entire space' as a whole. In other words, you just need to 'press the record button once and ride.'
Just by fixing it to the motorcycle handlebar with a stick and riding, you can leave behind footage like a scene from a movie, as if a drone were automatically following and filming you from diagonally behind. Moreover, that stick is automatically erased and becomes invisible due to the camera's technology! It is magical footage that surprises everyone, asking, 'Huh? How did you film that!?'
The spectacular winding road through the Hakkoda Mountains in Aomori. The flowing scenery, the clear blue sky, and even my own grinning face as I ride through the wind are all recorded automatically.
Honestly, settings and app operations might look like spells to our generation at first. But when you ride, you really just press one button. You don't have to think about composition even one millimeter while riding the bike. Precisely because you are bad at mechanics, relying on this 'camera that can be fixed later' is the correct answer.
The 'Three Sacred Treasures' for a perfect debut
If you are going to make your action camera debut this weekend, avoid buying half-baked things and wasting your money. These are the three 'Three Sacred Treasures' you absolutely must have.
1. Action camera body (Insta360 X4 Standard Edition)
First, you can't start without this. It's the latest model of the magic camera that lets you change the angle of view later. Various sets are sold, but you can't go wrong by choosing the 'standard version' first, which doesn't have any unnecessary accessories.
2. Sturdy motorcycle mount kit (Insta360 genuine motorcycle mount)
This part is super important! If you use a cheap plastic mount, the camera will fly off along with the mount due to wind pressure and vibration while riding. Please secure the genuine, sturdy metal clamp mount that grips firmly onto the thick handlebars of your Rebel.
3. High-capacity, high-speed SD card (SanDisk Extreme 512GB)
360-degree cameras consume many times more data than regular cameras because they save high-quality data in all directions. If you buy a 64GB card just because it's cheap, you'll end up in despair by midday during your tour when it says 'storage full.' Definitely buy a tough 512GB high-capacity card from SanDisk that meets the 'V30' standard along with it.
Capture your memories while they are still vivid. This is the ultimate blissful time for adults.
In kickboxing, which I was devoted to when I was young, watching videos of matches and sparring afterward gave me many objective insights, like 'Oh, my guard is weak here' or 'This movement was good.' Seeing yourself from the outside is incredibly interesting and becomes a real asset.
Motorcycling is exactly the same. No, it's even more so.
It's not just a 'record of your ride.' If you connect it to your living room TV at night and play it on the big screen, the deep green of Hakkoda and the mountain streams of Oirase will spread across your entire field of vision, and even the pleasant pulse of your Rebel will be revived in your room. Enjoying a delicious drink at home while watching your own grinning face as you tackle those winding roads along with the spectacular scenery—this level of immersion is better than any drink at a high-end izakaya. It's the ultimate luxury.
Instead of worrying about your smartphone breaking, why not invest a little in a dedicated, tough camera and enjoy your touring at 100% purity?
A new way for adults to play that you can definitely do with just one switch, even if you're not tech-savvy. Please experience this fun that transforms even the night after your ride next weekend. It will change your world!
This was Kentsu.