By Dana Farrell
There’s a new player in the digital, gun mounted camera arena. Tachyon Inc. has released the 2018 GunCam for clays and hunting – a feature packed and easy to use, barrel mounted video and audio recorder that sells for $300.
Tachyon launched their first product line 10 years ago, with models focused on motorcycles, bicycling, law enforcement and military applications. The company’s product is currently popular in the pistol and 3 Gun shooting arena using a hat mounted version.
USPSA, IDPA, IPSC, and 3 Gun competitors and trainers find it valuable for diagnosis of technique and use it to improve their scores. Seeing an opportunity in the shotgun market, the company was introduced to University of Maryland Shotgun Team coach Anne Mauro by World Champion pistol shooter Julie Golob. A shotgun mounted camera was a new concept to Tachyon at that time, so in 2015 Ms. Mauro helped the company develop the shotgun version of their camera.
Today’s lightweight, 2nd generation model 2018 GunCam is the direct result of that product development partnership with Ms. Mauro.
There’s a new player in the digital, gun mounted camera arena. Tachyon Inc. has released the 2018 GunCam for clays and hunting – a feature packed and easy to use, barrel mounted video and audio recorder that sells for $300.
Tachyon launched their first product line 10 years ago, with models focused on motorcycles, bicycling, law enforcement and military applications. The company’s product is currently popular in the pistol and 3 Gun shooting arena using a hat mounted version.
USPSA, IDPA, IPSC, and 3 Gun competitors and trainers find it valuable for diagnosis of technique and use it to improve their scores. Seeing an opportunity in the shotgun market, the company was introduced to University of Maryland Shotgun Team coach Anne Mauro by World Champion pistol shooter Julie Golob. A shotgun mounted camera was a new concept to Tachyon at that time, so in 2015 Ms. Mauro helped the company develop the shotgun version of their camera.
Today’s lightweight, 2nd generation model 2018 GunCam is the direct result of that product development partnership with Ms. Mauro.
Feature Packed
The latest version of the GunCam, weighing in at five ounces, is WiFi equipped, and can wirelessly stream to any iOS, Android, Mac and PC device either in real time, or in playback fashion.
Video can be recorded with or without crosshairs, in Quatro HD-30 fps or 1080p HD-60 fps.
Recordings at 60 frames per second are fast enough to show the shot cloud on many recordings, making it easier to identify the cause when you miss.
One charge, which is done via the provided USB cord, lasts three hours. An on board micro SD is used to hold recordings and can be removed to transfer files to a computer, if so desired. Micro SD cards as large as 128GB are compatible.
The GunCam comes with a rubber padded, universal mount that works for 12G, 20G, 28G and .410 bore shotguns.
A mechanical ball joint type swivel mechanism allows easy crosshair alignment, which is done using a hex wrench.
The user mounts the lens around five and a half inches from the muzzle, points at an object while streaming to a viewing device, and manually turns the camera on its swivel mount until crosshairs are lined up with the point of impact.
The unit is then tightened down securely. Rubber padding eliminates the chance of marring of barrels, and when properly mounted the unit is not visible to the user when gun is mounted.
Dove, waterfowl, and upland bird hunters will like the option of crosshairs-free recording.
The latest version of the GunCam, weighing in at five ounces, is WiFi equipped, and can wirelessly stream to any iOS, Android, Mac and PC device either in real time, or in playback fashion.
Video can be recorded with or without crosshairs, in Quatro HD-30 fps or 1080p HD-60 fps.
Recordings at 60 frames per second are fast enough to show the shot cloud on many recordings, making it easier to identify the cause when you miss.
One charge, which is done via the provided USB cord, lasts three hours. An on board micro SD is used to hold recordings and can be removed to transfer files to a computer, if so desired. Micro SD cards as large as 128GB are compatible.
The GunCam comes with a rubber padded, universal mount that works for 12G, 20G, 28G and .410 bore shotguns.
A mechanical ball joint type swivel mechanism allows easy crosshair alignment, which is done using a hex wrench.
The user mounts the lens around five and a half inches from the muzzle, points at an object while streaming to a viewing device, and manually turns the camera on its swivel mount until crosshairs are lined up with the point of impact.
The unit is then tightened down securely. Rubber padding eliminates the chance of marring of barrels, and when properly mounted the unit is not visible to the user when gun is mounted.
Dove, waterfowl, and upland bird hunters will like the option of crosshairs-free recording.
Ease of Use
Operation is simple. An audible beep is emitted when the unit is turned on, and red and green LEDs show the record/pause status.
Another button activates the WiFi function, and a third button toggles between 30 and 60 frames per second.
Once recording, one tap pauses, and another tap resumes the recording process.
Playback to iOS and Android phones and tablets can be done with a free software app called RoadCam.
High quality audio is captured as well. Tachyon recommends MAC and PC users use VLC, a free video/audio software that allows a high degree of playback speed and zooming adjustment. Using VLC, playback can be advanced one frame at a time if desired, speed can be adjusted in various increments, and zooming is easy.
University of Maryland shotgun team coach and NRA certified instructor Anne Mauro says,
“GunCam’s field of target reference, excellent visual definition, and long recording time is an outstanding training tool that I use and highly recommend as a shotgun coach and competitor. After practice and before a tournament, reviewing footage of properly executed shots helps greatly to reinforce a positive sight picture in one’s memory, thus leading to successful scores.”
Shotgun instructors will find the GunCam a valuable tool when working with new shooters to illustrate sight pictures required for various target presentations. As Ms. Mauro stated, more experienced shooters will find it helpful for positive reinforcement and handy for recalling shots for mental visualization purposes.
www.guncam.com
Operation is simple. An audible beep is emitted when the unit is turned on, and red and green LEDs show the record/pause status.
Another button activates the WiFi function, and a third button toggles between 30 and 60 frames per second.
Once recording, one tap pauses, and another tap resumes the recording process.
Playback to iOS and Android phones and tablets can be done with a free software app called RoadCam.
High quality audio is captured as well. Tachyon recommends MAC and PC users use VLC, a free video/audio software that allows a high degree of playback speed and zooming adjustment. Using VLC, playback can be advanced one frame at a time if desired, speed can be adjusted in various increments, and zooming is easy.
University of Maryland shotgun team coach and NRA certified instructor Anne Mauro says,
“GunCam’s field of target reference, excellent visual definition, and long recording time is an outstanding training tool that I use and highly recommend as a shotgun coach and competitor. After practice and before a tournament, reviewing footage of properly executed shots helps greatly to reinforce a positive sight picture in one’s memory, thus leading to successful scores.”
Shotgun instructors will find the GunCam a valuable tool when working with new shooters to illustrate sight pictures required for various target presentations. As Ms. Mauro stated, more experienced shooters will find it helpful for positive reinforcement and handy for recalling shots for mental visualization purposes.
www.guncam.com