Camera for the gym?

[unsensible]

Was curious if anyone has tried recording their lifts in the gym.

I wanted to get a better look at my form. I lift alone so it's hard to get a second pair of eyes.

I've seen lots of youtubers recording their lifts at the gym but I think I would feel awkward with a tripod and a digital camera just chillin in a packed gym.
Does anyone have any experience / advice for options in terms of potential cameras?

Thanks in advance.

[Vampirelol]

If it’s just for form, iPhone against a water bottle always works.

[unsensible]

If it’s just for form, iPhone against a water bottle always works.

The water bottle idea is pretty creative. I have a honor X7 (cheap android) so the camera quality isn't great. But I'd imagine it'd be good enough.

Thank you for your response. I'm open to other suggestions

[ampire]

The water bottle idea is pretty creative. I have a honor X7 (cheap android) so the camera quality isn't great. But I'd imagine it'd be good enough.

Thank you for your response. I'm open to other suggestions

JOBY GorillaPod flexible tripod with a smart phone cradle.

[ironwill2008]

Was curious if anyone has tried recording their lifts in the gym.

I wanted to get a better look at my form. I lift alone so it's hard to get a second pair of eyes.

I've seen lots of youtubers recording their lifts at the gym but I think I would feel awkward with a tripod and a digital camera just chillin in a packed gym.
Does anyone have any experience / advice for options in terms of potential cameras?

Thanks in advance.

Check with the front desk first before you record any vids or take any pics; many fitness centers prohibit this practice due to privacy concerns of other members.


Past that, use whatever you feel you need to use in order to capture a vid that meets your quality requirements. Probably most of the form check vids posted here are recorded on a cell phone.

[Bench905]

Unless you're doing a cinematic video, the quality of the new smartphones' cameras is quite impressive. I wouldn't get a dedicated camera unless you feel you need it.

[sowilson]

what you need to know is frame rate and resolution. Resolution isn't all that important but frame rate is. If you want to look at things in slow motion or frame by frame then you need 60fps or faster. What does 60fps do that 30fps doesn't do well (or at all)? Analyze batting motion, analyze pitching motion, analyze throwing motion or overhead motion (baseball, softball, tennis, volleyball, javelin, etc), or any explosive movement (jump squats, box squats, Olympic lifts, T&F throws, plyometrics, etc). So if you're just concerned about overall form then almost any camera will do, if you're interested in details about anything sport related then you need 60fps. There are phones now with 60fps, I went with a GoPro years ago when they were the best option at a reasonable cost. Then bring your video into coach's eye or something similar.

[OldFartTom]

I've got an Honor phone too. I've been able to balance it on top of an upright foam roller with one of those little foam block things get the right angle to record deadlifts - so I can be depressed that I'm still rounding my upper back (it's improving... it's improving..).
Works fine for filming my squats, deads etc. Plenty good enough for me for form checking, without any fancy stands etc.

Take care not to get anyone else in shot, and as Ironwill warns be aware of gym rules

[unsensible]

Check with the front desk first before you record any vids or take any pics; many fitness centers prohibit this practice due to privacy concerns of other members.


Past that, use whatever you feel you need to use in order to capture a vid that meets your quality requirements. Probably most of the form check vids posted here are recorded on a cell phone.

Oh good point. I've actually already recorded a couple of videos on my phone without asking. Didn't even think about that. Thank you

I've got an Honor phone too. I've been able to balance it on top of an upright foam roller with one of those little foam block things get the right angle to record deadlifts - so I can be depressed that I'm still rounding my upper back (it's improving... it's improving..).
Works fine for filming my squats, deads etc. Plenty good enough for me for form checking, without any fancy stands etc.

Take care not to get anyone else in shot, and as Ironwill warns be aware of gym rules

The foam roller thing is a great idea! I've been going during lunch recently and the platforms are pretty open so I won't have to be as embarrassed by onlookers. Thanks for the suggestion, and keep that back straight

[BS57]

Look @ Wyze, $20

[Bench905]

Okay, here's my idea for you...but it involves spending a few $. Mobile Phone (hopefully with decent video capabilities) + DJI Osmo Mobile 2 + DJI Osmo Mobile Base

Osmo Mobile 2: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dji-osm...?skuId=6189301
Base: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...mo_mobile.html

It's debatable whether this is more discreet than a tripod. I think so, but you do have a gimbal attached to the base.

I previously owned a Zhiyun Smooth Q and the software absolutely sucked...it was awful. I even recorded an important event and the video never saved because I did through their stupid app.

I actually just got the Osmo Mobile 2 today from Best Buy ($20 cheaper than other places). One of the cool things it can do is automatic tracking. You could set it on the base, tap your face on the screen and it will automatically track you around a room.

Check out this fitness video shot with an Samsung S5 (which is 4 years old), but it looks so good because it's done on a gimbal:

[Jason2459]

Was curious if anyone has tried recording their lifts in the gym.

I wanted to get a better look at my form. I lift alone so it's hard to get a second pair of eyes.

I've seen lots of youtubers recording their lifts at the gym but I think I would feel awkward with a tripod and a digital camera just chillin in a packed gym.
Does anyone have any experience / advice for options in terms of potential cameras?

Thanks in advance.

Unless you wanna be one of a million fitness channels out there any phone will work for form checks. I started with a flip phone .5MP cam over a decade ago.

[matrix563]

JOBY GorillaPod flexible tripod with a smart phone cradle.

on spread

[ReginaDavies]

Any decent digital camera will record good videos now. I like Nikon cool pix or Fuji xp(has wifi download capability) works good for pocket size cameras.

Get something shock proof and submersible for extra utility and less worry. You will drop a camera in the gym.