The Oregon Scientific ATC2K does not look like your average hand-held camera. Instead, it is tubular in design with one end slightly tapered. This end incorporates a camera lens while the other has an LCD display. The tube is held by a ring with a mounting mechanism at the bottom. At the top are control buttons.
The reason the ATC2K design is radically different from that of hand-held cameras is that it was not designed to be held. It was meant to be mounted on helmets, motorcycle and bicycle handlebars, or any other equipment whether for sports or work. You only need to push a button, make a few adjustments, and the camera will take your videos.
If you have one mounted on your helmet and you fly down a tall waterfall on your whitewater run, it will record everything you see, the foaming waters, swirling eddies, and your friends cheering you along. If you get thrown off the raft, you don’t have to worry. The ATC2K is waterproof up to three meters. You can also take it skiing as it can continue to function smoothly even in sub-zero temperatures.
The camera records 30 frames per second at a resolution of 640 x 480 VGA. Videos are stored in the 32MB on board memory or in an SD card of up to 2GB. You can watch a playback of your videos on the LCD screen. However, USB and RCA cables are included with the unit so you can watch them on your computer or TV.
The ATC2K is small in size. When mounted on your bike or other equipment, it will not get in your way. It is only 4.25 inches long, 1.75 inches deep, and 2.25 inches high.