View Full Version : go pro or buy something else?
kiggles
17-03-14, 10:12 PM
OMO: although I am aware this topic probably come up a few times, couldn't find threads.
basically I want someone to support me with my thinking process of buying a go pro and feel good about it. Is there a better camera on the market that is any better then the go pro. following is what I am weighing up:
pros
- needs to have good mounts. for (car/motorbike/bicycle/helmit/ my body)
- needs to have good quality footage
- needs good battery life and charger things (car/motorbike charging)
- easy to use. THIS IS A MUST. I cant be arsed to flaff around with it
- easy to line up camera prior to usage. don't want a track day looking at the floor
cons
- might be easy to break like in water or something
- battery life
- price (I can get a hero3+ black addition for £200???
if anyone got a hero 3+ black addition or silver could you say how much you like it and do you have any regrets on maybe buying something else?
easy to use etc.
I plan to use it for in order:
- recording my driving for insurance purposes
- record riding insurance purposes
- record track days
- record mountain biking
- recording those moments in life I probably wont see again
Niall_farley
17-03-14, 10:28 PM
Never had one but only ever heard great things about go pros but never heard anything about alternatives although by now there is probably great alternatives
Specialone
17-03-14, 11:40 PM
I've got the hero black edition, apart from battery life, I can't fault it, but I've bought some copy batteries now so have 3.
It can record in 1080p @60 fps, which is bloody good quality.
You can buy endless mounts, there are lots of copies around, I buy mine off amazon so make a huge saving on genuine gopro mounts.
I have a Hero 3 Silver and have used it a few times. The quality is awesome. I haven't been able to try it out underwater yet though. I have just picked up a charger and two pattern batteries for £14.99 from Amazon, as well as handlebar mount for cycles, floaty handle for water use and a headband mount. There are other options but the defacto action cam has to be the Gopro. We picked ours up for £165 new from Sportpursuit. They had an offer on and the wife got extra off for first order. If you want it for insurance then I would take a look at the dash cam thread as the battery life might not be up to what you want.
Was in the same place not too long ago, settled on the drift ghost s.
Pros over go pro:
Waterproof out the box
300 degree rotating lens
LCD screen for lining up shots and reviewing footage
Remote included
Battery life spanks the go pro, 4hrs 1080p 30fps 3hrs 1080p 60fps.
A lot sleeker, mounted on a lid it's fairly subtle, more so than a go pro.
Cons:
Price* £330 if no deals can be found.
*wasnt sure so spent a good long while researching the GP V Ghost. Found a useful comparison on YouTube. The price tag puts it in range of the hero 3+ black but the image and fps etc aren't as good. However the spec is closer to the 3+ silver which is £240ish. Seems a bit over priced but if you price up the same stuff for it, remote, case, extra battery etc it works out cheaper.
Oh if you are interested it can do upto 120fps in 720p and 240fps at wvga. 8 or 12 megapixel stills. Has a DVR mode for dash cam but again battery life may not be great for that on a long journey.
There is a fairly decent range of mounts but I don't think as many as the GP. However it does use a normal camera screw mount so it's pretty universal, you could use a gorilla pod for example.
Hope that helps
socommk23
18-03-14, 09:57 AM
At that price get the gopro. I have a gopro2 and its ace. There are plenty of pretenders to the throne but gopro is the best most comprehencive action camera on the market. You can get battery back packs for longer battery life. Lcd back pacs for lining up your shot and playback. Wifi remote for being able to control it on the move. And the best light handling camera I know of. Also a waterproof case for swiming 60 meters down. I use mine for cycling...motorbikes...and flying. If you wanna see some of the things ive used it for go on youtube.....look up the user socommk233 and find my end of year video.
Amazing cameras.....im actually annoyed you can get the black at that price. Doh!
socommk23
18-03-14, 09:59 AM
The waterproof case is standard with purchase too. So waterproof out of the box.
Oh one other thing, sports pursuit are great for deals but be careful on the go pro's. The last 2 they did for the black edition had the 3+ spec at very good money but it was Infact only the 3.
ClunkintheUK
18-03-14, 10:23 AM
I've got a GoPro 2. really good kit, but the two things which have annoyed me are, when mounting to the top of a ski helmet the originals mounts are quite long, and even though the camera is light it has a lot of leverage to move the whole helmet around and thus gives an unstable picture. Isn't such a problem on the side of my motorbike lid, which fits pretty snugly. Mounted to the side of my motorbike lid, it does stick out a bit, but picture is good.
It has a tendency of fogging up particularly on cold days or when mounted on a helmet when you are sweating. I believe this can be fixed with anti moisture strips fitted to the inside of the case, but haven;t got round to testing them.
A pro for it is that the whole system is very modular, and everything is available separately, even the camera body. If you loose the waterproof back to the case, its like £15 to replace, you can get more batteries (although they are a bit pricey), if you are trying to do something new with it, you can often combine other mounts/arms to achieve what you want if there isn't something specific already.
LewSpeight
18-03-14, 11:09 AM
If you can get a hero 3+ black for £200 then do it.
I work in the camera industry and you won't regret it. Battery life isn't the best out there but the quality certainly is. And you can always but a 'battery bacpac' which doubles the battery life quite nicely.
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Specialone
18-03-14, 11:38 AM
For the record you do get a remote with the black edition.
socommk23
18-03-14, 02:27 PM
You can make the battery last longer by the settings you choose. I dont use anything above 720p and 30fps as I dont have anything at home to watch 1080p on. Lots of people just use the highest frame rates and quality regardless of how it effects memory space editing or finished standard.
LewSpeight
18-03-14, 02:41 PM
Sorry to say, but I disagree.
The battery time is the same regardless of whether you take 120fps or 1 photo every 30 seconds on the timelapse setting.
The sensor and processor are still live and running, and it's the sensor that draws the most power.
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Specialone
18-03-14, 03:37 PM
I record everything at 1080p 60fps, for two reasons, to watch it in the best quality on my tv and it's better to have your raw film footage in the highest resolution and downgrade if required, YouTube saps the quality anyway so best start with high IMO.
LewSpeight
18-03-14, 03:39 PM
Best native format for the gopros sensor is 1080p in the 'medium' format.. Try that.
Not that the other options are s#it quality, mind.
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If interested the hero 3 black is on sports pursuit for £250 at the moment.
Still using the 3+ spec though I think.
kiggles
20-03-14, 05:47 PM
I am looking at getting one second hand. £200 was a second hand price I saw.
but between the silver and and black I don't care but it has to be hero 3+. but seeming as most people have it going to go for it.
I checked out the ghost and looks good but I cant spend £300
LewSpeight
20-03-14, 06:31 PM
Do you mind me asking why you're set on it being a hero 3+ and not just a 3?
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk
The Ghost is £250 and the Ghost-S is £329
socommk23
20-03-14, 07:13 PM
Sorry to say, but I disagree.
The battery time is the same regardless of whether you take 120fps or 1 photo every 30 seconds on the timelapse setting.
The sensor and processor are still live and running, and it's the sensor that draws the most power.
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk
I disagree. From using my gopro in various modes and settings I found mine lasted longer when not shooting in 1080p and when using lower frame rate. Maybe its just my gopro.
Yeah the video mode will affect the battery life, it's published on both drift and go pro website what the modes do to the battery.
It's the same as running more processor and graphics intensive program's on a laptop
kiggles
20-03-14, 08:50 PM
Going for the go pro because of the mounts really and more cheap options available.
not sure on difference between 3 and the 3+
BBadger
20-03-14, 08:53 PM
http://www.techmoan.com/
SJ4000 action camera
seems to be half decent and cost a fraction.
LewSpeight
21-03-14, 12:20 AM
Going for the go pro because of the mounts really and more cheap options available.
not sure on difference between 3 and the 3+
Essentially the 3+ is better in low light and has superview.
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http://www.techmoan.com/
SJ4000 action camera
seems to be half decent and cost a fraction.
do you have this?
Specialone
21-03-14, 07:18 AM
Essentially the 3+ is better in low light and has superview.
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And better battery life...
BBadger
21-03-14, 05:48 PM
do you have this?
I do not.
How ever after the reviews and some in depth youtubing its on its way. Im stalking the postman currently.
Hunt around £65 on ebay with 2 batteries.
Just seen this pop up
http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/national-deal/gg-photodirect-65/36254228?p=1&nlp=&CID=UK_CRM_1_0_0_81&a=1664&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&sid=e5e3aece-3231-4f50-952e-ce5ef5a51ff3&division=national-deal&uh=ae3048e4-1aa0-4f2c-91f0-ed60b0e4c787&date=20142203&sender=rm&s=body&c=deal_title&d=deal-page&utm_campaign=gg-photodirect-65-36254228
Just saw the groupon thing too, is it a good deal?
LewSpeight
22-03-14, 08:59 AM
Yes. They normally retail at 359
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yokohama
22-03-14, 09:33 AM
I saw this this morning. Dunno if it's of any help to anybody
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/gopro-hd-hero3-silver-edition-camcorder-hero-3-plus-camera-new-2013-chdhn-302-ebay-1832487
What's the difference between Black and Silver?
LewSpeight
22-03-14, 09:40 AM
What's the difference between Black and Silver?
Black has 12 megapixels, silver has 11.
2x sharper lens.
Better in low light (marginally)
Can take 30 photos a second instead of 10.
Will record in 4k, 2.7k, and 1440p in various frames per second.
120 fps at 720p instead of 60, so better slowmo.
Will take continuous photographs (timelapse)
Can take photos whilst videoing
And the video bitrate capture is quicker, 45mbps as apposed to 35.
Oh, and it comes with a remote.
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Better low light, 12mp instead of 10, does continuous photo/simultaneous vid & photo, 4K vid, 2.7K vid, 1440p vid, 1080p superview and comes with remote. Those are the headlines but there are differences in the other vid specs too.
kiggles
22-03-14, 10:09 AM
I might just order one of these in that case. Seems like a good deal. Has you bought from this site before.
I read some things about the camera lens issue any ideas if they are true?
Don't know what supplied the groupon deal is through but if it really is the 3+ that is a stonking deal!
LewSpeight
22-03-14, 10:21 AM
I might just order one of these in that case. Seems like a good deal. Has you bought from this site before.
I read some things about the camera lens issue any ideas if they are true?
Never had any returned at work for any lens issue, and I've not had an issue with mine and it's been through some right stick.
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Still a bit pricey for me, would this be any good?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DRIFT-HD170-STEALTH-1080p-Helmet-Camera-60-fps-Refurbished-Camera-Remote-/161253738002?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_Video_Camcor ders&hash=item258b78c612
Specialone
22-03-14, 10:40 AM
It will also shoot in raw mode for pro users.
Dave20046
22-03-14, 12:13 PM
Still a bit pricey for me, would this be any good?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DRIFT-HD170-STEALTH-1080p-Helmet-Camera-60-fps-Refurbished-Camera-Remote-/161253738002?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_Video_Camcor ders&hash=item258b78c612
there's a polaroid one that was reviewed well
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Polaroid-Extreme-Waterproof-Floating-Accessory/dp/B00AQ5C4NK
It was about £100 but seems to have vanished from amazon world
It's £80 on ebay, looks good
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Polaroid-HD-Professional-Action-Camera-XS100-Extreme-Edition-/261425039719?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_Video_Camcor ders&hash=item3cde258967
Although the "Buy cheap, buy twice" motto has served me well when buying things like this in the past.
Yeah this is it at 80 its a third of the go pro...
http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/5636369.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=cgid:8328965222|tsid:41408|cid:177575342|lid: 47485795862|nw:g|crid:30951771182|rnd:580866189097 7222818|dvc:m|adp:1o1
Just bought this. Looks better than the go pro in the YouTube videos I've seen
metalmonkey
24-03-14, 12:20 PM
The GOPRO Black 3 is fine for what you need it to do, if you can get the plus for the same price then buy that. The main important difference is the battery life, (I think it might slightly smaller unit) the rest won't really affect you.
I would just buy a few batteries and Class 10 memory cards and mounts I tend put 32gb as standard the only time I would user larger storage is it was a long take or going in place for a day and I couldn't get it. Why? SD cards fail so I don't want to lose footage and if you do you lose less with smaller cards.
hindle8907
24-03-14, 04:12 PM
http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/5636369.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=cgid:8328965222|tsid:41408|cid:177575342|lid: 47485795862|nw:g|crid:30951771182|rnd:580866189097 7222818|dvc:m|adp:1o1
Just bought this. Looks better than the go pro in the YouTube videos I've seen
Me too its advertised as the HDR-AS15 , but everyone is getting given the AS30v 's which are worth 40-50 quid more brilliant bit of kit, just hooked it upto my smart phone too.
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/sony-hdr-as30-action-camera-for-149-99-argos-1859912
Dave20046
24-03-14, 09:28 PM
awesome. enjoy the purchases guys
Grant66
25-03-14, 05:59 PM
Very nearly got one of those Sony's but couldn't find a suitable solution to mount on the side of the helmet without forking out more money.
Very nearly got one of those Sony's but couldn't find a suitable solution to mount on the side of the helmet without forking out more money.
It comes with an adhesive helmet mount in the box
I'm trying to find a way to mount it to the tank, don't really fancy sticking the mount on so looking at something like this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Garmin-GPS-GoPro-RAM-Tank-Mount-Suzuki-Yamaha-Ducati-/261408078301?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3cdd22b9dd
This is the comparison video I saw, the Sony is much more stable than the go pro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qa8mUWBXyk
hindle8907
27-03-14, 11:00 AM
I have mounted mine using the top yoke nut kit from ebay, its solid and I can also use it for GPS / Iphone too.
I will get a link later.
I have mounted mine using the top yoke nut kit from ebay, its solid and I can also use it for GPS / Iphone too.
I will get a link later.
Problem is I already have my sat nav on the yoke and I'm lost without it (pun intended)
Thought about mounting it to the wing mirror. Or on the side fairing, but again don't want to use sticky on there as it will damage the paint.
Think I'll try one of these
http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/compact-alloy-camera-mount.htm
hindle8907
27-03-14, 12:50 PM
I'm wary of these suction mounts although the triple one looks interesting.
Do any of you mount to the helmet?
Problem is I already have my sat nav on the yoke and I'm lost without it (pun intended)
Thought about mounting it to the wing mirror. Or on the side fairing, but again don't want to use sticky on there as it will damage the paint.
Think I'll try one of these
http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/compact-alloy-camera-mount.htm
Not too bad that as i am wary of suction mounts too having lost a sat nav on the M3 once, also the mount will plug straight in to the Drift!
Do any of you mount to the helmet?
I mount my Drift on my helmet, its on top as i couldnt be bothered to try and work out where to mount it on the side properly.
Works really well and no issues so far.
Not too bad that as i am wary of suction mounts too having lost a sat nav on the M3 once, also the mount will plug straight in to the Drift!
I mount my Drift on my helmet, its on top as i couldnt be bothered to try and work out where to mount it on the side properly.
Works really well and no issues so far.
Do you see the speedo at all?
Erm, ish.
Where I have it mounted generally no. If looking ahead normally at average speeds. Haven't tested it tucked in yet though.
If I purposefully look down at my clocks it shows the rev counter and possibly the speedo but as a digi one not easy to see at a quick glance.
During normal every day and bimble riding it doesn't. that includes normal glances down to check speed etc.
But that's me, on a pointy sv, with a drift, with it mounted at a certain point on the lid. So if you are taller or shorter and using a diff cam it may be different.
Fair enough thank you for the response going to have to play about pointing different locations to see where I can't see it
Yeah I found it a bit annoying trying to purposefully avoid the speedo so I ended up just trying to get the best position for capturing what I wanted and it was a happy coincidence.
Depending what lid you have you might find a good starting point how I did, took the lid and put it on edge of counter like so:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/28/unuge6eq.jpg
That way it was closer to level than fully on the counter.
It also helped I had another cam before which I completely f'd up and was too far forward, the mounting point was here:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/28/yhatyqe3.jpg
So I moved it way back which was a bit far actually and that was here:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/28/vype7ary.jpg.
That have me a rough starting point for the drift although it was a lot easier as it has a screen on it to line it up.
Final placement
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/28/ju9ujure.jpg.
I'll post a link to an attempt at editing a vid and uploading to YouTube so you can see the angle that it has achieved. Oh and I'm about 5,10.
Edit:
Here's the link. You might not be able to watch it on mobile though as I put a song on as background.
http://youtu.be/iXpT6OY9o3U
Should have put the mount the other way pyro. Make the air push the camera into the mount, rather than push it out the mount. If you need another curved sticky give me a shout I have a spare at home.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/28/uhysubu7.jpg
That's how I have mine. Perfect position for riding the street triple.
That's how it is mate! May not have come out too clear but it slides in front to back :)
Oh yeh! I look at that pic as if it was facing the front, on a second look you are correct! Best way to do it. Had a guy come in today who had lost his camera when he had it the other way. He did say he may not have clicked it in properly though!
I am super paranoid about that! I wish I had the surf board mount so it had a lanyard as well! Haha
Plus also if you are unfortunate enough to clip something less risk of loss!
My dad has put one of those small loops you sometimes get from car centres around his wing mirror and put the metal clip onto the drift back a it has a small loop for it. Safety first n all
Doesn't look like the ghost s has one :(
Really? Will have a look in work tomorrow.
Yeah. You tried the extra water proof case?
I have mine mounted like this:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg268/kenzie2k3/9fdf08f6-0f93-4a5b-906f-da99f068be02_zpsa2cc5e07.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/kenzie2k3/media/9fdf08f6-0f93-4a5b-906f-da99f068be02_zpsa2cc5e07.jpg.html)
And it gives a view like this:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg268/kenzie2k3/c454eedf-880f-48bd-9e95-bc5bb6085d56_zps53d67d50.png (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/kenzie2k3/media/c454eedf-880f-48bd-9e95-bc5bb6085d56_zps53d67d50.png.html)
The Gopro mounts are insanely sticky.
Thanks Kenzie torn between side and top of helmet
Thanks Kenzie torn between side and top of helmet
Not a problem. Not sure what top mounted would look like.
I wouldn't rate that comparison video as the Hero 3 is so much better than the two plus Protune sorts out the colours anyway.
And yes, that is a Watchman smiley face on my rev counter. Blocks the sun from glaring off the silver centre.
Yeah. You tried the extra water proof case?
Can't say I really have a need for the wp case? Camera is deffo waterproof as I have tested it in the pool!
Not a problem. Not sure what top mounted would look like.
I wouldn't rate that comparison video as the Hero 3 is so much better than the two plus Protune sorts out the colours anyway.
And yes, that is a Watchman smiley face on my rev counter. Blocks the sun from glaring off the silver centre.
Ha ha I hadn't noticed that!
Do you attach a laynard too just incase?
I haven't as yet. The mounts are really sticky but I may sort something out.
Can't say I really have a need for the wp case? Camera is deffo waterproof as I have tested it in the pool!
Don't need it per se. But want it for future use. Think it might help with the wind noise too
Specialone
28-03-14, 07:16 AM
When I first got mine, I mounted it on my off road lid but it was a pain to use there without using the remote, but that eats battery life.
I've now got a bra chest mount, lot easier to use, more central view, less vibration.
Specialone
28-03-14, 07:55 AM
First video I did that just happened to catch me binning it lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca1jqLaDcSA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I've now got a bra.
Didn't realise you'd got that fat mate. No wonder you can go camping in sub zero conditions.
Pyro, just realised it's not on the camera back, but the bit that screws into the bottom of the camera. Will see if I can find my camera to take a pic.
This bit?http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/29/sena9evu.jpg
Why did you decide on the left side mounting?
Got a gopro today trying to decide left or right side thinking right as my exhaust is on that side
Not sure really. Just the way it went!
Ha ha I think I'm
Going right hand side so can hear exhaust
Spent an hour so far trying to get the iphone/ iPad to see the camera but the camera is not coming up on the wifi list. Done software updates on the camera and still nothing :(
Spent an hour so far trying to get the iphone/ iPad to see the camera but the camera is not coming up on the wifi list. Done software updates on the camera and still nothing :(
I had trouble with this. I found it was because my phone was connected to my home wifi. Turn the wifi on on the camera and then using the wifi button on the camera, select go pro app on the menu. Go to your phone wifi and disconnect from your home wifi. Select your camera name from the wifi list then go to the app. You should be able to connect.
Unfortunately that isn't it the gopro doesn't show on the list of networks available at all. The remote also won't connect so far spent hours now trying
Finally got it... The name I have it was slightly more than 8 characters and the password had one capital in it and was more than 8 characters. Put them both to exactly 8 and can get it to work!
Just waiting for the mount to harden before I can go test
I have a GoPro, which is excellent, but apparently not suitable for use as a dedicated dash cam. I was involved in an accident about two years ago (nothing serious). Police did attend and wrote a report stating I was not liable. Nevertheless the other party did not agree with this and sent a lawyer my way to demand over $20k to cover for the damages. It all ended well, but I could have saved myself a lot of time, phone calls, stress and so forth if I had my GoPro mounted at the time of the crash.
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