Are GoPro's really worth the £££

[ReadySalted]

Hi all,
I thought this subject would be pretty popular on the forum but a search only turned up threads in the for sale/ wanted section.

I've been looking at these for a year or so now, but haven't taken the plunge, and not sure whether to just go for it.

I'd use it when riding the bike, use it when out in my landy, and mountaineering, but I wonder whether it will be a toy that gets cast aside quite quickly, or whether it will be awesome and I'll take it everywhere with me. They just seem expensive for what they are. (I've found the gopro hero3+ on amazon. Not sure if thats a decent price?)

I've got minimal video editing experience but every man and his dog uploads their gopro videos to youtube now so it can't be that hard.

Shall I just go for it?

[conker]

Maybe try one of the cheaper models first and see how you get on? They might fit your needs and not cost a fortune.

GoPro Hero
https://www.amazon.co.uk/GoPro-CHDHA-301-EU-HERO/dp/B00O468GKM/

SJ4000
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SJCAM-Multi-function-SJ4000-Waterproof-wide-angle-Black/dp/B00MO78F3G/

[Wull]

I had a go pro 3+ silver and tbh I'm not so sure.

Before I purchased one I watched countless videos on YouTube,comparing them all and then a go pro came up at a decent price and I thought "fuck it" and bought it,and it was alright.

What I like the most is the countless options you have for mourning the camera,its endless really as the 3m sticky mounts are top notch.
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[wr6133]

I got a cheap Chinese one from eBay. Good enough for most uses, though if you want to be a vlogging parasite you'd need better.

[Snowdonia Rider]

I've never heard of anyone being disatisfied with one.
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[barrkel]

If you're going to use it in order to make movies, unless you have a burning desire to make movies, you're probably not going to use it much.

OTOH if you e.g. commute by bike and get into the habit of recording your ride, you may use it every day. Could be very useful in an insurance situation.

Or if you wear it during touring, and use it so you can re-experience good rides. Though rides generally need a bit of editing to make them in any way entertaining.

So to me it comes down instrumental vs intrinsic values, and what your end goals are.
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[ReadySalted]

I can't see myself ever vloging. I do enjoy baron von grumble's videos though. (I know he uses drift cameras, but they seem suited better to biking wheras gopro seem like all round action cameras).

It's a cool idea to be able to make great videos like those on youtube, of my off roading, motorbike rides, and time in the mountains, but I think the wealth of vloggers and the like on youtube make it look deceivingly easy. The likelihood of my videos looking anything other than slightly underwhelming, is small. Would be fun to learn to edit though.

I can't help but think that I'd be spending money so I could spend time sat at home editing, and reliving previous adventures, instead of being out there living new ones. Might just say fck it and go for one. Hardly anywhere's got them in stock though.

[Rogerborg]

[ReadySalted]

Making short videos, set to music I suppose. Uploading them to facebook or maybe youtube if they're any good. But mainly for showing and sharing with friends and family.

Trouble is, they're becoming a bit of a fashion item now which scares me. I fear this whole action cam thing is just a fad, and in 6 months, when my wallet is 250 quid lighter, and I've got nothing but a few poorly edited videos of tarmac, footpath, and muddy ruts, I'll think it was not such a good idea after all lol.

[Copycat73]

I bought the first incarnation go-pro hero when the second one came out and the price dropped .. don`t do movies just stills @ 1-2 sec. intervals .. pics are spot on..
the content of said pics is 99.9% deleted.. I always get one or two worth postin every gigabite.

tl.dr.. buy one worth the money
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[Beehive Bedlam]

It'll be a month until the novelty of videoing everything in sight and uploading it to YouTube wears off.

For insurance purposes I would discretely fit a roadhawk ride or something similar to the bike.

[wr6133]

I just uploaded a minute or so of a £30 camera recording at 720p so you can see if that's good enough rather than blow hundreds on something you may get bored of.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZuALsTD9eI&feature=youtu.be

[TheArchitect]

I've been using the Contour Roam 2 for a while now. I use it to record my daily commutes. It does the job perfectly and is easy to use. Only issue I have with it is it's low light quality is pretty dire.
I also use it on my RC trucks! For the price it's worth a look.

Mine has already paid for itself in that I've used it for an insurance claim where the third party drove off and there were no other witnesses.

Over xmas I also bought the Drift Stealth 2 as actioncameras website were doing a 20% off deal. Have tried it a few times and the video quality is flawless. Has a few extra features like wifi link to your phone and remote capability which is handy sometimes.
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[vinnyvangough]

I got one a couple years back. Used it a lot with Gymkhana events with the Mk2 Escort, and some Fast Road stuff. Mate uses mine a lot for hill climbing events.

Brilliant if you do use it.
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[Musketeer]

[c-m]

Nope Gopros aren't all that.

The best action cams at the moment are the Sony ones. The AS### range or the X1000v

[wr6133]

[Musketeer]

[Jonathan A]

Ive got an SJ4000 which I got for £70, on which the video quality is very good as long as long as you open the exposure up a bit. Ive used it for stuff on the bike and even for college projects, and the only drawback I can find is that you can't plug an external mic in...
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[grr666]

I wanted a go pro right up until November at the bike show.
We did some really cool stuff on holiday which would have been great captured
on video. In particular the Shotover canyon Jet boat ride. (1500bhp ) and you were only allowed
cameras attached to your head on that thing so we haven't so much as a photo.
After seeing the Drift ghost at the bike show and a member here who came to the
show with me also recommending them as well then I decided I'd prefer a ghost.
My main gripe with the go pro is the shape of the things, they look so clumsy and
must cause quite bad drag if lid mounted. For me the ghosts waterproof straight from
the box, wireless remote, and ext mic port were the clinchers and of course
the more svelte outline of the unit.
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[TheArchitect]

[blueglue]

if you are in no rush there will be a few pop up on ebay soon as the unwanted crimbo gifts.
I got my Ghost HD around February and came with spare battery and hard case for about half price. unwanted gift! (i wish i got these as stocking fillers)

I use mine as an arse covering/insurance thing only (although i need to angle it away from my speedo more ).

Vblogging is down to the area you live in as you need a steady stream of carnage to keep people subscribed. There seem to be a lot of vbloggers appearing talking about how their new gloves split or their misses is a twat. personally i like watching engines blow up on dynos but each to their own.

[c_dug]

[DrSnoosnoo]

The website that sells action cameras have a sort of outlet on eBay where they sell their returned and fixed up goods. I got the Drift HD Ghost for 150 when the rrp is 250. Something to consider.

I chose the Drift because it sits more sleekly along your helmet rather than the tellytubby go pro.
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[wr6133]