I posted this in the photography forum, but there might be more people familiar with it here.

Anyone using these cameras?

http://www.goprocamera.com/

What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

J

 

I ordered one but haven't had a chance to use it yet. I bought it because I like that it's durable/waterproof, the wide angle lens, and that I can use it as a helmet cam. I'm not crazy about the low resolution. I'm going to use a higher res camera for my main video and use the gopro for exterior and helmet mounting.

 

I've been doing a lot of research on threads such as this one, and I haven't seen anyone say much positive about the Go Pro -- short battery life and incompatibility with SDHC cards seem to be the most common gripes.

I just went out and bought a cheap camcorder -- we'll see how that works.

 

For the price, their durability and mountability, they have found a great niche where you can hang them off the outside of your car and not be too worried.

For pure in-car footage, their is a awesome $200 HD video camera available that is the size/shape of an I-pod. I forgot the manufacturer, but it's amazing. I think this would be a better fit for in-car only video (in terms of sound, and picture) - it's in H-fricken-D!!!

But I wouldn't mount the HD camera outside the car.


The new GoPro wide angle has different internals that is far more efficient and lasts 2.5-3 hours on a set of LITHIUM ION BATTERIES. -GoPro only recommends Lithium Ion batteries in their original one, but V1 only lasts ~50 minutes on a set of batteries. Any re-chargable or 'cheaper' batteries won't last 50 minutes and dont work well atall in extreme cold climates.

Old V1 can only use a 2GB SD card = ~50 mins as well.
The New Wide-Angle camera can use a 4 (and I think 6GB) card for ~3 hours of video.

Set sound on Low, and it should be okay for mounting outside the car. If you mount it inside, remove the white weatherstripping to get more sound.

If the batteries are dead, they will only record a few minutes. I got in the habit of replacing the 2GB SD card and batteries after every 45-50 mins. The new wide angle is much better.


If my needs were purely in-car, I would get an HD camera. But since I need to look at suspension articulation, wheel travel, mount the camera in bizzare/high hazard areas (I also use it for in-car to view line/shifting of students) but as a whole, they serve my needs.

Oh, i believe the V1s can be updated to take 4-6GB SD cards as well...


Here are some of my videos (resolution is much worse than what comes out of the GoPro camera, for some reason, Youtube compresses the file again and its even more pixelated):

M-WorkZ Twin Turbo 350Z
CRAZY pass at 2:10 into the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpB6dsfxttY...re=channel_page

M-WorkZ TT 350Z - Super Lap Battle: 1:48.4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy_xla-f75E...re=channel_page

FX Motorsports Development (Factor-X Racing) Turbo NSX - SLB 1:47.9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJhLpFjSIDo...re=channel_page

rear view:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGagD3wpxdE...re=channel_page

 

I don't know the technical term for it, but the GoPro has what I call a "linear scan" look. As in, move the camera quickly can you can see it scan vertically. Gives everything a weird wavy look that I don't like.

Billj747, click on the little "HQ" icon on the lower right of the videos to view them in high quality.

 

is it this one?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LK8P14

now wheres the little screw hole thing for a camera mount? duno how i would mount it inside otherwise!

 

There are 3 digital "HD" cameras I've been looking at in the $200 range for in-car mounting. The Flip MinoHD, Kodak Zi6, and the one ericshun mentioned, the Creative Vado HD. I'm having a hard time finding track/autocross videos to compare the 3 to see if it gives that "wavy" effect (like the crappy aiptek cameras do).

 

Their website says support for 4 GB SDHC cards will be "available soon".

Anyone who's got one of these cameras, please post sample in-car footage. I considered the $200 HD "You Tube cams" that patinum and ericshun mentioned, but I was skeptical that they'd deal well with race filming -- lots of vibration, high noise levels, frequent transitions from bright to dark as the camera gets shaded then unshaded on sunny days, etc. -- so I opted for a conventional SD camera that was fairly well rated.

 

Nice .... came here with one camera to research, now I have to research 4

Billy, are all the videos you captured from the inside that dark? or do you think its because of the time of day/how the sun was positioned?

I am probably going to end up pulling the trigger on one of these during the weekend.

J

 

Exactly! Count me in if we can find a cheap HD camera with a screw mount and that takes decent action footage.