Action cameras!

[slcs78]

So the bride has agreed to bring forward our three month trip of the cape and NT to next year. My eldest son (10) is keen the capture the trip on video. Whilst we have a HD JVC video camera I was thinking about a GoPro or similar for those underwater and adventure shots. Whilst I don't won't to spend a fortune on a hero 4 black etc is it worth spending a bit more and getting a lesser model go pro or going a few cheapies. On the side of something more expensive is it will be once in a lifetime trips with the kids who want to capture the memories and be confident of good quality. On the other I've seen quite of few these cameras meet their ends or being lost and I'd rather lose $100 then $500.

What cameras do you guys have and suggest

[oldmate]

You get what you pay for, my GoPro and my mates $120 jay car special, although the specs say the close to the same, they are chalk and cheese in playback quality.

 

[evaredy]

You cannot beat a GoPro pure and simple, that's why all the pro's use them. Spend the money and have no regrets.

[evolution]

similar pricing to the gopro so it isn't really a "cheaper" option. However the Garmin Virb range is what I will be buying to replace my last gopro..
The one thing I hated about the gopro was actually hooking it up to the computer and sorting and arranging the footage. It was a right royal pain in the rear end.
A good friend of mine bought a Virb (XE I think it was) and after some footage up at falls creek we hooked up and sorted all the videos. SOOOOOO much easier. very intuitive and didn't require a $100000000 processor to do it.

Just my thoughts but it certainly was better quality than my last gopro also.

Cheers
Nick

[oldmate]

I agree with some of evo's comments also. GoPro is just one of a few of the better cameras, there is other option in a similar price bracket.

[Symon]

I would argue that there are plenty of other offerings that are as good as the GoPro.

Sony, Condor, etc all make good units.  Shop around, have a play with them in the store.  I have a Condor unit and it is brilliant.

[rotare]

I was in a similar situation to you a while ago and looked at all the options from cheap, to expensive.  Ended up buying a GoPro white with wifi for $240 brand new.  IMO unless you're wanting broadcast quality no need for a GoPro Black, or even GoPro silver.  The white will still give you awesome 1080P quality whilst being simple to use.

Apart from the obvious benefits of a GoPro, when I was looking there were 10 times the amount of accessories available compared to others, online and in stores, as well as a host of forums dedicated to using the GoPro, hints and tips etc.  And with such popularity, if you don't think you will use the camera again after your trip you will have no trouble selling the camera online.

So for a couple of hundred dollar outlay it was a no brainer for me to get a GoPro, rather than save $100 on a GoPro lookalike. Alternatively you could always keep your eye on eBay or gumtree for a near new one as plenty of them pop up regularly.

[Big Red]

We have a "Shack" (holiday home for non Tasmanians) at Eaglehawk Neck. After the 2013 fires in southern Tas all access to the Tasman Peninsular was blocked by Police road blocks for some days. We were told that the fire had taken out most of the Shacks in the area. With only a couple of hours warning the were advised that residents would be allowed through the road-blocks for a few hours. No time for research I rushed in to Jaycar and bought one of their HD Sports Cameras for $99 attached it to the front of the then Navara and off we went.

I have not used a GoPro but can say the HD Sports is amazing. We have a full HD travel log of driving to our Shack and joy of joys it was still standing - the wind had changed and the fire turned around about 200 metres from it.

Since then we have used it extensively even putting it on a pole and watching the fish caught being wound up and into the boat; driving into Lawn Hill, Kurumba, Broken hill and heaps of other places.

Just my thoughts and experiences - Big Red - aka John

[scblack]

I have a GoPro, there's lots of accessories, lots of support, lots of others with ideas and they just work bloody well.

I say GoPro for sure.

[tk421]

Go pro wins on the accessories. I have the older GoPro Hero 2 and it still does what I need it to do. 

You can however, check this manufacture out (I know a couple of people who have the SJ4000 gopro clone. Earlier models supposedly used much the same hardware as the gopro including sensor. Pictures are very similar in quality and uses the same mount so you can use gopro accessories.  It was doing so well that gopro launched their budget version to compete.

http://www.sjcam.com/3-cameras

Here's a 30minute review of gopro hero vs the sj4000. Skip to about 12mins for the hero vs the sj4000 image comparisons:

http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2014/11/16/gopro-hero-budget-camera-vs-the-sj4000-review.html

(His rant against fanboys at the start is quite amusing)



http://www.sjcam.com/money-saving-packs/140-sjcam-sj4000-wifi-1080p-full-hd-outdoor-sports-action-camera-32gb-memory-card.html

[gutters]

I recently bought the SJCAM 4000 after watching the Techmoan YouTube reviews and I have to say I'm very happy with it.

For under $150 it came with a bunch of accessories and being compatible with the Go Pro mounts and accessories is a plus too. 

[hawks667]

Been using a SJ4000 for a while now....Works very well & the quality is surprisingly clear.......

[Bird]

Has anyone played with the Panasonic HX-A1 ? price is good, just wondering what accessories are available compared to the gopro...

http://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/panasonic-hx-a1-k-action-camera-black-pahxa1dbk
$169

[grmas1]

Have had a GoPro Hero 2 for years and it does the job but to be honest my mates that have the Sony Action Cameras swear they are so much better than the GoPro.

Most of my filming has been in the surf either surfing or attached to my Ocean Ski filming me getting smashed.

[Champin]

I have the Sony action cam and am very happy with it's performance. It has some sort of gyro in it. It's mounted on my dash but it levels out and takes most of the bumps out of the filmings. You can see the car swishoing from side to side but the filming stays level.
 Had a few ales so I'm struggling with the finer points of the explainatoin but I'm sure you get the drift.
Pretty good software for post editing too also.

[Bird]

I have the Sony action cam and am very happy with it's performance. It has some sort of gyro in it. It's mounted on my dash but it levels out and takes most of the bumps out of the filmings. You can see the car swishoing from side to side but the filming stays level.
 Had a few ales so I'm struggling with the finer points of the explainatoin but I'm sure you get the drift.
Pretty good software for post editing too also.

[briann532]

I have no need for one, but it's one of things you just want!!!

https://360flyau.myshopify.com/collections/cameras

[Bird]

Has anyone played with the Panasonic HX-A1 ? price is good, just wondering what accessories are available compared to the gopro...

http://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/panasonic-hx-a1-k-action-camera-black-pahxa1dbk
$169

Down to $99 on sale at JB.. Comes with GoPro adapter..
https://www.jbhifi.com.au/cameras/video-cameras/panasonic/panasonic-hx-a1-d-action-camera-orange/834181/

[Darcy7]

I'm watching the price of these and waiting for the technology to improve slighty.

https://www.jbhifi.com.au/cameras/video-cameras/360fly/360fly-360-hd-camera/943503/


Fantastic concept.  Viewing the recorded video through a virtual reality headset should be amazing.

[Bird]

Down to $99 on sale at JB.. Comes with GoPro adapter..
https://www.jbhifi.com.au/cameras/video-cameras/panasonic/panasonic-hx-a1-d-action-camera-orange/834181/

got one of these on me desk as we speak. for the price couldn't pass it up

[Bird]

got one of these on me desk as we speak. for the price couldn't pass it up

mate just bought a second one at JB in Forest Hill - and came with a free IR Torch...

[tk421]

Just seen this as a GoPro clone. Same 4K specs as GoPro black but with longer battery life and a tripod mount. Uses the same mounts as GoPro but for almost half the price

http://bit.ly/2ahENAM

[Paddler Ed]

We've got a Tom Tom Bandit; compatible with GoPro mounts via an adapter, and nice and compact... also seems fairly tough after the with stacked it with it on the bars of the mountain bike yesterday on it's first run out!

Paid about $500 for the camera and 2x GoPro mounts (handlebar and roll cage) and some extra sticky mounts at a Hardley Normal sale weekend.

We're still working on the best way to set it up on the bike; it might take a few goes to get it completely right - anyone have any tips?

[Moggy]

got one of these on me desk as we speak. for the price couldn't pass it up

Any chance of a bit of a review.

I'm looking for one but dont want to pay a fortune as i only really want it to record some work when I'm putting in an epoxy floor, i will be sole nq installer of a new flooring system, so looking to get some footage for a website (if i get my finger out & get one)

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

[paceman]

Any chance of a bit of a review.

I'm looking for one but dont want to pay a fortune as i only really want it to record some work when I'm putting in an epoxy floor, i will be sole nq installer of a new flooring system, so looking to get some footage for a website (if i get my finger out & get one)

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

if you need a demo floor to paint, my ratty old concrete outdoor area floor is available...