GoPro camera - Are they as good as they sound?
Submitted: Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 08:04
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Member - Alex B
Hi All, looking at getting one of the GoPro HD video cameras that are advertised on this site.
Their website makes them look great and easy to use - as they always do :-)
Would like to hear from anyone that has one and how they have found them.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Alex B
Reply By: Mick O - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 09:02
Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 09:02
Alex,
as luck would have it....we used one extensively on the trip last year. It was fitted to both Scotties Troopie and to the front of the quad. It's a great little camera and very robust. I was quite amazed at the quality. I don't think we used it to it's full potential though. There was a link to a Youtube site posted here by toyocruiser the other day that showed it being used in time lapse mode and that did impress me.
Using the gopro on time-lapse
Have a look at the rest of his videos as he's put it to good use. There's another one where some kids in
Adelaide attached it to a balloon and got it up to 150,000 feet as a
home science experiment(nearly bought down QF 015 on it's way to
Sydney as
well lol)
See if we can get a discount for two!
Cheers Mick
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Jack - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 09:22
Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 09:22
They seem to be much cheaper if you go direct
GoPro Link
Jack
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Mick O - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 09:24
Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 09:24
Here's another bit of go-pro footage
Mick
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 14:55
Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 14:55
Did you know that we will match any price in the EO
shop for members so just let Adele know the price you have seen and the link to it and she will match it if possible - this does not apply to auctions.
DM
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Follow Up By: Member - Toyocrusa (NSW) - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 17:38
Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 17:38
Ah Bugger David. I have ordered one from what I thought was an Australian website and now have a message saying it is being sent from USA in two packages. (Ordered a battery bacpac as
well.) Searched on the internet but no link to this site
shop came up. Wanted to stick with an Aussie supplier too. Bugger again. Cheers,Bob
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Follow Up By: Ozhumvee - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 22:07
Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 22:07
So if you can buy them from here why doesn't a search of the
shop find them?
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 20:15
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 20:15
I believe that the OP may be referring to the external ad displayed at the top of this site when searching for cameras, as opposed to the VIO POV1.5 camera kit in the
shop....just as a guess.
Andrew
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 20:58
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 20:58
Guys,
I may have jumped the gun - Adele and I were talking about adding these to the system and I thought it was already done. I need to check the status of this with Adele. Sorry if my info was wrong but we were talking about adding this so will check and advise.
David - extracting foot from mouth....
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Reply By: Member - The Bushwhackers -NSW - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 09:03
Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 09:03
G'day Alex
I remembered a post from a few days ago, thread 88472
Bob (Toyocrusa) was ordering one "after much research" (or words to that effect).
Might be worth giving him an MM if you don't get suitable info on this post.
Cheers, Dave
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Follow Up By: Member - The Bushwhackers -NSW - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 09:05
Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 09:05
Oops, Mick beat me ... time lapse is on the thread I was referring to.
Dave
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Follow Up By: Member - Alex B - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 07:10
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 07:10
Thanks Dave, Good idea.
That clip was what got me started
Cheers
Alex
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Reply By: kidsandall - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 10:17
Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 10:17
A lot of the guys use them on the fishing forums I'm on and they are very impressive. Some of the guys do a lot of off shore fishing and make some great videos and high quality.
Josh
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Follow Up By: Member - Alex B - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 07:11
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 07:11
Thanks Josh, looks like there are a few happy users out there.
Cheers
alex
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Reply By: Tim - Stratford (VIC) - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 11:46
Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 11:46
I've been tracking mine on the FedEx site....should be here Monday!
The quality I've seen from them on Youtube and ads etc seems pretty impressive - and the bonus is the time lapse as some have said....can't wait.
Tim - Stratford.
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Follow Up By: Member - Alex B - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 07:13
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 07:13
HI Tim,
It's like waiting for Santa :-)
If you don't mind asking...who did you buy yours from and how much did it cost?
Cheers
Alex
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Follow Up By: Tim - Stratford (VIC) - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 18:04
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 18:04
Alex,
I went through GoPro online (USA) $647 which included heaps of extras - arrived today! It worked out a lot cheaper because I got the extras -if just getting the camera then there isn't a lot of savings buying from US due to delivery costs. You can almost place an order on GoPro without committing so you can sus out the price first.
Tim
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Follow Up By: Member - Alex B - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 19:44
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 19:44
HI Tim,
Sorry to be a pest but what extras did you get for the money.
I was only thinking of a waterproof cover and a vehicle mount.
Cheers
Alex
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Reply By: Mick O - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 15:56
Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 15:56
Alex,
I just uploaded a bit of gopro video from our GDEC trip to Vimeo. The quality is very good.
Cheers Mick
P.S. The ugly mug is Scotty the Canadian
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Follow Up By: Member - Alex B - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 07:26
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 07:26
G"day Mick.
Great stuff
I am definitely sold.
Have a great one!
Talk soon
Alex
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Reply By: DayDream Imports - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 21:43
Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 21:43
I have used a few from China, excellent video quality but the sound is very poor. Battery hopeless.
Used GoPro on a number of bikes, helmet cams and offroad buggies. They are by far the best, and the only one with a battery that lasts.
The pro video guys at the offroad buggies and mx only use GoPro. The only issue I have seen is that on a very cold morning, like the Finke Desert race there may be some condensation, but very rare. Buy one you cant go wrong and stay away from the Chinese copies.
Cheers Danny
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Follow Up By: Member - Alex B - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 07:15
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 07:15
Thanks Danny, great
feedback - you've sold me :-)
Cheers
Alex
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Reply By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 23:28
Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 23:28
Shows you how out of touch I am, but I have to ask the question, can they be used as a normal video camera as well? I'm assuming they can. I haven't heard of them before and am very interested in one, definitely gone on my wish list. Can't seem to find them in the EO
shop either, must be looking in the wrong place.
Cheers
D
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Follow Up By: patsproule - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:03
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:03
I wouldn't use one as a replacement for a normal camera. They are a POV (Point of view) camera and as such have a very wide angle lens and no manual control functions. They are a compliment to a good camera, but not a replacement and look a bit grainy and soft in comparison to something with a better lens and image sensors. But for the price and functionality they are awesome.
Things have changed so much recently. These days all you need is something like a Canon 550D DSLR (which shoots very good HD video as well as stills) and a Go-Pro in your kit + a good tripod and a couple of mics and for under $5k you have an outfit capable of above broadcast quality image capture. Spring for a 7D or 5D with some good lenses if you like but it will still be under $10k. 5 years ago you would have needed $40k + for similar.
Pat (who works in professional video)
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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 14:27
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 14:27
Hi Pat, thanks so much for your response, it's much appreciated.
I hadn't heard of the GoPro before and was pleasantly surprised at the cost. I have a cannon video camera so no probs there, would love a Canon 550D but bit out of reach at the moment, will work on that one.
Thanks again for you information.
Cheers
Deanna
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Reply By: Member - Paul P (NSW) - Saturday, Aug 20, 2011 at 09:44
Saturday, Aug 20, 2011 at 09:44
anyone looking at buying a GoPro I highly (very highly!) recommend getting the LCD BacPac. Otherwise navigation is extremely awkward and remembering what the codes mean etc annoying.
With the LCD screen it will give you a brief description of all of the abbreviations when selected.
GoPro really does command the marketplace....just watch TV broadcasts and the major networks seem to always have a GoPro as a part of their kit, in car cameras etc etc.
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