GoPro Hero cam?

I want a GoPro Hero cam (i think). Anybody have one? Is the HD really worth the extra $100? Do I want the regular lense or 170*? Any coupons or deals on them? (I checked SCCA and they aren't one of the discounts eligible for members).

I have one. I just got it for Christmas. It comes with, literally, a bag of mounting surfaces (all with double-sided tape already attached). Some of them are flat, some are curved (for mounting to a helmet, for example). The suction cup is strong enough to pull a car. The resolution is pretty good too.

Now, add in all of that, throw in HD for $100 more, and you've got yourself a sweet package. It's easy to use, water proof, shock proof, vibration proof, and even compensates for noisy (read: windy) conditions.

Get one. Get a wide-angle lens (no e at the end) too.

I've got a HD Motorsport one on the way, ordered it off Amazon for $265 delivered and got the roll bar mount for $29 from the same dealer. Didn't know about the wide angle lens, thanks confuZion3.

OP, have you checked out the HD videos on GoPro's Web site? The base jumping one really show you how good the image quality is and the sound quality in windy conditions as well.

I have been thinking about getting one for some time. Guess it's time again.

http://dixierally.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1505

here is one that a friend of mine has for sale. cheap

Yep, those are high on my want list. I don't know if I'll spring for the HD or not, but the wide angle is good. I've read nothing but positive reviews.

I have a non-HD GoPro and a Flip camcorder.

The GoPro has an excellent, high quality mounting system that is easy to use and apparently waterproof. If you need a helmet cam or want to take a camera skydiving, the GoPro is probably the better choice.

But I have found that if I am using one of these in a race car, I prefer the Flip. The controls on the Flip are much easier. I can actually switch the Flip on with gloves.....impossible with the GoPro.

And the GoPro has NO monitor (so I can't really tell when I''m capturing until after I've downloaded to a computer). I can play the Flip back on it's own tiny monitor right away and if the video is poor, I can delete it right then and there.

My GoPro is also a battery hog. It will not last 45 minutes with the very best AAA lithium batteries (more like 30 minutes to be honest). I've written to GoPro about this battery life issue and they indicate it "normal". I lost a few good in-car videos because the GoPro batteries died before the end of a session. My Flip will run for 2 hours with ordinary AA Duracells (which doesn't make sense to me since it's also running a monitor......maybe just a more efficient design?).

The basic Flip is half the price of the GoPro. True, you don't get the neat camera mount, but I think the actual camera is better in terms of video quality. It took me 1/2 hour to make a simple (grassroots?) camera mount for my roll bar using a hose clamp and some riveted plastic and aluminum.

I'm not sure the HD function is that big a deal for an in-car video but if I was to buy one today I'd consider the new Sony Bloggie MHS-CM5. They cost about the same as the GoPro. These solid state HD camcorders have great reviews and unlike the Flip, you can use a Memory Stick or 4 GB SD card. There's no slick camera mount on the Sony, but if you're mounting this on a race car, building a simple camera mount is easy.

You can logo up a flip MinoHD for $189.00 at cafepress.com, ( ours looks like this: http://www.cafepress.com/PCHCofficialGRM.426219802 )

Physical description: * Height: 3.94" (100 mm), Width: 1.97" (50 mm), Depth: 0.63" (16 mm) * Weight: 3.3 Oz (93.5 grams) * Color: White (front), Dark gray (back) * Interface: Tactile & back-lit capactive buttons Storage capacity: * Internal Memory: 4GB of internal flash memory * Recording time: 60 minutes (varies by video content * External memory: Not supported Lens: * Focus: Fixed-focus (1.5m to infinity) * Aperture: f/2.4 * Zoom: 2x digital zoom Flip Video Camcorder LCD Screen: * LCD Resolution: 528 x 132 pixels * Size/Type: 1.5" Transflective TFT Image sensor: * 1/4.5 inch, 1.6 megapixel CMOS sensor (2.2 x 2.2 mm square pixels) * Active area: 3.24mm (H) x 2.41mm (V) * Ultra low-light sensitivity (>1.4 V/lux-sec) with automatic low light detection * Automatic exposure control with dynamic exposure compensation * Automatic white balance and black level calibration Video capture: * Resolution: HD 720p (1280 x 720, 16:9 widescreen) at 30 fps (constant frame-rate), progressive scan * Bitrate: Variable, 8.8 Megabits on average * Format: H.264 video compression, AAC audio compression, MP4 file format Connection/Interface: * USB 2.0 via flip-out USB arm (PC and Mac compatible) * TV Out: NTSC (via 2.5mm-plug to 3-RCA TV-Out cable) Audio: * Microphone: Built-in wide-range, omni-directional microphone * Speaker: Built-in speaker with software volume control Battery: * Built-in rechargeable battery (Lithium ion) - Charges via USB to computer or Flip Video Power Adapter accessory * Up to 2 hours of use * Automatic power-off if inactive for more than 90 seconds Included Software: * Simple and powerful built-in FlipShare Program installs directly from camcorder to computer (when connected to a PC/Mac). Main features: o Browsing, playback, organization and archiving o Create movies with videos, music and titles o Video editing (truncation) and ability to save still photo from video o Online video publishing (YouTube, MySpace and AOL Video and others) o Free and unlimited video email sharing (multiple clips and video greeting cards) In-box accessories: * TV connection cable, Wrist strap, Soft case, Quickstart Guide

this is getting interesting

aussiesmg wrote: this is getting interesting

And the $189.00 one says bas-tards

I was going to get a gopro for incar video, but ended up buying a kodak zi8 since that way I could use it as a regular camcorder as well as racing. It's similar to the flip, but from the reviews I read, better for my needs. It also has a mic input. I easily get 2-3 hours from a battery charge and I bought a spare battery for $6 from amazon. I may still get a gopro as a second camera for more versatile mounting options

I just got the GoPro HD Wide Angle from a local outdoors place a few weeks ago.

This thing is great! For the size of it, the quality is amazing.

With the newer HD model, they addressed the battery issue and now it has a rechargable battery which lasts a good 2.5 hours or so. It charges via USB. It works great in daytime and cloudy weather. I've used it while night skiing on lighted slopes and while it worked, it's a bit grainy when I get into the shadows, granted I wasn't on the full 1080 setting. It can also shoot in 30 or 60 frames a sec depending on the resolution- 60 FPS makes some really nice slow motion shots.

Many mounting options from adhesive mounts to bicycle bar mounts to suction cups to to chest mounts to helmet mounts.

The reason I wanted the GoPro HD was because of the quality obviously, and that it can take still photos. You can set it into photo bust mode or take a picture every XX seconds which is kinda cool. I also have no problems using the buttons on it while wearing ski gloves.

You can also use it out of the case- as a normal camcorder. There is not an LCD screen on the back but with the wide angle, it's not hard to capture your subject.

It also comes with the full waterproof housing back which muffles the sound somewhat, and it comes with a back that has two slots cut in to use when you don't need to water/weather proof and it allows more sound to reach the camera.

It also has an expansion connection on the back for the new attachments they are developing- extended battery, backpack LCD screen, and other things.

Waterproof to 150 feet and shockproof and good in low temps (was recording outside in the 20s-high teen temps)

It can hold up to a 32GB card and on the 1080 setting, 12 min of vid is roughly 1GB in size.

One of my favorite toy purchases and can't wait to mount it on my car, my motorcycle helmet, kayak helmet, and all other kinds of adventures.

My only complaint is that the LCD screen is kinda hard to read sometimes and the menuescan be confusing, especially the settings menu. But one skim over the user manual and I figured things out.

I just got rid of my GoPro Wide because I want the HD. I use it for mountain biking. Please excuse the quality as YouTube and Vimeo compress them badly. The quality is a bit better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-KcHonR89A

http://vimeo.com/4819041

And my Fav ever :) http://vimeo.com/4718518

It looks like the HD Wide Angle is absolutely the one to get. I see them new on Amazon for ~$250 plus shipping. I'm going to bite!

GR40RACER wrote: I've got a HD Motorsport one on the way, ordered it off Amazon for $265 delivered and got the roll bar mount for $29 from the same dealer. Didn't know about the wide angle lens, thanks confuZion3.

Just in case there is any confusion on the matter, the HD Motorsport comes with the wide angle lens. The HD Motorsport is basically the HD Wide with the suction cup mount instead of the helmet straps.

I still haven't had a chance to get any footage on the car, but the suction mount seems very robust.

In reply to Josh:

I've used the suction mount on my helmet actually and on a friends Ducati...it is AMAZING.

I've dropped a GoPro off a car using the suction mount. It went right under my wheels - not much left of THAT camera. I leash it now.

If I go back to the Targa, though, I'm not going to bother with consumer-grade stuff. I've lost too much video due to batteries, self-disassembling camcorders and the like. It'll be a ChaseCam for me.

Josh wrote: Just in case there is any confusion on the matter, the HD Motorsport comes with the wide angle lens. The HD Motorsport is basically the HD Wide with the suction cup mount instead of the helmet straps.

Excellent, thanks Josh.

I ordered the HD (and from what I saw all of the HD's are wide) Motorsports from Amazon new for ~$255 shipped. I'll post a video from the gokart or something as soon as it gets here, I can't wait!

I have the older wide angle GoPro. It's okay for what it does. To me the sound quality is horrible. Being a fat guy requiring a V8 to get me up to speed, it would be nice to hear the growl of the engine rather than the camera's microphone getting overwhelmed even on the low gain setting. Be wary of having anything close to the camera's lens such as mounting it on the dash where part of the dash in in the frame. With a 170 degree look angle, you sometimes get a fish eye effect at the edges of the video

Sound quality aside, the great thing about it is how versatile it is with regards to mounting it in odd places. Sure, I've mounted it in the usual boring places. Windows, doors, roof and such. But I've also mounted it under the car. In a wheel well. Under the hood. On the bottom of the oil pan.

I even mounted the camera on the passenger floorboard looking up. For some reason my girlfriend did not think that was funny.

Orkboyz? 40K player?

Orkboyz wrote: I have the older wide angle GoPro. It's okay for what it does. To me the sound quality is horrible. Being a fat guy requiring a V8 to get me up to speed, it would be nice to hear the growl of the engine rather than the camera's microphone getting overwhelmed even on the low gain setting.

with the new HD version, they addressed the sound issue. The extra case back with the slots helps with the sound alot too.

I'll try and take some vids inside and outside my mustang... hear the V8 growl a bit.

Orkboyz wrote: I even mounted the camera on the passenger floorboard looking up. For some reason my girlfriend did not think that was funny.

Not quite to the point of questionable girlfriend videos, but it is good at freaking out co-workers.

In reply to P71:Orkboyz? 40K player?

Join da WAAGH!

Keith wrote:

Orkboyz wrote: I even mounted the camera on the passenger floorboard looking up. For some reason my girlfriend did not think that was funny.

Not quite to the point of questionable girlfriend videos, but it is good at freaking out co-workers.

Look everybody, Flyin Miata is coming out with a new paperweight!