Best action camera?

I did some looking and still haven't made up my mind yet. I am looking for an action cam for use while dirt biking and for shooting video off of a multirotor copter with the intention of using it in a commercial. So I would like something that can handle some serious vibs and abuse. The main contendors now are the Sony AS100 ($269 without remote) and the GoPro Hero+ Black ($399 with remote). Both of these allow control from a phone, does anyone have experience with that versus the available remotes (the Sony's remote has live feed too!)? I have looked at some of the other options and some look pretty good but the one nice thing about the Sony is there is some aftermarket. It isn't as good as the GoPro but it isn't nil either. I know Ben asked this same thing about a year ago but I can't find the damn thread.

Thanks all!

I use the phone to control the GoPro. Do you have any worries about the controls? Specific questions? I've got plenty of example videos.

I am mostly interested in if it is worth the extra dough. I don't really think it is, as I can even dedicate an old android phone to the camera. Main worries are lag and ease of use.

The lag is about one second. Very easy to use. It makes settings super-easy and one touch record/stop. It also has a preview window. I prefer to use it with my tablet.

Has anyone used the Vivitar cameras? For sticking on the outside of a car, are they completely horrible? It's been a toss-up between picking up a few of these or 2 used 1st or 2nd generation GoPros.

Mazda787b wrote: Has anyone used the Vivitar cameras? For sticking on the outside of a car, are they completely horrible? It's been a toss-up between picking up a few of these or 2 used 1st or 2nd generation GoPros.

Video quality is ok on the Vivitars. Sound quality is atrocious, with no provisions to add your own mic.

Anyways, here's a couple of the threads: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/which-gopro/64470/page1/

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/in-car-video-gopro-alternatives/69126/page1/

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/gopro-knockoff/62133/page1/

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/pretty-good-deal-on-a-gopro-like-setup/81459/page1/

And here's the link to what literally seems to be a GoPro at half the price. All kinds of knockoffs on Ebay of the Contour, GoPro, Sony, etc etc etc.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xsj4000+action+cam&_nkw=sj4000+action+cam&_sacat=0&_from=R40

Lots of video samples of it on Youtube. Looks pretty good.

Also: Keep an eye on the deal websites (Woot, 1Sale, etc.). The GoPro Black was coming up for $300 a couple times in the last two weeks.

Mazda787b wrote: Has anyone used the Vivitar cameras? For sticking on the outside of a car, are they completely horrible? It's been a toss-up between picking up a few of these or 2 used 1st or 2nd generation GoPros.

They look like one ClemSparks uses. It does its job, but the GoPros look a hell of a lot better. With the cameras, you get what you pay for.

Well I want to have one in the next few weeks. I am heading to CO to dirt bike in mid July and want to get some time in before to get it all worked out.

Looks like Woot has the Contours on sale.

http://electronics.woot.com/plus/cameras-accessories-14?ref=cnt_wp_3

This is something that I would rather spend the money and not get a cheap knockoff. Since I am using it for business reasons, its a write off!

Business write off? GoPro Black.

I am still thinking that the AS100 Sony is better. It has better low light and image stabilization that appears to actually work!

Wasn't that the one that had something with audio at 1080P recording where it wouldn't do audio? Or am i mistaking that for an older Sony model?

What's the new cam that Red Bull is pushing hard? Video quality looks good. (Oh duh... that's the Sony, isn't it?)

I despise sony on the simple basis of their tendency to use proprietary ish- Wanna use our stuff? Gotta use our memory and crap like that. I DO have a Hero 3 Black and I am REALLY happy with it. I quite like the controls from the cell phone too.

Haven't heard of that. Here is the specs page

http://www.sony.net/Products/di/en-us/products/me3d/specifications.html?contentsTop=1

Looks like that isn't mentioned

I can use micro SD with the Sony and there own card. GoPro forces their own mount so that is better on the sony with a stardard screw type camera mount.

singleslammer wrote: I can use micro SD with the Sony and there own card. GoPro forces their own mount so that is better on the sony with a stardard screw type camera mount.

The cheap Wally World Vivitar mounts are also GoPro compatible. When i bought the two Vivitar cameras, i didn't care that the audio sucked, because i got an assload of mounts for $50 shipped.

singleslammer wrote: I can use micro SD with the Sony and there own card. GoPro forces their own mount so that is better on the sony with a stardard screw type camera mount.

Oh I'm not saying they do it with EVERYTHING, just that they have a tendency to do so. I still hate my ps3's for the whole Blu Ray/ HD DVD thing, and I own two of em. I'm a hypocrite.

Yea. GP mount's aren't cheap. What are you planning to mount to?

In reply to mndsm:

I agree with you but that is true for damn near all large corps that provide consumer goods. Microsoft was in that battle over disk type as well. Anyone remember Beta max? (I don't because I'm 28)

I have two GoPro Hero2's and a wrist remote. Synced them up fairly easy, and the wrist remote is so easy to use at a rallycross.

I hit the big red button just before my run, and again to stop filming at the end. I can change all the settings thru the remote if needed, but I always just set it to Video before our heat starts & go from there.

Best action camera? Of course, it's Drift Stealth 2. It's the lightest and the most comfortable camera I've ever used. It has a nice, aerodynamic shape, which makes it not disturbing at all when e.g. it's mounted on the helmet (as I use it). Also it has rotating lens, so you may attach the camera wherever you want.

I had a 1st-gen GoPro that died recently. I did some looking around to see what the new options are. If I had to buy a new camera, I'd get an SJCAM SJ4000. It works with GoPro mounts.

Best option is go-pro black, with the $40.00 Vivitar accessory/mount kit that happens to include a backup camera for when some drifting tard in a Focus clips the go-pro.