GoPro

anjasola

The range seems a minefield to me, can anyone help?
Looking for something to record pleasure rides,which model offers best bang for bucks?

bendertherobot

anjasola wrote:

The range seems a minefield to me, can anyone help?
Looking for something to record pleasure rides,which model offers best bang for bucks?

Hero silver 3+ at currys. Good functionality and 1080p at 60fps

anjasola

Thank you.

cougie

I bought the entry level from Wiggle - with discounts it was something like £84. Enough to spend on something I wasnt entirely sure I needed...

bendertherobot

Entry is fine for recording rides.

My reason for going with the Silver 3+ was as follows:

1. 60fps on 1080p. Probably overkill but nice to get that really smooth framerate.
2. Supports SD card over 32GB. I have a 64GB in there which will do 5 1/2 hours of 1080p at 60fps.
3. Wifi. It's so much easier just connecting your phone, firing up the app and making all of the setting changes on there rather than faffing round with the one button system on the camera.

I view the purchase as an investment not only in cycling, indeed, perhaps ALSO for cycling because my main use will be family holidays and, mostly, watersports (stop the sniggering up the back please).

Taking a GoPro down the slides, rapids etc at Centreparcs sealed it for me. Great piece of kit.

meanredspider

bendertherobot wrote:

I have a 64GB in there which will do 5 1/2 hours of 1080p at 60fps..

The trouble is that you need a pretty beefy computer to process that. Added to which, my Hero3 Black Ed at least chops it to pieces. 64GB will result in 70?-odd files. I simply don't have the patience to process all of that. In my experience you should allow something like 5 minutes of processing and uploading time for each minute of 1080p footage YMMV

Given the choice again, I'd go with something much much simpler. About the only feature the Black Ed has over the Classic I used to have that I value is the remote (I can't start the GoPro once I'm firmly strapped into the seat of my race car). I'd also take a good hard look at the Virb too. The shape of the GoPro is daft for cycling.

bendertherobot

I have a mac I looked at the virb but the lack of 60fps put me off

meanredspider

bendertherobot wrote:

I have a mac

I have 3 Macs

I've been using cameras for very many years. The sound from GoPros is rubbish. I use the sound from my old Sony when I run it as a rearward facing camera.

bendertherobot

It's much better with the skeleton back door. I'd use that tomorrow if I thought it might stay dry. But I doubt it! (cyclocross).

meanredspider

bendertherobot wrote:

It's much better with the skeleton back door. I'd use that tomorrow if I thought it might stay dry. But I doubt it! (cyclocross).

Yup - that's what I use in the race car (saloon) but it's still terrible compared to the old Sony Cybershot

bendertherobot

Didn't realise, just having read a review, that the Base gopro is permanently attached to its case.

cougie

Yes - permanently attached and you can replace the battery - I guess thats why its cheaper.

Anonymous

I bought it (the base) for my brother for Christmas as he's doing a ski season and never takes and bloody pictures. I hope he sticks this on his head or chest or whatever and captures some good footage. He says he's landing corked 720s but we should be getting some good proof now. Look forward to the over zealous grabs where he rips his ski off...

bendertherobot

cougie wrote:

Yes - permanently attached and you can replace the battery - I guess thats why its cheaper.

I was reading some commuting reviews where they said it was a bit annoying as, with other models, you can remove the camera, charge it and be sure it's in the same place as it was last night. Where, with the base model, you don't know if you've reset the angle properly and, without wifi, it's difficult to check.

cougie

I've found the angle to not be an issue really - the field of view is so wide that you'd have to do it very incompetently to have it miss what you're aiming at.

I see what you mean though - it would be easier to leave the camera body locked on if you had secure parking everywhere.

bendertherobot

I agree with that. It's not exactly pin hole.

I'd also add, I use it with an alu mount. The end of the mount points down 50 degrees or so and the GP is on the end. I then pull it back vertical and the mount stops it being anything other than straight. Easy to set up every time.

cougie

Did come across a kestrel hovering in the wind yesterday - about level with me and 15 feet away. Awesome to see - but er Attenborough isnt going to hire me any time soon for my wildlife photography....

meanredspider

cougie wrote:

Did come across a kestrel hovering in the wind yesterday - about level with me and 15 feet away. Awesome to see - but er Attenborough isnt going to hire me any time soon for my wildlife photography....

On a GoPro it will have looked as though it was half a mile away....

anjasola

Just a quick update, it seems as though the GoPro Hero 3+ Silver is out of stock at most places. Wiggle with the 12% discount seems good value for the GoPro Hero 4 Silver however I am wondering if I should be looking at alternatives?

webby_1805

There is the garmin virb/elite and another that of the top of me cannot remember, but for myself i have the 3+ black no point for me upgrading the silver is like the 3+ black but faster processor and lcd screen, the basic DOES NOT come out the houseing nor does it have Bluetooth capabilitys like the silver.Check out you tube, knowledge is power.
Also plenty of GP forums and YT vids to help you.

cougie

This is a massive saving off the RRP - if you fancy it - http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/rollei-5 ... AvMS8P8HAQ