The all GoPro models discussion thread

[Craikeybaby]

crashley said:

I've got a GoPro Hero 3 which i've tried using intermittently for the last couple years but every time get utterly frustrated with the total lack longevity in the battery; at most i can only be getting 20mins of film time before batteries need swapping. it's been used under varying degrees of weather (ie warm and bloody cold). I have 3 genuine GoPro batteries. What am i doing wrong?

Cheers

Which Hero 3? You should be getting more than that - https://gopro.com/support/articles/hero3-battery-l...

Have you tried testing it with each of the batteries, fully charge them, then leave the camera filming something.

[crashley]

Craikeybaby said:

Which Hero 3? You should be getting more than that - https://gopro.com/support/articles/hero3-battery-l...

Have you tried testing it with each of the batteries, fully charge them, then leave the camera filming something.

I'm not sure which. It's the same with each battery.

[Craikeybaby]

Its still worth doing the test so you can see exactly how long you are getting.

[sidicks]

Any more news on the GoPro5?

I'm hiring a GoPro 4 for my holiday as I'm reluctant to buy one now, with a supposedly vastly superior model not too far away...

[Not Ideal]

sidicks said:

Any more news on the GoPro5?

I'm hiring a GoPro 4 for my holiday as I'm reluctant to buy one now, with a supposedly vastly superior model not too far away...

I think they've delayed it until the US holiday season in the US so mid Q4-ish.

I'm sure the 5 will have upgraded specs but the 4 Silver/Black today is such a great camera that if you want one for your holidays I'd be getting one of those. Just my opinion.

[Tuna]

I think with the current results you get from the 4 or Session, unless you're a film maker, the 5 is unlikely to be a game changer. As with DSLRs, it's a law of diminishing returns. The most useful difference you can get is by understanding the settings and having good grading and editing software to tune the results afterwards.

Rumours are the 5 will have the same form factor as the Session, but produce 4K footage. Otherwise, expect slightly longer battery life (swappable wouldn't hurt), slightly better low light response and slightly higher frame rates.

What would change things would be dual/triple sensors (there are a couple of 360 cams out there) or swappable lenses, but those are perhaps more specialist options and GoPro are all about the ease of use.

[Pulse]

Anyone able to help? I went to set up my Session on my helmet yesterday, and duly went about adjusting the low-profile mount. It has a small 'REMOVE' plastic thing in there, which I've removed, but the bolt won't get tight enough to make the camera stay - it just wobbles around!

I'm sure I must be doing something wrong.

[Pulse]

Pulse said:

Anyone able to help? I went to set up my Session on my helmet yesterday, and duly went about adjusting the low-profile mount. It has a small 'REMOVE' plastic thing in there, which I've removed, but the bolt won't get tight enough to make the camera stay - it just wobbles around!

I'm sure I must be doing something wrong.

Hopefully someone can help... This is how it's set up. Have I done something wrong? That is it fully tightened, and it is nowhere near tight enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_Iw9TZDTlA

[The_Jackal]

If you can, try a different screw in there.
Does it feel like it is actually screwing into the bolt at the end? Does it just keep turning or come to a stop?
The other thing to do is make the slots thinner/thicker with some thick tape so there is more friction.

[Pulse]

The_Jackal said:

If you can, try a different screw in there.
Does it feel like it is actually screwing into the bolt at the end? Does it just keep turning or come to a stop?
The other thing to do is make the slots thinner/thicker with some thick tape so there is more friction.

Tried another screw and it's exactly the same, and yep, it definitely screws into the bolt at the end... It gets tight without a mount in there, but won't with something in there?!

I'll try the tape, though that's a bit naff given it's brand new!

[stu1984]

I have just a bought a refurbished Hero 4 Silver for £180 from the GoPro website. Comes with 1 year warranty etc. Got delivered today - looks brand new!! Very happy

[TheRainMaker]

Pulse said:

Hopefully someone can help... This is how it's set up. Have I done something wrong? That is it fully tightened, and it is nowhere near tight enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_Iw9TZDTlA

When we used to use GoPros, we would carry a Philips screwdriver just to tighten up the mounts.

GoPro mount system is piss poor at best, stupid thing is they could easily sort it by putting interlocking teeth on the mounts.

[Willy Nilly]

Action camera Gods:

I have had an Astak Action Pro 3 for a while now that I use for taking stills with, however I dropped it and it has ceased to function and I would like a replacement. One of the good things about this camera is that it has/had a normal screw in tripod mount in the case which allowed me to use and Ultra Clamp, which is chuffin' marvelous.

So I would like a replacement action camera, with a waterproof case that as a screw in tripod mount as a replacement. Any suggestions?

[Pulse]

TheRainMaker said:

When we used to use GoPros, we would carry a Philips screwdriver just to tighten up the mounts.

GoPro mount system is piss poor at best, stupid thing is they could easily sort it by putting interlocking teeth on the mounts.

Yep, piss poor is how I'd describe it! Philips screwdriver in the car right now, and it's done well so far!

[dub16v]

After some advice (soon to be GoPro 4 Silver owner)...

I'll be heading, with my wife, on honeymoon to South America in August. We'll be heading to the Inca Trail, staying in the Amazon and then off to the Galapagos Islands for a week. Anyway, I'll be taking my DSLR but am keen to capture some of our trip on video (via the GoPro). A few questions therefore:

• How many spare batteries should one take on an extended trip such as this? There will be opportunities to charge (I'll also take a powerbar) but perhaps over four days on the Inca Trail opportunities may be limited (although I don't intend to film the whole thing, just a few mins here and there).
• What are the (essential) accessories that you would advise purchasing (alongside the spare batteries)?
• What are the optimum video settings (storage vs. quality)? I'll be pulling a DVD together and watching on a tv when we get back.
• Are the photo capabilities of the Go Pro Silver 4 anything to write home about? (I will be taking 17-55mm and 70-200mm lenses for my DSLR so the Go Pro might come in useful for some wide shots)
• Does anyone know of any tools/options for transferring content from a Go Pro SD card to an external hdd without a laptop/tablet? I'm conscious that should the card(s) fill up (I'll take x2-3 64Gb cards) I might need a back up.

Sorry for all the questions but this seems like a good place to ask. I haven't purchased the Go Pro yet so you may well also change my mind!

[Craikeybaby]

I took my GoPro on holiday and mostly used it with a GoPole (clear/floating one), I think I used the chest mount for a time lapse of cycling over the Golden Gate Bridge. I'm not sure which other bits I took, but don't think I used them.

I maily used the GoPro for stills, things like bike rides, sticking it out of the window of the car, going in the sea etc when I didn't want to use my DSLR.

[opieoilman]

Willy Nilly said:

Action camera Gods:

I have had an Astak Action Pro 3 for a while now that I use for taking stills with, however I dropped it and it has ceased to function and I would like a replacement. One of the good things about this camera is that it has/had a normal screw in tripod mount in the case which allowed me to use and Ultra Clamp, which is chuffin' marvelous.

So I would like a replacement action camera, with a waterproof case that as a screw in tripod mount as a replacement. Any suggestions?

I have a Sony AS30V and that has a standard tripod screw fit. I've had it a year and have only used the video function in that time, but in the last week I've used the camera and while it's not in the same league as a DSLR or good point and shoot, it was okay.

The only issue with it going on the tripod screw thread is that the thread is in the waterproof case rather than the camera itself and when it the case, the camera can't be charged, so when I tried to use it for time lapse, the battery died pretty quickly. You can buy a cage type housing so it can attach to a mount as well as charging.

[bazza white]

opieoilman said:

Willy Nilly said:

Action camera Gods:

I have had an Astak Action Pro 3 for a while now that I use for taking stills with, however I dropped it and it has ceased to function and I would like a replacement. One of the good things about this camera is that it has/had a normal screw in tripod mount in the case which allowed me to use and Ultra Clamp, which is chuffin' marvelous.

So I would like a replacement action camera, with a waterproof case that as a screw in tripod mount as a replacement. Any suggestions?

I have a Sony AS30V and that has a standard tripod screw fit. I've had it a year and have only used the video function in that time, but in the last week I've used the camera and while it's not in the same league as a DSLR or good point and shoot, it was okay.

The only issue with it going on the tripod screw thread is that the thread is in the waterproof case rather than the camera itself and when it the case, the camera can't be charged, so when I tried to use it for time lapse, the battery died pretty quickly. You can buy a cage type housing so it can attach to a mount as well as charging.

Newer ones you don't have to use the case but need to use a small plastic bracket thing. I had the 30v but swapped it for a 200v and was pleased with the improvements.

[Tuna]

Willy Nilly said:

Action camera Gods:

I have had an Astak Action Pro 3 for a while now that I use for taking stills with, however I dropped it and it has ceased to function and I would like a replacement. One of the good things about this camera is that it has/had a normal screw in tripod mount in the case which allowed me to use and Ultra Clamp, which is chuffin' marvelous.

So I would like a replacement action camera, with a waterproof case that as a screw in tripod mount as a replacement. Any suggestions?

The Session with a screw type GoPro adaptor. Simple, straightforward, does the job.

[opieoilman]

bazza white said:

opieoilman said:

Willy Nilly said:

Action camera Gods:

I have had an Astak Action Pro 3 for a while now that I use for taking stills with, however I dropped it and it has ceased to function and I would like a replacement. One of the good things about this camera is that it has/had a normal screw in tripod mount in the case which allowed me to use and Ultra Clamp, which is chuffin' marvelous.

So I would like a replacement action camera, with a waterproof case that as a screw in tripod mount as a replacement. Any suggestions?

I have a Sony AS30V and that has a standard tripod screw fit. I've had it a year and have only used the video function in that time, but in the last week I've used the camera and while it's not in the same league as a DSLR or good point and shoot, it was okay.

The only issue with it going on the tripod screw thread is that the thread is in the waterproof case rather than the camera itself and when it the case, the camera can't be charged, so when I tried to use it for time lapse, the battery died pretty quickly. You can buy a cage type housing so it can attach to a mount as well as charging.

Newer ones you don't have to use the case but need to use a small plastic bracket thing. I had the 30v but swapped it for a 200v and was pleased with the improvements.

Thanks for that. I'll be keeping the 30V for a while as I don't really use it that much, so no point in upgrading at the moment. I think I'll definitely get another Sony when I do though.