The all GoPro models discussion thread

[dub16v]

dub16v said:

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!

Anyone able to help?

[Craikeybaby]

Craikeybaby said:

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.

With regards to battery/storage, all I can advise is that that you experiment before you go. I only took one battery with me, but charged from a USB power bank, or in hotels as needed. I also only had one card, but downloaded to my iPad each evening.

My main bit of advice would be to practice before you go, work out which angles/mounts/settings work for you. Ideally so that the setting up is all second nature before you are out there.

[Disastrous]

dub16v said:

dub16v said:

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).

As many as you can! You can never have too many but realistically I'd take a double charger and three batteries in total so you can rotate. They don't last long so I'd be looking to charge as often as possible.

• What are the (essential) accessories that you would advise purchasing (alongside the spare batteries)?

A chest mount/headband mount, depending on activity/preference. Some spare sticky mounts that you can sacrifice for a cool shot. Also, a gorilla pod that you can use as a go anywhere tripod.

• 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.

Assuming you don't need slomo, 1080, 30fps. If you do, then 60fps.

• 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)

Nowhere near your proper camera sadly. Ok for time lapses I guess.

• 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.

I'm sure there must be but no idea. Cards are cheap and easy to carry though, so I'd just load up on them...

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!

Anyone able to help?

I'll have a bash at trying to help...

Initial thoughts are, if you're taking the DSLR, could you use it for video as well? Assuming it's modernish, the videos capabilities will far exceed the GoPro so unless you intend to be doing really active stuff that needs an action cam, do you need it? If not, I'd load up on batteries and cards for the DSLR and only worry about taking one system with me.

Assuming you need the GoPro, I've edited some suggestions into your post above. Hope it's of some use - as always, just my opinion but I'd be looking to take as little as possible (having dragged cameras round India shooting for work before).

[Du1point8]

Is there an equivalent to the top of the range go pro at the moment?

Mine is dying and I want one delivered to me (in Aus) as I'm going to be diving in a few weeks of the pacific islands, so would like some decent footage, with out spending £400 on the camera.

[TheRainMaker]

Du1point8 said:

Is there an equivalent to the top of the range go pro at the moment?

Mine is dying and I want one delivered to me (in Aus) as I'm going to be diving in a few weeks of the pacific islands, so would like some decent footage, with out spending £400 on the camera.

You could look at the sony 1000v, you will need the dive housing with the flat lens cover though.

[Disastrous]

Du1point8 said:

Is there an equivalent to the top of the range go pro at the moment?

Mine is dying and I want one delivered to me (in Aus) as I'm going to be diving in a few weeks of the pacific islands, so would like some decent footage, with out spending £400 on the camera.

Do you have a decent camera already that shoots HD video?

You may be better served investigating a dive housing for it, rather than a new camera.

I was diving with my Sony Action Cam earlier this week and came to the conclusion that in the water, it's sort of irrelevant what size the camera is at it's taking up a hand regardless, and my Canon M3 in a dive housing will give MUCH better quality footage.

[Du1point8]

Disastrous said:

Du1point8 said:

Is there an equivalent to the top of the range go pro at the moment?

Mine is dying and I want one delivered to me (in Aus) as I'm going to be diving in a few weeks of the pacific islands, so would like some decent footage, with out spending £400 on the camera.

Do you have a decent camera already that shoots HD video?

You may be better served investigating a dive housing for it, rather than a new camera.

I was diving with my Sony Action Cam earlier this week and came to the conclusion that in the water, it's sort of irrelevant what size the camera is at it's taking up a hand regardless, and my Canon M3 in a dive housing will give MUCH better quality footage.

Canon M3 is on my to buy list whilst here, tell me more about the dive housing you have.

If its not that we have G11/10 I forget which as its OHs, I have raging 450D that Im replacing with M3 as I can reuse the lenses.

[Disastrous]

Du1point8 said:

Disastrous said:

Du1point8 said:

Is there an equivalent to the top of the range go pro at the moment?

Mine is dying and I want one delivered to me (in Aus) as I'm going to be diving in a few weeks of the pacific islands, so would like some decent footage, with out spending £400 on the camera.

Do you have a decent camera already that shoots HD video?

You may be better served investigating a dive housing for it, rather than a new camera.

I was diving with my Sony Action Cam earlier this week and came to the conclusion that in the water, it's sort of irrelevant what size the camera is at it's taking up a hand regardless, and my Canon M3 in a dive housing will give MUCH better quality footage.

Canon M3 is on my to buy list whilst here, tell me more about the dive housing you have.

If its not that we have G11/10 I forget which as its OHs, I have raging 450D that Im replacing with M3 as I can reuse the lenses.

I've not got one yet. But I reckon I'll get one of these:

https://meikon.com.hk

Ultimately, it depends if you want stills as well. I'm a bit torn, as I've got a 60D that's feelings bit old now, and the M3. The M3 arguably has the better/newer sensor etc, but the 60D has the better AF speed and so on.

I'm trying to decide between selling the 60D to buy a FF 5D, and buying a dive housing for that, or just buying the housing for the M3 and being done with it. I just want to take stills too, and I have no idea how the mirror less AF will work underwater with the different light situation...

[Du1point8]

Ah... so it can only do one or the other?

Thats not idea... I would like to see what it produces before buying it as the fish eye lens on my first gopro is great above water, below the water, thats a completely different story and not good.

[Disastrous]

Du1point8 said:

Ah... so it can only do one or the other?

Thats not idea... I would like to see what it produces before buying it as the fish eye lens on my first gopro is great above water, below the water, thats a completely different story and not good.

Sorry, you've lost me - one or the other?

The M3 shoots stills and video to a much higher standard than the GoPro. The only problem with it is a slightly sluggish AF in challenging lighting. There's no real way to know whether this will be exacerbated or not by underwater lighting.

The 60D is obviously a DSLR rather than mirrorless, so has a more reliable AF but it's getting a little long in the tooth now, hence I wouldn't want to buy a casing for a camera I might soon move on.

Thus the decision becomes M3 plus case or whatever replaces the 60D plus case instead...

Is that what you meant?

[Du1point8]

Disastrous said:

Du1point8 said:

Ah... so it can only do one or the other?

Thats not idea... I would like to see what it produces before buying it as the fish eye lens on my first gopro is great above water, below the water, thats a completely different story and not good.

Sorry, you've lost me - one or the other?

The M3 shoots stills and video to a much higher standard than the GoPro. The only problem with it is a slightly sluggish AF in challenging lighting. There's no real way to know whether this will be exacerbated or not by underwater lighting.

The 60D is obviously a DSLR rather than mirrorless, so has a more reliable AF but it's getting a little long in the tooth now, hence I wouldn't want to buy a casing for a camera I might soon move on.

Thus the decision becomes M3 plus case or whatever replaces the 60D plus case instead...

Is that what you meant?

One or the other...

It can do stills or movies underwater, but can't be changed between them?

Im toying with the idea of getting the M3 and the casing, see what it works like with the standard 18-55 or maybe the 22.

Too late...

Bought an M3 with the twin lenses for £400ish from Sydney today... I could have probably got it a little cheaper, but it will be ready for me when I arrive back in 3 weeks from Singapore.

My mistake in Australia I get to claim the GST back too if taking through the airport, so I can take another £53 off it.

Sweet

Edited by Du1point8 on Friday 22 July 05:59

[Disastrous]

Excellent! Congrats on the purchase - I love mine and use it almost to the complete exclusion of the 60D now!

And you need not worry - you can switch between modes easily with that dive housing I believe - just a dial on the top

[Du1point8]

Disastrous said:

Excellent! Congrats on the purchase - I love mine and use it almost to the complete exclusion of the 60D now!

And you need not worry - you can switch between modes easily with that dive housing I believe - just a dial on the top

What lenses do you use?

Im getting the adapter plate and OH is bring my wide angle beast across to AUS, but other than that I was going to stick with the 2 it came with?

22mm for detail and 18-55m for normal stuff.

[Disastrous]

Du1point8 said:

Disastrous said:

Excellent! Congrats on the purchase - I love mine and use it almost to the complete exclusion of the 60D now!

And you need not worry - you can switch between modes easily with that dive housing I believe - just a dial on the top

What lenses do you use?

Im getting the adapter plate and OH is bring my wide angle beast across to AUS, but other than that I was going to stick with the 2 it came with?

22mm for detail and 18-55m for normal stuff.

I almost never mount anything but the 22mm. It's a gorgeous lens with a lovely softness to the background. And just the right sort of focal length for pretty much anything to my mind. I use the 18-55 more for video right enough.

I've got the adapter plate too and sometimes throw on my Tokina 11-17 for wide angle stuff, but you will notice a drop off (actually, not definitely - it doesn't seem to affect all lenses equally) in speed/effectiveness of the AF with EF lenses mounted. Not enough to be problematic or difficult in everyday shooting but you would need to be aware that any shooting of fast moving things like sport of nature will probably require pre-focussing and waiting for the right moment.

[jon-]

Any solid rumours of the next go pro update yet?

[Not Ideal]

jon- said:

Any solid rumours of the next go pro update yet?

Nothing SOLID but I'd imagine they'd HAVE to get something out for the holiday season in the US.

[Du1point8]

check out this.

YI 4K Action Camera

Half the price of the GoPro Black, but with the LCD screen that the silver has.

Im going to have a wander to orchard road in Singapore today and see if there are any in stock... I believe its $340 here, so it makes it £190 or so, bit better than the £400 for a Black.

[theboyfold]

Du1point8 said:

check out this.

YI 4K Action Camera

Half the price of the GoPro Black, but with the LCD screen that the silver has.

Im going to have a wander to orchard road in Singapore today and see if there are any in stock... I believe its $340 here, so it makes it £190 or so, bit better than the £400 for a Black.

I'd be interested in seeing some footage from this. On paper it looksvery good

[Du1point8]

theboyfold said:

Du1point8 said:

check out this.

YI 4K Action Camera

Half the price of the GoPro Black, but with the LCD screen that the silver has.

Im going to have a wander to orchard road in Singapore today and see if there are any in stock... I believe its $340 here, so it makes it £190 or so, bit better than the £400 for a Black.

I'd be interested in seeing some footage from this. On paper it looksvery good

May have just picked one up from Orchard park... even with all the accessories it was S$420, the equivalent GoPro Black by itself was S$750 before buying the back screen, the selfie stick (it was only S$30 more and comes with timer) and other crap.

Im looking forward to using it diving in a few weeks.

[Tuna]

theboyfold said:

I'd be interested in seeing some footage from this. On paper it looks very good

There are quite a few reviews on YouTube. From memory the image processing is not as good as GoPro, with weaker colour balance and exposure control.

The sensors and chips are pretty much off the shelf items these days and it's fairly easy to put together a camera with good on-paper specs. The problems come with lens quality, QA control, and the software these things run. Focus issues and ability to self adjust are usually the first casualties.