Cheapo alternatives to a GO Pro?

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Extremely tempted to get a Go Pro but more than likely, as was the case with my old bullet cam it'll probably only get used for the half dozen or so track days I do a year. As nice as they are I just doubt I'll be getting my money's worth.

Looking on the 'bay there's a multitude of cheaper alternatives & them there's the Sony type efforts from the likes of PC World.

Does anyone have any experience of anything that won't cost me a fortune? Must be HD & easy to use/edit!

It'll be mounted to a roll bar inside the car so it will be secure & not getting wet.

[XG332]

[Fidgits]

Gopro is the market leader for one reason...

Buy something cheap and you'll get something cheap and nasty

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Fidgits said:

Gopro is the market leader for one reason...

Buy something cheap and you'll get something cheap and nasty

Really? There are no alternatives to the market leader?

[NWMark]

Yes there are but they are very similar in price and features, There is no 'cheap' alternative to a Go Pro which will give you the quality of the Go Pro (or alternatives below). They all have their own unique features but Go Pro (whichever model you choose) seems to have the best balance overall.

Contour+2 and ContourROAM2
http://store.contour.com/ae/international/page/hom...

Sony Action Cam
http://www.sony.co.uk/product/cam-action-cam/hdr-a...

[Dave 500]

Fidgits said:

Gopro is the market leader for one reason...

Yep they are very good at marketing

Contour
Sony
VIO
GoPro

are all good.

Have a look at Dogcam's website they have got a range of new more affordable stuff, or have a look at second hand stuff.

[troc]

I vastly prefer my contour to the go pro. Better shape for a helmet cam and frikkin' lasers. What's not to like?

[Fidgits]

Dave 500 said:

Fidgits said:

Gopro is the market leader for one reason...

Yep they are very good at marketing

Contour
Sony
VIO
GoPro

are all good.

Have a look at Dogcam's website they have got a range of new more affordable stuff, or have a look at second hand stuff.

Yes, but all very similar prices... He was asking for cheap versions.

The countor is very good, but I much prefer my hero 2...

[mrmr96]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Extremely tempted to get a Go Pro but more than likely, as was the case with my old bullet cam it'll probably only get used for the half dozen or so track days I do a year. As nice as they are I just doubt I'll be getting my money's worth.

Looking on the 'bay there's a multitude of cheaper alternatives & them there's the Sony type efforts from the likes of PC World.

Does anyone have any experience of anything that won't cost me a fortune? Must be HD & easy to use/edit!

It'll be mounted to a roll bar inside the car so it will be secure & not getting wet.

A hero 3 white edition is pretty much a repackaged hero 1 camera, it's only $199 on the US site.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

What about those flip things? Seem to be loads on eBay for around £50 second hand

[mrmr96]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Seem to be loads on eBay for around £50 second hand

Possibly means they're st?

[LaurasOtherHalf]

mrmr96 said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Seem to be loads on eBay for around £50 second hand

Possibly means they're st?

Probably means its all there worth seeing as they were about £120 new, but has anyone used one?

Another option would be to use my iPhone 4S, but I'm imagining storage capacity might be an issue

[Craikeybaby]

Another vote for the Hero 3 White edition, or with the new GoPro just having come out there will be plenty on eBay as people are upgrading...

[mrmr96]

OP, what's your actual budget? Are you confined to buying new or open to buying 2nd hand?

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Not too fussed on new or second hand really, I'd rather spend under £100 as like I said I really wont use it too much

Edited by LaurasOtherHalf on Monday 21st January 14:38

[mrmr96]

Ok, is there a reason not to go with the GoPro 3 HD Hero White Edition at $199/£199?
http://gopro.com/cameras/hd-hero3-white-edition

It's top end of your budget of course, assume you're just looking to see if there was anything cheaper worth considering?
As another poster has said, the Hero 3 cameras are pretty new out, so you may see some Hero 1 or 2 cameras coming up on Ebay as people upgrade. Worth noting that even the Hero 3 White is compatible with the app, as it has built in WiFi - which was an £109 add on to previous cameras:
http://gopro.com/hd-hero-accessories/wi-fi-bacpac-...
(Ok, so the add on pack includes the remote control as well as the back pack, which is £80 if bought alone http://gopro.com/hd-hero-accessories/wi-fi-remote but I still think the Hero 3 White is not bad considering it does support the App.)

[RizzoTheRat]

I've got the GoPro HD1, image quality from a mates HD2 is definitly better (images seem brighter with betetr contrast) but it's not that big a difference. Dunno if you can still get old stock HD1's but there's probably a few on e-bay from people upgrading, and as said the HD3 white is basicly the same camera for about £200 (not sure what mounts that comes with though). You can also get the HD2 still

One point though, the HD1 and HD2 had a case with a domed front lens cover, this sheds water and insects fairly well, but gives distortion underwater. The HD3 varients have a flat front which gives better underwater pictures, but I'd have thought it's not as good in the rain and more prone to insect splats.

As said there's quite a few alternatives to the GoPro now, including some that have a remote built in rather than as an addon like the gopro whcih would be useful.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

just to reiterate my budget that i posted above-ideally i like to spend under £100 (not £200).

i also have a panasonic lumix digital camera that i think can take movies & never gets used-i suspect this wont be up to recording footage inside a car though?

[mrmr96]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

just to reiterate my budget that i posted above-ideally i like to spend under £100 (not £200).

i also have a panasonic lumix digital camera that i think can take movies & never gets used-i suspect this wont be up to recording footage inside a car though?

Sorry mate, I must have misread your post as I thought it said £200. Apologies.

I used to use a P&S digital camera in the car, and it was ok in so far as it "worked" but the problem I had was i) mounting it and ii) the lens not being wide enough angled to capture what I wanted it to.

Would be interested to know if anyone knows what the focal lenght equivalent of the GoPros (and other action cameras) is compared with the min on a P&S digital camera.

[julian64]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Newest-LCD-Dual-Lens-Das...

I got one of these.

Can't complain the video is very good. Records front and rear. It allows you to do easy playback from within the car, edit/delete. No gaps between recordings

But best of all its very very small, and throwaway cheap.

I have one on each motorcycle and each car I have. Fire and forget.