Discussion
I chose GoPro after looking at the market as it offered the best range of accessories and mountings available, wifi link (live viewfinder as well) to my iPhone / iPad and easy availability of batteries etc.
The fact that it can record really good (broadcast quality) video is a bonus as well ;-)
Very impressed with the burst & time lapse modes as well, and the way if handles low light is good.
The fact that it can record really good (broadcast quality) video is a bonus as well ;-)
Very impressed with the burst & time lapse modes as well, and the way if handles low light is good.
The video and audio quality is really excellent (Hero 3 Black) but only when it's working. I've spent about as much time trying to fix random freezes/SD card errors/battery charging issues as actually filming stuff.
The videos that I do have are awesome but it's the most unreliable gadget I've ever used.
The videos that I do have are awesome but it's the most unreliable gadget I've ever used.
Camera man said:
There are a lot of different sorts action cameras on the market, yet the only one people seem to know about is Go Pro.
What others have people purchased and why?
Sony Action CamWhat others have people purchased and why?
Reasons:
Better battery (2 hours minimum)
Better image
Steady Cam (and that really is a massive plus point)
Smaller
No need for updates, it just works including the wifi app
Cheaper
Many Many more mounting options as it has a standard tripod mount
Better in low light
Much Much better audio recording.
That just about covers it
Oh and the new one coming out this month has timecode a Zeiss lens and is splash proof so no need for any type of case in most environments.
PS I do own three GoPros before anyone starts thinking I'm a sony fan boy....
I think the main reason is GoPros marketing is just fantastic.
I ditched my GoPro and went to a Drift Ghost after my Go Pro became a useless brick with GoPro themselves just shrugging their shoulders and saying tough. The unit was in good nick and had not been abused. Their customer service just sucked.
Drift Ghost has so far proven very reliable and I do like the fact that you can adjust the lens so even if you don't get your clamp / sucker alignment 100% on first time, it's an easy adjustment to make.
Drift Ghost has so far proven very reliable and I do like the fact that you can adjust the lens so even if you don't get your clamp / sucker alignment 100% on first time, it's an easy adjustment to make.
Craikeybaby said:
. . . . . I guess it doesn't hurt that they're everywhere on TV, it's rare that anyone can use the same kit that is being used to film TV shows etc.
Isn't that because they are so obvious?In the recent Top Gear episode with them cycling through London, did you notice the other camera they had mounted on the bikes? They had a couple of Go Pro's each and another
The Moose said:
Is there somewhere with a side-by-side comparison of the videos from all these cameras?
Best bet for side by side footage is YouTube. Issue with that is sometimes the rendering on YouTube doen't offer a true reflection of how good it is.
The Sony mentioned has a fantastic sharp image (I'd say much crisper than Go Pro)
Sony Action cam here too.
Purely because of Image Stabilisation. I HATE shaky videos and no, doing it later in PP doesn't work nowhere near an optical version.
Plus there's NOTHING that GoPro does that Sony cannot do, apart from 4K which is useless at the moment anyway.
IMO it's all about marketing. Sony just doesn't know how to film cool videos. They all look like made by your uncle
Purely because of Image Stabilisation. I HATE shaky videos and no, doing it later in PP doesn't work nowhere near an optical version.
Plus there's NOTHING that GoPro does that Sony cannot do, apart from 4K which is useless at the moment anyway.
IMO it's all about marketing. Sony just doesn't know how to film cool videos. They all look like made by your uncle
rottie102 said:
Sony Action cam here too.
Purely because of Image Stabilisation. I HATE shaky videos and no, doing it later in PP doesn't work nowhere near an optical version.
Plus there's NOTHING that GoPro does that Sony cannot do, apart from 4K which is useless at the moment anyway.
IMO it's all about marketing. Sony just doesn't know how to film cool videos. They all look like made by your uncle
Out of interest, why is it useless?Purely because of Image Stabilisation. I HATE shaky videos and no, doing it later in PP doesn't work nowhere near an optical version.
Plus there's NOTHING that GoPro does that Sony cannot do, apart from 4K which is useless at the moment anyway.
IMO it's all about marketing. Sony just doesn't know how to film cool videos. They all look like made by your uncle
The Moose said:
rottie102 said:
The Moose said:
Out of interest, why is it useless?
Do you own a 4K TV? Is your PC/Mac powerful enough to edit it?The Moose said:
Will do soon.
So AT THE MOMENT as I said it is useless 
Nothing against the product, I would probably buy a GoPro if it would have IS over Sony.
IMO with IQ it's like Samsung VS iPhone - Samsung/Sony photos and videos look more realistic, iPhone/GoPro they look more punchy, vibrant and well exciting which makes it more appealing for the type of videos that is normally shot with it.
Shaoxter said:
The Moose said:
rottie102 said:
The Moose said:
Out of interest, why is it useless?
Do you own a 4K TV? Is your PC/Mac powerful enough to edit it?Camera man said:
What others have people purchased and why?
I weighed up the options and chose a Drift Ghost HD.Because:
Quite a bit cheaper than a GoPro.
Better profile/shape than a GoPro so easier to affix to the side of crash helmets/bikes/cars etc.
Absolutely genius rotating lens feature so you can mount it any way up that is convenient and the image is always the right way up.
Built in LCD monitor on the side - no daft additional screen to buy.
Really useful 2-way wrist strap remote included.
Wifi built in and really good iPhone and iPad apps for changing settings and viewing/transferring video etc.
Fully waterproof and shock proof as is with no plastic case needed like a GoPro.
Replacement glass lenses and additional sticky mounts are all readily available and cheap.
I've been very happy with it. Used it mounted in car bumpers, on crash helmets, paragliding, skiing, etc and the footage is very good indeed.
Very impressive battery life, even in very cold conditions like Skiing. I was getting easily 3 hours solid recording and if you were just recording 10-15 minutes here and there, it pretty much lasts a full day on standby between recordings, including the rechargeable wrist remote.
There is also a Drift Ghost S available now that has a new improved Sony sensor and does 60fps at 1080p.
Edited by NinjaPower on Monday 31st March 22:03
TheHighlander said:
I was planning buying a Go Pro just for going snorkelling ect on holiday next month.
Didn't really check for competitors but the drift hd looks very good.
Would it be any use for snorkelling ect?
Waterproof to 3 meters as standard without a case. If you want deeper, a rather smart looking underwater case is available for £35 which allows depths of 30m (although some sites say 60m. Maybe there is a new design?)Didn't really check for competitors but the drift hd looks very good.
Would it be any use for snorkelling ect?
It depends how deep you generally snorkel, but if it was me I think I would be spending the £35 and feel safe in the knowledge that I wasn't going to destroy my new camera
http://www.actioncameras.co.uk/drift-hd-ghost-wate...
I have a Drift HD Ghost and bought it over a GoPro because of its built in screen, rotatable lens and better battery life.
The picture quality is more than good enough for me, but my first had to go back as the buttons started to play up and the screen mist up, and now my second one also has a misting up screen/lens.
Sony action cam for me next
The picture quality is more than good enough for me, but my first had to go back as the buttons started to play up and the screen mist up, and now my second one also has a misting up screen/lens.
Sony action cam for me next
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