Go Pro v the competition
Discussion
Have a look in the go pro thread?
Basically, IMO, there are a number of reasons to get a go pro rather than one of the others:
1. More accessories available. Like there's a billion iPhone cases, but relatively few for phones by other manufacturers, whichever is the most widely used product will have the most ancilliary support.
2. Don't be fooled by pixel count. Not all 108op cameras are equal. Lower quality brands will have lower quality sensors, so the colours will be muddier and more graining in low light etc.
3. Lenses matter. A good quality lens is as important as a good quality sensor. Crap lenses won't have a wide focal range, and/or will scratch. A good thing about the go pro is that it uses housings which are expensive, but are also almost disposable. In so far as if your camera comes off and gets trashed, you can probably just move it to another case and carry on.
4. Advanced features. Things like the super mega slow motion, whist retaining decent exposure, 4K support (ok, not widely used but would let you crop your scene in post processing). iPhone app/wifi remote. Pro settings for colour and contrast.
5. It's what the pros use. I've seen go pros being used in numerous TV shows, on channels like Discovery, ITV, BBC and Channel 5. Maybe it's confirmation bias but I don't see other brands of camera used as much or at all. Every instance I can remember seeing an action camera for broadcast, it's been a Go Pro.
(Probably plenty of other plus points I'm doing this off the top of my head as an owner of Hero 1 HD and Hero 3)
Downsides, it's expensive. It may not always offer the perfect mount, indeed other brands seem better suited to helmets as they can side mount better.
Also audio quality of the OEM mic isn't great, but you can attach an external mic to solve that problem. Also, if you hear the "clicking" on a lot of go pro videos, it's because people haven't used the little white "bogey" thing which you're supposed to put into the buckle to stop it creaking. User error not equipment error.
Also the batteries don't last long in the very cold (like skiing) but that's the same with all cameras. Oh and you can't change the battery in the remote. So whilst I could take a handful of camera batteries to last a day skiing, once the remote was dead I had to revert to manual operation.
Do your research etc, but sometimes the market leader is the market leader for a reason. (And not just advertising money!) For me one of the strongest arguments is seeing what is used by TV professionals. I'd like to think they evaluated the options and then chose go pro but I'm aware they MAY have been sent free sample cameras or whatever. Stay cynical but don't always discount the top brand because of marketing.
Basically, IMO, there are a number of reasons to get a go pro rather than one of the others:
1. More accessories available. Like there's a billion iPhone cases, but relatively few for phones by other manufacturers, whichever is the most widely used product will have the most ancilliary support.
2. Don't be fooled by pixel count. Not all 108op cameras are equal. Lower quality brands will have lower quality sensors, so the colours will be muddier and more graining in low light etc.
3. Lenses matter. A good quality lens is as important as a good quality sensor. Crap lenses won't have a wide focal range, and/or will scratch. A good thing about the go pro is that it uses housings which are expensive, but are also almost disposable. In so far as if your camera comes off and gets trashed, you can probably just move it to another case and carry on.
4. Advanced features. Things like the super mega slow motion, whist retaining decent exposure, 4K support (ok, not widely used but would let you crop your scene in post processing). iPhone app/wifi remote. Pro settings for colour and contrast.
5. It's what the pros use. I've seen go pros being used in numerous TV shows, on channels like Discovery, ITV, BBC and Channel 5. Maybe it's confirmation bias but I don't see other brands of camera used as much or at all. Every instance I can remember seeing an action camera for broadcast, it's been a Go Pro.
(Probably plenty of other plus points I'm doing this off the top of my head as an owner of Hero 1 HD and Hero 3)
Downsides, it's expensive. It may not always offer the perfect mount, indeed other brands seem better suited to helmets as they can side mount better.
Also audio quality of the OEM mic isn't great, but you can attach an external mic to solve that problem. Also, if you hear the "clicking" on a lot of go pro videos, it's because people haven't used the little white "bogey" thing which you're supposed to put into the buckle to stop it creaking. User error not equipment error.
Also the batteries don't last long in the very cold (like skiing) but that's the same with all cameras. Oh and you can't change the battery in the remote. So whilst I could take a handful of camera batteries to last a day skiing, once the remote was dead I had to revert to manual operation.
Do your research etc, but sometimes the market leader is the market leader for a reason. (And not just advertising money!) For me one of the strongest arguments is seeing what is used by TV professionals. I'd like to think they evaluated the options and then chose go pro but I'm aware they MAY have been sent free sample cameras or whatever. Stay cynical but don't always discount the top brand because of marketing.
The only other thing I have the experience to compare my GoPro to is the Polaroid XS100, and the environment in which I have compared them isn't really automotive related. We use them as helmet cams when we go swimming/canyoning/tombstoning etc. My GoPro just happens to double nicely as a dashcam. I did get the Hero2 (circa £200), which is significantly cheaper than the Hero3.
Tbh, it wasn't my money buying the GoPro, and if it was my money, I would've been tempted to settle for the Polaroid! But the extra money pays for smaller size. The Polaroid is significantly bigger. Also, the Polaroid records in .mov format rather than .mp4 - .mov files are a bit more of a PITA to work with. But the picture and sound quality from both cameras, above and below water, are is very good.
The GoPro battery definitely lasts longer. But on the other hand, you need to account for buying an SD card into the purchase price. Iirc, the Polaroid comes with an SD card.
If you get the Hero3, you get added wifi capability which allows you to stream video directly to a laptop/tablet and/or to preview photos via laptop/tablet. This obviously has all kinds of other applications...
In summary, the GoPro is more compact and more versatile, better thought out. But if you're only after good quality video and everything else isn't really a consideration for you, the Polaroid may be more cost effective.
Tbh, it wasn't my money buying the GoPro, and if it was my money, I would've been tempted to settle for the Polaroid! But the extra money pays for smaller size. The Polaroid is significantly bigger. Also, the Polaroid records in .mov format rather than .mp4 - .mov files are a bit more of a PITA to work with. But the picture and sound quality from both cameras, above and below water, are is very good.
The GoPro battery definitely lasts longer. But on the other hand, you need to account for buying an SD card into the purchase price. Iirc, the Polaroid comes with an SD card.
If you get the Hero3, you get added wifi capability which allows you to stream video directly to a laptop/tablet and/or to preview photos via laptop/tablet. This obviously has all kinds of other applications...
In summary, the GoPro is more compact and more versatile, better thought out. But if you're only after good quality video and everything else isn't really a consideration for you, the Polaroid may be more cost effective.
mrmr96 said:
Also the batteries don't last long in the very cold (like skiing) but that's the same with all cameras. Oh and you can't change the battery in the remote. So whilst I could take a handful of camera batteries to last a day skiing, once the remote was dead I had to revert to manual operation.
I use one of these to charge the remote on the go, only 83 grams + usb cablehttp://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005QI1A8C/ref=...
Greg_D said:
Is the Go Pro worth the extra money?
Not really no 
This thread will run and run.
I own two GoPro Cameras and while they are very good at what they do have a look around at what else is available.
Seriously have a look at the SONY Action Cam they have a channel called Action Cam on youtube which I came across the other day looking for comparisons. All the footage in the videos is filmed on the Action cam and it looks amazing.
Here is one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F79zHMOIbSw
You could pick up a bit of a bargain with Contour Kit as the company has gone under (they maybe coming back).
What you really need to figure out is what you want to use it for, do you really need 4K or 120fps @ 1080? as the GoPro 3 Black would be the only option if you do.
Stay away form the real cheep end of the market most of it is rubbish.
If you stick to these you won't go far wrong:
GoPro
Sony
Contour
VIO
Drift (never used one but people say they are OK but maybe not in the same league).
Steer clear of contour until you know what is happening with the company.
The app no longer works on my phone and the firmware for the cameras is unavailable. Good cameras but until their future is confirmed you're better off going with one of the competition.
I've just bought a GoPro 3+ Black. Mainly due to the huge following, plentiful parts supply, cheap mounts etc on ebay.
Really miss the GPS function of Contour but it wasn't fast enough for track recording anyway so have sourced a better GPS set-up.
The app no longer works on my phone and the firmware for the cameras is unavailable. Good cameras but until their future is confirmed you're better off going with one of the competition.
I've just bought a GoPro 3+ Black. Mainly due to the huge following, plentiful parts supply, cheap mounts etc on ebay.
Really miss the GPS function of Contour but it wasn't fast enough for track recording anyway so have sourced a better GPS set-up.
itsnotarace said:
mrmr96 said:
Also the batteries don't last long in the very cold (like skiing) but that's the same with all cameras. Oh and you can't change the battery in the remote. So whilst I could take a handful of camera batteries to last a day skiing, once the remote was dead I had to revert to manual operation.
I use one of these to charge the remote on the go, only 83 grams + usb cablehttp://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005QI1A8C/ref=...
Dave 500 said:
GoPro
Sony
Contour
VIO
Drift (never used one but people say they are OK but maybe not in the same league).
I think GoPro changed the game quite a bit, but now a lot of other manufacturers have caught up as Dave's list shows. However most of the good ones are a similar price to the GoPros, and there's a lot of cheaper options out there which aren't as good.Sony
Contour
VIO
Drift (never used one but people say they are OK but maybe not in the same league).
audi321 said:
Dave 500 said:
do you really need 4K or 120fps @ 1080? as the GoPro 3 Black would be the only option if you do.
Unfortunately it doesn't do 120fps @ 1080p. I can't wait until an affordable camera does! Maybe the Hero 4 will, but until it does I feel any camera is inadequate 
Even less reason to get a GoPro
I'm on the other side of the fence.
I liked my Contours - they did what I wanted, got used abused and came back for more. They are slimline and discrete so you hardly noticed them rather than the boxy toy look of the Go Pro yet every man and his dog seemed to have one. They had features long before Go Pro - iPhone viewing and GPS.
I think it came down to marketing and personal choice.
I liked my Contours - they did what I wanted, got used abused and came back for more. They are slimline and discrete so you hardly noticed them rather than the boxy toy look of the Go Pro yet every man and his dog seemed to have one. They had features long before Go Pro - iPhone viewing and GPS.
I think it came down to marketing and personal choice.
I've got a Contour, it's okay - but given the choice again I'd go for a GoPro or a Sony - the camera itself if pretty good, but it has little or no imagine stabilisation (is that the right term?) plus the mounts are fragile, awkward and expensive - or at least the handlebar one I have that cracked after 20 mins, superglue has actually made it more flexible than therefore stronger than original. The helmet mount is next to useless off-road.
The rail mount system means there's just not the range of mounts - you can get a converter to make them fit standard mounts, but that adds bulk to an already bulky thing.
If you're mounting to a car or motorbike I guess it's less of an issue and the £110 or so basic model would be a bargain! - But it's also worth considering Contour actually went to the wall a few months ago so after-sales support is going to be next to none.
The rail mount system means there's just not the range of mounts - you can get a converter to make them fit standard mounts, but that adds bulk to an already bulky thing.
If you're mounting to a car or motorbike I guess it's less of an issue and the £110 or so basic model would be a bargain! - But it's also worth considering Contour actually went to the wall a few months ago so after-sales support is going to be next to none.
Spanna said:
I have a Drift HD170. It suits my needs, hasn't had an issue and video quality is very good.
I have used GoPros and they are very good. I suppose it depends on your needs and uses for it. On top of a helmet, they're a bit large and unsightly, but for other uses they're the best.
I've just had a look at their demo reel, and TBH, i wasn't impressed, it looked really blocky and the colours weren't very dynamic or detailed, certainly not a patch on the various Go Pro videos, imo. one off the list for meI have used GoPros and they are very good. I suppose it depends on your needs and uses for it. On top of a helmet, they're a bit large and unsightly, but for other uses they're the best.
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