Buying a GoPro camera

[Rocky]

Our bike club has decided to buy a GoPro camera for club use and will be mainly used on a bike.
The GoPro is quite expensive up here and we want to get it right the first time. We have a maximum budget of $450.00.
This is new territory for me and I'm wondering if any of you have any recommendations.
I've done some internet research, but it's a bit bewildering to decide which model is best for all around use.

 

[hemibee]

If you give me a couple hours I'll try to post up some useful information on the GoPro model differences and not just what GoPro has to say.


Sent from somewhere using Tapatalk

 

[DaveM]

From what I have seen they do a great job and are really nice cameras to have. Don't forget to also look at what software you will be using to edit the video.

 

[hemibee]

Rocky, I forgot to ask if this was to be a shared camera or if the club was looking at designating maybe just one or two riders using it?

 

[Rocky]

Rocky, I forgot to ask if this was to be a shared camera or if the club was looking at designating maybe just one or two riders using it?

It will probably be used by anyone who want to use it, but it will probably end up being used by only a few.
Dave, the point about editing software is something I hadn't thought of.
Recommendations for that are also welcomed.

 

[hemibee]

Rocky here is my evaluation on the GoRo Camera followed shortly will be my thoughts on editing software. Feel free to share them with anyone you wish to see them. I'd gone ahead and gave my thoughts on single or a couple users along with all the club members using it.


GoPro Comparisons – Just my basic out of the box thoughts

1. Hero3: Black Edition – All the bells and whistles for superior videos. Great for one or two persons using, a little more complex and would irritate an occasional user or tech-challenged person.
2. Hero3: Silver Edition – Couple less bells and whistles but it has the ones I would suggest included with the purchase.
3. Hero3: White Edition – Barebones edition

Key Camera Specs

1. Black Edition – 1440p48/1080p60/720p120 fps – fast camera speeds with excellent resolution for the highest quality videos – Will eat up the memory quickly with the higher resolutions.
2. Silver Edition - 1080p60/960p48/720p60 fps – very good quality videos, which I would say is the minimum for bike and most sports video projects. The play back would be in the range of most computers and TV’s in use today, HD quality but not a Blue Ray video quality – Has about twice the recording time as the Black 2 hours and the memory will last about twice as long
3. White Edition - 1080p60/960p48/720p60 fps – same as the Silver addition in a lower cost edition – Longest standard recording time of the three with near the same useful memory time of the Silver.

With the above my thoughts would be for a single or possibly two users that want the highest quality videos and are not worried about the reduced times available with their usage . . . The Black Edition wins out.

For club use or multiple users of I would select the White Edition with the following accessories and mounts:

Accessories:

1. Wi-Fi Remote - $79.99
2. Hero3 Anti-Fog Inserts - $14.99
3. Additional Battery - $19.99

Mounts:

1. Handlebar/Seatpost Pole Mount - $19.99
2. Chest Mount Harness – $39.99
3. Camera Tethers - $19.99
4. Side Mount - $12.99

With the White Edition and all the accessories and mounts listed above you would be looking at $407.92 USD for the system. I did not include the cost of memory cards for several reasons.

1. The first reason would be they could be found cheaper at numerous locations.
2. The second reason it might be best that each person have their own memory cards especially if they do not have compatible computers. While a PC and a MAC can both use the same card without any problem it is the persons using them that would cause the issue. With a MAC there is a different deleting process that unless it is done correct will not actually delete the files causing a memory level issue with a PC or even other MAC users that have never run into this system issue before. I can guarantee this issue will come up with a GoPro, you will eat thru the memory quicker than you ever have in the past.
3. Third reason would be each member could select the quality and quantity of memory they would like to use.

The above is just my opinion for a Club camera to be used by multiple members. The need for another set of mounts, the Grab Bag of Mounts $19.99 and the package of Curved + Flat Adhesive Mounts $19.99 might be something y’all want to look at after you get the system to see if you really need them. I strongly suggest my list of Accessories as listed above. The Wi-Fi Remote will more than pay for itself in the frustration it avoids among the users of the camera. I have not added it to my GoPro yet but will be adding it. I can’t tell you how many videos and photos I’ve missed due to not having one.

The Mounts list I would strongly suggest all except the Side Mount, this would be a personal choice by each user. I personally don’t like 99.92% of the videos I see on a helmet cam from street riders or off-road riders. Generally these riders do not have a solid head-mount to their shoulders and the result is a jerky almost un-watchable video. Most riders move their heads around way too much for video use, not for rider safety but for video use. The Handlebar and/or chest mount work great for 99.99% of the street riders.

I hope this helps Rocky, feel free to ask me any questions you have that I did not cover.

Editing software to follow shortly.

 

[hemibee]

A quick cut and paste of a editing post I made on another forum:

For my videos I use iMovie on my MAC. I also have Windows Movie Maker on my notebook. Of the two programs, I like the iMovie. Windows Movie Maker isn't as user friendly as iMovie but you can move around in it with a little practice. Both programs will do most of what you might want to do with a video so no additional program should be needed, iMovie does offer more options in it's basic form. Once you want to get fancy with your videos there are add on's that can help spice up your video or you can spend the money for a more powerful program, but be warned the more powerful programs have a history of not being as user friendly as what probably came on your computer.

For my video slideshows I again use a MAC product, iPhoto. The program is easy to use and sharing the slideshows in most cases are just a click or two away.

Above I said I use iMovie which is an Apple product. I've been looking a couple times for something very similar to it available for the PC. I've run across a couple sites offering iMovie for PC use. I didn't get a link to the sites I looked at but they can be found bu searching for "iMovie for PC" which I just did after saying I didn't have the links. So here is what I found:

http://www.imoviewindows.com/

http://www.arcsoft.com/topics/video-editor/imovie-for-windows.html

http://imovieforpc.com/

These are just three of the sources I located, I have never used them and I'm not employed by or have any financial interest in either of them or any other product associated with them. I have no opinion as of this time how well they may work and if they are really as easy to use as the real iMovie program.

 

[Rocky]

Wow hemi, that's fantastic info!!
I'm very grateful for your time and trouble to post this.

 

[DaveM]

Well I am glad you already have some editing software mentioned as I had no idea at all never having used it before

 

[hemibee]

Wow hemi, that's fantastic info!!
I'm very grateful for your time and trouble to post this.

My pleasure Rocky, I enjoyed doing it. I had never really compared the current Editions to mine so it was fun. I have the Hero2 and wasn't sure which of the 3's really compared the closest. The White Edition being the lower end of the three would be the closest.

 

[CarlS]

Rocky, I have the GoPro Hero 2. Its capabilities far exceed my skill. If I were buying today for myself, I would purchase the the Hero 3 Silver. I don't need the capabilities of the black; I am not going to publish professional videos.

I recommend that each person who is going to use the camera get their own mount. However, the handle bar mounts are easy to remove and setup from bike to bike. I have never tried the chest harness.

Regarding software, I use Windows Movie Maker. GoPro also has their own software. It is not quite as user friendly as Movie Maker; but it works.

 

[Rocky]

Thanks Carl and everyone. Lots to ponder.
As a matter of fact, I was thinking about the Hero 3 silver when I was doing some research.
No decisions yet, but you fellows have given us lots to go through.
Thanks again.

 

[CarlS]

Let us know what you decide.

 

[hemibee]

Rocky, I have the GoPro Hero 2. Its capabilities far exceed my skill. If I were buying today for myself, I would purchase the the Hero 3 Silver. I don't need the capabilities of the black; I am not going to publish professional videos.

I recommend that each person who is going to use the camera get their own mount. However, the handle bar mounts are easy to remove and setup from bike to bike. I have never tried the chest harness.

Regarding software, I use Windows Movie Maker. GoPro also has their own software. It is not quite as user friendly as Movie Maker; but it works.

Rocky, I agree with Carl, the Silver would be the best but with your budget and the accessories I suggested I wanted to keep it in the allowance range. The mounts are very personal in my opinion and what I like, my son is not 100% in agreement with. To have each purchase his on would be the best option.

 

[Rocky]

Rocky, I agree with Carl, the Silver would be the best but with your budget and the accessories I suggested I wanted to keep it in the allowance range. The mounts are very personal in my opinion and what I like, my son is not 100% in agreement with. To have each purchase his on would be the best option.

Thanks for that.
That's something to consider too.