GoPro looks like a good deal? And cool road course vid...

[SRD art]

I've been looking to invest in a new camera for better video-ing events and track days. My budget is low as usual, so the macho-man Canons are out of the question. I really like this one, the Canon Powershot ELPH 100HS, $129.99.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/canon-1.jpg

For a point and shoot it takes really good high def video. And best of all it's orange and would look cool on the custom roll bar mount in the car at car shows.

BUT, last couple days I've been drooling over the GoPro in the Speedway motors catalog. Then I found it at overstock.com http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/GoPro-HD-Motorsports-HERO-5-MP-Digital-Camcorder/5318621/product.html for $192.94 including shipping. Looks like this thing is near indestructible, has very little wind noise, comes with groovy mounts and is water proof. I was going to ask opinions, but I think I just sold myself on the extra expense. Have you guys got any input about it?

Here's a killer video shot with a GoPro, man that looks like some serious fun! This guy looks like a decent driver too, he's passing everyone...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI7x706ODVM

[camarosaurusrex]

dont do the point and shoot camera for videos. Main reason is cause they arent really meant for them, yes they can shoot video but end up over heating the sensor after five mins.
Get the go pro they also have different models if you search around that may be a little cheaper

[SparkyRnD]

Those look like good cameras, and a lot of people are now running them. I also like the Replay XD1080 (Jeff Tate posted a few videos a while back that used them, and they were unbelievable). Looks like it's about $50-100 more than the one you listed. Either way, it would be hard to not be pleased with either choice.

[SRD art]

I plan on making a permanent camera pedestal on the rollbar crossbar behind the seats and could mount any camera on it. One thing that makes the GoPro so cool is it has the suction cup so I can get some good suspension shots, roof shots, etc. I also like the wide angle because it will show some of my driving, like turning and shifting. That's not a big deal to us but to my friends and family it would be cool to be able to see.

I can imagine going on cruises like the power tour etc with the camera on the fender for cool filming of other cars on the freeway too. My 13 year old son is pretty good at editing videos he and his friends shoot and he and I have discussed making cool car vids too. Then there's the sticky mounts and smallish size for when I get the rare opportunity to go mountain biking.

I'm curious about the less expensive models, do they come with the mount kits? Any links to them?

[SparkyRnD]

Go to google and type in gopro, hit enter, then click on Shopping, and sort by lowest price first

[SLO_Z28]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/flipminohd2ndgeneration-1.jpg
Flip Mino HD, 34.99:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1734212

And here is a video I shot with it on my first use:
6pCsEY0JD8o

Shoots full 720P HD video, has all the software to download videos on to the computer and upload them on to youtube/facebook on the device itself, and it doesnt need batterys or cables. The wind noise is horrid, but the go-pro isnt any better. The go-pro needs extensive work to get it to sound like it does in most of the videos posted on their site. I just mounted it with a modified go-pro suction cup mount:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/motors4toys-1.jpg

[SRD art]

Wow, that's inexpensive! Not bad for $35.

Sparky- I actually didn't know you could do that, thanks. I found one website that you can get it for $110 but you have to buy 5 minimum. Next to that Overstock was still least expensive. Would 4 people be interested in going in on them? :)

[68camotion]

GOPRO all the way for sure.

[smoke96]

interested if we can get the other 3 buyers.... ive been eyeing the gopro hd hero 2

[chevnut55]

I would be in, my wifes hero 2 dissapeared when she moved in..probley tossed with the trash or donations.
she loved it and used it on her helmet on a week long motorcycle trip rain and all ,no problems.

[asifnyc]

consider the gopro 960 (if you can find them). the 960 doesn't support full 1080p but does do 720p 30fps which is all I use for all my track videos (I have a regular gopro HD but never use the 1080p). the 960 is $150 on gopros site: http://gopro.com/cameras/hd-hero-960-camera/

of course if you can actually get the regular hero HD or hero 2 for $110 then that's a great price...

[BigBlockOlds]

There was another camera setup out there that mounted near the rear view mirror and took video out the front of the vehicle as well as the driver.
It also had information like braking, acceleration, etc and would display a map and all of this data on playback of the video so you could coorelate the two.

Anyone remember the name of the company that makes this? It was a pretty good deal for the money and what you got. Around $350 if I remember correctly.

[Taylor1969]

I'd be interested in a GoPro GP

[BigBlockOlds]

Found the one I was talking about earlier:

http://www.motorsportscamera.com/

Might not be as versatile as the Go-Pro in mounting locations but still pretty cool.

[DartorDemon]

Found the one I was talking about earlier:

http://www.motorsportscamera.com/

Might not be as versatile as the Go-Pro in mounting locations but still pretty cool.

Call me an Ahole, but that doesnt look like its worth the money as a camera. Those little extra features are kinda cool(assuming it actually measures and works).

Also, i'm skeptical when a companies marketing strategy is "screw gopro, screw gopro, screw gopro, our camera is better because we say so"

I'll keep my gopro...it will still work when i drop it.

[SLO_Z28]

This should be pretty helpful.

GgWSDugKU0k

The repay XD is the way to go, hands down. Replay got a ton of great footage at the optima challenge, and I cant wait to see it all edited together!

[DartorDemon]

This should be pretty helpful.

GgWSDugKU0k

The repay XD is the way to go, hands down. Replay got a ton of great footage at the optima challenge, and I cant wait to see it all edited together!

IMO, unless you do a lot of night shooting, there's barely an appreciable difference between the gopro and the replay in those tests. They're both far and away better than that drift/contour camera though.

I personally have two beefs with the replay: 1. There isnt a viewfinder or option for one and 2. The lack of a protective case.

[SLO_Z28]

If you think the Replay is weak, check this out:
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/32344657?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0&amp;color=ffffff" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/32344657">Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational - RePlayXD Highlights</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/davidcsmith">David C. Smith DP</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

It survived a direct hit by a car. The sensor on the GoPro is about as crappy as they come, the sound is all tinny and sounds annoyingly odd, im just not a fan of it.

[DartorDemon]

Not weak, just that when it does take a hard enough hit to break, it will be done and you're out 300 bucks vs. cracking a case on the go pro and just needing to spend whatever it costs to replace the case.

I don't have bad hearing and i really have no idea what you mean. The first video shows no real difference in sound between the two.

[BigBlockOlds]

Man, that Contour camera sound was crappy! Might as well just not record any sound at all.

The drift wasn't the greatest either.

The Go Pro wasn't bad but in all of its video's the sound was a lot more high pitched a "tinny". Seemed like there was a lot of background noise like you'd get with a bad connection.

I do agree with the article that overall, the replay seemed to be the best however I'd put the Go Pro a close second.

[SRD art]

I agree. The Replay definitely has some advantages. Call me weird but I like the sound of the GoPro better. Then again I love Flowmasters and some folks don't.

I checked a little more into that GoPro bulk deal for 5 quan. @ $110.00 each from gismoworm.com . Their website has been up for only 1 month and their site domain registered address is in South Carolina however the business address listed on the website is in L.A. Cali. When I googled the L.A. address it showed a street photo shot of a Mexican food and Pizza based strip mall! Everything on their site is ridiculously low in price compared to retail, you can't spend less than $400 with them, they don't have many products available, and one of the Canon cameras they are selling only comes in black but you have to choose if you want it in blue or red, black isn't even an option. I emailed them and asked if they took PayPal and they wrote back saying they only take credit cards and some type of direct bank to bank transfers. Although I wanted to buy the 5 and make a few bucks selling the extra 4, I'm for thinking I'd never see the cameras or my $ ever again. Scammers suck.

If I had the coin I think I'd invest in the Replay. However, Overstock.com has the GoPro HD Motorsports package on sale now for $179.99, so I grabbed one. Only $2.95 for shipping but they charge sales tax too, $12.15. Total $195.09. I looked at a GoPro Hero and Hero2 comparison on Youtube and the Hero 2 had better light quality and also has a new 90 degree lens option so it's not so fish eyed. It's about the same price as the Replay from what I can see.

[BigBlockOlds]

Very cool. Now get out there and start shooting video!

Wish I was to the point that I just needed a camera. :(

[rrunner68]

As far as toughness and durability, the GoPro can't hold a candle to the Replay. I can't find the video right now, but they have a video of one coming off a dragster at 200mph, rolling down the track, and coming to a stop. The unit NEVER stopped filming until someone came over and turned it off. Same with the car running it over at OUSCI. Do you really think a square camera would have survived that, much less continued filming?

[DartorDemon]

As far as toughness and durability, the GoPro can't hold a candle to the Replay. I can't find the video right now, but they have a video of one coming off a dragster at 200mph, rolling down the track, and coming to a stop. The unit NEVER stopped filming until someone came over and turned it off. Same with the car running it over at OUSCI. Do you really think a square camera would have survived that, much less continued filming?

I see your round camera rolling at 200mph and raise you a gopro falling for 80,000ft and still working.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAifzh7_-cg

The problem with your example of the replay is the fact that it is round and does roll. Which means unless it comes off the 200mph car and hits something solid, you wont be testing the impact strength. In comparison, the gopro is a brick, that falls @ its terminal velocity and makes very solid contact with the ground.

[SparkyRnD]

Just like cars, there are upsides and downsides to each brand and model, and people are going to love one or the other for various reasons. I say buy whichever one you are able to afford and are happy with. if you end up with more money, buy the other brand too and put them both on the same car, recording at the same time for the same runs. then see which one you like best, and sell the other to recoup some of your costs

[SRD art]

Well said Sparky.

We got a bunch of snow yesterday and possibly more this week. I've been meaning to try out that big 'ol hill near our house, I think the GoPro is calling for some sledding... Hopefully it arrives soon.

[SRD art]

Very cool. Now get out there and start shooting video!

Wish I was to the point that I just needed a camera. :(

So do I Andrew, so do I. ;)