Video Cameras - Please advise
06-16-11, 01:39 PM
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Video Cameras - Please advise
Hey!
My next investment will be a nice action small camera for my fast road cycling group rides. Need some input and clarification.
Of course there's the famous Hero Go Pro. Then there's also the Contour. What are the main differences? Which is best? What else is there? How does the 960 pixel, more affordable go pro, compare to the 1080 model? I'd like to spend less if quality is still OK.
By the way, where's the "ride video thread", which I can't find using search? I'd like to have the data displayed in the video like on some of those. I have a Garmin Edge 500.
Thanks!!
My next investment will be a nice action small camera for my fast road cycling group rides. Need some input and clarification.
Of course there's the famous Hero Go Pro. Then there's also the Contour. What are the main differences? Which is best? What else is there? How does the 960 pixel, more affordable go pro, compare to the 1080 model? I'd like to spend less if quality is still OK.
By the way, where's the "ride video thread", which I can't find using search? I'd like to have the data displayed in the video like on some of those. I have a Garmin Edge 500.
Thanks!!
06-16-11, 02:17 PM
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I own a GoProHD 1080p and ContourGPS.
I like the GoPro better. Reasons?
-- the video quality seems a bit better
-- parts and accessories are cheaper (bike mount? $20 GoPro, $30 Contour, and that 50% premium for comparable parts is pretty typical.)
A few flaws with the ContourGPS to mention --
-- the GPS is really bad at getting a lock. It requires a much clearer view of the sky than any modern GPS I've used and takes longer.
-- it gets quite hot when just the GPS is on, telling me it's sucking the battery down.
-- you can only select between two preset video modes out in the field. To change those two modes, you have to connect it to a computer or use their iPhone app.
-- the iPhone app sounds neat -- it uses bluetooth and you can see what the camera sees and configure it from the iPhone. But it requires an extra $30 card to be added to the camera before this works.
However, the ContourGPS does save the data you're likely interested in -- once it finds the satellites, anyways. You could do that with an external GPS and the GoPro if you had the clock set precisely, but it's a lot more work.
I've never tried the other versions of the GoPro.
I like the GoPro better. Reasons?
-- the video quality seems a bit better
-- parts and accessories are cheaper (bike mount? $20 GoPro, $30 Contour, and that 50% premium for comparable parts is pretty typical.)
A few flaws with the ContourGPS to mention --
-- the GPS is really bad at getting a lock. It requires a much clearer view of the sky than any modern GPS I've used and takes longer.
-- it gets quite hot when just the GPS is on, telling me it's sucking the battery down.
-- you can only select between two preset video modes out in the field. To change those two modes, you have to connect it to a computer or use their iPhone app.
-- the iPhone app sounds neat -- it uses bluetooth and you can see what the camera sees and configure it from the iPhone. But it requires an extra $30 card to be added to the camera before this works.
However, the ContourGPS does save the data you're likely interested in -- once it finds the satellites, anyways. You could do that with an external GPS and the GoPro if you had the clock set precisely, but it's a lot more work.
I've never tried the other versions of the GoPro.
06-16-11, 02:34 PM
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I own a GoProHD 1080p and ContourGPS.
I like the GoPro better. Reasons?
-- the video quality seems a bit better
-- parts and accessories are cheaper (bike mount? $20 GoPro, $30 Contour, and that 50% premium for comparable parts is pretty typical.)
A few flaws with the ContourGPS to mention --
-- the GPS is really bad at getting a lock. It requires a much clearer view of the sky than any modern GPS I've used and takes longer.
-- it gets quite hot when just the GPS is on, telling me it's sucking the battery down.
-- you can only select between two preset video modes out in the field. To change those two modes, you have to connect it to a computer or use their iPhone app.
-- the iPhone app sounds neat -- it uses bluetooth and you can see what the camera sees and configure it from the iPhone. But it requires an extra $30 card to be added to the camera before this works.
However, the ContourGPS does save the data you're likely interested in -- once it finds the satellites, anyways. You could do that with an external GPS and the GoPro if you had the clock set precisely, but it's a lot more work.
I've never tried the other versions of the GoPro.
I like the GoPro better. Reasons?
-- the video quality seems a bit better
-- parts and accessories are cheaper (bike mount? $20 GoPro, $30 Contour, and that 50% premium for comparable parts is pretty typical.)
A few flaws with the ContourGPS to mention --
-- the GPS is really bad at getting a lock. It requires a much clearer view of the sky than any modern GPS I've used and takes longer.
-- it gets quite hot when just the GPS is on, telling me it's sucking the battery down.
-- you can only select between two preset video modes out in the field. To change those two modes, you have to connect it to a computer or use their iPhone app.
-- the iPhone app sounds neat -- it uses bluetooth and you can see what the camera sees and configure it from the iPhone. But it requires an extra $30 card to be added to the camera before this works.
However, the ContourGPS does save the data you're likely interested in -- once it finds the satellites, anyways. You could do that with an external GPS and the GoPro if you had the clock set precisely, but it's a lot more work.
I've never tried the other versions of the GoPro.
Thanks!
Considering I own a Garmin, I don't think I'd go with the ContourGPS then. Your +1 for the GoPro also helps. Interesting with respect to the clocks having to be in perfect sync. I'd think there'd be a way to offset if needed the data and video on the software that overlaps them, dashware, no?
Any opinions on the more affordable gopro's?
Thanks again!
06-16-11, 03:08 PM
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Considering I own a Garmin, I don't think I'd go with the ContourGPS then. Your +1 for the GoPro also helps. Interesting with respect to the clocks having to be in perfect sync. I'd think there'd be a way to offset if needed the data and video on the software that overlaps them, dashware, no?
Any opinions on the more affordable gopro's?
06-16-11, 05:07 PM
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06-16-11, 07:37 PM
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Thanks.
I see that the 960p gopro aside from obviously not recording in 1080p, also lacks the 60fps 720p, which is what we really want.. So that's clear.
Anyone recommend Contour over GoPro and why?
I see that the 960p gopro aside from obviously not recording in 1080p, also lacks the 60fps 720p, which is what we really want.. So that's clear.
Anyone recommend Contour over GoPro and why?
06-18-11, 07:49 AM
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If you want to compare Contour to more mainstream camcorders, camcorderinfo recently reviewed it and compared it to a few of them (Kodak Playsport Zx3, Sanyo Xacti VPC-CS1, and Sony MHS-FS3.)
https://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...der-Review.htm
https://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...der-Review.htm
06-19-11, 01:04 PM
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Thanks guys. Got the GoPro Hero 1080p Helmet bundle + Handlebar/ Seatpost mount. 
That mount will not work so well for me as my handlebars are actually thicker than 1.4" . I may need to swap to a Roll Bar mount. I'll likely mount it on my helmet tomorrow, using the vented helmet strap.
Didn't get it all setup in enough time for today's ride: https://connect.garmin.com/activity/93459770
I had problems installing the dashware. Any alternatives? If not, I'll give it another go. May need to clean the registry so it will let me retry.
I shot 5 quick videos in my apartment last night to test the different resolutions and they looked grainy. is it because it's not meant for indoors / artificial lighting?
Thanks!
That mount will not work so well for me as my handlebars are actually thicker than 1.4" . I may need to swap to a Roll Bar mount. I'll likely mount it on my helmet tomorrow, using the vented helmet strap.
Didn't get it all setup in enough time for today's ride: https://connect.garmin.com/activity/93459770
I had problems installing the dashware. Any alternatives? If not, I'll give it another go. May need to clean the registry so it will let me retry.
I shot 5 quick videos in my apartment last night to test the different resolutions and they looked grainy. is it because it's not meant for indoors / artificial lighting?
Thanks!
