GoPro Cameras- Which One?
 

For cruising the streets, just to record any "incidents", hooligans, DWI, etc. , a Go Pro camera is desired.

Which ones can be set to 4 frames per second, with reasonable screen resolution?

Has the low-priced model been discontinued?

A real simple but effective camera mount, can be rotated for over the shoulder shots, sideways, or straight ahead:

https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7225/2...20d9fd6b_z.jpgCamera Mount by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Don't limit yourself to just GoPro. There are TONS of action cameras out there, and GoPro is not the best. They just spend a lot of money on advertising.

Their Hero Blacks are usually some of the best cameras on the market within their generation. If you're buying less, you should not limit yourself to the GoPro line because you'll probably be able to get a better camera for less money. You can even stick to the GoPro mounting systems and still be able to choose from a lot of different brands.

4 frames per second is kind of a bizarre requirement. Generally you don't get below 30 FPS on video, maybe 15. When you go to time lapse it usually starts around 1 frame per second and goes slower.

On video you need to stay away from slow frame rates because in low light it will increase the shutter speed to try to suck up enough light to make a decent exposure, and that will turn your video into a blurry, useless mess. You're better off capturing low exposure levels then software amplifying the signal. It'll be noisy but at least it won't be blurry.

I've owned a GoPro in the past, but honestly, it was pretty much the worst, buggiest camera I've had (out of over a dozen cams total). Right now I have a Contour Roam3 up front, and a Fly6 in the back. Mainly I want decent video quality and a long battery life. The Roam3 is borderline at 3 hours battery.

I really want battery life, and NO, I don't want the GoPro mounting system, I use a standard tripod mount...

I'm looking at the Contour Roam3 at Walmart online...

The local camera store and other places are out-of-stock on the GoPro...

If you want battery life, you probably should stay right away from Gopro. They think 90 minutes is a long time. 2.5 to 3 hours is their outer limit for some models in the most battery conservative settings.

One thing that EVERYONE is always saying is "I want to be sure to be able to read license plate numbers" - I have so far found NO camera that can reliably do that in all situations. In low light, I don't think it's even possible Sony action cams, with the backlit sensor, in 60 fps mode, have the best shot probably, but if a car is passing you at 30 MPH faster than you're going, you just don't have the bitrate to see the numbers.

It's possible that if you get a camera that can do 4K at a really high bitrate (like 60 Mbps or something) then in daylight you could always read the plates, but even then I think you'd probably fail in low light. And at that point you're up into Black Magic cams, which start at $1000 just for the body, then you start shopping for lenses.

Okay, I went into Manhattan yesterday, to a big camera store....

I went for the cheapest "unadvertised special", a gopro knockoff "SJCam" for $73.99

and it was cheap enough, that since I had cash in my pocket, I bought a second camera, for $38.99

called a MUVI, and claiming to be the worlds smallest camcorder...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/i...ra_1072775.jpg

http://http://www.veho-muvi.com/wp-c...3-MUVI-PRO.png

The MUVI cam "Micro Camcorder"... Lo resolution, but has 3 hours of recording time.

Here's the problem,

Neither of these two cameras can render an image on an SD card (micro SD card) that can be read by a computer (I've tried three)...

So, I have thirty days to return the cameras to the store where I bought them.

I'll keep looking for a software patch, or something...

You talking about specifically taking still frames, or just video? I had an SJCam at one point and had no trouble with it but I only ever shot video.

Only tried video, so far. There was something in the instructions about "formatting" the SD card, I'm not sure what to do, I think that's the problem...

TODAY, I plan to find software for the little MUVI camera... I use a computer (Apple) that uses the Yosemite OS...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMe6Xf8dnQk
Okay, It's up and running... I've got the SJCam set to 720 pixels by 30 fps, so I can get two+ hours of video

The other camera works too, but I might either put it on my helmet, or clip it to my clothing...

the one shown in the TV ads.

That video is not bad for low light.

I've given up on reading number plates. Riders in slow speed areas (30 MPH or less) might get them reliably but I don't think I ever will.

I consider the cameras to be recording incidents and situations and perhaps words that are said. That's likely to be enough to get an investigation going if there's anything serious enough for me to report (like, someone intentionally trying to hurt me, or me being hurt and needing to prove who was at fault).

I've found 60 fps is needed to reliably snag details like license plates. I've tried a couple of my digital still cameras with video options and consistently caught more detail at 720/60 fps than 1080/30 fps. There were still plenty of blurred frames, but 60 fps improves the chances of getting at least one clear frame of the license plate or other crucial detail.

I stopped using my P&S digicams as bike video cameras because the vibrations were rattling the telescoping lenses too much. But I'd want a dedicated action cam with at least 720/60 capability.

You do occasionally get a clear plate number, as you say more likely with 60 FPS but I find I still can't reliably say that I'll always be able to read a plate number.

Just to keep you posted, I'm using the SJCam -4000 model, black, at 720 resolution by 30 fps, getting about two hours and twenty minutes of recording, on a 16 GB SD card...

The SJ400 can be charged while it is in use, so says the instruction manual, but in reality, the cord can NOT get through the waterproof case... I have a 12 volt/12 ah rechargeable battery for my lights, so I could in theory run the camera off of that supply... maybe I'll get a second camera, install the USB port on my bike, and charge one while the other is in use... Maybe I'll drill a hole in the waterproof case...

I have 12v LED lights, I have to install a dual USB port soon, on the 3 bikes that have 12 volt lights...Marinco SeaLink Deluxe Dual USB Charger Receptacle - Star Marine Depot

That's what I did a few years ago to the Swann "Atom" action cam I was using at the time. Was going to participate in an organized ride that was going to last about three hours. The battery in my Swann would usually last only about 2 hours, so I put the camera in the casing, marked with a black dot where the USB connection was, then drilled a hole in the case. Hooked up a 12000mAh external battery to the camera and was good to go for the entire ride, and even had power to spare.


:)