GoPro camera

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volleyball4life

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Thanks Duc-Duc. I figured the standard lense would be best. I'll take a look at Millers to see how his turned out. I'm like you. I just want to shoot video while riding. Nothing major.

About how much did everyone pay for theres? I've seen them at all different prices and I don't want to pay way to much.
 
I'm pretty aware of the devices workings....and how and when it should and will record. Once you set the camera to the proper mode...say video for instance...hit the "shutter" button, and the camera light will blink to let you know that it's recording. I have plenty of clips with me or one of my friends looking into it to make sure. Problem is, lately...the vids arent much longer than that. When it was new I got a couple long ones, where it worked properly...but lately, none. I've wondered if the cold has something to do with it, since that's the only thing that's changed since this summer and fall. But, I've always had issues with it shutting down prematurely.

The battery issue is a well known problem with the camera, and trust me....I've checked into it. Thing is....any battery will work, it's just a matter of how long a particular AAA will last. When I first got the camera, Alkalines (not recommended) would last about 3-5 minutes. NiMH lasted about 12-15 minutes. Still though, with those noted expectations....mine would shut off frequently prematurely...and with a lot of battery life still left. I'd restart the recording if I was able to catch it....once again with irratic results. Sometimes I'd get a good clip, other times I'd get 10 seconds or something...usually a clip of someone checking the light and maybe a bit more. I'm guessing that somehow the batteries are loosing contact for a flash, which would shut it down....I've tried a number of things to assure that the batteries cant move...but still, nothing.

At this point, mine will shut off within a minute everytime, usually more like 10 seconds. Pretty frustrating. In for warranty at this point.

A buddy of mine has one, never had a problem with it. He races supermoto in a local circuit here, and shot this off his helmet. Good quality clip for sure! Wish I could get mine to work like this. NiMH batteries were used in the camera this clip....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T2ECYvgoRQ
 
I bought the 170 to take on our recent rim riding expedition. I spent a long time looking at both cameras as the dealer here is a mate of mine.

Each time I looked at each lens I'd think that was best, until I looked at the other lens then it was better.. back and forwards for ages.

The clincher was when I thought about something he said, that all the MotoGP pics are using wide angle lenses.


Once you're up and running with the wide it looks totally normal, just like you see inside your helmet.. remember how much peripheral vision YOU have?? This just replicates it.

I also picked up a push bike mount kit so I can bolt it to the trellis frame if I need.. I tested it on the goose neck of my road bicycle and found it pretty good, it had my hands holding the bars and working the brakes from about 4" back.

It worked ok for my trip to work on the bicycle, I got about 5 minutes of ride on the motorbike before it dropped off the fairing ( I had put down some duct tape to protect my paint.. then stuck on a mount.. don't do it.. it won't hold.) The camera fell off onto the road..

I MUST recommend the case VERY hardy.

After that I couldn't get it to work properly. I had two sets of re-chargeables, NiMHi and about 8 pairs of Panasonic Oxyrides. Very high output Lithium style batteries. None would work for very long. I missed catching the biggest crash, right in front of my bike, of my life 5 minutes after I gave up and put the camera away.

My batteries are panasonic rechargeable. The mate uses kodak. Perhaps there is a difference in the styles of these.

My Finance has taken everything to work to check for problems. The camera has been connected to a power supply and run for about an hour to fill the SD card, so that works. She built a resistor pack and timed the drain on the batteries at the same current draw as the camera, they were initially flat but after checking the charger and re-charging them they last ok. She made an external battery holder and clipped that in and it seemed to last. We suspect there may be an issue with the contacts used when fitting the batteries. The camera uses springs at both ends of the battery, I'm used to seeing a spring for the Neg and a plate for the pos. This may have nothing to do with it but the battery just doesn't seem to fit nicely.

All these tests have been done with camera not in it's case. Maybe the case interrupts the placement of the batteries.

In the instructions it does suggest you need to use Energiser Lithium batteries.

In hind sight I think you can get some good 30 gig hard drive handy cams these days for about the same price, it's just finding a mounting system that's an issue. For some more you can get an external lipstick camera and use it. A remote mic would be great too being able to pick up the sound from nearer the exhaust.


I'll be happy with my camera when I get it sorted, I hope.


but go the 170.. it's like using your eyes plus it's good to see the bikes you pass or that pass you.

Mal
 
I paid around $170.00 shipped for a wide lens GoPro with a 2gig SD card included. This was off ebay. I think they retail $200 without a memory card.
 
I paid $199, bought it from Pep Boys. Just jumped at it, didn't feel like ordering it and waiting for it to ship. Ebay has a lot of deals and bundel packages for less.


The instructions say to use lithium batteries if the temp is really cold...

Also, after recording, I usually load the vids to my computer and start fresh on the SD card.

Zman, is your SD card full or do you have space on it to record for more than a few seconds???
 
I have multiple 2GB Sd's....and I always start with them empty. I know about the Lithium recommendation....but still, the issue with any battery is how long it will sustain minumum voltage for a devices requirements. The issue I've had, has been in the summer, the fall, and now in winter. Certainly the cold has much to do with battery performance and longevity. My issue is much more distinct than that of a battery's longevity. We're talking erronious shut offs with fully charged batteries. Multiple attempts, multiple battery configurations, multiple failures.

I'm hoping I'll get a decent answer from the warranty dept. Like I said, I've got friends that have them...use them, and they've had no issues aside from the normal battery life constraints. I bought mine after my buddy Tim (the guy who supermoto'd with his) showed me that video I linked. Problem is, sometimes there are lemons....I think I've got one, with a lime twist
 
That's a good question....I don't have mine now since I sent it away....but if I had to guess I'd say its the wide angle 54mm....but I'll check when I get it back. I'd be shocked if it was a 170...that's dang near telephoto range. Gotta be the 54mm.
 
Hey Sheik, can you post some vids using the 170 degree lense?

Seems to be a lot of probs with the batts. You would think that the company would research and try to fix the prob.
 
The boss is a electronics software engineer so she's doing the testing for me.. ok I'm TRYING to be helpful.

Mine seems to have a bug in it's code. It will run for about 3 minutes.. sometimes more then it is just as likely to crash. Red light stays on.. the only way to turn the device off or do anything with it is to remove a battery. Leave 8it about 10 minutes and you can fire it back up again. If you try straight away there is a dim red light in the viewfinder that is constant. I don't think that is right. The front red light doesn't come on at all.

It's possible this thing might have a huge spike on start up and the batteries can't handle it.. have to wait till Tuesday to check this theory on the scope.

Like some-one else I am struggling to get a video down small enough to lost for you without crapping out the quality.. See how I go

Cheers
 
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