GoPro track day camera alternatives

[F1 ASBO]

Linked from this original thread........ http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


Mr Fox, some advice from you please if that's ok? I have an old GoPro (the original one I think) A lot of my mates use them for track days and our kit car blats out into the sticks. Personally I don't rate mine. I know it's old but I'm not sure the newer versions are any good either!

What do you use? Would it be any good to mount to a roll bar for track day work and what is the sound quality like as that is where I feel the GoPro falls down flat on it's face tbh!

Can anyone else recommend a good track day action camera alternative to the GoPro please??

Please don't leave speculation and 'I have been told this or that' I'd like real feedback from ACTUAL usage if at possible please guys. You know what they say 'opinions are like a***holes, everyone's got one and they all stink!'

[LordGrover]

I have a GoPro Hero which is barely used. You're welcome to try it for a while to see how you get on with it. I can take it to Weighbridge Inn next week?
If you like it, make me an offer - I have no need for it.

[tqadam]

I got a sj5000 i think it is.
Does 4k at 25fps i think. Tried it at thruxton for the britcar last year and on our 4k TV looks pretty good to me for £100 new.

Here's the video I took with it - trackside obviously as im no race car driver!


https://youtu.be/irQUYGJonds

The other thruxton vids are also with the camera, using it's antishake.

[NFox]

I have the hero 5 and picture wise its really not bad at all, it has some image stabalisation too so helps quite a bit when mounted to your car, say on a roll cage for eg.

Sound wise I actually think the standard sound is awful. I have paid for the usb c audio adaptor and actually just bought the rode video me mic which is a lot better. Not perfect but it is acceptable!

In terms of alternatives I have only ever really had go pros, many years ago I had a sony bullet came from dogcamsports but this was pre gopro era. They did move on to some interesting gear though with integrated telemetry options although looking online quickly it looks as if they may have been bought out by roadhawk?!

[Digitalize]

Original GoPro was very much a proof of concept/creating a market type product, current GoPro/Similar competitors are often used for TV and even Film production, and are very powerful tools.

As for Audio an external microphone will pretty much always be needed, most tend to place a lavalier type either near the exhaust or near the inlet etc, as cabins are usually fairly well soundproofed and you'll also get more road noise.

[F1 ASBO]

NFox said:

I have the hero 5 and picture wise its really not bad at all, it has some image stabalisation too so helps quite a bit when mounted to your car, say on a roll cage for eg.

Sound wise I actually think the standard sound is awful. I have paid for the usb c audio adaptor and actually just bought the rode video me mic which is a lot better. Not perfect but it is acceptable!

In terms of alternatives I have only ever really had go pros, many years ago I had a sony bullet came from dogcamsports but this was pre gopro era. They did move on to some interesting gear though with integrated telemetry options although looking online quickly it looks as if they may have been bought out by roadhawk?!

Ok Cheers. The reason I asked was because I got the impression from your original post in the other thread that you normally didn't use a GoPro? You said 'Video from yesterday, unfortunately I forgot to take my camera batteries off charge so the whole thing was filmed on a GoPro!'

So what do you normally use when not using a GoPro? Or is it not the sort of camera that can be mounted in a car for track use maybe?

[F1 ASBO]

LordGrover said:

I have a GoPro Hero which is barely used. You're welcome to try it for a while to see how you get on with it. I can take it to Weighbridge Inn next week?
If you like it, make me an offer - I have no need for it.

Thanks for the kind offer. Sadly I can't make the Weighbridge next week though. Which model of Hero is it? I have the Hero original but it is very old now and there is no option of an external mike which seems to be what is needed according to most opinion.

Thank you Adam and Digitalize for your input, much obliged guys.

[the chav]

There is a new camera out and can get it from bm bargins it's called a imtempro or something like that costs about 30quid

I've got 1 sound quality is okay for a internal mic

[F1 ASBO]

http://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/intempo-action-...

I'm fairly sure I saw these on sale in my local Shell petrol station a while back! Probably not bad for the money.

[NFox]

F1 ASBO said:

Ok Cheers. The reason I asked was because I got the impression from your original post in the other thread that you normally didn't use a GoPro? You said 'Video from yesterday, unfortunately I forgot to take my camera batteries off charge so the whole thing was filmed on a GoPro!'

So what do you normally use when not using a GoPro? Or is it not the sort of camera that can be mounted in a car for track use maybe?

My main camera is a Sony PXW-X70 so whilst it can be mounted, its a bit big and not ideal for that! I do have a headrest mount I have used with it as well as a beefy vacuum suction mount but I tend to just use the GoPro for any mounted shots.

[F1 ASBO]

Just found this which may be of interest to others as well as me...

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/917...

[Digitalize]

F1 ASBO said:

Just found this which may be of interest to others as well as me...

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/917...

That's 2 years old, quite a while!

[F1 ASBO]

True though as far as I can tell they are all still being made so I found it useful (and the GoPro still comes out top it seems!) I will try and find something newer - unless you beat me to it!!!

[Digitalize]

The GoPro line hasn't advanced massively, the 5 is a nice user friendly upgrade from the 4 but the basic picture quality is the same, the competition have come along though. Sony especially I believe but not sure on exact model. GoPro have slowed down a bit because there just wasn't a need to keep improving when the competition wasn't close. But now Sony are releasing a model with optical image stabilisation which could be good over a software implementation that GoPro use in the Hero 5.

[geeks]

I have a Hero Session 4 that does the job nicely I am pretty happy with it! I know most of the Compact Cup grid run GoPros of assorting versions the 4/5 seems to be the better that the original or earlier models!