So as many of you know (and have been a HUGE help) in entering self filming this season...I've quickly grown to where I want more 2nd (even 3rd angle) B-roll type stuff and small action cams seem like the way to go. Let me be honest, I know GoPro offer the best most likely in well build quality and CS...but I'm not dropping that kind of cash on a 2nd or 3rd angle. I have an off brand (1080 res) action cam right now but have noticed there are some 4K options out there on the market made from the "non-GoPro" brands aka by many the knock offs. However, my "knock off" 1080 has been awesome considering the pricepoint was under $50, water proof pack and accepts every action cam accessory I've thrown at it. Anyone have experience with any of the non-GoPro ones they can share either good or bad? Obviously mic abilities is not something I'm concerned with. For me I am primarily concerned with image quality and whether or not it will accept action cam accessory holders and such. Thanks in advance fellas as always.
Just a thought..........I'd consider a used GoPro just because of the vast array of extended batteries you can get. If you want to save $$, snag one used on eBay. I'm seeing the Silver 4 that I use on there for as low as $70 or so used. And the footage I've gotten on mine has been fantastic, you simply don't need 4k for a 2nd POV cam. This year I picked up a pair of Refuel extended battery packs. I've got one 12 hour, and one 6 hour as a backup. They are game changers and the 12 hour lasted several all days sits for me this year when paired with a 128gb card. I learned in my 2016 filming season that there is no good way to remotely turn these things on at go time. The GoPro bluetooth remote battery just won't last when it's cold. And last year I never had time to turn them on manually when it was go time either, and missed the shot from the 2nd angle cams on both of the deer I killed. This year I turn on as soon as I climb in the stand and I simply capture everything. No chance of missing anything and super easy. There is no way I'd ever go back to a 2nd angle cam that requires me to turn on in the heat of the moment after a season with those extended batteries.
I have a love/hate relationship with my GoPro cameras. Basically I love to hate them. They are awesome when they work at the GO time, but suck when they don't. Batteries suck, especially when using the remote. I run external batteries on mine and they still can be hit or miss. Or at GO time, the remote battery is flashing that it is dying. The things piss me off beyond belief.
i have a buddy who has one of the 4k knock offs. I havent heard him complain about it once and has made some nice little videos with it.
I as well have noticed this issue....one of the reasons I kinda like Matt's idea of used GoPro and add extended batteries for turn on and forget style with them. However, I've also for the reasons you outlined given thought to handycam as a second angle.....but would love if remote capable would be available.
When I am sitting in a blind turkey hunting, I put two GoPros out with the decoys. It is pretty easy then to use any type of battery pack, just like you would use for emergency charging a cell phone. They work pretty well. I usually keep another one in my bag and the charge adapter for the remote as well because I always seem to be in a need to charge the remote. Like I said, when it works, it works well, but when it doesn't it is beyond aggravating. About 50% of the time it all works like it is supposed to. Inside the blind for shooting back at me, I have a small Canon G15 that I bought several years ago for quick photos. It shoots decent 1080 video. So I put that on either a Joby Gorilla pod or attach a Magic Arm to a tripod leg to support the small camera. I just point it my direction, push the power button and hit record. It works when I remember to do my part and turn it on ... LOL. I am considering buying a Sony A5100 and wide angle lens though to replace the G15, as it shoots better footage and the flip over screen would be nice. Trying to justify the cost difference though for limited use is tough for me to wrap my brain around. I also have a bow mount prototype from a company that got out of the market that works well for another angle that I can attach most any camera too. But it gets to a point where I go "how much is too much". Sorry, I probably took us a bit off track.
This hunt from last spring is one where all of the 2nd angle stuff that I described above worked properly. Lots of angles of birds and the hunter. A couple days later ... most of the 2nd angle stuff was a complete failure.
I have an older GoPro that is at least five years old. Still works great and takes excellent 1080p video. I bought a battery replacement cord that allows me to attach directly to an aux. battery pack. I get approx. 18 hours of runtime off a cheapo battery pack. Also, I LOVE the 'loop' functionality. Essentially it keeps recording in 20 minute intervals, overwriting itself, so you don't fill up the card. When something cool happens, you hit the button and it 'locks in' the most recent 20 minutes (or 10, 5, 1 whatever you set it to). The combination of an aux battery pack and the loop function allows me to set it up, turn it on, and just let it run. That would be perfect for a second angle cam in the tree.
I have owned GoPros for years and had never given the thought to running them in LOOP Mode. After doing some research online this morning, I am going to try this. This might be way better than dealing with the wifi and remote setup, as I run external batteries most of the time anyways. Great tip man! Thanks!
Just don't forget to hit the button to lock in the action. If you forget, it will get recorded over. I use this for fishing videos. At the end of the day, I don't have to sort through hours of nothing to find the catches.
I've never tried the loop function either. I had pretty much shelf'ed my GoPro because it pisses me off. The wifi seems to be so glitchy with the remote, and the battery life is terrible. I have the adapter to be able to hook it to a portable charger. I use that setup to film my daughter's softball games. I'll have to give the loop feature a try as well.
Dangit....now I want a GoPro....at least the used ones can be had for cheap-ish. Loop mode standard on the 3s and 4s?
I never used loop mode on mine? With a 128gb card, it already cuts the videos into roughly 20 minute chunks so it's pretty easy to find whatever clip I'm using? Plus having all the footage from the entire sit can provide some pretty cool stuff like timelapses of the sit, etc.
I've read the 3's and 4's sometimes do not get along well with cards above 32GB....I guess worst case I have a micro 128 I can use in a PS Radix trailcam and run the thing on movie mode (longest videos possible) LOL
I have found loop mode to be picky about the card. Seems you are right that 32gb cards are best. This is the battery eliminator cord I use. You have to use a skeleton case, but I like that because the audio is sooo much better than the regular sealed case. https://www.amazon.com/Switronix-DV...8594&sr=8-1&keywords=gopro+battery+eliminator
I literally have close to 200 hours of run time on mine this year on the 128 card, no issues at all. I just hate the idea of it looping every 20 min. If somehow that thing gets turned on or you forget to turn it off after the shot it's going to record over your 2nd angle of the shot?
That's very true. I don't mind that risk in fishing videos because I'll catch dozens of fish every time out (hopefully). If I overwrite one it's no biggie. For hunting, an entire season often times comes down to only a few seconds. You sure don't want to mess that up and lose that footage.
So you just let it run and fill up the card? So in 1080 how much record time to you get on a 128 card? I run 64 cards in my Hero 3+ cams right now, but I have never just let one run to test it out.
Pretty cool. But you can do the same thing with a standard mini USB cable and just plug into the side of the camera.
