GoPro Hero3 Black Edition

[surlynkid]

Is anybody using this that can provide any feedback? I didn't see much in this section of the forum. I have the AiM Solo DL and need to add a GoPro. REI has a member only 20% off one item this upcoming week, and they have this:

http://www.rei.com/product/849164/go...gle-helmet-cam

If I can get 20% off and free shipping, that is about as good a deal as I see out there, even with the sales tax I will pay. Then I just need a headrest support rod to mount it and am good to go.

Also, if you use this camera, what size cards are you using to get through a day of tracking (100 minutes) at the highest resolution? I wished it used CF cards as I have a ton of those in 600x speed for my DSLR's.

[mid-corner fun]

I use a 32GB SD card, fits 2 days worth of GoPro recordings with no prob. 16GB is ok too if you're putting in less than 2hrs/day.

Whether you want the highest resolution or not is a different story, I'd do some research on the wide-angle modes and frame rates available for each resolution, it varies per GoPro model.

e.g. I care about frame rate more than resolution so I use 720p/60fps with the medium wide-angle setting.

[yandy]

I use it, video's great, but buy extra batteries, battery pack, or keep it plugged in with their adapter for USB and mic.

The battery life sucks, allot worse than the Hero2, I get maybe one 30 minute session on 1080p before it needs a charge.

[surlynkid]

Originally Posted by mid-corner fun

I use a 32GB SD card, fits 2 days worth of GoPro recordings with no prob. 16GB is ok too if you're putting in less than 2hrs/day.

Whether you want the highest resolution or not is a different story, I'd do some research on the wide-angle modes and frame rates available for each resolution, it varies per GoPro model.

e.g. I care about frame rate more than resolution so I use 720p/60fps with the medium wide-angle setting.

the new one will do 1080p at 60 fps or 720p at 120 fps. they really beefed it up. it will need a bigger card compared to you at those resolutions and fps though.

[mid-corner fun]

Originally Posted by surlynkid

the new one will do 1080p at 60 fps or 720p at 120 fps. they really beefed it up. it will need a bigger card compared to you at those resolutions and fps though.

yeah that's why I said 32GB, the frame rate doubled in the new version. Protune makes a big difference too, filesize-wise. Some modes support it, some don't.

Realistically you're safe with either 32 or 64GB, and if you're only talking about 100mins/day then it shouldn't matter, each 20min session should be 1-3gb, 15gb total for the day.

[surlynkid]

Originally Posted by mid-corner fun

yeah that's why I said 32GB, the frame rate doubled in the new version. Protune makes a big difference too, filesize-wise. Some modes support it, some don't.

Realistically you're safe with either 32 or 64GB, and if you're only talking about 100mins/day then it shouldn't matter, each 20min session should be 1-3gb, 15gb total for the day.

my wife and i both drive in different groups, so i will just go with two cards.

[Richard@M-World]

It's awesome to have a wife who tracks with you. All the mod expenses are split in half

Your Solo DL is shipping out today. Enjoy in good health!

[TurboBimmer]

The cam itself is great, but battery life really sucks. Add spare batteries or a battery bacpack to the shopping list.

[surlynkid]

Originally Posted by Richard@M-World

It's awesome to have a wife who tracks with you. All the mod expenses are split in half

Your Solo DL is shipping out today. Enjoy in good health!

Or doubled depending how you look at it, but I am still happy.

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by Autobahn335i

The cam itself is great, but battery life really sucks. Add spare batteries or a battery bacpack to the shopping list.

+1 on buying extra batteries.

Also bring a couple SD cars and make sure they are cleared out before your track day.

[mid-corner fun]

Or....get an external battery charger for $40 and stop worrying about lugging extra batteries for any of your devices


http://www.amazon.com/EasyAcc-12000m...=IC8HSATGLF61Z

[Sleeper519]

Originally Posted by Richard@M-World

It's awesome to have a wife who tracks with you. All the mod expenses are split in half

Your Solo DL is shipping out today. Enjoy in good health!

...more like the mod expenses are doubled.

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by mid-corner fun

yeah that's why I said 32GB, the frame rate doubled in the new version. Protune makes a big difference too, filesize-wise. Some modes support it, some don't.

Realistically you're safe with either 32 or 64GB, and if you're only talking about 100mins/day then it shouldn't matter, each 20min session should be 1-3gb, 15gb total for the day.

64gb cards will get corrupted by the hero 3. There's a bunch of people talking about it if you search on it. I've had it happen to me 2x now. I thought they would have fixed this issue after the last update, but nope. 32gb cards are fine. I've bought 2 contours because I'm sick of all the gopro issues I've been having (had a hero and hero 2 as well). I've lost good video and audio at 4 track days now because of go pro malfunctions. A lot of people have no issues (and for a long time I didn't either), but worth noting. It's a shame though since the hero 3 probably has the best image quality compared to all the competitors.

[pkimM3r]

There are plenty videos in the track section and video section. I put up a vid not too long ago with a gopro3 on a diy headrest mount with external mic taped to the rear license plate. No aim solo though but i need one now.

[OC3]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

64gb cards will get corrupted by the hero 3. There's a bunch of people talking about it if you search on it. I've had it happen to me 2x now. I thought they would have fixed this issue after the last update, but nope. 32gb cards are fine. I've bought 2 contours because I'm sick of all the gopro issues I've been having (had a hero and hero 2 as well). I've lost good video and audio at 4 track days now because of go pro malfunctions. A lot of people have no issues (and for a long time I didn't either), but worth noting. It's a shame though since the hero 3 probably has the best image quality compared to all the competitors.

I can attest to this. Been running Contour (side window) and GoPro (bumper) for a year and a half and, while Contour never had any problem, GoPro went south more than a few times.

[S65V8]

I was about to buy this H3, then I read all the reviews on poor quality and corrupted files and battery life - so I'm staying away until all those things are resolved in the next year maybe. I recommend just getting the HERO 2 HD for a fraction of the cost. The H3 isn't "leaps and bounds" over the H2 anyways. Some fancy functionality and wireless is mostly it and a little better vid quality.

[Johndong888]

Originally Posted by SROC5

I was about to buy this H3, then I read all the reviews on poor quality and corrupted files and battery life - so I'm staying away until all those things are resolved in the next year maybe. I recommend just getting the HERO 2 HD for a fraction of the cost. The H3 isn't "leaps and bounds" over the H2 anyways. Some fancy functionality and wireless is mostly it and a little better vid quality.

I racked my brains out trying to figure out whether to get a gopro or contour. Eventually I still settled on the gopro, it just looks cooler lol. I picked it up the day of a meet hoping to use it but the mounts are pretty complex so I was like screw it, i'll figure it out at a later time. They gave mea free 16gb sd card small but it's okay based on the battery life I have read.

[IrishCoffee]

Originally Posted by OC3

I can attest to this. Been running Contour (side window) and GoPro (bumper) for a year and a half and, while Contour never had any problem, GoPro went south more than a few times.

Which Contour do you have? The ROAM? How do you attach it to your side window? Suction Cup?

Just curious... you can get a Contour ROAM (not the ROAM2) for $100 on Amazon. Seems like it's good enough for what I want to do.

[ortho281]

Happy to see you decided to go with the Solo DL from Richard. You will really like it. I use the 32GB card with my Hero2 and usually dump vids at lunch to make sure I have enough space. Sometimes I forget to turn off camera and it really eat up the memory. I recently bought another 32 GB card just in case.

[leo95se]

i have the black with a 32gb card. the upside is amazing video. the downside is that it splits videos, and its near impossible to join them, particularly at the higher resolutions. i like to record at 2.7k, but find it useless on my pc
(could be a pc thing, dont know)

a 32gb card will fit 4 20min sessions.

you also cant rely on wmp for video playback, so use an alternative player, like vlc player.

[surlynkid]

Originally Posted by leo95se

i have the black with a 32gb card. the upside is amazing video. the downside is that it splits videos, and its near impossible to join them, particularly at the higher resolutions. i like to record at 2.7k, but find it useless on my pc
(could be a pc thing, dont know)

a 32gb card will fit 4 20min sessions.

you also cant rely on wmp for video playback, so use an alternative player, like vlc player.

I have multiple HTPCs running XBMC on Linux and plenty of playback capability with lots of software. Got that covered. Thanks.

[surlynkid]

Originally Posted by ortho281

Happy to see you decided to go with the Solo DL from Richard. You will really like it. I use the 32GB card with my Hero2 and usually dump vids at lunch to make sure I have enough space. Sometimes I forget to turn off camera and it really eat up the memory. I recently bought another 32 GB card just in case.

you are retired now, so leave all your stuff at my house until the munchkin goes to college.