Hi guys -

I'm just looking at buying a gopro or similar ,

ive come across gopro hero 3 + roughly 300 2nd hand 500 in the shop top model gopro 600 plus in shops and less famous brands new for 150 new ... main uses are windsurfing , surfing , diving and sailing

can you share your advice and experiences...

thanks!!

Do you have a budget?

I think these are the x2 best models on the market at the moment both with 4K ...
store.sony.com.au/
shop.gopro.com/APAC/cameras/hero4-black/CHDHX-401-master.html

Try googling or ozbargain for the best prices, and also search for some reviews. The GoPro does not have image stabilisation so you'll need software to process & stabilise your video for best results.

Also keep in mind that for 4K recording you'll need to buy a fast memory card which is not cheap .. allow about $60-70 min for 64Gb.

Results from the Sony FDR-X1000V to be posted soon :)

I am far from the expert, but I can't see any real difference from the 3+ onwards. Seems a bit like the continual new tablet or phone models that do exactly the same sh!it but with 1% more capability to suit the top 1% of hardcore enthusiasts.... but all the normal peeps buy one cos it is the 'must have'.

If it shoots full HD who cares about the other features, dunno if anyone truly needs the wireless control etc
Gets 3hrs video on a card so no need to turn it on and off.

I seriously doubt 99% of people could tell the difference with well composed video on a Hero3+

I'd go the older one.

My sd card is going to cost more than the camera.

I have a balck 3+ my bro has a black 4.
black 4 is so much better, super smooth slo mo, gets better lighting and is far more crisp. Sure they look similar on paper but in actual practical use the 4 beats it hands down.
go new too if you can, i had problems with my buttons sticking and warranty dealt with that.

Thanks guys,

very true , much of a non expert myself . When I read the specs it's all very foreign to me . Just needs to be good quality for some shots along the way.....

Kogan have them for 149 ! Or maybe even a hero 2...wasn't gonna spend 500-600....

I highly recommend getting this, High performace, and Great FPS for those Slow Mo ‘Airs’... www.kogan.com/au/shop/cameras/action-cameras/
You can also attach it to a helmet for those looking for more style out on the water.

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william said..
Thanks guys,

very true , much of a non expert myself . When I read the specs it's all very foreign to me . Just needs to be good quality for some shots along the way.....

Kogan have them for 149 ! Or maybe even a hero 2...wasn't gonna spend 500-600....

Kogan is legit. Go whatever your budget is happy with. the go pro 2 can get some ripper shots.
Biggest thing is just to keep water off the lens

Haha just ordered that 49 dollar one , see how that goes can always get something else if no good.....

will try post some footage if possible , abrolhos adventure coming up !!

before you look at all the options available, you need to decide what you want to do and what you have
do you want to spend time editing your videos ?? need good computer and perhaps some software
do you want SLO MO, then need to look at camera options
are you ever going to NEED more than 720p ?? youtube is fine with 720
if your SD is big enough, who needs wireless??
i bought a GoPro 1.0 -- there was a 1.1 also ie got first model and it was NOT expensive and does what i want ...
i use it for self-improvement


as long as it is waterproof, has different supports for different perspectives and can be manipulated without opening the case
one can have a lot of fun with LESS

here is an analysis I did a while back when I was looking for a waterproof camera to play with:
joewindsurfer.blogspot.com/2012/12/gopro-hero.html

^^^ Amazing I said the same and got redthumbed
tough crowd.

If you got the $49 one it seems you have to just be really careful about making sure it is sealed well every time

I'm with Mark and Joe on this one. I'm still using my original GoPro 1, and I am perfectly happy with the results. Keep in mind that when you post movies to Youtube or Vimeo, they reduce the quality to minimize file sizes. Sometimes, that's barely noticeable; at other times, the loss is quality is quite big. If you start with a higher definition, the end result on Youtube will also have higher quality.

The only time when I started to think about getting a newer model was when I saw what the slow motion movies from the newer models look like. Here's an example:

For all the ozbargainers, here is a 1080p for $29 ...
www.ozbargain.com.au/node/189383

Or the direct link ...
www.officeworks.com.au/

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pirrad said..
My sd card is going to cost more than the camera.

I've got one of those gathering dust. The audio goes out of sync with the video over time, possibly due to dropped video frames.

They're good for a laugh but don't expect to be happy with the quality.

This vid was taken last week with an old GoPro2..

I've noticed a big difference between 1 and 2 but not much improvement after 2..

You get what you pay for.
the Kogan is 720p @ 30fps on a 1.3mpixel sensor. Not "full HD" in any way and they dug up the sensors with a batch of dinosaur fossils. Although rated IPX8. They give no details. Has to be 30mins of submersion to get the rating, but the manufacturer has to specify the depth. In this case they don't, so it could be 5cm for all I know.
As for the office works one. Claims 1080p but no specs to back it up on either the camera or housing. 5mp sensor claim is probably interpolated.
At $28, buy at least two as they are clearance stock.
go with known brands. They offer good optics, quality sensors and a range of mounting options. It's the size of the sensor, not the megapixels that will win they day.