GoPro HERO 3
Your are right Cords but it is more complicated than any other camera I’ve used.
It’s the “few times” part that negates simplicity.
If a 10yo kid can’t use a GoPro it’s complicated. 5yo have no problem using other camera systems.
Comments I’ve heard a plenty;
From the mouths of babes; “this camera is stupid, you can’t even see the photo I just took”. “Where is the screen?”
From the mouths of adult users; “I’ve been using GoPro for long enough to have gotten used to the menu navigation, I have a degree in GoPro.” (written with a smiley).
Indeed with the hours and days it takes to learn and get used to navigating GoPro menus owners need a course in how to use it.
With the purchase of a few hundred dollars of accessories it becomes more simple.
Paying close to $1000 for a simple camera is exactly what GoPro aim to get from customers.
Not my experience at all. The mode button works the same way it does on a digital wristwatch, or a stopwatch.
Can’t think of what you would spend money on that would add up to 1k that would make operation of the camera any simpler than described in my previous post. It is no more difficult to operate a gopro than it is a watch or a stopwatch. It is a point and shoot camera.
Of course, I accept fully that GoPro cleverly market additional products such as bacpacs and wifi remotes etc as if you might ‘need’ them and that there are always going to be goons with more money than sense who believe it and buy it (iproducts, anyone?), or are just people with decent disposable incomes who like having toys….but none of those products are needed in order to make gopro any simpler to operate. That is just people choosing (or being naive enough to be easily swindled) into make things far more complicated than they need be.
You choose your mode, you point and you shoot. Can’t get any simpler than this stopwatch style operation. (mode button and start/stop button)
you need a screen if you are filming anything but POV with it. you can argue you don’t but if you are going to put footage up for people to watch I’d argue that you do. Every second clip put up has the rider half in screen or going in and out constantly. I am guilty of that as well but its pretty hard to film if you can’t see what you are filming. Gopro gets a fail on the lack of inbuilt screen for sure.
Have you used one with the iPhone/android app Crackers?
From my very limited experience with POV cams, I agree it’s hard to know what you’re filming, but I’m hoping the live view on the app will help.
I often hear people complaining about battery life, hence my asking about the backpac. I may also look at the Wasabi batteries.
I reckon that even with a screen, you have to be able to ride and watch the screen at the same time as watching what’s goin on around you!!!!!
Some people have a certain gift when it comes to this, and I’m definitely not one of them!!!!!
Screen or no screen, if I’m filmin a movin object at the same time as I’m movin, it’s gonna suck!!!!!
Ohh, and I’m with cords on this!!!!!
The GoPro is no harder to work out than any other electronic gear on todays market!!!!!
The only add ons ya might want, is a spare battery and maybe a different mount or two depending on what ya want to do with it!!!!!
Plus a bag to keep it all in!!!!!
^ You do alright mate 
it only gets confusing when you use protune on the go-pro otherwise its just as hard to use as any other electronic device coming out of 2013.
you need a screen if you are filming anything but POV with it. you can argue you don’t but if you are going to put footage up for people to watch I’d argue that you do.
Agreed…but GoPro is a POV camera. As is the drift, the sony and the contour. POV is what they are sposed to be used for. IF people want to use it as something else, then that is using it for something it isn’t designed for so it makes sense that it would then become a bit more complicated & require some additional hardware and investment.
I would argue that you can put a clip up for people to watch that is filmed entirely on GoPro from a variety of POV angles that is interesting and worth watching.
A mix of clips of headcam, filming yourself on a pole from in front, filming yourself on a pole from behind and filming others with follow cam or stationary with poles, as well as set up stationary and moving lifestyle shots can easily be interesting enough to hold people’s attention - most definitely.
Most people don’t use a variety of angles and filming methods though so in that sense I do agree with you. But that is not the fault of the GoPro product.
As far as my knowledge of Mizu and Cords go, neither have used another brand of ActionCam and choose GoPro because it works for them and they have earned a “degree” in it’s use.
Which is great! they’ve paid their dues and chosen the brand they like. I support you both in your choice and have done what I can to ensure the best price is available to you. Even if your on the other side of the world.
My watch is a PITA to use, it’s an advanced watch worth a considerable amount of money but still a pain.
I’m pretty good at not needing a viewfinder, been acclaimed for my work doing just that for 10years.
Recently I attempted the same with GPH3B on an important pro shoot for a client who insisted I use GoPro. Couldn’t use the app due to lag. I used Drift to practice the angles and positioning and did some practice takes with Drift and got them spot on due to the screen and being able to angle the lens, on both practice runs - perfect.
When it came to using GPH3 I shot for 30mins doing 6 takes - not one of them got the shot right, only one was close to the Drift framing but it missed critical parts of the landscape, I had to reshoot but insisted to the client I reshoot without a GoPro next time.
Even with a lcd bacpac on I wouldn’t have gotten the angles due to not being able to see the screen for the position of the camera.
The worst part was not being able to check the footage until I was back at the car with my computer, by then the light was gone.
With GoPro you just don’t know!
When the client got the footage they were not happy with the results of GPH3B set on Protune shot .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). It lacked intensity of lighting.
You might also want antifog strips and a microSD card/s (or one big one if you don’t dump you footage regularly) - you know, maybe!!!!! :sarcasm smiley:
fogstrips $15
32gb sdcard $85
battery bacpac $60
gph3b $450
lcd bacpac $120
rollbar mount $40
suctioncup mount $40
Chest harness $60
Total = $970
(priced -10%)
Even Drift can be difficult to navigate at times but it’s a hell of a lot easier than a watch or GoPro!
GoPro was strictly designed as a wrist mounted camera not a POV cam.
I’ve been arguing it’s been used outside of it’s intended designed as a POV for many years.
Black is designed to be used on professional productions, productions that can get the same angles with much better quality hardware.
My most recent gripe about GoPro is you can’t delete individual clips!
So you might want to purchase a few extra memory cards incase you hit record when not needed and end up with a full card.
A function that all other camera’s have.
I’ve met too many people with full cards that can’t retrive any files.
Maybe you should get an Analogue Watch then????? Like the Clock in this pic!!!!!
Am I the only that thinks the vast majority (maybe with the exception of those nutso mountain bikers doing those street runs in Sth America - and only then does it work because they are following someone) of POV footage sucks a ss and is terrible to watch?
I personally hate POV Helmet/Chest/Board View footage!!!!! Pole Footage is what I like best, unless its an experienced Follow, or a stationary cam (non-sportscam any brand)!!!!! That’s me!!!!!
Everyone is different, and as I’ve said thousands of times on here, Beauty is in the a eye of The Beholder!!!!!
Each to their own when it comes to what style they prefer!!!!!