GoPro/Camera advice

Good morning Justin 

I bought a Gopo 10 and think its great. got the gopro role bar clamp to.

I can sit reach the top start button just before the start line and it just works. 

get to the paddock and down load to my phone. it is so easy 

If your at Gurston pop over and have a look. 

David 

David, I've only used an old original GoPro Hero many years ago and struggled to know whether it was actually recording, is there a light or anything that enables you to know you've actually turned the camera on?

Stu.

I use the remote on the GP9 that shows it recording or not, am guessing the 10 has similar

GoPros have such terrible software in them you're going to get a range of views, and it'll probably just be a case of buy one and see how you get on  

Saying that, I run an 8 with USB power from the car, a 256gb card in it, and it'll record very happily for circa 8 hours. The 8s were rumoured to freeze every now and then, and mine has done that on occasion. Although not for a while now. Removing the battery and putting it back in resets it. The 9s were supposed to be total rubbish, and the 10s have various reported problems. I'm hoping club video expert Mr Martin drops into this thread for comment - he has a lot of GoPro experience!

All through-the-windscreen views here (track days a good example) are filmed with the GoPro 8 (and an external, Lavalier, mic under the dash to get better sound). 
 

Sorry that might not help you with a decision though!

--Mark

I have had a few over the years and currently have a 9. As mph says above, the software has always let GoPro down I feel. The app control is clunky and slow, but generally i've never had any issues. The camera saves longer videos in ~8 minute chunks in separate files, so even if you're doing a single take of something (a trackday stint for example), there's still wok to be done afterwards stitching them together.

I believe GoPro now do a charge-through battery door, but I bought a chinese brand one which enables me to keep the battery door closed and still have it plugged in to power. You can run the camera like this sans battery, but I leave it in, just in case the cable is knocked out etc.

I realise now I don't have any of my recent footage on YouTube, so maybe i'll upload that after work and post a link for you to see the camera in action.

Hi Justin,

I have a 9 with the Media Mod to use external usb power and microphone. Without an external microphone the wind noise causes a lot of clipping

I also have the 256Gb card to can record 8 hour in 4K.

Mine occasionally locks up requiring a battery out reset which requires taking the camera out of the media mod.

9 has a front display and flashing LED to let you know its recording.  

The Insta 360 is a similar price and has a front and back camera which the software stitches together for you.

If you use a usb power supply from the car you do get issues with control from your phone. The noise generated by the switch mode power supply in the 12 volt to USB converter interferes with the GoPro Wifi connection.

When they work they are great. I've lost a few recording to it recording in time lapse.

For editing I use Davinci Resolve. The amateur version is free and very powerful.

Here is a short 2 minute example Burton Dasset Hills

Regards

DerekH

Derek, I just learned of DaVinci Resolve this week (maybe late to the party). Did you find it easy enough to get used to working with?

Justin,

As discussed at the weekend, both Tom and I are using GoPro Hero4 blacks.

We only ever record at 720p, but at 60fps. 720p still looks great on a 40" TV, but keeps file sizes (so download times) more manageable.

We're using GoPro Smart remotes for remote control.

In my opinion, using a remote microphone is an essential feature. We both use a cheap stereo microphone, but mounted under the dash to pick up engine sound without being drowned out by wind noise (I find that the sound is often almost as useful as the vision)

I've found that battery life is inadequate for a days competition (particularly if you forget to turn it off [including WIFI] between runs). I normally charge the camera between runs from a USB socket I have under the dash.

I find watching video from many of the current crop of GoPros irritates me, where it looks like the camera is mounted on a swinging bracket. I find it difficult to concentrate on watching what is going on. I suspect it can be disabled in image stabilisation settings.

As you've seen from my clips, I use a narrow angle of view so that I can see enough of the sides of the track, but no more than I actually need to see.

I now only use either standard Iphone software on the phone, or GoPro Player, to trim individual clips.

Oh, at 720p 60fps, dual driving, a 32gb card is big enough for half a season of hillclimbs.