Go Pro

[Roy54]

Hi everybody, I've been thinking of getting a go pro style camera, but swallowed my own bollocks when I saw the price of them. So my question is does anyone have a cheaper version that they can recommend, or should I go and sell the wife and get a proper Go pro.

[Roy54]

Dom has a Go Pro but also has some cheaper models too to stick on the boat. Will try and find out what they are. He is away sailing at mo though so may be a few days.

[ChrisParish]

They are expensive, but honestly nothing really compares. I have had a few cheaper ones which were ok but can’t hold a candle to the GoPro.

[Roy54]

I, ve been doing some research @ChrisParish and from what I've read the make of lens and processor are the key factors. You can buy "lesser" cameras that use the same as the go pro but at half the price. However the reviews I have found still seem to always use the go pro as the benchmark. As I will be using it on the boat, I would like it to be waterproof, without having to bugger about putting it in a case. Have you found any issues with moisture getting into the cheaper versions.

[De Zappa]

I am a happy GoPro 5 user, with the new 8 maybe you can find earlier models which perform still outstanding.
As with sibs it’s not only the GoPro itself which determins the price but the accessories...

Just in case, I experiented a lot mounting the GoPro on the boat. The best result for me is mounting the camera on top of a stainless steel 30mm tube mounted on the transom. The very best result is combined with a gimbal. The Feiyu G6 is waterresistant but the wireless connections with the camera is poor.

I don’t have any experience with other brands but would go for a GoPro again when it breaks down.

[De Zappa]

This is the set up. (Without gimbal) I secured the camera with a wristwrap, you never know...

[Andy]

I recently bought a cheap China 4k camera, (aint used it yet) but it is supposed to have gimble, anti shake tech built in plus allot of the stuff the expensive ones have, and from memory I think it was about £25.

Of course, while not reccomending anyone do this (lol) is buy one from ebay, use it that weekend, and if its crap say it arrived damaged, when youlll be able to print off a free return label, send it back for free, and get all ya dosh back !

[ChrisParish]

I have had a £25 camera which was supposed to be great and while it was not bad at all what really let it down was its inability to handle changes in lighting (look south and then look north - the change brought on by the sun is supprising)

The thing which makes the biggest difference to the quality of boatborne footage is a gimble. Many cameras claim they have anti shake or built in stabilisation and, with the possible exception of the new GoPro 8, it’s just not good enough on a boat. I have had the FeiyuTech G2 and I have recently got a G6 and they are fantastic - the footage is just buttery smooth.

I would look to get a secondhand GoPro 5/6 and a gimble for the same price as a new GoPro.

I honestly think that if you buy the lesser cameras and you find you enjoy making videos then you will wind up buying the GoPro eventually.

[De Zappa]

Hi ChrisParish, do you use the gimbal handheld or mounted? If not handheld, where and how do you mount it? I only used my Feiyu G6 mounted on the stainless tube (gimbal not on the picture) but the weight made it point downwards after a minute. I’m planning to use it with two mounting brackets in stead of one, hope it helps.

[Martin]

I’ve had two cheaper cameras and tbh both were a bit crap, bought a gooro 3 silver plus a good few years ago and it was miles better than the cheap crap.
I now have the 7 black and all I can say so far is wow!