Hello Everyone!!
I recently picked up the Hero 3:Black. I figure if i'm gonna drop $300, why not drop $400. and I HAD to get the most expensive one.
I like to try out the cheaper stuff too, I was the only person in my school with a Zune haha. I bought a Swann Freestyle off woot.com, for $119 last fall. It surprisingly took very nice pics and video. Night time video was half decent aswell. however a crappy mic and no external mic input made me
Anyways, I'll just give a quick review and post some mounts that i've made, and I encourage others to post what they've made and also what you've done for sound that worked, or didn't.
GoPro Hero 3:Black-Review
Pros:
-Tiny, This thing is so fricken small.
(see below pic)
-Gopro Wi-Fi app enables you to turn on, turn off, take pics, videos, check settings, even have a full screen, real time preview on your phone.This works from one end of my house to the other. Brick house, plaster walls. Signal went through 6 walls and about 50 feet away.
-They take really great pictures, buy a mini tripod and use the remote.
-External mic* Unfortunately, you have to buy Gopro's proprietary mini USB-to-3.5mm Stereo plug, for an astonishing $20. I ordered a generic one from hong kong for $4. I'll keep you posted if the cheap one works.
-Accessories are everywhere.
-170 degree lens. if you understand degrees, this is tits!!
-$400 kit comes with a wi-fi remote. (normally $80)
-Shoots in 1440p
Cons:
-I've heard the recent gopro update 'bricks' the device and needs to have the battery removed and put back in, mine has acted goofy on random occasions, but a quick battery removal fixes it.
-Spendy, haha
-Nowhere to tether a wrist strap on the camera
-Battery life is short, plus the wi-fi eats up power too. Wi-fi can however be turned off and on, WHILE in the waterproof case. (ie. Turn wifi on to position camera, change settings, start recording. then simply press button, wait for series of blue flashes to turn wifi off)
..On to some pics!!
-Took some 1.75" conduit, cut it about 7" long (3" longer than passenger foot peg)
-Drilled two 1/4" holes connected them with the buzz saw to make a channel for the camera to rotate front-to-back
-Drilled two 3/8" holes and welded nuts on the pipe to secure pipe to foot peg.
-Took flat stock and welded a 'half-moon' to it to secure the camera at the right angle.
-Primed and painted gloss black
I'll probably end up making a shorter one, as you can't lean too far with this one.
*Galvanized coating needs to be ground off to weld, Don't breath in welding fumes from galvanized coating!! I had a fan and a vent blowing air away from me.
I'll post some more videos and audio things i've tried out. when it gets warm.
Also gonna pick one of these up, use a gopro flat mount and do some time lapse pictures/video.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30066725/