mark kibort

I found a way to get a little higher bit rate with the media maker when i edited the video to make a shorter clip. this is at 2Mb/second vs the 1Mbw/sec that Media Maker usually leaves you with. The raw video from the camera is 4Mb/second. (average data rate of VBR DVD encoding)

http://vimeo.com/927003

Bill Ball

That is excellent video quality.

kshipp

Beware, this "looks" great on paper, but it's nearly IMPOSSIBLE to get it record video!!!! I've had mine for several MONTHS and still can't get it to record more than 5 SECONDS! It's a piece of CRAP. First, they require you to use specific rechargable batteries ONLY.... I've tried all brands.
I love the idea and the suction cup mount is solid as a rock....but the camera is CRAP!
Sorry to rain on your parade Mark, you must have gotten the 1 out of 1,000 working cameras.....

If anyone has any suggestions on a camera that WORKS, I'm all ears. I'd love to be recording our PCA fun runs, but this camera will NOT work....

Fabio421

Would the mount and case fit another digital camera or is it pretty specific to that one? I was looking forward to buying one of these cameras but I guess I'll hold off.

mark kibort

It works just fine, however, you like many users are not using the right batteries and this is your problem. I have several of the cameras and all work fine. you need to use the rechargeable lithium batteries, or if you want one use, use the standard lithium. standard copper top duracells only work for about 5-15min from my experience. The reason, is that a camera with this kind of current draw, needs a battery with a lower voltage drop, and lithium is your only real solution.

shame on go pro for not being more clear about the batteries.

see my videos to see what they can do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4wFVDm3uxM

or lesser quality due to encoding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGCPvtXCn_8
MK

Charley B

How can you look at this video and not know that this is one hell of a product for the price and ease of use?

http://vimeo.com/927003

If you don't get this quality of recording for 55 minutes per disk, there are three possibilities.
1. You don't have a good 2GB card.
2. You don't have the right batteries.
3. You have the first bad GoPro Hero I've heard of.

kshipp

Sorry, Mark, but you are incorrect. Please don't make assumptions. It is NOT my choice of batteries!!! I've tried them all - YES, I've tried the Lithium rechargeables. It's NOT the batteries. They are fully charged. YES, I've tried several brands - Rayovac, Energizer, etc. NO GO. It only records video for about 5 seconds and shuts off.

Fabio - yes, it's a nice package of accessories and mounting unit. The case is waterproof as well. Very rugged, but to my knowledge it is custom for this tiny camera.....unfortunately.

Charley - I understand your frustration. Yes, ON PAPER, it's one helluva product. But the one I have is CRAP. YES, I have a good 2GB card. YES, I have tried every battery under our sun.

kshipp

I'll be returning this either for a refund or a product that actually works. I have nothing personally against Hero products, I'm just very frustrated that I've spent several months trying batteries and SD cards trying to get this crap to work. Maybe I can get a camera that works next time...

v-tach

have u tried the aiptek hd video camera's - a bunch of us from rennlist have used this and very happy with the results. it takes a slight modifaction to the power cord but worth the effort. if u do a search -- plenty of write ups !
good luck!
v-tach

928SS

also a growing number of other sport cameras to choose from. I'm thinking of just permanently mounting one in my car so I'll be able to do major CYA in the event anything goes wrong/something wierd happens in front of me. bout the only way to beat a ticket too, assuming one isn't guilty of course.

maybe you just got a bad camera? try swapping it for another 1st and see what happens maybe?

mark kibort

Im only assuming due to the experiences ive heard of that might be the cause of your frustration. Certainly, you could have a bad camera. I had one that was flakey, and it was returned with a good one quickly.

Here is something. are you sure you have the settings correctly? there is a setting that only records video for a few seconds . Do you have the time out setting set to "off"?

mk

kshipp

Yes, I have the timeout setting to OFF. But again, I'm only getting about 5 "SECONDS" of video, not 5 "minutes". I'm certainly returning it.....I'll give them another chance.

V-tach - thanks for the suggestion. I'll check it out.

I don't yet do any Autocross SCCA events, but our spirited drives can be VERY spirited. I really had wished I had recorded those from this year. They would have made fantastic videos.

mark kibort

5 seconds! wow, missed that you have a bad camera.

send it back. you will get one that works, im sure.


mk

RicerSchnitzzle

For $169 bucks you can't go wrong. Mark's got a great price.

My wife just started carrying them at the PepBoys she manages. Got one coming in my x-mas stocking for sure. They're $30 more at PB... Good thing she gets a discount.

kshipp

Ok, I finally got a new Hero to try while the other one was being fixed. This unit works better, although they are still very picky about the battery voltage - sometimes it records an hour, sometimes 40 minutes, etc, etc. Sometimes it's very pixelated, sometimes relatively clear. The sound is disappointing - I've heard it's good to set it to HI and then put tape over it?

Anyway, here are three (boring) video clips from a recent Ozark region PCA fun run. I mounted the Hero on the inside windshield. The first clip had the mic on HI, the others were set to LO. The drive was boring, since most of it was highway with traffic getting in our way. Will have to wait till Spring to get more spirited drives recorded...

Clip 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JYBGYmHORo

Clip 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-sDzsD1X9I

Clip 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wwimo5E78g