Go Pro ?s

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
02/06/2014 at 15:53 • Filed to: None

I've decided to buy a Go Pro, but I have some questions.

What does anyone recommend for a memory card? Capacity I figure I'll get 32 or 64gb, but does anyone thing I need a name brand card or will I be okay if !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ? Prices for off brand cards are less than half that of a Samsung, for example.

Suction cup mount: safest buying the Go Pro brand mount? I don't mind paying more for this since it is holding my $200 camcorder on, but the cheap !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Also, microphone. Suggestions? I am probably going to wait a while before ordering one, but might as well ask here

Thanks bros (and bro-ettes)!

EDIT: Thanks for the advice. Ordered a Go Pro with the official suction cup mount, a sandisk card, and extra batteries. Expect a few driving videos next week, and video from my biplane when winter ends!

DISCUSSION (15)

HammerheadFistpunch > Jayhawk Jake
02/06/2014 at 15:55

Memory card : sandisk sandisk or sandisk. Seriously, dont cheap out.

Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin > Jayhawk Jake
02/06/2014 at 15:56

I tend to stay away from sketchy ebay SD cards. A 32GB from sandisk should only be about $30. I have a GoPro suction mount, and the thing is damn near indestructible. I'd recommend it any day. That being said, I have no experience with the cheap ones. I also have no desire to subject my camera to any more abuse than necessary.

Don't bother with a microphone.

FNKSS > Jayhawk Jake
02/06/2014 at 15:56

I picked up a 32GB from amazon for 20ish.

its just 8 dollar different. Be safe.

Victorious Secret > Jayhawk Jake
02/06/2014 at 15:57

Get a class 10 card off Amazon. Brand is a wash (personally, unless you're being paid as a professional, you can afford dodgy memory that has a higher chance of failing) But if you want a brand name, Sandisk or...Lexar. Or Sandisk. Or Lexar. You get the idea.

The GoPro mount is beefy. Takes extreme stupidity to break it. If anything, I'd recommend going UP into vacuum suction mounts.

Get a deadcat for the built in mic, it will help. I can't recommend any other setups as all of mine are DSLR sized but what I use is a Rode Videomic with a deadcat and a Zoom H4N to record audio separately.

Drsweetdik > Jayhawk Jake
02/06/2014 at 15:58

Built in microphone may be better than you think. Don't rush into buying one until you have used the built in one.

Casper > Jayhawk Jake
02/06/2014 at 16:00

It depends if you get a 2 or 3. They have different limits. Honestly both 32 and 64 hold plenty, but I go for the max of the camera so that battery is the limiter not card (they aren't that expensive). Buy a good quality card, the cheapos die or are defective a lot, and rarely are the speed they say they are. Get a class 10+ name brand card and you should be fine. I bought this one last time.

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The suction cup from Go Pro is really well made. I have had it fall off before at 100MPH+, but the camera was fine. From then on I tethered it or used ductape to backup the suction cup if I was worried. The bigger problem from the cheap ones is they wobble a lot.

If you are getting a hero 3 or above, then there are a lot of options. One that I have been planning to get (just haven't ordered it yet) is this one . It sounds like it works reasonably well for cheap and I was going to get this to run through the edge of the case.

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KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Jayhawk Jake
02/06/2014 at 16:01

Get extra batteries. You will eat them up recording.

That being said, I'm going to go order some extra batteries for myself then.

Also, get the suction mount. Keep your speed under 250km/h, and you will be fine.

I've posted some footage on vimeo from my track days, so you can get some ideas of mount points, etc.

505 - morphine not found > Jayhawk Jake
02/06/2014 at 16:07

The main point to look out with memory cards is their write/read speed. No they're not equal, and recording video takes a fast card, so don't just buy the cheapest one, look at the specs too. 40Mb/sec sounds good to me, but i might be wrong about the level to aim at. Brand is less of an issue, especially if you're not going to daily use the card professionally.

As per locating your camera goes, GoPros' own suction cup mount is good, but i would check out this place: RAM mounts You have to pick the parts that fit your purpose best, but the thing is, you have much more freedom placing, and pointing the camera with their magic-arm-on-a-ball design, than with the one GoPro offers.

Jayhawk Jake > Drsweetdik
02/06/2014 at 16:10

Yeah, that was more or less what I was trying to say in the post. I'm buying the Go Pro, memory card, and suction cup now, mic might come later.

I'll also probably pick up extra stick on mounts for my RC plane

Jayhawk Jake > FNKSS
02/06/2014 at 16:11

I was looking at a sandisk for $25. Utlimately no, the $12 difference isn't much, but I figured I'd ask and save myself a few bucks

Slow4o > Jayhawk Jake
02/06/2014 at 16:11

I'm interested to what people suggest for microphones for the Hero2, because I would love to route the mic to my back bumper to pick up some exhaust to go with the wind noise during track days.

It's a "Porch-uh" > Jayhawk Jake
02/06/2014 at 16:23

I have a bunch of these I use for work.

Get a class 8 or 10 SD card. They need to be able to handle the data throughput. I've been happy with Sandisk and I don't think they're "that much" (though it's not my money). 32GB usually gets me through a day with room to spare, but I have a pile of spares just in case.

Never tried a "bargain" suction cup mount, since the GoPro versions aren't that expensive IMO. I've stuck these on cars doing 180mph and trucks bounding over hills. Haven't lost one yet. Worst thing to happen is I didn't tighten the connection to the camera enough (should have used a screwdriver) and it flopped around in the corners.

Haven't used an external mic with these, but researching one now.

Drsweetdik > Jayhawk Jake
02/06/2014 at 16:25

Have a ball with this thing!

ITA Hondaboy > Jayhawk Jake
02/06/2014 at 16:53

I bought a gopro 2 when it was just released. At that point, GoPro used to be really picky about memory cards. They said in nicer words, we test and advise you to use Kingston cards or well, good luck. That may have changed, just what I knew from about 3 or 4 years ago now. I bought a 16GB card back then, and I have yet to fill the card (probably had a couple hours continuous, when I was in a chumpcar race). I've run out of battery before the card got full, but I also usually shoot at 720p. Anything higher res, I just get to see my mistakes in more clearly (it's usually over the shoulder in the racecar).

JasonStern911 > Jayhawk Jake
02/07/2014 at 00:37

for what it's worth - the cheap eBay suction cup mounts work great if you plan on mounting the camera inside your car, but I wouldn't trust them if you plan on mounting them the outside of the car.