Camera time

[papak]

Hitting Santa up for a car cam. GoPro or alternatives?

[sf4018]

I purchased a Black 8 a few months ago and it’s not been great, it works like a product that was pushed out before it was ready. A YI is a quarter of the price of a GoPro, worth a look. If you do track days and want to blow some major $ check out Aim Smartycam.

[Croc]

Forget GoPro. Their products are expensive and you have to buy all their special proprietary peripherals to make the package work. Absolute bear to get external mic and live power feature working in a car.

 

Yi camera is highly regarded. Lots of people have been positive on that one.

 

 

Sony action cameras are really susceptible to rolling shutter effects in a car - no idea why but I love them otherwise. Great quality.

 

 

I am using a Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 and find it easy to use and intuitive. GoPro level pricing but I prefer it. It does overlays and GPS stuff. The app to put it all together is very easy - even numpty me can turn one out. External mic is a bit goofy - you need a bulky attachment but it all works well. Sample with external mic:

 

 

 

Overlays are all done by the camera sensors then processed via the Garmin editing software to be overlaid. Quite easy to do.

 

It handles dark/light contrast quite well in the following video. This one is using the regular internal mic - not external - so you hear the wind noise more.

 

 

 

 

 

DJI Osmo Action is highly rated these days. I have one as my second camera and find it easy to use. Reasonable price. Easy enough to edit. No overlays or sexy stuff like that. Easy for external mic. Editing software is useless - use something else than the DJI stuff.

 

A comparison of the DJI footage quality in 3 different settings is here at post 49

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?8791-Getting-decent-video-audio-on-your-Seven&p=113548#post113548

[JohnCh]

After consuming several hours of Croc's video consulting time earlier this year, I eventually opted for the DJI. I didn't need the overlays of the Garmin (that's a very cool feature for track videos), preferred the DJI's less bulky setup for an external microphone, and liked the second screen on the front of the camera to help positioning from the driver's seat. No regrets.

 

-John

[searya]

Another option is to use your phone. I use my iPhone XR and Harry’s lap timer app and the video turns out nice even using the front facing selfie lens. The app also integrates with go pros and additional iPhones allowing for alternate angles or pip.