33 replies to this topic

[Todd Green]

Does anyone have similar problems with their Hero or is it just me?

 

Have a Hero3 Black and don't have any of these issues (though I've only used SanDisk Ultras).  Even if the battery dies I get video.  Have to ask the obvious question, but have you flashed to the latest firmware?  There were issues reported with early versions of the firmware.

 

WRT to FoV, 1080p and 720p support just about any frame rate and FoV I'd imagine a racer wants (at least in the 3's and 4's black).  I don't think that is really an issue for our application (maybe if you do really long enduros).  Personally I like the medium FoV.  It still gets the sides of the car to show overlap, or lack thereof, but doesn't fisheye the snot out of it.  And yes Spot Meter is the first thing you should enable on a GoPro when shooting from inside the car.  The difference is night and day (no pun intended.)

[tynor]

Interesting to hear that others aren't having the same problems I'm having with the Hero3.  I'm running the latest firmware. Haven't let it run out of disk space or battery.  

 

One thing that I am doing that may be unusual: I'm using the very nifty WIFI feature to synch the Hero with my iPhone.  I use the Harry's Lap Timer app on the phone to record low resolution video out the back window and let the Hero record the forward facing view.  The phone app controls the Hero over WIFI so both videos are in perfect synchronization.   I've never had a problem with the phone-side of things -- its video always records properly and has never shut itself off prematurely.  But the Hero has. I wonder if during a race the Hero is sometimes getting a noisy WIFI signal and interpreting it as a shutdown command.  

[larsonracing]

Interesting to hear that others aren't having the same problems I'm having with the Hero3.  I'm running the latest firmware. Haven't let it run out of disk space or battery.  
 
One thing that I am doing that may be unusual: I'm using the very nifty WIFI feature to synch the Hero with my iPhone.  I use the Harry's Lap Timer app on the phone to record low resolution video out the back window and let the Hero record the forward facing view.  The phone app controls the Hero over WIFI so both videos are in perfect synchronization.   I've never had a problem with the phone-side of things -- its video always records properly and has never shut itself off prematurely.  But the Hero has. I wonder if during a race the Hero is sometimes getting a noisy WIFI signal and interpreting it as a shutdown command.

I use the WIFI feature when its hooked on a car or I'm using it on vacation. Very easy way to see a preview of what photos/videos you are going to take.

[Mark]

I have a Hero 3 that I use once in a while when it is not feasible to set up the SmartyCam. I've experienced odd failures with the gopro from time to time. My feeling is that these were caused by overheating. The camera was mounted in a case attached to the windshield by the rear view mirror. Socal temps being what they are it got smoking hot up there and I'm sure the camera being inside a case with no airflow did not help. Relocating the camera solved the issues. No failures since.

 

[larsonracing]

I have a Hero 3 that I use once in a while when it is not feasible to set up the SmartyCam. I've experienced odd failures with the gopro from time to time. My feeling is that these were caused by overheating. The camera was mounted in a case attached to the windshield by the rear view mirror. Socal temps being what they are it got smoking hot up there and I'm sure the camera being inside a case with no airflow did not help. Relocating the camera solved the issues. No failures since.

GoPros tend to heat up easily in different climates like where you are located. I've experienced the same issue once and moved it and it was fine. It's always a learning process with those little things!

[Keith Andrews]

I've been real happy with the Mobius Cam https://www.mobius-actioncam.com/

 

It can be found for roughly $80, I don't know any of the techno geek stuff but it works great and can be controlled by Traqmate in the future.

 

These are wide angle lenses but you can get a normal point of view lens if you prefer.

 

I like the audio from the aft facing camera.  This clip is a little muffled but you can get the idea.  I think the camera had moved a little, it can get roughed up a little back there.

 

 

[tynor]

 

 

 

 

I like the audio from the aft facing camera.  This clip is a little muffled but you can get the idea.  I think the camera had moved a little, it can get roughed up a little back there.

 

 

 

 

Great footage out the rear.   Where did you mount the camera for that clip?

[Keith Andrews]

Great footage out the rear.   Where did you mount the camera for that clip?

 

It is mounted in the trunk looking through the key hole in the bumper cover.

[Danny Steyn]

Over the past 8 years I have played with a LOT of different video cameras including Sony, Nikon, JVC, all versions of GoPro, Mobius and Replay, so I have some experience in this area. I do not have any experience with the Smarty cams as I dont run AIM

For me, the ability to sync with my Traqmate data system outweighs picture quality, but picture quality is vital as we are increasingly becoming way more demanding in what we consider as acceptable video these days. For instance I can no longer watch my old 480SD and 720pHD racing videos from 8 years ago. Even my upscaled 1440HD videos look old. Soon we will only be comfortable watching 4k........

Here are my thoughts on the current generation cameras that I have played with

1. GoPro HERO 4 - this camera provides far and away the best picture clarity and color saturation, even at 1080p, and of course it does shoot 4k as well (the Black version). Its picture quality is so far above Hero 3 and earlier GoPro cameras as well as the other 2 cameras below, but Hero 4 does not have any interface for syncing with data systems. So I use this purely for the B/C/D camera views. Just hate the fact that every version of GoPro has a different menu logic so going from Hero 1 to Hero 2 to Hero 3 to Hero 4 (and yes I still have them all), you have to remember the menu logic for each version. Really dumb move by GoPro IMHO. Also running any of these cameras with Wifi active will deplete the battery really fast so hard wiring with Wifi is a necessity.

2. Replay is a great camera, solidly built, and gives decent picture quality and syncs with most data systems. What is nice about the camera is the ability to get a live view via the micro HDMI feed, but unless you are using the feed then it has no benefit over the Mobius. Because of the the HDMI out it is my preferred camera for security surveillance to a DVR

3. Mobius. Great camera, similar picture quality to the Replay, also syncs easily, very cheap and open source to modify interface. Simple interface to adjust exposure, FOV and more. For $85 it cannot be beat right now. This is what I use for my A camera facing forward. It is a huge leap forward over my old Sony POV pro camera that cost $2,200 back in the day!!! Also note that the Mobius has a loop function so it makes a great security camera, shooting on low res, with a 32GIG card will give you many days of in-camera surveillance that you can then access to review an incident. Some of my machinery customers use them on some of my machines to forensically record "operator incidents" - those mysterious things that operators say to the owner ....... "I arrived this morning and the machine was broken, have no idea how it happened!"

Just wish there was a data sync interface for the Hero 4 Black so we can shoot in 4k and somewhat future proof some of our racing footage, at least for a few years.

[Danny Steyn]

I agree with Keith. I love using a rear facing camera mounted in the rear license plate area. That is the location that provides the best audio quality devoid of any wind noise. When I edit video using multiple cameras, this is the audio feed that I prefer to use.
 

 

However I prefer the back window mounted camera on my car as it provides IMO a better field of view, but there is noticeable wind buffeting that diminishes the audio
 

[ChrisA]

Timely topic, since I'm considering a camera. I often see video that has some "wave" effect going on. What causes that and is just an issue with older or less expensive camera?

[Jeff Wasilko]

Timely topic, since I'm considering a camera. I often see video that has some "wave" effect going on. What causes that and is just an issue with older or less expensive camera?

 

The wave comes from the style of shutter (horizontal rolling shutter) the gopro uses.

 

The AiM SmartyCams don't have this problem.

 

https://gopro.com/su...tortions-videos

[Brandon]

100% in favor of the Replay devices.  GoPro can GoSuckIt since they turned their backs on the "hobbyist auto participant" with the v3 of their product not including their Traqmate integration.

My Replay did have "issues" which I've learned about (the configuration file & need to have a single video file on the memory card) and I went with a hard-wired button for power/start/stop (installed it in the 12v port on the dash) so I can't comment on battery life.

 

TM appears to have thrown their support behind their own video product but also incorporated Replay much in the same fashion as the GP of yore.

 

Plus the Replay has the added features like Danny mentions (HDMI out for reviewing output) and the other two I'm absolutely happy with: best FOV picture (no distortion and widest HD view in the market) and none of the shutter-stutter effect you see when cars reach relative resonance point(s).

 

Go by a Replay!

[Steve Scheifler]

Sounds good, but how do you define "no distortion"?