New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

 

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DrunkBrother  
Posted : Tuesday, 29 May 2012 5:03:38 PM(UTC)
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Heya guys,

I always wanted to have a nice hands free camera for my metal detecting and for Long distant trips in a Car.
After some research and millions of YouTube videos i decided to buy this one :

GoPro Hd Hero 2 :

UserPostedImage

It has waterproof case and films in full HD with 1 battery charge for 2.5 hours and 32 GB SD card will hold 4.5 half of videos.
The only Issue swith the Whole range- is that they are Blurry underwater and you need either to buy or make you Flat lens adapter like this one :

http://youtu.be/2kiV7X4EQqI

It is the best camera on the market with a lot fo accessories and mounts.
All those COOL videos in HD you watch on youtube are made with this camera.

Retail outdoor pack is 475$ from camera and camera.
So be Tuned for my 6 month finds Video :-)

Edited by user Tuesday, 29 May 2012 5:18:58 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

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keywikiwi  
Posted : Tuesday, 29 May 2012 5:11:31 PM(UTC)
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I too will be getting one of these
Ash_T  
Posted : Tuesday, 29 May 2012 5:30:35 PM(UTC)
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Nice.

I bought a cheaper one (Tachyon MicroHD) and wish i had of just put the extra towards a Gopro now.

Good thing is, that im working again now, and can afford to upgrade to a Gopro sometime ;) hehe.

My favourite Gopro vid is the one with the flying suit buzzing thru the mountain pass...

Edit to add : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWfph3iNC-k

Great camera - looking foward to ya vids Max.

Edited by user Tuesday, 29 May 2012 5:33:19 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Check out my BLOG : Its where i post my finds :D
starflash  
Posted : Tuesday, 29 May 2012 8:25:28 PM(UTC)
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the go pro is a very good camera, however has limitations underwater and there are lots of add ons that make it an expensive unit. A flat lens should be fitted if you want to use it underwater effectively and this requires the removal of the existing lens which has its pit falls.

The Intova Sport Pro HD, I believe is a better option, it has a flat lens, has a LCD screen at the rear so you can see what your filming and is a lot cheaper.

I use this to shoot spearfishing videos and many others are starting to swap to the intova

UserPostedImage

DrunkBrother  
Posted : Tuesday, 29 May 2012 8:30:46 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: starflash Go to Quoted Post
the go pro is a very good camera, however has limitations underwater and there are lots of add ons that make it an expensive unit. A flat lens should be fitted if you want to use it underwater effectively and this requires the removal of the existing lens which has its pit falls.

The Intova Sport Pro HD, I believe is a better option, it has a flat lens, has a LCD screen at the rear so you can see what your filming and is a lot cheaper.

I use this to shoot spearfishing videos and many others are starting to swap to the intova





I looked at that option, but price is really high even on trademe :

http://www.trademe.co.nz...eneralSearch_suggested=0


also :
Video resolution: HD (720p)/30fps Go pro is 1080

It is a great camera, no doubt but for accessories and support Gopro is better at the moemnt. even witht he issue of Blurry picture underwater with original lens
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starflash  
Posted : Tuesday, 29 May 2012 9:23:56 PM(UTC)
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neither of those you listed are the sport pro which is 1080 hd, see the intova website, also has the LCD screen, add up the option with the go pro and do the maths. also who wants a blury underwater picture.

Just my experience in underwater filming for 7 years, but they are all good, but with the go pro your paying extra for the name

regards
starflash

Edited by user Tuesday, 29 May 2012 9:24:58 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Metal Kiwi  
Posted : Tuesday, 29 May 2012 9:49:54 PM(UTC)
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I think if I was going to replace any of my camera's I would probably consider where I
was likely to take the majority of my images and select a brand that addressed
that location the best. Not unlike choosing a metal detector really.

If you are running a waterproof detector it would also make sense to have a waterproof camera
regardless of how good an underwater image it may take.



DrunkBrother  
Posted : Tuesday, 29 May 2012 10:04:45 PM(UTC)
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I see what starflash is pointing at- maybe it was my fault in not doing full investigation as was too short on time....

But, again, what i know for sure- when there is a mass market brand- there are always checp parts for repair replacement.
edditional battery only 35$
i baught today flat lens for 45$ and also just a UV filter to make my one for 10$
so it not like a big expence anyway.

And again- Go pro combines for me all options i need:
- underwater
- dryland detecting
- highway safety

:-)
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Lammerlaw  
Posted : Tuesday, 29 May 2012 11:53:31 PM(UTC)
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Between two people I have got the answer for a question I had not asked on here so a happy chappy - I have wondered about these devices for some time and have wanted one for ages - how durable are they? I can be a bit of an animal with technological devices.
simon  
Posted : Wednesday, 30 May 2012 10:07:01 AM(UTC)
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i've got one of the go pro cameras.

i've had it since they first got known. think i paid a stupid $550 for it at the local bike shop although i have seen them a lot cheaper if you spend ages looking online in the right places.

i have no underwater use with this. i got it for mountainbiking. upside is it has few buttons. this can be a bit fidgety. the reason it has only a couple of buttons is so they can supply a decent underwater housing that doesn't have a million buttons that could potentially leak around the seals on the housing.

the waterproof housing is great to keep dust out. this makes is perfect for throwing in the bag when heading out mining also. just have to watch you get mining done and don't end up spending all day filming instead!

downsides to the go pro for me have been my single battery going flat when its needed (i need a second battery), and the lack of interchangeable lens (i don't think any of these cameras have this. would add to cost but its a shame it can't zoom a little. i find it hard to set the different shooting modes as it always jumps to the next setting so easily. it's a bit harder still to get into the main menu settings which can be frustrating on the go. still, these buttons are prob like this so they don't get knocked too easily and changed. these probs aren't too bad as you don't need to change the settings too much anyway. i find the best thing is to leave it running rather than turning it on and off all the time. just gives you lots of boring footage at the end of the day to look through.

if i was to purchase another i would buy this again. it has a range of shooting options such as the standard 30 frames a second or slo-mo 60 frames a second, various wide angle formats, various stills shots options (eg timers for continuous shots every so many preset seconds until the memory card is full.

true, there are a lot of add ons. ie. adapter for car, adapter for surf board mount etc.

i could do with a lcd back panel. think they are an extra $150.

a solar charger set up would be ideal for when out an about.
DrunkBrother  
Posted : Wednesday, 30 May 2012 12:34:10 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: simon Go to Quoted Post
(i need a second battery),.


Hi Mate, New original battery is 35$ at the moment,
but what i bought is battery backpack :
UserPostedImage
2 reasons to buy this addon:
- double the capacity to shoot 8 + hours
- use it as a charger! you can use car/pc/ wall usb charger for it

or if you want a solar charger (lets say you are on 3 days gold mining in the middle of nowwhere and can not go back to your car ) you can you one of USB SOLAR CHARGER to charge the back pack that you can buy from trademe as cheap as 60$

UserPostedImage

Edited by user Wednesday, 30 May 2012 12:35:04 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

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starflash  
Posted : Friday, 1 June 2012 6:45:18 PM(UTC)
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durability is as always, you do have to look after them, go pros are awsome but for underwater filming it requires the removal of the exsisting lens and refitting with a flats lens, "Drunkbrother be very careful", many have flooded if not done right, also a couple of intovas have flooded but were knocked into rocks at 30m where the pressure is extreme, i have had mine to 25m, but i must admit i treat it with kid gloves, they can be mounted anywhere, i have always found if you mount it on your head, durability is not a problem as you tend to look after your melon.

again both are awsome and sure beats camcorders in water proof housings, i have a couple camcorder combos for sale if someone is keen. Truth is the camcorder takes way better video.

again both are great go anywhere cameras
DrunkBrother  
Posted : Friday, 1 June 2012 7:28:45 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: starflash Go to Quoted Post
go pros are awsome but for underwater filming it requires the removal of the exsisting lens and refitting with a flats lens, "Drunkbrother be very careful", many have flooded if not done right,


THanks for warning :-) i baught a lens and also filter to make just an extension for now - i am not going to dive only snorkling anyway.

also GoPro finally relized the GoPro Dive in housing:

UserPostedImage

The only Problem they HAVE JUST announced it on 20May and NZ dealers do not have them and would not have them for the next 2 weeks. - and that is too late for me :-(

Edited by user Friday, 1 June 2012 7:29:47 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

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DrunkBrother  
Posted : Friday, 1 June 2012 7:30:50 PM(UTC)
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Today had my First Detecting footage for 4 hours!
will make a movie and upload to my Youtube channel :-) stay tunned!
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