iPhone "Action Cam" Options

[scuzzy]

I now lots can be said about this, but I am looking into option for "convert" your iPhone into a action cam.

 

Is there anybody that is using nice housings at the moment with their iPhone?  It seems like the best available options in SA could either be Optrix or Hitcase.

 

Before anybody suggest the GoPro route, which I know is made for this type of thing, my reason is that it is flippen expensive for a toy.  The housings cost anything from R995, depending on where you buy it and I recon for the odd time that I use it I will rather try and go the "Action Cam Housing" route, unless off course someone with experience says that it is a complete waste of time and crap.

 

Even thinking of using the old iPhone4s for this purpose

 

Any input?

[clement]

I used a Miveu chest mount for a while with an Iphone 4S. Works well enough with good image quality. It is no Gopro but for the price is comes close enough.

 

It is more convenient that a Gopro in some cases, Hitcase makes free software that displays speed and g-forces as part of the video and uploading to Facebook/Youtube is much easier than from a Gopro.

[Cois]

Also did the homework on this a few years back.

In the end, getting all the mounts and housings, I was still stuck with an iPhone 4S with a so so camera.  And to be honest, your iPhone is a robust piece of gear, but do you really want your phone taking the knocks?

 

In the end of the day I got myself a GoPro Hero 3 white.  It is robust, can take a few knocks and the casings and accessories are easy to get.

 

In the end of the day you can decide if you want another brand of action camera.  But I stuck to the GoPro. One huge reason I went for the GoPro was to get under the water as well.  One thing I learnt the very hard way, is that camera / phone + water does not mix.  Thus I drowned one Drift Action Camera in Moz a few years back, and I was left with about 5 minutes of footage on a reef snorkelling.

 

One thing as well, the area of the camera on the bike.  If you fall, will the phone carry damage, will it take the punch?  Now I am an IT Tech, do not get paid a lot, and I am in no position to buy a new phone if I damage my iPhone.  So another reason I got the GoPro.  It is not R9 000 I have to pay for a new phone.

 

So do the weighing of your options before you buy a bike case.  Just one note on the case I had.  If you shot footage, there was a black rim round your photo's.  The case protected the phone, but it did not lend itself to become a action camera.

 

And to be honest.  I want a cover for my iPhone 6 to shoot footage.  I mean 240 fps video???  That could make a few awesome clips on the web...

[scuzzy]

Thanks @Francois

 

I agree 100% with you.  My feeling is just that for R5k for an action cam, I am not sure if I will use it that often, but, for the odd, camera footage, I can justify R1200.  I do understand and agree with you.

 

Time will tell.  I am also due for an upgrade, and if I do go the iPhone 6 route, there's not really any cases out there at the moment, still coming.

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

I used an experia x10 mini, strapped toy Suzuki TL1000R's fairing bracket for a year.

the videos weren't too bad, low revs had a vibration in the footage from the twin but otherwise did the job.

Of your choices the optrix is the best, there is a wide angle case available if I recall correctly. Chest mount would be best considering the phones shape and size.

I say go for it.

Oh there is a pretty decent HP sport camera on special at Makro for R999, really great deal for the price with all the mounting hardware too!!!

[scuzzy]

@Steven, thanks, that is the other option yes

[Showtime]

The new 2014 base model gopro is ~R2000. As Francois said should something go wrong with the iphone case underwater for example you are taking a R9000 knock.

 

Better to spend R2000 than R1 200 in this case I think.

[hihello]

If you do end up going the action cam route, Take a look at the new Garmin Virbe elite, its what I would buy if it was around when I got my Gopro. It has a built in display and gps so along with Garmin's editing software you can show the tracks you riding, speeds, heading bearings etc. A few buddies have been using them for downhill skating and the footage looks great. Added bonus is that it is already water proof so no need to worry about the housings etc which I find a pain with the goPro, but thats my 2 cents worth.