How often do you really use your GoPro?

[Wayne Potgieter]

I have used GoPros many times but last week bought myself a Insta360 One X camera.

 

Its a 360 degree camera that looks like a floating drone when you film.

 

Its pretty epic if i am honest and the editing is done on your mobile device, so I quite like it.

 

Its probably not as robust as a GoPro, but its a cool perspective.

[patches]

I have 2 dusty GoPros.

 

Got a GoPro HD way back when they were the thing. The novelty wore off after a month or so.

 

A couple of years later I talked myself into getting a GoPro 3 Silver. I rationalized that because it had wifi and could be controlled by my phone it I would use it more. I also had a downhilling holiday in France on the cards.

 

It also ended up in the sock drawer after a short time.

 

Here's my reason fro not using them as often as an "Instagram Influencer"

• Wearing it. I don't like wearing them. They feel unnatural on ones helmet (especially an open face helmet), and the chesty-mount (and especially bike mount) footage is annoyingly bumpy. (yes I know one can go all out with gimbals and editing to fix that, but still annoying).
• Editing. I don't have the will or patience to go through raw footage and turn it into something presentable.
• Mediocre content. Nothing makes you feel more insignificant about your riding achievements than reviewing the GoPro footage. Think that jump was big? look again, the GoPro makes it seem like a speedbump. Think you were railing that berm? Wait until the GoPro makes it look like you were looking for parking. I can hold my own on a bike, but I have yet to film GoPro footage that I look back at and think "wow, that's awesome!"

That said here's the last time I ever posted something I GoPro'd, 4yrs ago hahaha!

 

[

[Squier]

I enjoy using my GoPro and editing the clips after almost every ride. I use it for my rides, kids' sport, holiday videos or whatever and edit using the GoPro Quick software on my phone. It's quick and painless and does the job just fine. I had a GoPro Session 4 and upgraded to a Hero 7 Black before Sani this year. The HyperSmooth function is awesome!

 

Thing is, if you're doing it for views you'll probably be dissapointed as people don't care, nor enjoy, looking at your singletrack clips. I think I average 4 views per video, of which 1 is me on my phone, the other me on my TV and then probably two sympathy views from my wife. For me, I enjoy looking back and have found it a cool way to keep stock of some good memories. Hoping to have a massive collection of footage so that I can cancel my dstv subscription when I move into my nursing home one day...

 

I try and keep my MTB clips under a minute, except for stage races where I try and get as much as possible in as short as possible time. Here's one from a race we did in the Karoo recently:

 

https://youtu.be/yc51iEOTcLs

[CAAD4]

I have one. Took it swimming with the seals last year. That was the last time I used it. Made a little video of the trip, but I found it such a mission that it put me off. The process is simple enough, and I have a nice PC and Adobe Elements, but it just brought me no real joy.

Tried filming on the bike once, but it was crap and boring. Then again, I don't enjoy POV bike stuff in general.

So what's life really like in the Navy?

[BuffsVintageBikes]

I'm not even sure where mine is anymore, stuck at the back of the safe somewhere I guess. I got bored of video editing, it's just too time consuming and the footage was mediocre at best. What amuses me endlessly is guys that shoot 2 hours of raw footage, all from a single position and post it on youtube or worse, on the local whatsapp group and expect you to watch it. Gees, get a life

[Pure Savage]

Anyone want to sell a gopro?  

[Mamil]

Ha ha ... I'm also the buggest audience demographic of my own videos.

 

I enjoy using my GoPro and editing the clips after almost every ride. I use it for my rides, kids' sport, holiday videos or whatever and edit using the GoPro Quick software on my phone. It's quick and painless and does the job just fine. I had a GoPro Session 4 and upgraded to a Hero 7 Black before Sani this year. The HyperSmooth function is awesome!

 

Thing is, if you're doing it for views you'll probably be dissapointed as people don't care, nor enjoy, looking at your singletrack clips. I think I average 4 views per video, of which 1 is me on my phone, the other me on my TV and then probably two sympathy views from my wife. For me, I enjoy looking back and have found it a cool way to keep stock of some good memories. Hoping to have a massive collection of footage so that I can cancel my dstv subscription when I move into my nursing home one day...

 

I try and keep my MTB clips under a minute, except for stage races where I try and get as much as possible in as short as possible time. Here's one from a race we did in the Karoo recently:

 

https://youtu.be/yc51iEOTcLs

[RocknRolla]

Anyone want to sell a gopro?  

 

For really cheap? I would put my hand up for one.

[Pure Savage]

For really cheap? I would put my hand up for one.

I really like the square looking ones, my Hero 2 is so difficult to grab out of pocket and take pics. 

 

Would love to get one of those for cheap for some of our social stuff, I really like that form factor.

[RocknRolla]

I really like the square looking ones, my Hero 2 is so difficult to grab out of pocket and take pics. 

 

Would love to get one of those for cheap for some of our social stuff, I really like that form factor.

 

Yeah, a session would be great. Been riding with some-one who has one, and it just seems so much less cumbersome.

[Danger Dassie]

Anyone want to sell a gopro?  

I have an old(ish) one that I'd probably part with. Think it needs a battery.

[Pure Savage]

I have an old(ish) one that I'd probably part with. Think it needs a battery.

Do you know which version?

[Grey Hubs]

Bought a Gopro 7 Black for Vic Falls trip with a Spanish colleague.

 

Filmed some nice stuff and took ok pics. I used the voice command on the Gopro to video a bird knocking on my glass sliding door.

 

Then went to Dullstroom and did some riding at one of the resorts that has a MTB trail.

 

The stabilization of the 7 is way better that the Garmin Elite I used.

Before the Mrs could not watch more than a minute of the footage on the Garmin before she felt ill (not my riding ). With the Gopro, we sat after every ride and played the complete ride on the TV screen. The stabilization makes a huge difference.

I could also use the Gopro Quick story app on the phone to send short edited vids of my ride via Whatsapp. I thought that was cool.

 

I prefer taking a small camera with me on walks and hikes in Spain that fits in my pocket. Just a quick-pic-and-go...

 

I took this pic below in "night mode" With the Gopro &. Pretty cool.

 

For me, it was a good buy!

 

 

[RaymondC]

Novelty still going strong 4 years down the line Watch some Chris Rodgers clips if you need inspiration. 

[capediver]

Novelty still going strong 4 years down the line Watch some Chris Rodgers clips if you need inspiration. 

Chris is next level...! I believe some of his footage ended up in the GoPro promo for the 7 series when it was launched....

[ChrisF]

Yeah, a session would be great. Been riding with some-one who has one, and it just seems so much less cumbersome.

 

 

PLEASE dont .....

 

 

 

I have a much older GoPro that has gathered lots of dust .... battery bust, yada yada ....

 

 

So I buy the GoPro Session (square thingy...), get all the mounts and harnasses and and and ...

 

Damn thing has a fixed built in battery !!!

 

Cool if you know that you want to record two DH sessions for the day ... not so much if you are doing Hermanus trails and keep on missing the nics stuff as you come around a corner, so now you leave the thing ON .... and the battery runs out before your water bottle needs a refill .... except you CAN refill your water bottle, but that camera is done for the day !!

 

 

I then bought the traditional shape GoPro in 2018, with a lots of spare batteries .... 

 

 

The GoPro lives on Maritz's bike, while I ride with the Sessions (and still missing the key bits, so this unit may well be replaced ...)

 

 

 

Older vs newer ....

 

 

The 2018 GoPro is mounted on the handle bars of 24'' bike with a crap shock .... still the image stabilisation WORKS !!

 

Friend has a 3 year old GoPro .... he is constantly complaining about the lack of stabilisation .....

 

 

 

Editing ..... I much prefer photo editing !!  Video editing is my least favorite thing ....  I have a year old ride of Hermanus trails that will probably never see a final edit ....     Using Pinacle Studio on a powerfull laptop, still the video editing often results in buffering ....