Comment by OlivierD. on January 2, 2013 at 8:36pm

In the mean time, Sony and Contour are picking up some sales for sure. I am not surprised about your comments on how they treat the smaller retailers. The fact that they sell through the major shops only in Canada shows that their focus is numbers only. I have a feeling they have acquired a solid reputation through GoPro2, everybody and their dog has one to the point where I was ready to make my move and get one. It is next to impossible to find a new GoPro2, you can only get the GoPro3 on their website anyways so they are surfing the GoPro2 wave pushing the GoPro3. With what I have heard, they are not getting my $500. Too bad, it looked like it could have been a decent product. It is also way overpriced for stuff that is made in China. I don`t like the elitist attitude and I am puzzled by the fact that they are not sending emails to all these people who bought one to warn them of known issues. All the stores here have been cleaned out, GoPro sales have been crazy over the holidays. This is going to cost them potentially more than just their reputation....It's a shame really. 

Comment by Randy Brazeau on January 2, 2013 at 9:26pm

I noticed Wired magazine rated POV cameras in this month's edition.
Gave GoPro3 a 9/10 and the Contour+2 a 9/10.
The other two cameras were 7/10 and 4/10.
Wired must have received a good camera! Well at least someone is happy.
Randy

Wiki Ninja Comment by Gary McCray on January 4, 2013 at 4:55pm

Hi Randy I could only find an older Wired review that gave the Hero 2 a 9 out of 10 and the Contour and 8 out of 10, but you have to think Wired got one of the Hero 3's that actually did work and they probably didn't exercise the Live Preview as much as I did.

You know if the GoPro Black actually did what is claimed for it, it should get a 9 out of 10.

Unfortunately, that wasn't my experience and at this point the Camera would get a 1 out of 10 from me (for shorting itself out and representing a fire hazard).

And the Company would get a 0 out of 10 for their completely non productive response(s) on all levels.

I have a friend with a Hero 2 and it has functioned as claimed for it's entire (and heavily used) life.

I'm glad they've got 2 billion dollars, at this rate their going to need it to pay back Hero 3 purchasers.

Comment by Markus Sannebro on January 4, 2013 at 5:00pm

Hi!!

Whats the status about your Hero3 camera that you sent back? I've got the same problem, but I live in Norway. Is it a firmware problem? Because then I wont send it back, only if it is a hardware problem. 

There is also an another problem. Not only the Red Indicator light that just flashing at half, but sometimes when I start it up. Then only the Videocamera-photo shows, and it freezes there. And then the whole shitt gets hot.

Comment by OlivierD. on January 4, 2013 at 6:37pm

Markus, return it before your 30 days runs out.After that, you are stuck with a cute $500 paperweight.

Comment by Richard Evans on January 4, 2013 at 7:40pm

I have the Hero 3 Black edition. I sold my Hero 2 when I got it feeling that I didn't need two GoPros. Actually, I wish I had kept it, since I sold it for less than it is worth and it would be handy to have two.

I was sold on getting a GoPro3 BE because of the 60FPS frame rate at 1080P (I always use 1080P) The hero2 does only 30FPS.   Also, I thought it would be interesting to see what the 2.7 and 4k modes look like.

 Now that I have tried it all, and settled down into just using it, the most practical mode seems to be using it the same way as I used my hero 2.   I still shoot video at 1080P 30 fps.

 If I shoot 1080P at 60, and publish it to youtube, or even just make a MP4 of MOV file, my graphics system cannot keep up anyway. 1080P at 60 fps is a challenge that requires high performance graphics accelerators and double the disk-space and disk speed. (and double the time rendering in the editor.)

Honestly, I haven't tried the 720P at 120fps though, perhaps there is merit for that. Especially for action shots and for slow motion effects. FPV flying for me though is more about panoramic detail, less about action.   

2.7k and 4k?  Forget it, its a novelty. possibly 2.7k could be useful for video with limited motion and destined for the picture industry. the frame rate is too low and the bit rate is too high for just about anything. (In my opinion)

upsides: even if you don't need them , having the higher rez and other features won't leave you feeling "I wish I had  the black edition".  Smaller and lighter, could be an advantage depending on how you use it.  

downsides:

The new case clasp is a Hassle, it takes two hands an a little bit of fiddling to open the case.

The cover over the memory card and connectivity ports is not attached to the camera, might as well throw it away, your going to eventually lose it anyway. 

The Micro SD is a bad move, I have to keep an adapter handy so I can transfer media to my computer. What a PITA

Other observations:

"Pro mode"

The Hi Def portions of this video was shot with my Hero3 BE.  Click the link below and fast forward to the Hi def camera example:

  http://diydrones.com/video/videocompare

 In this clip, I have is set to the Pro mode, notice the bland color and saturation level is low, It actually looks more natural.  That is something I need to explore more, It does have a clean look, and perhaps fewer artifacts.

Also, I think there is less of the rolling shutter rubbery effect, but I haven't shot enough to confirm that yet.

As to the mounting, I would mention that I had it attached directly to the frame with screws and it produce good video, but leans into the wind, which makes it produce video with tilting horizons. So, I tried a 2 axis gimbal, and and tried that for a while. What i found is that the light duty frame that I used allowed too much shake, and although it could keep the camera level, I put shake into the video that I didn't have. The mass that helps take out shake is the mass that comprises where most of the weight is the hub of the spokes. So I put the camera bask there with no leveling and I am happier. I'm sure there are some good mounts/ gimbals that have more mass, or maybe a better design so it is very rigid, mine wasn't though.

The thing that might change my view is that technology moves fast and maybe in the next few years, our internet bandwidth, and allowable video standards on Youtube, Vimeo and other publishing services go up, and when hardware specs of newer gear begin to make higher frame rates and resolutions more practical. Then, I might be very glad I got this camera.    

That's all I can think of..

Richard

Comment by Markus Sannebro on January 5, 2013 at 1:05pm

OliverD: Yeah, just one problem.. I got it for x-mas.. They ordered it 30. november and got it 10.dec or something.

Comment by Randy Brazeau on January 5, 2013 at 4:13pm

Gary,
Wired January 2013, page 44.
Does anyone have a GoPro3 that functions without any problems?
Either Wired received a good GoPro3 or their testing/evaluation is flawed.
Personally I value reviews and user comments when purchasing items perhaps weighted 50%.
Randy

Comment by Josh Potter on January 5, 2013 at 5:06pm

I had a few issues the first day but mine has been working great ever since.

Comment by Richard Evans on January 5, 2013 at 7:05pm

My GoPro Black Edition works fine although the first day I had it, I did a firmware update, and it had to reboot a couple times before it acted right..Haven't had any problem since then.

Comment

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• Next ›
• Page