Help on choosing a GoPro

Ecco

Ecco

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I need some help from the members of the forum.

I would like to by a GoPro. Use case is for taking vids and pics while snorkelling and maybe some shallow diving, like on a reef. Maybe even just for taking some pics and videos while on holiday.

I have no idea what to look for in these devices. I have and DSLR which i bought recently, and given i dropped some cash on that i dont want to blow the budget on this device.

What features are important to look for?
What models should I check out (based on my use case)?
Where is a good place to buy?

Any help appreciated
 
Just browsing takealot and i dont see any GoPro Hero 4 - is it discontinued?
 
I see a GoPro Hero 2018 going for R3k

Any thoughts on this model?
 
Was about to buy one last week for this exact reason. 3k for the 2018 model from incredible connection was the cheapest I saw.

Decided to rather spend my money on beer on holiday instead of a camera that I will use once
 
I've seen rumors that the gopro 7 launch event is at end September 2018
will hold off buying until at least November, older models prices might come down by then with the release of a new gopro and might get a black Friday special somewhere.

Gopros are sold everywhere so the prices are fairly close between stores, use takealot and a few photography shops(outdoorphoto and orms) to
get an baseline of standard pricing, then compare that to stores like makro, incredible connection, dion wired, cape union mart etc..

Gopro 5 & 6 is waterproof without the need of external housing upto 10 meters(not really suited for snorkeling and diving),
dive housing can take upto a depth to 60 meters!

biggest differences between the gopro ranges are resolution(4K, QHD, FHD etc) and framerates, then with the newer models you get better in camera stabilisation and other
tech.

watch some youtube reviews on the models, and also research available accessories for snorkeling/diving as these can get quite pricey.
 
jeremydixon said:
Was about to buy one last week for this exact reason. 3k for the 2018 model from incredible connection was the cheapest I saw.

Decided to rather spend my money on beer on holiday instead of a camera that I will use once
Click to expand...

Lol, i know what you are you saying. I would probably also only use it once, but its a once in a lifetime trip. So good to capture something to look back to.
 
Future GoPro models will likely be cheaper.

The GoPro business is struggling with the fact that you can buy action cameras from China that are much cheaper and do the same thing. Although I believe GoPros have good motion compensation.
 
If you only using it once then may as well grab the cheaper units, gopro market is based on high quality videos, high framerates and stabilisation.

That 3k edition is limited in that regard and has no stabilisation.

The prices of the older ones, retail don't drop, I saw a hero 4 at doing wired today at 5.5k. All there top models launch at 400usd. You may find a few special if shops try to flog off old stock, but today people still buy the 5 over the 6 as its cheaper and the 6 never offered enough over the 5 to make it worth it for most. I was one of those too, took the 5 instead of the 6.

The 7 has now been launched, stock lands Friday, I will be adding the 7 to my camera case next week, pretty much as soon as I can get one from not takealot.
 
Light drops off fairly quickly with depth, and a GoPro does not take such good photos under lower light conditions. Also when you get down to about five meters you will probably want to start using a red filter, reducing the light further.

The GoPro will probably be OK for the snorkeling bit, but you may want something else if you are going any further. A second hand Sealife camera would be good if you can find one.
 
Just returned from my trip to Zanzibar, if I had forked out 3k for a one use gopro for this trip I would have been disappointed. Given its a amazing trip but I have the memories and no one really wants to spend their time watching my holiday videos.
 
Ecco said:
Lol, i know what you are you saying. I would probably also only use it once, but its a once in a lifetime trip. So good to capture something to look back to.
Click to expand...

Camera pics are perfectly fine to remember a holiday tbh. The gopro vids will end up in a folder somewhere and eventually you will delete them without having looked through ten percent.
 
jeremydixon said:
Just returned from my trip to Zanzibar, if I had forked out 3k for a one use gopro for this trip I would have been disappointed. Given its a amazing trip but I have the memories and no one really wants to spend their time watching my holiday videos.
Click to expand...
This is true - as a youngster I was regularly treated (read tortured) by my grandparents' holiday videos...
 
jeremydixon said:
Just returned from my trip to Zanzibar, if I had forked out 3k for a one use gopro for this trip I would have been disappointed. Given its a amazing trip but I have the memories and no one really wants to spend their time watching my holiday videos.
Click to expand...

Even less people want to look at your photo albums :ROFL:

I've been making 3min holiday video's for years now. Whenever friends/family ask how my holiday was, I just drop them a youtube link. If you are tech savvy and can see yourself editing video's every now and then, go for it! If not chances are your holiday pics will end up on your camera and you wont show anyone in anycase.
 
Tman* said:
Even less people want to look at your photo albums :ROFL:

I've been making 3min holiday video's for years now. Whenever friends/family ask how my holiday was, I just drop them a youtube link. If you are tech savvy and can see yourself editing video's every now and then, go for it! If not chances are your holiday pics will end up on your camera and you wont show anyone in anycase.
Click to expand...

Can you please share some links? I want to edit my recent trip into something like this as well :)
 
I had a similar use case and decided to go with an SJCam (SJ6 Legend) which I got from takealot (due to time pressure) and I'm happy with it @Ecco,
 
Ecco said:
I need some help from the members of the forum.

I would like to by a GoPro. Use case is for taking vids and pics while snorkelling and maybe some shallow diving, like on a reef. Maybe even just for taking some pics and videos while on holiday.

I have no idea what to look for in these devices. I have and DSLR which i bought recently, and given i dropped some cash on that i dont want to blow the budget on this device.

What features are important to look for?
What models should I check out (based on my use case)?
Where is a good place to buy?

Any help appreciated
Click to expand...

I can only talk about the one I have which is the GoPro Hero+ LCD. It came out after the Hero 4 and is considered a budget version. For snorkeling and other water activities this camera is excellent and the water provides some "stabilising effect". For use on dry-land, you are better off using your phone especially for photos!

In my opinion the GoPro adds an element of fun to your activities. Throwing and passing it amongst people in your group. Trying to outdo each other to get a better angle etc. True, you won't view the videos all the time but you will have fun making them. And when you go home you will watch a few of the clips and smile.
 
Apologies for the thread hijack, but would a gopro or cheaper alternative be more suited for in car vids or other vids for vlogging purposes? Any recommendations (not too expensive) would be appreciated.
 
curbs2012 said:
Apologies for the thread hijack, but would a gopro or cheaper alternative be more suited for in car vids or other vids for vlogging purposes? Any recommendations (not too expensive) would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

It can be used but I don't recommend it unless you have some way of stabilizing the video. The latest one, GoPro 7 has it built-in but its not cheap.

Also the sound quality is not great for anything other than the screams and shouts you hear in action videos.
 
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