ActionCameras2015
Introduction/Definition/etc
Having just gotten my third manufacturer and model of action camera, I now feel qualified to pontificate about them, well, further...
Body
Step up on the soap box, you, and pretend to be a superhero, sports star, athlete, even though I'm old, fat, and not so athletically inclined... Like if golf were a sport, /cough...
Comparision Table
Attribute
|
GoPro Hero1
|
JVC Adixxion
|
LiquidImage Ego 727
|
Mfr Link
|
http://GoPro.com
|
http://adixxion.jvc.com/
|
http://LiquidImageCo.com |
Lens
|
Fish Eye
|
Fish Eye
|
Fish Eye
|
FormFactor/ Packaging
|
square, battery removeable, and sold separately, charge multiple and have spares
|
boxy, not sure extra battery
|
egg shaped, enclosed, one piece, major disassemble required for battery
|
waterproof case
|
included, options different backpacks have different size backs, 3D case,, etc
|
~$40 extra
|
cover, waterproofish optional
|
Display
|
Backpack option
|
built in
|
wifi to smartphone app, maybe
|
wifi
|
Backpack option
|
built in , actually connected once or twice, not usual use case, but good to know something works, sometimes, for me
|
built in, likely 5 Gigahertz, not working, a long 8 second wifi power on, +shutdown required...
|
Comments
|
would be nice if backpacks stacked, display, battery, wifi, as adding stuff, need more power, etc. Newer models 2,3,4 black, silver, etc include more
Originally ~$400
Repackaged Original Hero1s $130
|
scratch case lens easy, carry around. chest harness awkward J angle and big plate
~$300? new?
|
not gotten much working yet, controls small, difficult to see, egg shape odd, but small and light, and newest, some web references to drone use
~$80 new old model on sale
|
Availability
Originally, GoPro available in some Motorcycle dealers stores, then also BestBuy, etc and now CycleGear for the JVC and LiquidImage. Prices going down over the years from $400+ for original Hero, to maybe $200-300 for JVC, and recently got Ego for ~$80, rumored an older model 727, slower frame rate, and an 8 Gig card included, free, on sale...
So why not?
Besides 21dot30RetalitoryEviction2015 and other relative sanity...
HD
High Definition video, 1080 P (Pixels per frame?).
HD was new, at the time, years ago, but now 4k and other video standards have emerged, taking this stuff lower price, easier to get, and well, getting to be like SD (Standard Definition, for old skewl people, not on the bleeding edge anymore dude[tte]s)...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4K_resolution
Charging Time
So how long does it take to charge the little things?
Well, it takes hours, a few hours for most charges, from all the way down, empty to full...
So when you go to sleep, charge them, wake up, put then back together, pack up, and go, somewhere, even if to the mall, bus, outside to walk around...
Lithium batteries (LithiumIon, LiPolymer/LiPo, etc) have special considerations for cold (not last as long?) and safety, a slight fire risk over NiMH (NickelMetalHydride and other older NiCad (NickelCadmium technologies, and transportation (TSA?) restrictions (remember approaching 9/11 anniversary this month) but less toxic than cadmium, and some other battery chemistry, AFAICT. Cell phones, SmartPhones, Laptop and Notebook technologies use similar chemistry, even if the packaging is different. Some may be hard cased, and some not, like Drone batteries. YMMV...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_%28electricity%29
Memory Useage
At 1 Gig for about 15 minutes of video in highest setting HD, it will eat memory cards, quickly.
Cards typically have charts for how many of what resolution pictures, and video can be saved, keep in mind HD and other formats and compression may vary the real amount, plus overhead, and some cards have recovery software installed as well...
Do some math sometime about how much that is, and the probably tens of thousands of video recorded and even more stills over the years...
SDHC ~4 Gig to 32 Gig, and other standards SDXC, for higher capacity beyond 32 Gig, i.e. 64 Gig, not yet tried, think most of my devices max out at 32 Gig... In many instances, a corrupted memory card, and likely at really high capacity, and not sure you want that. Plus, you might have to forfeit your memory card in some security contexts, so starting each day with a clean and new memory card, for professionals, and maybe others, might be required... But if paid, might be able to afford that, buying bulk, say at MicroCenter, where things are a fraction of the say emergency only CVS, etc convenience store prices...
https://www.sdcard.org/developers/overview/capacity/
Plan ahead and have spares... Saves money, in the long run... IMNSHO...
And that all important video or still, missed because you weren't prepared, is a regret... Compounded daily, etc...
Some, like Ego and tablets/ some non Apple smartphones, use special symbol u-SD, aka? microSD, but with an SD adapter, usually included, for reading on an older notebooks, etc, uploading with a card reader, etc is possible...
ReFlash Firmware Updates
Upgrades to the firmware software, might happen, done once on the GoPros, Ego might need it, once I can see what version it is, might be a special version, needing contact tech support...
General process, is to put some downloaded binary file(s) on a memory card, insert memory card, press special button combination during power on and watch it update, hopefully NOT making your device a useless expensive and unfun brick...
Otherwise kewl new features, less bugs, etc are theoretically possible...
Upload Times
So how to upload all the data collected in a day out and about, having "fun", while recording?
It could take hours, at wifi speed, and a lot at cable speeds, maybe some DSL, forget dialup, or slow/few bar 3g, unless a just a few stills to report in...
Data plans and foreign travel, wifi cafes and other public access issues involved in travel from home base(s)...
Offsite backup plans help, IMHO.
Storage Requirements
Well, fill a 32 Gig card in an afternoon, few hours and do the math, say 5-6 cards per month, and doing actual math, Terabytes are quickly possible, over time. Not to mention card purchase costs, assuming not reformatted and reused...
See WearableCameras2015 for some of the issues... Not answers, just mostly issues...
Law enforcement, Fairfax County being a lead, has published a standard on wearables, and is using some now, mostly training, so keep an eye out and don't be on the show Cops... Even if you like the music...
https://youtu.be/FPp4qb-phrA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Boys_%28Inner_Circle_song%29
First Impressions
Starting out with a Hero, before they numbered them, and now they are making Hero4 Silver and Black, and beyond, GoPro made spy type cameras OK and kewl to have, imho. Not that people wanted a camera in their face, or a lot of people didn't, but some do, to well, make themselves, uh, famous, or something, like record that awesome parachute jump, dive, black diamond ski survival, or just collect dust, thinking of how to have a better life, idk...
Really I expected, for some unknown reason, a flat image out of the Hero, and then looking for software to flatten it out, even some specialized GIMP plugin, GoPro Flatten or similar, to take care of it for me, at great CPU cycles, Cray type Beowulf Linux cluster system, but whatever, dudes, it's tech, it's free, right? Never mind the heat generated, cooling requirements, electricity bills, defining it as a military installation, armament, etc...
Go Pro originally was giving away by raffle/drawing one GoPro per day, if you liked them on social media or similar, probably stopped that, IDK. But they are billionaires, from Charlie Rose or similar, IRC...
http://www.charlierose.com/watch/60453263
Later versions are better in low light situations, and other special features, afaict, YMMV...
Camera Addiction Continues
Time progressed, bought a spare Hero, then because I had two, might try this other stuff, combining them, I thought I ordered 360 degrees, but it was really 3D, all that was available, just $100 more for case and cable, Windows/Mac software free download, and having a chest harness called Chesty, I call it a bra, ala meet the girls, don't say it much, around guy's it's a bro, they keep looking at my chest, anyways, asking questions, "What is that?" "3D GoPro: two old Hero 1's synced together to get stereo vision, but I don't use it that way, haven't gotten it working, just one and a spare", "that's a waste", they say, "no, not really", I reply, "go out for the weekend, run out one, have the second, memory, and battery, and know where they are, at almost all times..." /endSpiel
Originally, bicycling, the regular cameras (Nikon CoolPix 3400?, s220, donated Canon PowerShot, etc) were risky taking out of pockets / bags, when raining, snowing, sleeting, in Metro, or just plain dropping to asphalt/pavement/rock, mud, wet, dust, etc and getting in and out of pockets while riding with hands on handlebars, coordinating in traffic, etc...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_Coolpix_series
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_PowerShot
Begin to depend upon regular digital cameras, but the extending lens motor whirring, and/or lenscap type cover shutter motor or jam and was failing, plus wet weather, so went of necessity to action cameras and to have them around, not likely getting the most risky situations, attacked from behind, from many people(s), law enforcement, kids, gang, stalkers, providers, abusive, drunk, panhandling, etc...
I could not wear one on the bicycle helmet, as get dizzy watching it, and headlight is there already, but want to look around instead of just straight ahead, so a wrist camera, but can't see what I'm getting and looks like gawdy bling, "what's that on your wrist?" "an action camera", "oh", "it's mine", not to mention knocking it into things, etc... But some use cases, like a diver's watch, parachuting, etc, might be good/better/best...
Reaching into your chest area, especially with a Chesty type harness, looking like a gun holster, can be hazardous to your health and record...
Add motorcycle track, and the Chesty bra mount and have some documentation of $200/ day to learn to survive, handle the moto at high speed (some fun, some scary), and survive in odd situations, perhaps, not city survival but a hobby, while owning one...
Then dirt track, not really gotten into that, but want to, moto too Led Zeppelin to really throw around, and have a little footage of that mess...
But dual sport, if the moto were really that, and on and off, plus getting out to Florida, SpringBreak2013 then Sturgis2013 and other adventures HippieClownCamp2011 and ADVMotoRally2014 , not to mention MormonTemple20101230 (pre GoPro footage) TempleGrandin2013 and other fun stuff... Only some of that I have video of, mostly don't share them, need to edit my upnose shots, looking down "is this thing on?"...
Accessibility
In todays technology world, a camera, video and/or still may be an accessible device. Metro around the Pentagon, Courtrooms, classrooms and testing and other restrictions likely exist, and not sure case law on that... IANAL. I Am Not A Lawyer...
It is good for remembering things, signs that you need to refer to later on, documenting you bicycled between cities, catching some time stamps on road signs, business signs (store hours), menus, food served, costs, receipts, etc.
SmartPhones and some cell phones have cameras too and while not really allowed in some schools, are required for the walk there and back, for safety, call for help, etc...
I've seen several instances online of people who are arrested for videotaping/ recording police or other security areas, and then let go when before a judge, the judge and case law stating that they are allowed to record. Ironically, police now getting video, and being taught how to use it, see the recording, Got to match the paperwork, etc...
As a pretty much former journalist, now citizen blogger, having credentials, a signed release form, and editor to call saying you are on assignment, paper lawyers, and knowing ethics and practicalities of recording others, might be good...
Recording children is not recommended. Even with parents present, they may change their minds, and sue, but in some situations like wilding, and other civil unrest, documenting the damage and perps might help...
Links
Older Drivel
Conference photography, How NOT to Do It
Background on this type of use:
WearableCameras2015
Other examples from links above, not collected here for your ease of use... Sorry, Charlie...
Background Info
https://www.sdcard.org/developers/overview/capacity/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_Coolpix_series
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_PowerShot
Good Videos
Adventure Moto, by Parrillo
Seems like a fun thing to do, shows crashes and some off road, I'd probably not try, in my advanced years, but a BMW's got to help, even a Big Bike (;-/
Western States
5000? miles out west, wildlife, road / off road conditions, scenic, good stuff
https://youtu.be/hPRwZ4aEDkw
Continental Divide
Well known Bicycle route, mostly done in spring with a moto, by an experienced rider with cameras...
https://youtu.be/oah4yaXtEAA
and by land lubber / couch potato comparison, a few stills of watching a bicycle video in a Washington DC park with Farmer's Market & Mobile Bike Clinic
TheGreatDivideMovieInMtPleasantLamontPark
More Average Use, still Good
Jim Foreman driving to Redneck BBQ somewhere in Texas
https://youtu.be/qCIBqpTen9M
But still way better than my average data logging...
Conclusion
Summary of experience or similar
I like the class of action cameras, less to break ;-/, I have a few, mostly old, the main GoPro button going and locking up possibly on memory card with over 1000 photos/videos instead of saying 999 only sickening ---, like I lost all the data/video/stills/ memory card corrupted, at least F/FUL is Full, and get to another uSD card. Locking up requiring taking apart/pulling battery to reset, charge, upload video and stills, some do stills easier with two buttons, the JVC not as easy, and just learning buttons and color lights on the front of the LIC Ego/ Egg... (Ego has a HOT display, and needs to cool down, shutting itself down, like EgoOverflow /grin or something). Wifi to a smartphone not working on any of them, really, requires two hands and/or mounts/tripods, etc, maybe 5.8 Gigahertz 802.11N networking and I don't have anything with a display that will do that, likely an issue with the new LIC, but more to learn...
Tail Light / Rear View Idear
Use one/some as a backup/tail light/rear view camera, install near taillight, in a welded hard case, or figure out how to run on a backpack and safely operate while looking forward, driving, etc... What is going on back there? Why? Whom is following? Also, basically like a truck, add side view to attempt next, until like a sales guy while smoking outside, iirc, said 9 cameras and get all around, Google StreetView like, but heterogeneous camera mix, so might be tricky getting it all stitched together... Wider camera frontways, or side coverage, much more to learn there...
3D
Or just start with the 3D and get that working, doesn't support Linux, i.e. no GNU software to merge the two available on the platform I'm on now, for writing, and have a full screen, the netbooks basically broke and not replaced, down to the mother ship, sort of desktop replacement, and it's old MacBookPro, annoying keyboard and all, but better then hunt and pack on a tablet...
Tablets i.e. simple viewers
Which reminds me, need to do a tablet table too...
Tablets2015
Discussion
A place for feedback on the page presented
What action in your life, is reasonable and legal to record?
Would you do stupid stuff with it, like get bones broken, neck, back, etc?
Yours? And/or Someone Else's?
What medical costs, murder charges, parental groundings, etc would prevent you from doing such antisocial/homicidal/suicidal stuff?
Does tosh.0 really show the best side of human nature, or just a jerk to try to emulate?
What was the name of that show and movie that had someone doing such things, on purpose?
America's Funniest Videos was too Tame and PC to really show how dumb we really are as a species...
IMNSHO
JackAss...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackass_%28TV_series%29
Does IdiotSitting really require an action camera?
If you are the idiot?
And/or the sitter?
How famous do you want to be?
And why is that not a good idear?
Oh, and do you have any photography/ video skills to do anything with data captured?
Add a music track?
Learn video editing?
Or just dump up raw data, and hope off season, you will get around to selecting, editing, and publishing?
IFF = IF and Only IF, you get signed clearance/ permission / releases to publish people...
Say for the holiday season, when I started out I would give photo cds with a Linux bootable media player software in the front, of the video and stills of the year. It took a lot of effort, but relatives growing up, or trips, or similar, plus hosts usually got whatever I had photographed and/or recorded on site, in consideration of letting me record...
Far off, how about cinematography classes?
Not as easy as it looks. Requires capital, time, energy, willingness to learn, and skills to make it look as good visually as you see, likely for free, online and/or on T.V....
License
Creative Commons Share and Share Alike, Non Commercial, Non Derivative, for the whole site's contents unless otherwise explicitly stated
Page History
20150910 Jerry
- adding links to stuff, fact checking some, and adding other opinionated crapola at the end...
20150906 Jerry
- add a link to conf photography
- maybe some cleanup?
20150905 Jerry
- Jerry created this page to put some data down, even if just for myself, about some devices, now that I have the statistically significant number 3 types of something...
- see bicycle spokes for the meaning of what happens after losing 3 spokes, need new wheel, start planning, building, buying, afaict, imo...
- biased sample, all in different time frame(s), Hero years ago, JVC over a year, iirc, and just done Ego, so slighly exponential time series sampling... Add Moore's Law for doubling tech each period, and might be able to project capabilities in Xmas time, next year, 2-5, 5 year plan, projected business cases, student affordability, etc...
Page Statistics
Page Views: 
since creating on 20150905
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.