The best action camera is somebody else's barely used GoPro, because you almost certainly know someone who's got one sitting useless in a desk drawer, and can probably buy it off them for half price.

I'm a moderator on reddit.com/r/motorcycles, which means I'm one of the people keeping an eye on the stream of posts there. Yeah, loads of people take the time to edit together their GoPro footage. Sometimes you get genuinely great travelogue videos, equal in enthusiasm if maybe not in production value to anything from the likes of MotoGeo. Mostly though, it's vanity stuff like motovlogging, or using them as dashcams for proof in the event of an accident.

This is true. Getting into a good workflow helps; if someone happens to be a competent video editor & director, and also a moto enthusiast, they can make the process much more efficient. For example, I am a big fan of the Canadian internet comedy troupe Loading Ready Run, and one of their people has now started doing rapid-fire vlogs about his day. But he's been a video director and editor for years, so he knows how to be fast with it.

Again, true, but action cams have gotten a lot cheaper. I spent about $400 on my GoPro 3, but that was many years ago, and overall I think I've gotten enough value out of it (but not enough to invest in a new model). A GoPro Session or a Chinese knockoff that's Good Enough(c) is a hundred bucks. That's within toy range.

Yup, battery longevity is the main problem (especially for people using their GoPros as dashcams - there is a loop recording mode that makes SD card space a non-issue in that usage). One option is to use an external powerbank, requires some fidgeting to run a cable into a waterproof housing, but can be done. Hell, I have the same problem with my helmet Bluetooth system, so on long rides I have a powerbank in my pocket with a wire running up into my helmet for my Sena 3S's charging port!

And this is the greatest wisdom of all. I've been looking at mirrorless cameras or even intro-level DSLRs to replace my old beloved Olympus XZ-1, but haven't been able to bring myself to drop the cash, because at any event where I would get the benefit of a really good camera, there will already be friends who have much better gear and much better skills than me!

My 1st helmet camera was a Contour HD. Long story short it never worked. I got it replaced. The new one worked for about a nanosecond.

The few minutes of footage I had were disappointing and rather boring to deal with. Life is too short and I have nothing to sell, or money to make via a blog, youtube videos etc...

I then got a Drift Ghost Cam, back in 2015. I tested it on holidays that same year. As discussed above, it was a pain to go through footage and try to do a video. I did not bother. But I quite like the fact I can take pictures while riding. So I used it as a photo helmet when we rode across Russia and Central Asia last summer.

The plus point: you can take photos on the move, no need to stop, remove helmet & gloves, try to find you camera and usual circus of a photo stop!

On the minus point the photos are not that great, no matter how I place my head, it is always a bit too much road, but it gives an “on the go” feeling. The remote button(totake photos) died very soon.
Oh and the battery lasts about 2 hours!

So in conclusion, not sure I will bother again. I don’t want video, but it would be nice to be able to take good photos on the go.

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

GoPro isn't doing well any more. They really haven't managed to have proper evolution since Hero3+, tho 3+ is only a little better than the old 3. The sad part is that new GoPros feel very overpriced.

I'd guess that Sony's ActionCams produce the best quality now, tho the cheap alternatives are more than good enough for most people.

Cameras for photo. I've started to downsize my kit as it's easier to pack and also lighter. Currently my favourite is the Sony RX100 series. Very small in size and packs more power than most people will ever need. Tho not very cheap.

Technically action cameras are ideal for very specific uses. Long recordings are a nightmare for both amateur and pro editor. Tho the latter would just scroll through the video hoping to spot a good moment.

But I do like the timelapse function on action cameras. The only good long term recording mode, sadly the Hero3 goes through the battery quite fast for even that mode.

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Frank

And the best thing then is that you actually have photos were you appear!! I am an amateur photographer and always bring my DSLR to every holiday/trip, etc. But I am pissed at looking back to all the amassed photo library and I only appear in the lonely shot we asked some stranger to shot where my head or feet at cut off...

Regarding action cameras, got a GoPro Hero 4 from a friend this week. Would have loved to have one when I did my two cross-europe trips. Anyway I agree if the resulting video is not short or properly edited no one will watch it, not even yourself in the future. My 2 cents...