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GoPro Hero3 – The Best Camera for Fishing?
If you have visited our YouTube channel, you already know that we’ve only posted a couple of videos so far. We spent much of the peak bass season in Ontario attempting to take lots of video, but our current equipment (Fuji and Kodak) leaves a lot to be desired. Ongoing issues include poor video and picture quality, poor sound, batteries dying after just a few minutes of video, and the list goes on. We have lost a tonne of awesome footage as a result. Frankly, we’re frustrated and ready to toss all our existing equipment into a lake…. but we don’t have replacement equipment yet.
In planning for next season, we started researching the GoPro Hero just before they announced the launch of the new Hero3 series. Until recently, we did not know much about GoPro, but now it seems to be popping up everywhere. Many anglers within the online fishing community already seem to be loyal users, like MikeyBalzz Fishing (see his post and videos).
What appeals most to us are the claims about durability, HD-quality photos and video, mounting options, long battery life, and it is waterproof (to 197 feet/60M !!). It was a surprisingly easy sell to my wife because in addition to its angling applications, it could also be our new best friend for fantastic snorkeling videos.
So we are going to place our order for a new set of GoPro equipment very soon. In the meantime, we would love for those who have used the GoPro to post your comments, tips and feedback here for the rest of us. And for those, like us, who have not yet had the pleasure of trying it out yet, post your questions here… hopefully between all of us in online angling community, we can collect all the information needed to make the best purchase decision.
Tight Lines!
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Jump into a conversationDefinitely one of these in my future before spring! I’ve been searching for a good durable onboard camera for on my bass boat and this looks like it fits the bill. Thanks for all the info, great to know!
I have a feeling many of us are in the situation – happy to share what we learn…
I’ve used a GoPro Hero2 for most of this season, mostly in my kayak. I’d really like to have more of them, honestly. The more angles, the better the final video! However, it’s AWESOME for documenting the day’s catches.
The single greatest aspect of the GoPro, in my opinion, is the amazing versatility in mounting options. GoPro offers many mounts that can be used by fisherman, from the chest mount, to the head mount, and even using the suction cup mount and seatpost/handlebar mount. However, there is much more fun to be had in fabricating your own to get the angles you truly want. I’ve made mounts to fit my crate for kayak fishing, a backpack mount for fishing in boats, and many, many more. Examples of all of these can be found on my latest youtube video found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sapgtZXJDkc&feature=plcp
I have 2 suggestions for those wishing to document their fishing adventures (in order of importance):
1. Get extra batteries. And then get some more. On my Hero2, filming in either 1080p/30fps or 720p/60fps, I get roughly an hour and a half out of a battery. When you spend all day on the water, and you’re unsure of when you’re actually going to catch the next fish, you’re going to leave the camera running the whole time. In addition, the battery bacpac accessory is nice, allowing you to essentially double your battery life between changes. On the Hero2, this accessory also lets you change the battery within the bacpac and use it for charging your extra batteries. On the Hero3, the battery is fixed within the bacpac, so you don’t have this luxury.
2. Get a remote or utilize the smartphone app. With the remote, you can control settings on the GoPro or start/stop recording. While this may be of less importance on a boat where the camera is accessible, it’s still nice to just hit the button on the remote on your wrist. In my kayak, it is generally a little more difficult to access the gopro depending on where I’ve mounted it, so this is invaluable. You also can, at a glance, check battery life and memory available. With the smartphone app, you can also see a “live” preview to assure that your shot is framed as you want it to be. The caveat to using this on the Hero2 is that you have to purchase the wifi bacpac + remote. Using this bacpac, you will not be able to use the battery bacpac simultaneously. Additionally, there seems to be some decrease in battery life when in use, likely because of the need to create the preview for streaming to the app. On the Hero3, wifi is built-in. However, you have to purchase the remote should you choose to use it ($79, unless you purchased the black edition, in which the remote is included). Additionally, the smartphone app only works with the white and silver editions at this time, with an update to the black edition to add support expected in December 2012.
Hope this helps!
Jason, thanks for the info. I was already thinking that I’d need 2 GoPros but I am still unsure of mounting options. I want to have one mounted on my forehead and another mounted on my bass boat somewhere. I’m thinking that I may be able to utilize the 12 volt plug on my boat to power one of the cameras if not both. Battery life is definitely a concern. I don’t like to have to worry about changing batteries during the day so I may use this:
http://gopro.com/camera-accessories/auto-charger
and run a cable to the camera.
I’m already running independent batteries for the electronics and stereo (yes, I know it seems like overkill, but if you’ve ever run out of juice on Lake Ontario you know what I’m talking about)so I’m not worried about killing batteries on the water.
I’m leaning towards a Black and a Silver. Does anyone know if the remote can control more than 1 camera??
The Wifi remotes can control up to 50 cameras. It is simultaneous control, so all cameras will start/stop at the same time.
Keeping a USB charge onto the battery is an excellent idea, but to do so will require you to use the skeleton or frame backdoor, which leaves it exposed and not waterproof. I suppose you could work to remedy this by modifying the case itself, sealing the usb plug from the camera into a custom hole in the case, but I still wouldn’t submerge it.
Use the head strap for the forehead mount.
For somewhere else on the boat, check out my video:
Suction cup mounts start here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sapgtZXJDkc#t=6s
Backpack mount: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sapgtZXJDkc#t=56s
You can also fabricate your own creations. I love Mikey Ballz Fishing’s angle from the back of the boat. I believe he used standard plumbing fittings to fabricate that mount. You could possibly use the seatpost/handlebar mount from GoPro (http://gopro.com/products/) or the rollbar mount to attach it to the rear seat post. So many options, and I’m certain you’ll begin playing around with them and changing them up often.
We’ve ordered the Hero3 Black Edition – the estimated ship date is November 30th. But our local retailers have been advised to expect their stock in January 2013, at the earliest. We’re curious to know if direct web orders have been given shipping priority over major retailers, or if the retailers are right about the delays.
If you have also ordered the Hero3 Black Edition, post your comments here when you receive it!
Our Black Edition Hero 3 arrived by Fedex yesterday. Even after shipping costs, duty and brokerage fees, buying from the Gopro website was cheaper than from our local Canadian Best Buy or Futureshop.
We’re now working on a detailed review – stay tuned!
Ok – here’s the math on our purchase for any Canadians debating whether or not to purchase from a local store vs. direct online with GoPro:
Bestbuy.ca:
Hero3 Black Edition is $449.99
Battery backpack $49.99
13.5% HST on $499.99 $67.50
TOTAL = $567.50
GoPro website (link above in this post):
Hero3 Black Edition is $399.99
Battery backpack is $49.99
Shipping is $14.99
Taxes, duty & Fedex brokerage fee: $64.00
TOTAL = 538.97
The product tracking # and shipping confirmation was sent to us on a Wednesday morning, and we received it at our front door on the Thursday afternoon… not even 48 hours later.