You guys ever use a Go Pro camera?

I have one and love it. I use it on my offroad adventures with my Jeep. The biggest challenge I've found with it so far is getting my computer to play and edit the videos. I had to dial the resolution on the GoPro way down (there's around 8--10 settings) in order to play them and to edit in Windows Movie Maker. Better resolution settings tend to chew up processing power. GoPro apparently has their own editing program you can buy, and I haven't used it so can't speak to that, but this is my experience so far.

What will you be using it for?

Chris

Mostly following the instructors around and recording what they are doing. Maybe placing the camera inside a few pieces of equipment (out of the way) to view internal functions.

 Once I'm done with it the maintenance and operations guys will use it out in the plant.  I suspect a regular camcorder would not hold up.  We need something cheap, simple and can be dropped on the concrete floor and survive.

Believe me, they can handle hitting the concrete. Mine hit the tarmac at triple digit speeds when I crashed on my motorcycle. Still works like the day I bought it.

I have the Hero 2, which I believe the Hero 4 is out now. Hero 2 would only do the fish eye view which was good for what I intended, but not sure if the Hero 4 offers a more standard view? 

Also, check the various GoPro website for different mounting options. Many of these are not included with the standard GoPro package. And these mounts are generally not that costly either.

Also, buy a second battery. I would get about 4 hours from a battery, then I could place the second charged battery to finish an 8 hour day at the track.

These things are bullet proof!  (Well maybe not bullet proof...I wouldnt actually try that) But, several of the guys and gals that we race with at the local track actually have been mounting them on the roll cages of the winged pavement sprint cars.  I've seen one that actually fell off during a race and was run over by a couple of the cars.  the case did break but the camera worked fine and didnt get damaged at all.

I've strapped them to airplanes a few times, both as backup on photo missions, and just for fun. I've done spins in a Cessna with a GoPro strapped to the tail, no issues, and the images were steady and crystal clear - the camera is amazingly stable and picture doesn't vibrate or buzz. Used an adapter kit to pull audio from the aircraft intercoms and radios, and used the GoPro app to control the camera from an iPhone. Very easy.

Editing the videos will require a computer with some processing power and free memory. Having a backup hard drive of at least 2TB to store files on is pretty much mandatory.

Sounds like a pretty good little gizmo.  I'll get an extra battery and some SD cards so that we can keep working.  The bulk of the data will be stored on our server so I should be ok on space.

Thanks!

I just got one for Christmas.  Would have been great when I was running my vintage race car (now stored in garage because I cannot maintain it).  Now I would like to buy or make a couple of drones (one flying, one ground based) to go places I cannot go myself.

I wouldn't call them cheap, by any means. My Hero 3 was around $500 including suction cup mount, handlebar mount, two batteries, and a memory card.

Chris