Very Quick
"without it all are muffled, which might be desirable for those only wanting to really capture video or don't mind the sound being low volume - You'll also want to disable the indicator light on the front of the camera (again a one time setting change) that flashes when the camera is recording as it will likely reflect off the windshield especially at night."
"The reason I got this version is because it allows you to capture video and pictures at the same level as the previous 299 model, with less than half the cost commitment."
"One is you need to update to latest firmware (think that is my problem as I am using the firmware that came with the cam) and maybe it has to do with the memory card (need to reformat and check list of recommended cards...."
"I lost my waterproof backdoor and had to order the floating backdoor to get a new waterproof backdoor{side side note, the floating backdoor has a hero3/3+ backdoor, BUT does come with a smaller door no clue why this is done like that but that is your replacement waterproof backdoor}) So all in all Picture quality: 8/10 For the price of this vs the quality you get the video does lack because of the low FPS but it is tolerable."
"Pros- -Amazing quality when captured in well-lit places - Very sturdy -Great versatility with the mounts and included stands -Fun to use -Great price Cons- -Not great in dark places -Lack of playback makes it difficult to know if your camera is at the right angle or setting\ -Short battery life -Screen hard to see in the sun -Some might have trouble figuring it out upon first receiving the item I purchased my GoPro with a chesty harness."
"This little camera is so easy to pack, carry, and use -- one can quickly get some nice wide-angle video and pictures, at those times when you suddenly see something you want to shoot."
"So if you are looking for something that will take good video but does not have the connectivity or software then this is for you."
GoPro HERO Starter Bundle (No Wi-Fi) (Compare Deals from $139.99)
Quick
"You can find several aftermarket ones like I did for $10 or less - If you hang it from the windshield it will be upside down but you can change the video recording orientation so videos appear normal (this is a one time setting change) - You'll want to install the skeleton back cover which is included (not waterproof and exposes the USB port) which is fine for use where you won't be coming in contact with water... without it all are muffled, which might be desirable for those only wanting to really capture video or don't mind the sound being low volume - You'll also want to disable the indicator light on the front of the camera (again a one time setting change) that flashes when the camera is recording as it will likely reflect off the windshield especially at night... They are adhesive mounts that aren't going to work well on a car dash and my car is leased so didn't want to take a chance there but if you search Amazon for GoPro accessories you'll find many and I'm sure there are alternate ways of mounting the camera as well."
"The reason I got this version is because it allows you to capture video and pictures at the same level as the previous 299 model, with less than half the cost commitment... I should have checked the specs more carefully, but didn't notice until I was trying to connect and noticed it didn't have the wifi button... The videos are clear, sharp, and captures such a wide shot that you hardly feel like you're missing anything."
"I have not tested the number of hours it takes to fill a 32GB card but from other reviews, it appears to be about 5 to 6 hours... What eventually worked was holding the ON/OFF button for about 10 seconds (found this info on GoPro site)... One is you need to update to latest firmware (think that is my problem as I am using the firmware that came with the cam) and maybe it has to do with the memory card (need to reformat and check list of recommended cards...."
"I lost my waterproof backdoor and had to order the floating backdoor to get a new waterproof backdoor{side side note, the floating backdoor has a hero3/3+ backdoor, BUT does come with a smaller door no clue why this is done like that but that is your replacement waterproof backdoor}) So all in all Picture quality: 8/10 For the price of this vs the quality you get the video does lack because of the low FPS but it is tolerable... 5/10 Although I say how well it is, eventually that 1080P is going to look bad and the frame rate will bother you (did from day one for me!... If you treat your technology right, you may be able to give this to your kid, even though it will most likely make you feel so behind on technology and "uncool" Overall 8/10 Being limited to battery does hurt this so much, along with the limitation to 32GB of storage and only 30FPS @1080 This does stick out like a soar thumb just as a warning, This is primarily my dash cam and people just stare at it like you are screaming at them through the window, BUT!"
"Pros- -Amazing quality when captured in well-lit places - Very sturdy -Great versatility with the mounts and included stands -Fun to use -Great price Cons- -Not great in dark places -Lack of playback makes it difficult to know if your camera is at the right angle or setting\ -Short battery life -Screen hard to see in the sun -Some might have trouble figuring it out upon first receiving the item I purchased my GoPro with a chesty harness... This is something that could be solved with instant playback, but remember which buttons to press for record or photo burst should make solve that problem... ***********Lastly, don't forget a micro-sd card when purchasing one of these because they come separate."
"This little camera is so easy to pack, carry, and use -- one can quickly get some nice wide-angle video and pictures, at those times when you suddenly see something you want to shoot... This camera works very poorly for hand held moving shots -- I filmed a lot just by holding onto a mounting accessory -- any slight movement made pictures blurry (and useless) and videos hard to watch due to all the shaking... No LCD viewer -- of course it would be easier with an LCD screen on the back showing what you are taking, even a very rudimentary one -- but the wide angle lens makes it pretty easy to guess."
"First off as near as I can tell the android app is completely useless for this version because it does not have wifi or bluetooth or any connectivity outside the mini usb cable... In fact just the process of syncing up the data seems to get hung and I end up just removing the sd card and using a card reader to get the video off the device every time I have wanted to do so... So if you are looking for something that will take good video but does not have the connectivity or software then this is for you."
Less Quick
"We came as close as could be to getting in a head on collision when another driver, talking on his cell phone veered into my lane and we missed by inches and when the Falcon didn't record it (even though it was on and appeared to be) I realized it's time to move on... The GoPro Hero is durable, can stand up to heat/cold extreme temps while sitting in a car outside for extended periods of time and at $129 it was cheaper than the Falcon or most others and it isn't a $500 GoPro 4 that I'd be nervous about leaving in my car in the first place... You can find several aftermarket ones like I did for $10 or less - If you hang it from the windshield it will be upside down but you can change the video recording orientation so videos appear normal (this is a one time setting change) - You'll want to install the skeleton back cover which is included (not waterproof and exposes the USB port) which is fine for use where you won't be coming in contact with water... without it all are muffled, which might be desirable for those only wanting to really capture video or don't mind the sound being low volume - You'll also want to disable the indicator light on the front of the camera (again a one time setting change) that flashes when the camera is recording as it will likely reflect off the windshield especially at night. There is a rear indicator light that basically let's you know it's recording which I haven't observed it interfering with the video - Lining it up can be a bit of a challenge as there isn't a rear LCD display (to show you what's being recorded) but I actually like this... They are adhesive mounts that aren't going to work well on a car dash and my car is leased so didn't want to take a chance there but if you search Amazon for GoPro accessories you'll find many and I'm sure there are alternate ways of mounting the camera as well... Again I can't emphasize enough what a good, durable and reliable camera this is and if you can live with manually turning it on and off I personally think it's superior to any other purpose built dash cam (at least consumer grade) on the market in the same price range."
"The reason I got this version is because it allows you to capture video and pictures at the same level as the previous 299 model, with less than half the cost commitment... I initially thought I'd be able to use this with the GoPro phone app -- I was wrong... I should have checked the specs more carefully, but didn't notice until I was trying to connect and noticed it didn't have the wifi button... The back can be replaced if broken, but don't think about breaking any other part of the shell... I don't need to film more than 2 hours at a time, so the battery life is perfectly fine for me... The videos are clear, sharp, and captures such a wide shot that you hardly feel like you're missing anything... Metered Home Internet is already in play here (you should pre-loathe the day TWC and Comcast start doing this); every GB that I upload/download is precious and not to be wasted."
"I have not tested the number of hours it takes to fill a 32GB card but from other reviews, it appears to be about 5 to 6 hours... If they could allow this one feature (to over-write existing footage) in a future firmware, it would make it a great dash cam. Just let it fill up the card and over-write again and again until there is an accident and you want to keep that footage for insurance or reporting reasons... However, the Hero entry level has SuperView in 720p / 60 mode and the White does NOT have SuperView... Only drawback is you have to format the card once full and there is NO time-date stamp on the video... What eventually worked was holding the ON/OFF button for about 10 seconds (found this info on GoPro site)... One is you need to update to latest firmware (think that is my problem as I am using the firmware that came with the cam) and maybe it has to do with the memory card (need to reformat and check list of recommended cards...."
"Yes the best you can do is 1080P @30FPS, which does suck sometimes if you do auto racing you can notice it a bit (if your eyes are trained to 60FPS or higher [gaming])... If you are going to use this as a dashcam like I do most of the time I'd recommend using the voice case and get a USB adapter and extender for your car... I lost my waterproof backdoor and had to order the floating backdoor to get a new waterproof backdoor{side side note, the floating backdoor has a hero3/3+ backdoor, BUT does come with a smaller door no clue why this is done like that but that is your replacement waterproof backdoor}) So all in all Picture quality: 8/10 For the price of this vs the quality you get the video does lack because of the low FPS but it is tolerable... Price: 10/10 For the Price and the quality it really is well made, waterproof, and gives you an amazing entry level camera without digging into your pockets... 5/10 Although I say how well it is, eventually that 1080P is going to look bad and the frame rate will bother you (did from day one for me!... If you treat your technology right, you may be able to give this to your kid, even though it will most likely make you feel so behind on technology and "uncool" Overall 8/10 Being limited to battery does hurt this so much, along with the limitation to 32GB of storage and only 30FPS @1080 This does stick out like a soar thumb just as a warning, This is primarily my dash cam and people just stare at it like you are screaming at them through the window, BUT! being so obvious people rage less knowing that they are being recorded and will not get away with lying to the cops trying to get a "juvenile delinquent's" license revoked."
"Keep in mind that this device is not really meant to be a standard camera, but an action camera... Pros- -Amazing quality when captured in well-lit places - Very sturdy -Great versatility with the mounts and included stands -Fun to use -Great price Cons- -Not great in dark places -Lack of playback makes it difficult to know if your camera is at the right angle or setting\ -Short battery life -Screen hard to see in the sun -Some might have trouble figuring it out upon first receiving the item I purchased my GoPro with a chesty harness... You can also buy a GoPro harness specifically for dogs but the chesty harness worked great for me... When trying to record video on the ropes course the sun made it difficult to see the settings on the camera and I ended up having it on photo burst instead of video recording. This is something that could be solved with instant playback, but remember which buttons to press for record or photo burst should make solve that problem... ***********Lastly, don't forget a micro-sd card when purchasing one of these because they come separate. You will not be able to record video or take pictures without one!"
"As I've just come back from a trip for a couple weeks and put this camera to the test, it's now time for an honest review... This little camera is so easy to pack, carry, and use -- one can quickly get some nice wide-angle video and pictures, at those times when you suddenly see something you want to shoot... The wide angle lens makes it easy to point and shoot, as wherever you point you will be covering most of the view -- and some of your shots will be stunning... The microphone works quite well also, picking up a fair bit of detail, as long as there is not too much extra noise around you... This camera works very poorly for hand held moving shots -- I filmed a lot just by holding onto a mounting accessory -- any slight movement made pictures blurry (and useless) and videos hard to watch due to all the shaking... No LCD viewer -- of course it would be easier with an LCD screen on the back showing what you are taking, even a very rudimentary one -- but the wide angle lens makes it pretty easy to guess... Of course they have no bearing on the camera's functionality (and don't contribute to my rating), but do speak about the company's supply chain and/or QA."
"Had never used a gopro before this so wanted to try one out without shelling out too many bucks... However this gopro version seems to a miss in several important areas like connectivity and software. First off as near as I can tell the android app is completely useless for this version because it does not have wifi or bluetooth or any connectivity outside the mini usb cable. The tools you can get from the gopro site do not do much for it either in my opinion. In fact just the process of syncing up the data seems to get hung and I end up just removing the sd card and using a card reader to get the video off the device every time I have wanted to do so... So if you are looking for something that will take good video but does not have the connectivity or software then this is for you... I will say the video quality is its only redeeming feature but don't expect any bells and whistles outside that."
