OT: Sony VX2100 vs. GoPro Hero3

DWhitevidman wrote on 12/3/2012, 6:09 PM

If there's a better place to ask this let me know.

I've about used the extent of my great Sony SD, and my only regret is I didn't go HD back when I bought it. That's the past.

I need to go HD, but instead of weddings, I'm now going to video more for fun and heavily considering the GoPro for Price, durability and size. People rave about the video quality, but that's why I' here.

In general, a sentence or two, what am I going to loose with the GoPro vs. another Sony $2k HD camera. Maybe stupid question, but with all the cameras and options aval today, I am literally driving myself crazy in trying to decide where to go and buy what next.

Comments

farss wrote on 12/3/2012, 6:31 PM

The GoPro is certainly great for what it designed for although there's now quite a range of other similar cameras coming out of China that are a lot cheaper.

What the GoPro and most of these cameras give up:

Sound, not an issue for what they're designed for.
Fixed very wide angle lens, having that solves other issues. Pretty well everything in front of the camera is going to be in focus. That saves money in lens design and manufacture and lets face who whilst plummeting to earth wants to worry too much about framing a shot and if it's in focus.
Latitude. Shots can get a bit gnarly with blown out highlights, you have little control over exposure and as there's no iris or ND filters feeding the sensor the right amount of light is impossible. Your video may suffer from the camera having to use fast shutter speeds to control exposure and sensor overload in highlights can produce some uglies.

Bob.

John_Cline wrote on 12/3/2012, 6:37 PM

The Sony HDR-CX760V got the Camcorderinfo.com "2012 Camcorder of the Year", it's a very capable general-purpose camcorder. I've seen some footage and it looks and sounds great.

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-Handycam-HDR-CX760V-Camcorder-Review

PeterWright wrote on 12/3/2012, 6:41 PM

I have a GoPro Hero (1) and a Sony HDR-AS15 Action cam, plus a Zoom Q3HD and a Sony Bloggie. All are remarkable as "extra" cameras, but could never replace a "real" camera where you have control over exposure, focus, zoom, audio, white balance etc.

farss wrote on 12/3/2012, 7:08 PM

We have the "pro" variant, the NX30.
Half of the following was shot with it and half with an EX1.

Bob.

DWhitevidman wrote on 12/3/2012, 7:41 PM

Thank you so much to all of you. As usual the video community comes through.

rstrong wrote on 12/3/2012, 10:34 PM

Don't waste your money on a GoPro........Listen to these guys, use it on a good camcorder.

robert

videoITguy wrote on 12/3/2012, 10:56 PM

GoPro is a serious camera but MAKE that serious for only certain kinds of photography. It would NOT be a choice if you could have only ONE camera, and you were in the past used to the control and performance of a good camcorder like the VX2100.

Andy_L wrote on 12/3/2012, 11:57 PM

The GoPro is a helmet cam, a tool specifically designed to capture POV shots. It does that very well, maybe even brilliantly. But I think you'd go insane if it was the only camera you had, and you were trying to get all the other shots you want.

Rory Cooper wrote on 12/4/2012, 3:38 AM

You mentioned that you want a cam for more “FUN” THE best type of shots for messing around AND taking chances that you wouldn’t with a standard camcorder.

For fun you can’t beat a GoPro. Light ads from this forum and I went to the Mascarene Islands 5 months ago

He took along a GoPro 2 on a monopod pole which we stuck, prodded, pushed everywhere, under boats, catamarans, cars, head shots over crowds etc
I had a Sony NEX VG20 but for crowded places I battled to get anything decent with it.

If possible get a GoPro and a cheaper HD cam

some fun clips I put together from the two cams the 2012 Mauritian Carnival with GoPro 2 & Sony VG20.
http://goo.gl/cAqhY

beautiful place, some fun stuff driving up the mountains and volcano, muddy wet and rainy, water on lens etc sightseeing.
http://goo.gl/VpgJD

DWhitevidman wrote on 12/4/2012, 8:19 PM

2nd thanks to everyone.

Rory, your samples told the story and immediately helped me understand the huge difference in how these cameras interpret live video.

Thanks bigtime.

FilmingPhotoGuy wrote on 12/5/2012, 2:50 AM

Yea, Rory and I had a fantastic filming holiday in Mauritius.

I used the GoPro2 everyday on a 6 foot, home modified collapsible mono-pod giving me about 13 feet height (me=6 foot + arm). Great for those overhead shots. When snorkeling I could put the GoPro into the coral spaces and because Mauritius water is like glass our footage was incredible.

The GoPro is an action camera and is great as a second camera. I had the GoPro1 and upgraded to GoPro2 and am waiting for the upgrade to the GoPro Hero 3 Black edition. Come standard with water proof case.

Craig

warriorking wrote on 12/5/2012, 10:43 AM

I just ordered a GoPro3 white edition it should arrive tomorrow.
For the price I could not pass it up, with the wireless feature now built in I can watch my footage from my android with the new GoPro ap thus allowing camera adjustments as needed....It will have its limitations but should fit in well with my NX5U, AX2000,HG21,HG10 for certain kinds of footage..