GoPro Hero 3 Substitute?

[Maxheadspace]

Seems like the majority of gimbal mounts come standard in GoPro Hero 3 size. I'm rather risk averse in plunking down that much money for the camera, since as a rather new flyer I'm likely to lose it to crash or other disaster. Anyone know of a GoPro Hero 3 clone camera that will fit a GoPro Hero 3 mount? The SJ4000 and WDV5000 seem close, but not exact dimensions. Maybe a Hero 2 clone?

Thanks!

Max

 

[Mike]

Not exact dimensions, but supposedly compatible with a lot of gopro stuff:

http://rctimer.com/product-1060.html

Gimbal that fits both the camera above and GoPro, so I assume a lot of others will.

http://rctimer.com/product-1076.html

Also - if it makes you feel any better, I've dropped a GoPro from 100 feet up or so. The copter required a lot of parts to be replaced, but no issues at all with the gopro. It did land in some mud though, so that might have softened the landing.... and I don't know if the camera took a direct hit. Plus, usually in the crash videos you see, the camera is still running after the copter hits the ground.

 

[Hugh Hemington]

There are a lot of "sports" cameras out there that will easily adapt to a GoPro mount. They generally run from $79 to over $200. The price jump seems to come with WiFi and/or the ability to capture 1920 x 1080 at 60fps. Some cameras don't have an integrated screen. A few don't have batteries. Most that have batteries will run on continuous power without them. The number and type of mounts differs too, but if you want a cam just for your quad, you don't need any mounts.

 

[John Doecliff]

I have an SJ4000 (and a gopro) I like it more than the gopro in some ways. It's only drawback is that it doesnt have a wifi remote. Other than that it has enough features to do most everything you want in a quad camera. The gopro has more featuers and options but 4 times the price as well. It looks like it will mount where a gopro normally would but it's a thicker camera so you would have to make some mods.

 

[Hugh Hemington]

I have an Astak, and other cams, but that is the only "GoPro equivalent" I own. The only drawback in it is you have to mount it upright to use if for simultaneous FPV because it will flip the recorded image, but not the real time image.
The best feature of any "sports" cam is that power turns it on and begins real time video output. That is the most irritating thing about my Boscam HD19; even though I'm supplying external power (because there is no battery) you have to reach up behind the mount and turn it on.

Looking at a lot of YouTube videos, I tend to find the GoPro cameras have a softer picture which may look more cinematic, but is less realistic. I cannot see myself buying a GoPro in the future.