Action Camera for a Weta

[Paul White]

Action Cameras are great for sharing your Weta activities on YouTube and social media sites but also for self-coaching and getting tips from others.

See separate post on Camera Mounts for mounting options.

Cameras

While GoPro is the brand leader for Action Cameras they probably aren’t the best choice for a wet boat like a Weta – mainly because of the battery life of 1hr unless you add an external battery pack (GoPro Bacpac) with an additional waterproof housing for the battery. Changing batteries with wet fingers between races isn’t the easiest procedure or safest for the boat or camera.

GoPro also started the trend for an “Instamatic-like” boxy camera format which may be fine on the handlebars of a bike but are great for catching a rope on a boat with the resulting splash as your camera flips off. Sony developed the more streamlined look which was copied by a few manufacturers, but be wary of mounting a camera on the bowsprit with a high profile and sharp edges which may damage the sail.

Also while some cameras are “Splash-proof” without a waterproof case, I’d recommend using an optional waterproof case as capsizing at speed will provide additional pressure compared to gently putting the camera in the water. And if you mount one on the mast it will be 7m deep if you capsize!

There are some cameras that offer extended battery life from the outset so you can set them going on shore (safer) and forget them until you return.

Be wary of very cheap no-name cameras and even copies of better Chinese brands (such as those listed here) which may claim to be fully waterproof (look for IPX8 or better) and have extended battery life but you may find they don’t live up to the claims and fittings are not marine grade stainless steel.

• This topic was modified 8 years, 4 months ago by Paul White.
• This topic was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by Paul White.
• This topic was modified 7 years, 7 months ago by Paul White.
• This topic was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by Paul White.
• This topic was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by Paul White.
• This topic was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by Paul White.
• This topic was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by Paul White.
• This topic was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by Paul White.

Topic

[Paul White]

Up

1

Down

::

Drift Ghost X – the best Weta camera (so far)

The main problem with most of the cameras listed previously is the limited battery life which might be fine on a dry yacht where you can change the battery but on a weta boat like the Weta, trying to change the battery on the water makes it likely you will get the camera or battery wet – or both.

The US $99 Drift Ghost X is one of the few affordable action cameras available with a 5hr battery without an external battery pack.

• 5 HOUR BATTERY LIFE – Longest battery life on the market filming at 1080P Full HD. Up to 8-hours battery life with the Long-life battery module (sold separately – NOTE not compatible with the waterproof case).
• ROTATING LENS – Easily align your shot regardless of the mounting position by turning the lens up to 300 degrees.
• VIDEO TAGGING – Capture unexpected moments after they happen.
• CLONE MODE – Users can sync up to 10 Ghost X or Ghost 4K cameras via WiFi. Start recording on one camera and all start recording. Change settings on one, and the rest will change.
• CAR DVR MODE – Use the Ghost X as a safety camera by recording continuously when plugged into a power supply. When power is cut, recording will stop and save the last interval. Great for insurance purposes.

It’s small size, light-weight and streamlined format makes it ideal for use on a boat and the light weight means it’s less likely to vibrate when mounted on a pole.

The downsides are that it requires the optional waterproof case, especially for a wet boat like the Weta, and only provides 1080p resolution. If you need higher resolution, there is a Ghost 4K available which also has remote control but battery life is reduced to 3hrs. The Ghost X It also lacks image stabilization but if you want to stabalise shaky video footage, there are video editing products and websites that will stabalise your video files.

An App is available for iOS or Android which enables you to change settings, preview the image, start and stop recording, transfer files and live-stream the footage. The App colour scheme makes it really hard to read in sunlight so I recommend using the buttons on the camera to start and stop recording.

NOTE It comes with a getting started guide which is OK but doesn’t cover everything. As Drift Innovation haven’t seen fit to produce a manual for the Ghost X, I’ve created one from the Ghost 4K manual with irrelevant features removed (e.g. Remote control) but also added information such as Clone Mode which isn’t covered in the Ghost 4K manual. Use it at your own risk but comments welcome. https://tinyurl.com/drift-ghost-x-manual

Tip: The camera is supplied without any mounts and they are available from Drift. However it is also compatible with standard 1/4″ tripod mounts and I recommend the SONY mounts as they use straps rather than thumbnuts (which means less for ropes to catch on) and also they use stainless steel parts. Don’t use Kaiser Bass or SP Gadets Mounts because they don’t use 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel.

Tip: If the water temperature is cooler than the air temperature, you may get condensation forming over the lens cover of the waterproof case and obscuring the image . You can get around this either by putting the camera in the case in front of an air conditioning vent to reduce the moisture (in the car for example), or by putting strips of paper towel in the gaps between the camera and the case (making sure you don’t obscure the lens).

Video review below

Available from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Drift-Ghost-Action-Camera-Built/dp/B07DGFYXTY

Cheaper from Aliexpress but note shipping time before purchase
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32870205206.html

• This reply was modified 3 years, 12 months ago by Paul White.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 12 months ago by Paul White.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 12 months ago by Paul White.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 12 months ago by Paul White.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 12 months ago by Paul White.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 12 months ago by Paul White.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by Paul White.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by Paul White.

[Author]

Replies