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.

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[Pommie]

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I’ve had some great results with my Akaso Brave 4 Pro.

Much cheaper than a Go Pro. (£76.49 in Amazon Black Friday deals today)

I used to mount it using a suction mount and tether on the bow of my Supernova and with a handlebar mount to my rudder stock. The Brave 4 pro is not waterproof and the neither is the remote but the waterproof casing works fine and mine doesn’t steam up like my old GoPro used to.

Here is some footage I took with it in Greece this year on a Hobie 16

<iframe src=”//www.youtube.com/embed/fKNENR6KF5o” width=”560″ height=”314″ allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”></iframe>

As the Weta lockdown rod would get in the way of a similar setup on the rudder stock I think I will have to investigate the Suckastick option you showed us.

With regard to that when you refer to a 2 cm diameter carbon pole are you referring to internal or external diameter. I’m guessing from the other reference to “Stainless steel hose clamps to fit 2.5cm/1″ tube” that internal diameter 2cm external  2.5cm  would be ideal but a 1m length would cost  would only cost a few quid less than the camera! (£70!). Maybe a broom handle would work fine!

I did manage to lose a more expensive Akaso Brave 8 lite camera when I attached it to a cruiser using a flexible octopus tripod which promptly got knocked off when we deployed the mainsail. Lesson learned. Use a tether guys!

[Paul White]

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SJ C200 (See also the identical SJ C300 below which takes 4K video and has 3hr battery life)

SJ Cameras were one of the earliest of the Chinese manufacturers to produce good quality Action Cameras which were well made with a wide range including GoPro and Sony clones and now the small format C100/C200.

NOTE: Do not confuse the C200 with the C200 Pro – the Pro shoots in 4K resolution but the battery life is only 90 minutes. The C200 only shoots in 1080p but has a battery life of up to 150 minutes.

Features (more info here)
Battery life to 150 minutes
Image Stabilisation
Waterproof to 5m (40m with waterproof case)
1080p 30fps resolution/frame rate
WiFi remote via phone app
Metal body for heat dispensation
Adhesive mount included
154 deg wide lens angle
GoPro compatible attachment for waterproof case

Optional Extras
Wrist mounted waterproof remote control (via Bluetooth)

• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by Paul White.

[Paul White]

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The SJCAM C300 Pocket looks identical to the C200 but it has a 3 hour battery life at 1080p@ 30FPS (90 mins at “4K”*) and comes with a 10m IPX8 Perspex waterproof case. There is also an extended battery available which clips to the camera base but unfortunately it isn’t waterproof.
The C300 also works with the remote wrist control.
* Note that the specs claim the camera is capable of 4K recording but the chipset won’t allow it  – so the 4K recording is actually 1080p upscaled to produce a 4K image but a lower resolution result.

It does come supplied with a cable for an external power supply via the waterproof USB-C socket in the base of the camera but the male plug on the other end is USB – A. I have been unable to find an IPX8 seawater-proof power pack with a waterproof female USB-A Socket. You could put the power supply in an external waterproof case but you would need a way to make the cable run to the camera waterproof.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by Paul White.

[Paul White]

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If you discard the rudder Rod and use the bungee auto kickup setup instead you could still mount a camera on the tiller – but it is going to get a lot of spray there.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by Paul White.

[Paul White]

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Osmo Action 5 Pro

Another boxy camera like the GoPro but the Osmo Action has a 4hr battery life which makes it much more appealing.
20 m waterproof (60 m with waterproof case)
240 mins record time
4K 60FPS recording
Image stabilising
Bluetooth & Wifi

Optional Accessories
Waterproof Remote Control
Bluetooth microphone
3 Battery Pack with charger

The main downside is that’s it’s not cheap at over $550.
More here 

[Paul White]

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Drift Ghost X – the best Weta camera (DISCONTINUED).
NOTE: Do not buy the replacement Drift Ghost XL as it has no waterproof case and is only water resistant.

 

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