Which camera do you use

[silverbear]

Thought I'd give some update on my venture into the world of action video. The used gopro2 with wifi bacpack I bought from an ebay auction came and I have since sprung for an SJ5000 with wifi which has not come yet. I had ordered a wing camera from Hobby King, but the order didn't go through so I bought the SJ5000 instead.

Google has been my friend in helping me get ready for trying out these cameras and eventually doing some editing. One thing I learned is that I need to be able to access Gopro's software for upgrading the gopro2. I also want to be able to use their editing software. Initially it looked like my XP laptop would suffice, but gopro has upgraded their software and now Vista and better is required to even download it.

After trying to upgrade my O.S. from XP to Windows 7 (my brother's disc) without success (no need to go into why) I decided I needed a better laptop, but lack the funds for anything new. I also studied what kind of processing power and memory would be needed and used that information as a guideline in finding a suitable laptop.

i bought a used HP Elitebook on ebay which had no OS loaded but was licensed for Vista. It arrived and is a really nice machine... however it would not allow me to load windows 7 on it saying the disc code was not valid, which it was, but whatever. So I have sent off for Vista software which I will load using the licensing code on the laptop. Should be no conflict there. I'd rather have Windows 7, but don't plan on using the Windows OS for much anyway. For most things I use a linux based chromebook which is pretty well limited to online use. (Very fast and pretty well virus proof.) The new to me HP will be dual boot for Vista and Ubuntu 14.4 which I have already loaded. Vista will be for what is unique to Windows and for downloading the software needed for the Gopro camera and for the editing software, not for web surfing or email.

I'm exploring now the editing software appropriate for Gopro and the SJ5000 cameras in the linux world of Ubuntu and it sounds promising. Whatever processing power and memory the HP laptop possesses will be better utilized in the more bare bones linux OS, but I'll try different software in both linux and Windows and see what works best for what I want to do.

What a lot of hassle and detective work, but I kind of knew that it would be when I embarked on this venture. I wanted something to keep me busy through this coming winter and it looks like this is it. Beats TV which I don't have and slot machines at the Indian casino which I can't afford. I waste my money instead on things like motorbike junk and electronic trinkets such as little cameras and old laptops. Cheaper than drinking and smoking cigs though. Better for an old bear's health, too.

No bike videos coming up since the bikes are put away for the winter, but I'll try to do some things utilizing the same kinds of editing I want to do with the bike. The subject will probably be something really exciting like walking through the snow to the mailbox with the dog. Action video at its most boring. But I can wear a camera on one trip and set up a camera on a tripod for us approaching, Try a camera on a monopod for something from the dog's point of view and set up the camera on the tripod for walking away from the scene. Then cutting and editing and getting some experience with mixing live sounds with something else. Music I suppose. Like what... "These Boots Were Made For Walking" comes to mind out of the stuff I never liked vault of me memory bank. Christmas crap, perhaps... "let it snow, let it snow let it snow... blah blah blah. Anyway, it will give me practice and I can try out remotely starting and stopping the tripod camera with my iphone via wifi. Cool beans.

If you read through this whole ramble, well I'm sorry about that but it is what old people do when they wake up in the night. You could be polite and smile while discretely shutting off your hearing aid or make a more definitive statement with the delete key.
SB

 

[silverbear]

Thought I'd check on the progress of my SJ5000 camera purchased through Amazon at an amazing $79.00 including shipping since I've been kind of looking for it in the mail. I come to discover it is in transit and should arrive in the second week of December. What???

Amazon is not doing the shipping, the vendor is. So the free shipping is due to the camera arriving inside a bottle tossed into the China Sea with an address on the cork or it is coming by rowboat or maybe a Chinese Junk without sails. So that's the catch. If you're in a hurry, maybe paying a few more bucks is worth it. I'm not in a hurry and I am cheap, so I can wait. At least there is tracking to show the progress of the bottle drifting along on the world's ocean currents.

In the meantime I wait for a Vista install disc and study video editing programs. Since I figured on doing my editing with linux (to maximize my laptop's memory and processing speed due to a streamlined operating system, especially compared to that of Vista) I have been studying Openshot Video Editor and have joined their user forum as a result. This looks like terrific open source free software and in the near future it will be available as a download (again for free) for both Windows and Apple.

Here's a link to a review...
http://www.pcworld.com/article/230531/free_openshot_video_editor_is_tremendous.html

This looks like the best thing out there and is still in development. This is the one I'm going to study, although once I have access to a windows machine I'll give gopro studio and windows moviemaker a try. I want to be able to do a dissolve as a transition from one clip to another suggesting a passage of time or local. A dissolve in film work was done by overlapping two sets of images, the first one fading out as the second fades in giving the sense of one image dissolving or morphing into the other. A very nice transition. I learn from Openshot forum members that it is easy to do with openshot. Yay... Audio dissolves, too, can be done. Cool beans. Can't wait. Wonder how my bottle of camera is doing... just now leaving the China Sea with the Pacific Ocean in view. I hope the camera is turned on, but wonder how long the battery is good for. Probably get seasick watching it bob along. I'll find out when it gets here and will share the video.
SB

 

[Greg58]

Silverbear I made the same mistake once when I ordered a video capture device to transfer from vhs to my computer and burn movies to DVD's. I hate to tell you this but it took so long that the seller refunded my money because they thought that maybe the shipment got lost
or maybe the ship sunk. I ordered one from a U.S. vendor and started making DVDs, about a month after I got my refund the device shows up. It was about 3 months from order to delivery. I emailed the vendor and repaid them for it, then sold it to a co-worker.

 

[scotto-]

That is one of your best qualities silverbear......your sense of humor, it's never ending and you express it so well!!! I love reading all of your posts not only for the knowledge you convey, but all the wit and humor that goes along with it. Keep it up ol' bear!

Thought I'd check on the progress of my SJ5000 camera purchased through Amazon at an amazing $79.00 including shipping since I've been kind of looking for it in the mail. I come to discover it is in transit and should arrive in the second week of December. What???

Amazon is not doing the shipping, the vendor is. So the free shipping is due to the camera arriving inside a bottle tossed into the China Sea with an address on the cork or it is coming by rowboat or maybe a Chinese Junk without sails. So that's the catch. If you're in a hurry, maybe paying a few more bucks is worth it. I'm not in a hurry and I am cheap, so I can wait. At least there is tracking to show the progress of the bottle drifting along on the world's ocean currents.

In the meantime I wait for a Vista install disc and study video editing programs. Since I figured on doing my editing with linux (to maximize my laptop's memory and processing speed due to a streamlined operating system, especially compared to that of Vista) I have been studying Openshot Video Editor and have joined their user forum as a result. This looks like terrific open source free software and in the near future it will be available as a download (again for free) for both Windows and Apple.

Here's a link to a review...
http://www.pcworld.com/article/230531/free_openshot_video_editor_is_tremendous.html

This looks like the best thing out there and is still in development. This is the one I'm going to study, although once I have access to a windows machine I'll give gopro studio and windows moviemaker a try. I want to be able to do a dissolve as a transition from one clip to another suggesting a passage of time or local. A dissolve in film work was done by overlapping two sets of images, the first one fading out as the second fades in giving the sense of one image dissolving or morphing into the other. A very nice transition. I learn from Openshot forum members that it is easy to do with openshot. Yay... Audio dissolves, too, can be done. Cool beans. Can't wait. Wonder how my bottle of camera is doing... just now leaving the China Sea with the Pacific Ocean in view. I hope the camera is turned on, but wonder how long the battery is good for. Probably get seasick watching it bob along. I'll find out when it gets here and will share the video.
SB

 

[silverbear]

Greg, Just looked again to check on my camera in a bottle. I exaggerated I guess when I said second week of December. I am told it will arrive On December 5th by 8:00 in the evening. They must have tossed lots of bottles before to know just how long it will take to drift here. Good thing the camera has it's own waterproof case just like the gopro realdeal.
Your hoped for Christmas Gopro will arrive by sleigh not long after my clone gets here.

Scotto, thanks for your kind words, sir.
SB

 

[MEASURE TWICE]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NOPIDA2/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A18D06A9GKRAFS

Is this the same as the one you ordered. I see it has 5 to 8 days and free shipping fullfilled by Amazon.


CIYOYO SJ5000(SJ4000 Smart WIFI Vesion) Waterproof Helmet Sports DV Car Recorder Diving Bicycle Action Camera Outdoor HD VCR/CAR DVR/Camera G-Senor Motorbike Camcorder 1.5"TFT 12.0MP 1080P for IOS iphone Android phone 4/5s/5c/6 Samsung Note2/3/4 S2/S3/S4/S5 HTC(Yellow)
by CIYOYO

I have an android with 4.1.2 so I guess it is compatible.

But if my laptop has Wifi and it has Win7 does this mean you in some way before videos from the camera get to the PC it has to some way use the Andriod 1st?

I'm thinking that that although I am not using this as an extra, being in sort of an economical sense, it has Wifi and the rear TFT screen, for cheap it does a bit.

Thanks

Turning down the hearing aid.... haha.... I like!

PS shipping is charged if you don't take the selection from I think 3 days as default and change it to 5-8days

 

[silverbear]

That is basically it. There were several versions, one being black and I think it was the last one. Or maybe it was silver. Anyway, it was that camera, but not yellow. Hadda have that one! Not the yellow one! As if that matters one whit. (Like red cars are faster than white ones... everbody knows that.)

The shipping was not through Prime, which I use whenever I can, but was through the seller. Good to see that this one is through prime (snif). I was mostly focused on the features (yes, impressive) and the reviews I had read about the SJ5000. Some big outfit makes the camera and then the different sellers have the housing made with their logo. So Hobby King sells the same camera with their logo for example, but for closer to $100.00 not counting shipping. The old bear was dazzled by the dollars saved. Anyway I'm quite sure there was no option on the shipping, like choose between the USPS, Fedex, UPS or POS (Pacific Ocean Service) or three days verses twelth of never. Not sure how I got mine shipped in a bottle. According to this ad I could order one tonight (this morning) and have it here in a few days. It could be waiting at the door for it's cousin to arrive a month later in December. I ordered this just before my post on whattadeal it was. Couple weeks ago I think.

I also like purchasing through Amazon because if the camera turned out to be a dud dead on arrival or not what was advertised they would make good on the purchase.

If you order one, let us know how you like it.

The business about windows 7 and such was in reference to Gopro software which is a download. I don't know about how this SJ5000 clone works. Perhaps I will learn upon it's arrival that I need to order a software installation disc which will be shipped for free via PCP (pacific carrier pigeon) and if not attacked by an Osprey or some such should arrive at my door before the new year. Can't wait!
SB

 

[silverbear]

Measure Twice,
Sorry that I failed to address your question...

"But if my laptop has Wifi and it has Win7 does this mean you in some way before videos from the camera get to the PC it has to some way use the Andriod 1st?"

The reference to Android and Iphone is for communicating via wifi with the camera, like a remote control. Say you have the camera on a tripod all set to catch your smiling face as you ride by. As you are ready to make the shot where you will ride by the tripod and while still sitting there on your bike immobile, you pull out your smart phone and turn on the SJ5000 camera remotely, check that it is "seeing" what you want it to "see" and off you go making the ride by. Out of view of the CJ5000 you stop the bike, turn on the smart phone, review the digital footage to assure yourself that you got what you were looking to get with no bugs on your teeth or your fly down, shut off the camera. You got it. You are your own video crew. If you are operating the camera by hand you don't need to use the wifi. But it is there if you want to use it or if later on you want to look at the footage on a bigger screen than what is on the back of the camera. You can also use the phone to change settings in the camera. Nice.

Once back home you fire up the laptop, connect the action camera to it by USB cable or remove the SD card and insert it into the laptop directly so that you can transfer the files and then delete them from your SD card. Now you're ready to edit and or upload the file to wherever it is going... Utube perhaps, or to be burned on a disc. This is my understanding anyway. I haven't done it and won't until a MONTH AFTER YOU HAVE, but I'm not complaining, mind you...
SB

 

[MEASURE TWICE]

I like for yellow color as with surface light filtered down a few atmospheres in the water column, while I am on scuba the camera is easier to see when it floods and is on the bottom.

I got a trial prime to get it next week so I'll see how out works. An extra battery to have I'm not sure if either of these are ones that fit, I saw on Amazon. All state for SJ4000. Some not in stock others are. All ship from China.

These are not prime so slow boat from.... haha?

Also wondered if SJ4000 battery fits SJ5000 the one I ordered. If it is just the same thing for the camera, but a SJ4000 added to it WiFi battery same?

Video at 3min 45 sec mark see about different sizes and what fits.

I got a you tube explanation of some battery for difference in clone SJ4000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64_J2OGQAaE

Seems battery size dimensions are different. But could not find info if my CIYOYO SJ5000(SJ4000 Smart WIFI Version) is compatible.

Holding off till I get back response from email to China. Is email faster than the shipping method you choose?

Similarly, I did once take 1.5 month for something I ordered from over seas, it turned out to be a flimsy antenna to replace the broken one in my portable radio. I got a full refund, but had to send pictures and Amazon helped some.

If we could be so lucky the videos on YouTube are real and maybe I don't get a clone of a clone. Well you know Gopro is tier 1, then clone 1, clone of........

MT

 

[silverbear]

I got almost three minutes into the video and gave up trying to understand 200 jabberwoky words equalling a sentence in translated subtitle. Is it a real clone or a clone of a clone otherwise known as "son of clone, barbarian cameraman". Don't know. As for the battery I also don't know. What language was that, do you know? Sounded a little like cyborg, I think, so it could have been an interplanetary wifi transmission. Possibly. Highly mysterious.
SB

 

[MEASURE TWICE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnHDu-oW7_Y&feature=youtu.be

I could understand English, but this is true English on this video or maybe the Land Down Under accent.

Still waiting for a response from Amazon seller on battery compatibility.

Trying to find the video where one of these cameras is on a rc copter and looses control and crashes. Camera intact still. We can be so lucky.

MT

 

[MEASURE TWICE]

Changed camera and found what I hear is the original. It is that the extra batteries you buy for the knock offs of SJCAM like what I have to return are a problem for SJCAM knock off owners. They won't fit. Anyway lucky no cost in either direction for return and refund.

The picture of camera on Amazon, says on lower right front of camera SJCAM, the one I am switching to that is.

The SJ5000 is not from what I hear a SJCAM origonal, as SJCAM does not use that name. They call if SJ4000 WiFi version.

SJCAM Original SJ4000 WiFi Action Camera 12MP 1080P H.264 1.5 Inch 170° Wide Angle Lens Waterproof Diving HD Camcorder Car DVR with Free Makibes Cleaning Cloth (Black)
by Makibes


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MIT658W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The batteries I am getting from an Amazon seller in the states in NY.


Sunco® DREAM 2 OR SJ4000 Action Video Camera Rechargeable Battery-2 pack
by Sunco


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K5MAHL0/ref=gno_cart_title_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1KR7S1NV7VDV0

 

[silverbear]

Do you mean to say that the original clone of the original gopro is the one you got and what I got is a knockoff of the knockoff of the gopro? Good heavens! To think that the
Chinese might copy something is a shock to me system. Who would have thought it? Why there should be a law! And if there isn't we should find one in another country and clone it!

So long as it works I'll be happy. If it doesn't then I'll deal with amazon over the matter. That is I will when it finally gets here IN DECEMBER.

Good luck with your batteries. I'll open up the camera and see what's in there and when I need batteries get ones which are the same or better.
SB

 

[MEASURE TWICE]

I think you understand. Amazon is good on returns. I must say I probably pushed the limits when switching or returning and buying again what I changed my mind to. I checked the company web site for CIYOYO, and had to use Google to translate. Still I did not see the camera. Watches and also news for tablets I saw.

I suspect it works, unless the posts for it are all fabricated for good marks on Amazon. You should be OK. The battery replacement to fit it is what turned me to go with original SJCAM. I forgot I could have got it in another color, but black will do.

MT

 

[MEASURE TWICE]

From GeekBuying at Amazon they sent me this a bit too late. I got batteries from another that mentioned it was for the origonal SJ Cam SJ4000 as I decided to not get the SJ5000. I am yet to have them arrive, but I have the camera SJ4000 now. The seller for what is for the origonal:
Sunco® DREAM 2 OR SJ4000 Action Video Camera Rechargeable Battery-2 pack
Electronics
Sold by Dreamall
Condition: New
$16.99
for two batteries
===============================
This seller knows there is a difference for if you did not get an original ie the SJ5000.
I guess they have both batteries available.

[email protected]

hello customer

good afternoon, thanks for your email, could you tell us you want to buy the battery for SJ 4000 wifi version ? or buy the battery for SJ5000?

and then we will make a special link for the battery for you, because the SJ4000 's battery and SJ 5000's battery are different

looking forward to your fast reply

thanks
Anna

===============================

Hey SB, Maybe if you contact them and see whats up if you need spare batteries for SJ5000 at this GeekBuying?

Possibly the Dreamall also has a way of getting clone clone batteries. Haven't had time yet to see how nice a cheapo kinda GoPro or GoNoPro is that I got?

MT

 

[silverbear]

What do they mean about making a link for you? To make the right batteries work in the wrong camera or the wrong batteries to work in the right camera? Getting dizzy. I think I'll just wait and see if the camera ever gets here and if under the barnacles and seaweed packing material it even works. I'm hoping it does at least long enough to wear out the batteries that are in it. Your camera is due to arrive soon... cool! Mine is... on the way taking the scenic route.
SB

 

[Greg58]

M/T did you say that the camera has arrived? If so be sure to do a video test so we can all see how it does. I have a Emerson HD camera that has a built in battery that lasts pretty good, the battery will last longer than SD card space when shooting in HD . It doesn't have shake compensation and it doesn't have a wide angle lens, I need the shake compensation because I move my head too much. Like I've posted before my videos make me look spastic because I'm constantly moving my head and thus the camera.

 

[Rudz]

Found US sellers of the SJ4000 on eBay, $50 shipped

 

[silverbear]

Found US sellers of the SJ4000 on eBay, $50 shipped

If you buy one let us know how it works out... good seller or not.
SB

 

[MEASURE TWICE]

M/T did you say that the camera has arrived? If so be sure to do a video test so we can all see how it does. I have a Emerson HD camera that has a built in battery that lasts pretty good, the battery will last longer than SD card space when shooting in HD . It doesn't have shake compensation and it doesn't have a wide angle lens, I need the shake compensation because I move my head too much. Like I've posted before my videos make me look spastic because I'm constantly moving my head and thus the camera.

From another explaining some things about the camera I have, SJ4000 WiFi it is that the shake compensation is only for still pictures. This seems strange since it is needed mostly for video I thought. I'll have to check on that, maybe I heard it wrong. I though would not have miss heard that it was one or the other though, so I'll find that out.

One other is that even though it says in the manual you may charge the battery from computer USB, that it does not unless the USB port puts out 1amp (1000mA). It also mention car charger included, that should be a useful way, I'll have to try.

If I recall the few times I got these other items, little finger lights that are made over seas, over half of the lights did not work as the switch was such that it turned on the lights by accident. On a subsequent Amazon order it happened with a different vendor. Amazon gave some compensation to make up for it.

What I heard from that same person evaluating the SJ4000, back to the camera, was that it can turn on accidentally since there is no delay for waiting to have the on button pressed for a while. I read in the tiny print in the manual that it must be pressed for a few seconds to turn on, and maybe if I recall off too.

The evaluator mentioned maybe that could update the firmware to put in the delay. I guess they must have. Wearing out batteries inadvertently even if they can be re-charged overall is not a good deal.

Another camera I bough, a Canon Powershot camera for about 100 dollars, it was damaged since the camera would go on when in my pack trail riding. Then one day about 3 years after purchase the bellows got stuck and the camera is toast. The camera had not enough space to allow the belows to open and I guess wore out the gears when it tried once too many times. Or some say it was dust. Probably both killed it.
Even that being, for 100 dollars I can say the enormous amount of good pictures for cheap was still a good by considering what it could have been if using the old technology 35mm film and developing cost. Printing is still a cost, but OK.

Now a camera SJ4000, no bellows and it has both a case door with O-ring Seal to 30 meters deep in water, and another case door without seal. The slot that allows it to breathe in the no O-ring Door, is also where webbing to attach it to yourself is for. Don't use the one to attach to yourself and then go diving

I have an old film camera that is water-proof. It is for diving, but they mention in the manual do not open the door to reload film while under water. Who would have thought?

MT