I'd like to buy a camera to record life experiences with. Initially, I planned to buy a GoPro and use it to record stuff like my PPL training or glider flights but I just couldn't pull the trigger on the device. I had a chance recently to try out the latest GoPro from one of my friends but wasn't really impressed with it, although I did like the option to use different FOVs. My pictures, for instance, didn't really look very good on my monitor... a 4000x3000 pixel image at 72 pixels/inch... maybe I just don't know how to set it up properly?

We also have an old Canon digital camera ((8-10 years old?) but the problem with it is that if I moved my hand while pressing the trigger, the pictures are blurry.

Any recommendations for a good camera that can do video and pictures? I'm not looking for something that can take pictures of an aircraft doing a fly-by, but I am looking for something that can handle "action" shots without the subject looking all blurry. I was really hoping that the GoPro would've performed better; I was planning to strap it to my forehead and do "instructional" videos for sims or maybe even "documentation" videos of overclocking.

As a GoPro alternative, go on Amazon and look at the SJCam 5000. Basically a knockoff, but a good one and a fraction of the price. Just be sure it's the SJCam and not another knockoff. In fishing/kayaking circles people have found it as good or nearly as good as GoPro, some say better. Use the same accessories and comes with several in the right pack. I got my Dad the older 4000 for his bike rides, but he hasn't gotten to use it yet. The 5000 has updated internals and better picture, plus wifi.
There are also a lot of good comparison reviews on youtube showcasing it.

Thanks for the recommendation, RK!

Hard to beat he Sony A6000 for pictures or video. I have the A6500 and A7RII. No one beats Sony on video.

The Sony A6000 is a little too rich for me if I'm honest. At that price, I'd have pulled the trigger on the GoPro long ago.

Tried to make some "home videos" with my Logitech HD Pro C920 and while it's good for webcam chat setups, it had trouble adjusting focus as I constantly waved it about. It was also struggling to get focus on my monitors, with brightness settings going all over the place. I guess I'll borrow my friend's GoPro again to see how it performs.

One type of videos I'd like to make is a POV-style video where I go through my simpit and talk about stuff on the monitors and how things are set up. While some people simply screen-capture their monitor output, this isn't really ideal for me as I want to capture stuff from three display screens and two touchscreens. This is why I'm thinking a GoPro may be a good option, coupled with something like a head strap, but one issue I can see is how do I know if the GoPro is angled correctly? I'd hate to go through my entire recording only to play it back and realize the GoPro was wonky or wasn't pointed in the right direction. Is there a "chin strap" or a "cheek strap" for the GoPro? I see some motorcycle vloggers that have their cameras on the left/right side of the helmet. At least that way, I can put the GoPro in place then get someone else to check the orientation of the device before I actually start recording.

As for the SJCam 5000, WOW!! "Fraction of the price" indeed! Comes in at around £80 where the GoPro is at 4.5x that price!

Getting back to this again... apparently there are newer versions of SJCam but aside from the price, not really impressed with it... but then again, so was I with the GoPro. One constant issue is the wind-cancellation in the SJCam is just inferior to the GoPro.

Reviewed my pics again this evening and the GoPro took pics with about 2.5-3+MB in size, 4000x3000 pixels, at 72 pixels/inch. My Samsung S4 phone takes pics at around 2.5-6+MB in size, 4128x2322 pixels, again at 72 pixels/inch. My old Canon digital camera would take pics at MAX of 3.6MB, 3264x2448 pixels, **BUT** at 180 pixels/inch.

Is the pixel density important at all? I'm guessing it won't really matter at normal photo print sizes?

The video quality seems about the same with my Canon camera but the anti-shake is better on the GoPro. Seems the same for pictures... if I have a little hand wobble, the Canon shot gets blurry but the GoPro seems okay.

RE: wind
Either way you'll likely need a "dead cat" for the mic if in any real wind.



There's another camera that looks nice that a youtuber I subscribe to uses for outdoor videos. Let me look that up.

Ok, it's an Olympus.
https://www.amazon.com/Olympus-TG-870-Waterproof-Digital-Camera/dp/B01950SVYW/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

Nicely priced, but his videos come out really well. Waterproof without a case and he likes it due to being able to flip the screen up when filming himself so he knows what all is in the shot.

Coincidentally, I ran across this yesterday. I don't know if it would meet your needs/desires, or how it stacks up against the other cameras, but maybe you will find it helpful.