Hi All
http://contour.com/products/contour-gpsI`m not going to waste my time on a promo of this system.
I have 2 of these
Also 1 Contour HD
and an Oregon Scientific ATC9K (warning, this camera has a plastic female tripod screw fitting which will be destroyed if you use a metal male bolt to mount it. (However as it is waterproof and has a rear 1.5 inch screen it is perfect for fill-in shots hand held or on the end of a paddle, caution!)
(Hey what do you expect when you screw plastic with a metal knob?)
The contours GPS need their own waterproof cases (cool as that means it makes them almost indestructo, plus I have never seen such a well designed H2O case with shockproof mounts as this for a $42 case) plus the built in GPS maps your course as you travel. The settings of the camera can be micro tweaked with an option to use the iphone as a preview, setup device as a $32 option. (Wah, the android does not need this option (it is free). talk about reverse Apple envy!)
The cheaper ContourHD needs its own case and has none of the fancier features of the Contour GPS. (I intend to use it as a fixed mount mast tip camera and simply use the dual setup lasers to get position and run it until the bat runs dry after 4 hours, depending on settings))
You may also want to consider the Drift set of cameras.alas these are not really designed for water craft. more for the skydivers, motorcycle rippers. Still amazing tech with a built in screen
(Yah, you wonder why no Go-Pro.
2 years ago I bought one and it was akin to using MSDOS on a crappy little camera that took really bad pictures. I believe the dog ate it, each times he now farts I see the interior of his intestines on channel 589)
I bought most of these devices (except the Go-Pro and the ATC9K) from:
http://pointofviewcameras.ca/contour-gps-hd-camera.htmlVery happy with the prices, fast service and great advice from these guys.
(Of course I have Pro photo gear, but there is a time and place for it. The Pacific in an open boat is not anywhere where this gear belongs, or should be used, imnsho, unless there is almost zero risk of loosing your gear or corroding the interior of your sensors or expensive lenses)
Hint: Once you set up your cameras, have done what you need to ensure you are taping on all cams, forget about them unless you have a fill in camera. Just let it all run and see what happens when you get home. The fill in camera can be used in a number of creative ways (like pointing it at your dog and dialing in Channel 589), hehehe.
Let me know if you need further info (or opinions on your camera setup), friends
Fred