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Equipment => Other Gear => Topic started by: InternalTraining on March 19, 2015, 09:40:00 PM

Title: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: InternalTraining on March 19, 2015, 09:40:00 PM
Folks, I am thinking about a camera for recording cricket practice. GoPro is pricey. Has anyone used it? What are your thoughts?
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: TBONTB on March 19, 2015, 10:00:15 PM
I have used a go pro for recording cricket! A lot of fun, I have just got a new 4 its good. I would go for a mid price ish one. The super high end one is a bit much, nothing plays 4k yet so I wouldn't bother with it.

Remember though you just get the camera, you would have to buy a high speed card, head mount and probably a few batteries, but I got some aftermarket ones that work fine. A lot of fun to watch back though. Always check out other sports cameras many are good!
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: TangoWhiskey on March 20, 2015, 01:27:59 PM
Recording from the bowlers end or to attach it to the Batsman? if it's to record technique/show anything useful then I'd look for cheaper alternatives which will probably do a better job. If it's to be attached to the batsman and therefore be used as a target for every jockey with a ball then by all means, waste your money!
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: Bowlers Name Please on March 20, 2015, 03:06:57 PM
I was thinking the same previously but the thought of it potentially getting hit made my eyes water and my wallet scared!  :(

I've gone for a £6 tripod of eBay which fits my digital camera that records good video.  I can then place this outside the net or next to the bowling machine etc.  If this did get hit I'd lose less sleep over it than if I'd just shelled out £200+ on a GoPro even if the camera got damaged.

If you look on Amazon there are cheaper alternatives to GoPro starting from £65 although the reviews of these vary greatly.  I was looking at the Qumox SJ4000 I think it's called which comes with a lot of the mounts etc and is compatible with all of GoPro's mounts too.
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on March 20, 2015, 03:15:25 PM
I had been thinking about it, but have also opted for a digital camera + cheap tripod.

I wasn't that impressed with the video quality a mate got from his gopro, and i'd rather spend £50 on a new camera that produced videos of equal/better quality than £200 a time if the gopro got hit by a ball
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: InternalTraining on March 20, 2015, 08:29:24 PM
I have tabled the GoPro idea for now. iPhone will have to do (stuck on the inside of a bucket cover's form insert). The problem with iPhone is that it is hard to move large files.
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: smilley792 on March 20, 2015, 08:37:25 PM
I have a go pro. Plus a cheap version.

Imo the wide angle lense isn't made for cricket. Add that you can't zoom. And you end up with a video with a small batsmen in.


I still use them though. Both on the bola, stumps or my helmet.

People don't tend to bounce me because of it. Mainly because I can pull the ball at there pace.
People really need to stop selecting gear for cricket use on the basis of weather someone may or may not bowl short at them!!
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on January 01, 2016, 07:05:06 PM
Giving this a rather large bump...

Interested in maybe getting one for giggles in nets and maybe a match or two if the club fancy it. I assume the people in here have varying GoPro models? Thoughts? I keep looking at the Session for cost but it doesn't look particularly useful not being able to change battery and in terms of protection there doesn't seem to be much.

Also noticed the Tomtom Bandit which looks excellent for quality, but even with a GoPro adapter seems to lack the ability to be attached to a chest mount...
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: kenbriooo on January 01, 2016, 07:22:24 PM
I got the 3+ with battery pack in the Black Friday madness for £150. Not used it much yet as it was my Xmas gift to myself. However I'm hoping to use it at nets, although I may look a bit odd turning up at nets with my new team with it!
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: Simmy on January 01, 2016, 07:54:59 PM
My you tube channel has lots of vids with the gopro and the last few nets 1's are with my d800

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx8mHBO_cz2SihEBqiDNvrg (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx8mHBO_cz2SihEBqiDNvrg)

this is the gopro 4 black edition
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on January 01, 2016, 08:09:34 PM
Cheers @Simmy . Looking at your and the Cheer Up guys the Black seems to be 'the one', quality looks pretty stellar. Might just wait a little while, see if any kinda sale comes up where I'm not forking out the £300 odd on most websites...
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: Batbuddy99 on January 01, 2016, 08:30:52 PM
I got a 3 white last week from PC world with a extra battery for 149 quid!


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Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on January 01, 2016, 08:46:34 PM
Black is definitely my preferred choice if only because 4K is slowly catching on.

On another note the Cheer Up videos are really great, bloke who films it seems to have a laugh doing it...
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: Woodyspin on January 01, 2016, 11:04:49 PM
The bloke doing it also is very village. Ive played him! Dont think he recorded our game/ uploaded it ill find out his name

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Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: Woodyspin on January 01, 2016, 11:09:57 PM
Oh he didnt play us :(

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Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: edge on January 02, 2016, 12:18:10 AM
I have a Garmin Virb Elite that I've used for cricket a few times, good alternative. Cost me about £120 from memory? Video quality is spot on with a bunch of extra features that don't make much difference for cricket but are very useful for other stuff. Live view on the screen and zoom mode which I think is a big advantage over GoPros.

Link to video (think I filmed this in 720p rather than 1080): https://youtu.be/qqNgV9NKT8U
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: edge on January 02, 2016, 12:25:26 AM
I have a Garmin Virb Elite that I've used for cricket a few times, good alternative. Cost me about £120 from memory? Video quality is spot on with a bunch of extra features that don't make much difference for cricket but are very useful for other stuff. Live view on the screen and zoom mode which I think is a big advantage over GoPros.

Link to video (think I filmed this in 720p rather than 1080): [url]https://youtu.be/qqNgV9NKT8U[/url] ([url]https://youtu.be/qqNgV9NKT8U[/url])

Just looked and the basic model (same image quality but without WiFi connectivity) is on Amazon for £75 atm, would snap one up at that price! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Virb-HD-Action-Camera/dp/B00EQ2T3KQ (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Virb-HD-Action-Camera/dp/B00EQ2T3KQ)
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: StillNotOut on January 02, 2016, 12:40:20 AM
Saw these on Amazon earlier which could be a cheaper alternative?

Sports Camcorder Blue Underwater Waterproof Camera, Sports Action Bicycle Helmet Car DVR Recorder 12MP HD 1080P Wide-Angle Lens + Variety of Stands/Mounts/Casing for Skiing, Snowboarding, Surfing, Hiking, Climbing, Extreme Sports (Blue) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N3Y9J84/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_fVXHwbA3SB0M5

DBPOWER 1080P Waterproof Action Camera DV 12MP HD DVR Camcorder + Mounting Accessories Kit https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00J02XVYG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_CWXHwbZH9Z0DB


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Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: Liam-SCCC on January 02, 2016, 01:17:08 AM
I have just got the GoPro Hero 4 session because they dropped the price! But haven't had a chance to use it for cricket yet! Did some stuff last year with my hero 3. The problem I found with GoPros is their 'range' when mounted on the bowlers end stumps the batsmen is quite far away! Meaning you have to zoom in in editing, which reduces the quality!

Here is an example of it from the bowlers end, I know it isn't that good because I had it mounted at the bottom of the stumps but it gives you an idea. https://youtu.be/WoFvAedhqn8 The lighting was OK in the nets (indoor school at county ground Taunton) but the GoPros do best with bright natural light.

The GoPros do better capturing what's going on in front of them or coming towards them. Here's a video I took with the GoPro mounted behind the net. https://youtu.be/2F-mgEfwZ6E

Here is one of my better net videos, using the GoPro as a helmet cam and then my DSLR on a tripod way back behind the stumps using a 70-300mm lens. https://youtu.be/_SXMGk5d9o8 (yes I do leave 2 straight ones in this video! Followed it with 48 not out on the weekend though!)

Hope that gives an idea of how you can use the GoPro and what its strengths are, I'd say it's better mounted on the helmet or inside the net looking at the batsmen for cricket stuff. Having it mounted on the stumps at bowlers end doesn't give you the best view of what's going on. I did do a club video where I had it on the umpires head, that hasn't made it onto YouTube yet mainly because I'm unhappy with the quality of the footage, overcast skies meant not the best light and the umpire cam being a little too far away.

The newer GoPros do have a choice of field of view where you can change the wide view for a medium or narrow one. This would give it a more 'zoomed in' effect. This could be better for cricket but I haven't had a chance to try that out yet, maybe simmy has been able to?
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: Woodyspin on January 02, 2016, 01:54:26 AM
I have a Garmin Virb Elite that I've used for cricket a few times, good alternative. Cost me about £120 from memory? Video quality is spot on with a bunch of extra features that don't make much difference for cricket but are very useful for other stuff. Live view on the screen and zoom mode which I think is a big advantage over GoPros.

Link to video (think I filmed this in 720p rather than 1080): https://youtu.be/qqNgV9NKT8U
3:35 is you best shot. Id say you use too much bottom hand in most shots

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Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on January 02, 2016, 01:55:54 AM
Hmm, someone on another forum is selling a Hero 3 Silver for £90inc P&P. Tempted to dive in...
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: Jaffa on January 02, 2016, 09:25:19 AM
A while back I bought a Drift Ghost-S instead of a GoPro. My decision was based on frame rate, battery life and the shape of the thing. It is more bullet like than a GoPro brick shape. I do though use the free GoPro software to edit.

It doesn't look like they've updated the Ghost for a while so maybe there are some bargains to be had.

 
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: HallamKeeper on January 02, 2016, 05:35:22 PM
I got the hero 3+ mainly for nets. I also got the accidental damage cover for £20. I first tried it attached to the bowling machine but due to the light and distance it wasn't the best picture. I then tried it about 5m ish from the bat on which ever side I thought would be safest. Just using a lightweight tripod made from plastic so hoping if I do hit it, the whole thing will just tumble rather than break. Plenty of accessory packs on amazon for £30 with everything you could ever need.

I only went for the gopro for the durability. A hockey keeper wore one on his helmet in training and we managed to hit it, camera survived but the helmet clip snapped. Was contemplating using it to record an innings (or as much as the battery will last for) when the season starts. Probably tie it to the sight screen as our ground is small.
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on January 02, 2016, 06:00:31 PM
FWIW if this guy can't break one then I don't think anyone can

http://youtu.be/NuspTIN6Vx0 (http://youtu.be/NuspTIN6Vx0)
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: smilley792 on January 02, 2016, 06:07:06 PM
I tried to

http://youtu.be/QoxzJaJB4AU (http://youtu.be/QoxzJaJB4AU)
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on January 02, 2016, 06:10:37 PM
And it lived! Textbook accuracy
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: peristocle on January 04, 2016, 11:21:18 AM


Thinking of getting a Hero 4 session for an upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.

Anyone used one for Cricket?
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on January 04, 2016, 12:02:30 PM
I wanna bite on it but reading through I'm not sure if the housing could be able to handle a direct hit at speed from a ball, which the Hero 4 in the houses probably can...
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: HallamKeeper on January 05, 2016, 12:53:09 PM
On a slightly different note, where do you get the dummy batsman that was in the video (the first video)? Would be useful for keeping practice when you don't have any mates to obscure your view.
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on January 08, 2016, 02:23:36 PM
So yeah, I just bought a Hero 4 Silver on Amazon. The 'Adventure' Edition is on sale with a 32gb SD card included, my eyes suggest it's exactly the same as the regular Silver, but maybe a mount or two extra? Seems decent for the price when it normally retails alone at £250 http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B015JHPAOO/?tag=ho01f-21 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B015JHPAOO/?tag=ho01f-21)

p.s Oval netting buddies, get your practice in for Wednesday, haha.
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: peristocle on January 08, 2016, 04:46:41 PM


Looks like a good deal, good spot
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on January 11, 2016, 07:23:39 PM
It has arrived! Although the head strap mount doesn't seem to fit around an Arytek, so it'll have be an adhesive mount stuck to the helmet. Where have most people gone for placement of the thing? Right on the top or either side?!
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: kenbriooo on January 11, 2016, 08:36:26 PM
Take care using the sticky mounts, I did it last year and it took some of the paint off my Ayrtek. If you look on Amazon you can find vented helmet straps, it feeds through the holes in the top of your helmet, I'll be using that skiing this year I think.
Can't remember exactly how the Ayrteks vents are without digging my helmet out
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: Simmy on January 11, 2016, 09:11:54 PM
It has arrived! Although the head strap mount doesn't seem to fit around an Arytek, so it'll have be an adhesive mount stuck to the helmet. Where have most people gone for placement of the thing? Right on the top or either side?!

there is a trick too it mate....

the front left and right staps hook them under the grill mounts.

defo works as thats how its mounted to most of the lids here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZwjK_e8ziI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZwjK_e8ziI)

Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: edge on January 11, 2016, 09:32:17 PM
Sticky mounts were no good on a Masuri so I epoxied a tripod mount on top of an old one. Used a stickon mount on a bike helmet and that worked fine though, on the top no problems so should be fine on an Ayrtek.
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on January 11, 2016, 09:35:15 PM
Ah, cheers, I'll have a fiddle...

Anyone more versed with GoPro Studio? I should know this working in IT, but I can't on Earth figure out why I can't view/trim the original video I'm importing into GoPro Studio; I get an error saying I can't view it because it's unsupported or corrupt. The file plays fine in VLC so there's no issue with it there, and if I add it to the conversion list it'll go to the next step and convert to a .MOV without a problem.

Scratching my head around it!
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: Simmy on January 12, 2016, 01:18:39 PM
i dont use the studio mate. i use sony Vegas pro.

im gonna use the go pro at nets tonight i will show you how i strap it to the ayrtek
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on January 12, 2016, 01:49:04 PM
I went into work this morning and tried it on my work PC and it was fine, so I've no idea.

Recorded my commute this morning, without too much fiddling it's pretty neat. Had a timelapse going as well with me just throwing a ball around, at this point I feel my purchase is 100% justified

(http://i.imgur.com/O45Nsdk.jpg?2)
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: Neon Cricket on January 12, 2016, 02:29:47 PM
Jesus.

Will this be making an appearance tomorrow?
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on January 12, 2016, 08:49:56 PM
@neoncricket you betcha! Was thinking I'll probably put it in front of the stumps and then a helmet cam or two if people are alright with it.
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: Neon Cricket on January 13, 2016, 07:12:19 AM

@neoncricket you betcha! Was thinking I'll probably put it in front of the stumps and then a helmet cam or two if people are alright with it.

Sounds good to me mate!


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Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on February 19, 2016, 12:47:30 PM
Well, mine took a slight beating last night

http://youtu.be/HlV_caJU84k (http://youtu.be/HlV_caJU84k)

Might also upload my batting footage into fitness/training as I'm awful and need work/some advice, noooooo footwork whatsoever
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: smilley792 on February 19, 2016, 01:01:42 PM
Was it mounted on anything or just on the floor??

I attach it to a spare set off stumps to try prevent direct hits.
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on February 19, 2016, 01:05:04 PM
Mounted to a small tripod. Housing has a crack but with the camera inside still feel pretty sturdy, ha.
Title: Re: Thoughts On GoPro 4 For Cricket Nets
Post by: rickjames on February 19, 2016, 08:51:56 PM
Seemingly after an email to Amazon they're replacing the whole thing free of charge under the warranty, can't knock them for that one.