Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Is this the end of the once-mighty GoPro?

amateurphotographer.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 586 posts

Re: Is this the end of the once-mighty GoPro?

#51

Post by fiatpandas »

sen wrote: post #13

I’ve owned a lot of Gopro cameras, having done video capture for a variety of motorsports, and they just got too expensive for what you get. You can be more expensive if you’re better, or you can be worse if you’re cheaper, but they’re both the downsides while living purely off brand recognition. They also blew up in a time where there wasn’t any real competition. Sony had action cameras but they were bulkier and exp…

>other brands give better quality video in better quality hardware and more functionality, for cheaper

Would you mind providing a recommendation you have first hand experience with?

Re: Is this the end of the once-mighty GoPro?

#52

Post by harrall »

keiferski wrote: post #30

Red Bull really ran the marketing playbook that GoPro should have done: become known for athletes doing extreme things. Instead they stayed too technical and product-based and didn't build a brand beyond "we make action cameras."

Red Bull doesn’t just market, they bankroll and support.

Most companies just sponsor a team or something, but Red Bull has paid for the baseline infrastructure of many sports.

Re: Is this the end of the once-mighty GoPro?

#53

Post by yathern »

brk wrote: post #28
mamonoleechi wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

any recommendation?

Are you looking for Good or Great? If you just need Good, there are dozens of no-brand options on Amazon and Ali that do 4K60fps with output that is more than sufficient for any non-professional use. I don't have a brand recommendation off hand, because the ones I've bought have been random names, but they've all been more than enough. As a reference, I've used them for capturing footage for training machine vision s…

> there are dozens of no-brand options on Amazon and Ali that do 4K60fps

I have to very strongly disagree with this sentiment. I have personally tested quite a few no-name "4K 60fps" cameras from Amazon and AliExpress. Many of them upscale from 1080 - which is fine I guess - but then in 60fps will use a crop sensor and upscale from like ~640. Even with the more recognizable SJCam and Akaso brands, unless you're paying ~$200 - you're going to get upscaling, bad color science, bad image distortion. When comparing against a GoPro 5 (first 4k 60 entry) or 8 (first with USB C) the difference is astounding.

Though perhaps this is the difference between good and great that you refer to - but for me, it's certainly worth getting a used GoPro vs any of these modern cheap alternatives.

Unfortunately current new GoPros don't improve on their existing line enough to justify paying current prices. I wish I could get a new 2018 quality GoPro knockoff for <$200

Re: Is this the end of the once-mighty GoPro?

#54

Post by sgc »

haunter wrote: post #39
embedding-shape wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it common in American factories to have US flags hanging on the walls similar to how dictators like to hang their portraits in factories? Never seen that in the (admitted small amount) of factories I've visited around in Europe, but tends to also give off a bit of "too much nationalism" vibe around here unless there is a special event, the US flag seems to be treated differently in the US so maybe it's a common si…

I'm not american but afaik it's very common. The US is on a different level though, see the flags in the suburbia, the pledge of allegiance in school's every morning etc. But I'd say it's not "too much nationalism" rather the average american is defintiely more patriotic than an average european (who can then again be anyone from the UK to Poland to Moldova) but you get my point

I am American who has lived in many countries around the world, and I think this is distinctly wrong and the source of many problems in the US.

It would be more correct to say that the average American values outward displays of nationalism more, and has a more negative perception of those who do not appreciate or want to participate in those displays than people in most other countries. And yes, they conflate this with 'patriotism'. However, this is almost completely performative and lacks real substance, as is proven by the typically far more selfish attitude towards their fellow citizens, and is exemplified by the constant historical failures to provide significant funding for projects designed to help rather than harm others.

Europeans and people from other countries around the world are often fiercely in love with their countries. They just tend not to love the idea of noisily jumping up to gaudily beat their own drum. So yes, the average American thinks they are more nationalistic, when in fact they are just more tribal and crude about their nationalism than what is typically found in other countries around the world. If only our nationalism were taken a bit more seriously than our affiliation with a sports team, which is in theory just for fun and entertainment, that would be an improvement.

Re: Is this the end of the once-mighty GoPro?

#55

Post by antisthenes »

Forgeties79 wrote: post #15
sen wrote: post #13

I’ve owned a lot of Gopro cameras, having done video capture for a variety of motorsports, and they just got too expensive for what you get. You can be more expensive if you’re better, or you can be worse if you’re cheaper, but they’re both the downsides while living purely off brand recognition. They also blew up in a time where there wasn’t any real competition. Sony had action cameras but they were bulkier and exp…

It also doesn’t help that you could probably get by with a hero 4 black even today lol Man I still can’t believe how bad the rollout of the karma was. I remember at the time everyone in my professional circles was buzzing about it. Then they started literally falling out of the sky . Feel like they never recovered

Apparently (checked with AI), Hero 4 Black was the first camera with 30 fps 4k video and was released 12 years ago already (how time flies)

Frankly, after 4k/30 and 1080p/60, there are strong diminishing returns, because most people these days watch videos on their phones in suboptimal conditions (or older desktops that may still be on 1080p), so what are they going to do with your 5k/6k video?

Sure, you can keep doing minor improvements to sensors and optics, but for a consumer it will not justify getting a new model for $500.

Also, competing with smartphone cameras which have gotten better over the years. I bet 99% of people would not be able to tell a gopro video from a phone video.

Re: Is this the end of the once-mighty GoPro?

#56

Post by johannes1234321 »

ImPostingOnHN wrote: post #42
embedding-shape wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it common in American factories to have US flags hanging on the walls similar to how dictators like to hang their portraits in factories? Never seen that in the (admitted small amount) of factories I've visited around in Europe, but tends to also give off a bit of "too much nationalism" vibe around here unless there is a special event, the US flag seems to be treated differently in the US so maybe it's a common si…

It is not uncommon to have national and state flags, but it is not similar to how dictators like to hang their portraits. It is meant more to show pride of what you build together as a people, rather than to evoke fear and obeisance. That said, this may have also been a photo op, and given the image is from texas, there are probably portraits of a dictator hanging around, too.

Also he dictatorship are (officially) pride of doing their work for the state as Americans work multiple jobs in fear of losing their paychecks, their health insurance.

Re: Is this the end of the once-mighty GoPro?

#57

Post by atourgates »

keiferski wrote: post #30

Red Bull really ran the marketing playbook that GoPro should have done: become known for athletes doing extreme things. Instead they stayed too technical and product-based and didn't build a brand beyond "we make action cameras."

They really have tried.

They don't have the type of insane cashflow that RedBull does to sponsor tons of athletes and weird events, but their video contests are kind of a big deal in the action sports community.

AKA, their Line of the Winter[1] competition for skiing, or their Best Line conest for MTB[2] that they used to run. And they're the title sponsor for the GoPro Mountain Games[3].

They're still THE action sports cameara carried in a lot of outdoor equipment stores, but the Insta360 has really dominated social media recently, and their products are currently a better value for cost/performance.

[1] https://gopro.com/en/us/awards/line-of-the-winter [2] https://www.pinkbike.com/news/enter-the-gopro-of-the-world-b... [3] https://mountaingames.com/

Re: Is this the end of the once-mighty GoPro?

#58

Post by layer8 »

Keyframe wrote: post #23
rr808 wrote: post #16

I'm just surprised that an American brand making electronics lasted this long. Even Japanese companies are giving up. No one can compete with China. Apple somehow reigns supreme still. Anyone else?

Apple is China.. hence "Designed by Apple in California"

The GoPros aren’t manufactured in the US either.

Re: Is this the end of the once-mighty GoPro?

#59

Post by QuantumNomad_ »

sen wrote: post #13

I’ve owned a lot of Gopro cameras, having done video capture for a variety of motorsports, and they just got too expensive for what you get. You can be more expensive if you’re better, or you can be worse if you’re cheaper, but they’re both the downsides while living purely off brand recognition. They also blew up in a time where there wasn’t any real competition. Sony had action cameras but they were bulkier and exp…

> These days other brands give better quality video in better quality hardware and more functionality, for cheaper.

I had a GoPro many years ago. Eventually sold it because I needed the money for other things.

Been thinking about buying a new action camera eventually.

Got any recommendations?

The one that interests me the most of the ones I’ve seen is the Insta360 X4 Air plus an underwater case for it.

I want to be able to bring my camera swimming, bicycling, hiking, etc. And I think 360 degree cameras are pretty cool. Hopefully it’s not just a gimmick that loses its appeal after a few hours.

Re: Is this the end of the once-mighty GoPro?

#60

Post by Hizonner »

TheCleric wrote: post #49
sph wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I keep forgetting that there is a requirement to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in US schools [1], which is just mind-boggling to me, and it's never something they proudly advertise through their propaganda arm of Hollywood. In hundreds of US-produced shows set in US schools, that detail is always conveniently omitted. Here's how it works for the non-Americans of us: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United St…

> I keep forgetting that there is a requirement to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in US schools There most certainly is not. The pledge is common in schools but the Supreme Court has ruled no one is required to participate and cannot be punished for non-participation. Is it still weird? Sure. But it’s not required.

Somehow nobody ever bothers to mention to the kids that it's not required.

How many schools still do it, though? Honestly you could tell me it was almost universal or very rare, and I'd have to believe you either way.

Of course, Canada was doing the freaking Lord's Prayer in schools until freaking 1988. I don't know about other countries, but wouldn't be surprised.

Post reply on HN