Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
Garmin Virb camera (like GoPro but with GPS)
OK here goes, I have GoPros and bought one of these in a lightening deal on Amazon for £139 last week so expect the same or similar when this goes on sale at 2pm in another lightening sale on the link below, again the same system as the CTEK thread applies.
Now the camera, I got mine yesterday and have used it as well as the editing suite it comes with, here are some points.
Good:
It has GPS so will give you data including G force, speed, height e.t.c.
It overlays on Google or Bing maps, satellite or standard
You can select a 'skin' when creating a video that allows you to add dials and data in any position you want on the overlay skin, great for off reading showing far better detail than black view with far better choice of lens (wide, normal, zoom e.t.c.)
It is IPX7 so waterproof to 1mtr for 1hr so will easily takes splashes
It is barrel shaped so better for side mounting
Will operate like a black view but can be removed and used for other things
It can be set on various record loop lengths say 30mins and starts again to save micro SD card
The battery lasts about 3.5hrs
It comes with an adapter that lets you use all GoPro mounts
FANTASTIC for Quadcopters, fits perfectly under a Phantom and gives you maps and data of where you flew incl height speed and Gforce
It's so cheap if you lose you Quad you haven't lots hundreds of quid
The picture HD quality is great with richer colours than GoPro
It has a kind of ink (low power like a kindle but colour) viewer on the back, it's not backlit but let's you see in colour where it's pointing and does play back films and pictures, better than nothing
You can easily buy spare batteries for £15
You can buy a waterproof case that goes to 60mtrs
It comes with a few various mounts including rotational
There are smart phone apps that I was impressed with that sync to the unit allowing total control
The wifi App operates as a remote viewer with live stunning images on your tablet or phone
Viewing playback with the software is just like a black view with map to the right and video to the left except you choose where you want any data and in what format, dial, graph, numerical, displayed by click and drag
Bad:
It's bigger than a GoPro
It's heavier than a GoPro
It is pretty crap in low light
The Garmin software is a bit buggy with crap instructions but once you get the hang of it then it does the job
The size could be an issue for body wearing especially head due to weight
It has a big slide instant on record button even if the camera is off, but there is no lock like a push down and slide so could be accidentally activated when stored so be careful
The on off power button is the opposite, hard to see and flush with the case
The deal is only on the White and black so could get grubby
The micro sd card fits in under the battery which is a pain
You can't see a thing in the dark as the viewer isn't backlit
There is no tripod mount on the bottom
You have to clip it to a kind of cradle that then attaches to GoPro attachments or its supplied ones in the box
You can't save video or pics via wifi to the App all must be downloaded
In short if you are wanting a camera that is as good but better than a Blackview (although bulkier), or an absolute bargain camera that will log your off road days in any position you want in or out unlike a Blackview or GoPro. Or if you have a Quadcopter that uses a GoPro, well ditch it and go for this, see your flight route on a map with altititude speed e.t.c.
If it comes on sale for £139 at 2pm tomorrow you would be nuts not to buy one, God you could just leave it in the garden and have a live colour HD feed to your tablet or phone via wifi. I like it so much I'm buying another and will use it in my Motorhome as a black view type device, then if sightseeing unclip it and take it, everything logged with gps
Click image to enlarge
Lord Discotres of Glencoe
1st Dec 2014 4:36 am
Discotres
Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
The Virb is now on the lightning deal for £139 if your quick
You've just made me buy one! I hope it's a good as you claim. "Which" did a test of dashboard cameras (Aug 2014) and didn't include it, so possibly it's too new?
1st Dec 2014 5:10 pm
dantheman
Member Since: 12 Mar 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 1734
You say its heavier. Would it become a problem if mounted on a helmet?
1st Dec 2014 5:15 pm
Discotres
Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
No, when I say heavier not enough to cause discomfort on a helmet, they are a big seller to cyclists Lord Discotres of Glencoe
1st Dec 2014 5:18 pm
Discotres
Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
Treetrimmer wrote:
You've just made me buy one! I hope it's a good as you claim. "Which" did a test of dashboard cameras (Aug 2014) and didn't include it, so possibly it's too new?
Please note that I mentioned bugs in the software, well I just found an update today that has been released that covers all of these issues and also adds some exciting features to the Garmin edit suite to personalise videos.
When you get the camera you need to put a micro sd card in it first (because all the data and system is put onto the card by the computer to operate the camera) plug it into a computer and follow the instructions, you need to download various bits of software that will then automatically update the camera to the latest version.
You will note that your speed is in kph and that nobody on a google search has found a way to change that, well I found the new update does give you an option to change to mph and height from mtrs to ft all in the 'Garmin Edit suite', you do that in the settings within that software with the camera attached. The camera updates when you disconnect it from the computer as it activates the micro sd card.
Any problems PM me Lord Discotres of Glencoe
1st Dec 2014 5:24 pm
Discotres
Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
Well my waterproof housing arrived today for the Garmin Virb I bought in the lightning deal and I have finished setting it up in my dive light unit I made, its a perfect fit That now leaves the GoPro free to go on the mask and act as a kind of Blackview
Here are some pics for anyone interested
The outer lights are 90 degree and the two inner lights 65 degree which with their lenses drives the light forward to the subject
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Lord Discotres of Glencoe
2nd Dec 2014 7:04 pm
Discotres
Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
If anyone bought a Virb like I did and may want to use it as a Blackview type recorder, or protect it from knocks and stone chips if off roading, then you may wish to buy a silicon case for it, they come in various colours, I chose black to stop reflections on the windscreen, it still has access underneath for the mounting bracket, here is mine with the cover on, you can get them from here for £9.99 : http://tuff-luv.com/silicone-gel-skin-case...black.html
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14266
Looks good. I wish i had bought this rather than than the GPro.
7th Dec 2014 8:39 pm
Discotres
Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
Virb in stealth mode
The buggy gives great sweeping video, great for panoramas or with wheel on full lock looking smoothly around a room, just limited by you imagination
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Lord Discotres of Glencoe
9th Dec 2014 11:36 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72986
U tried it slung under the quadcopter?
9th Dec 2014 11:48 am
Discotres
Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
Size comparison with GoPro
Bear in mind GoPro is only waterproof in its case, and the Virb has a load of sensors and GPS to give you a full dashboard of events incl speed, G force, altitude, none of which is on the Go Pro
Both have good and bad points so easier to have one of each for different uses, or use both at once with different views
The silicon case adds a couple of mm to the Virb in these pics:
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Lord Discotres of Glencoe
9th Dec 2014 11:53 am
Discotres
Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
DSL wrote:
U tried it slung under the quadcopter?
Read the thread Lord Discotres of Glencoe
9th Dec 2014 11:53 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72986
Will save it for a rainy day.
9th Dec 2014 12:00 pm
Discotres
Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
The good thing with the Virb is that on my boat it will log the full trip overlaying the collected data on marine charts so I can see exactly where I have been, replay and see speed, course e.t.c. hopefully not altitude
Its so easy to clip on and off from its base and the beauty is that it mounts on GoPro mounts which I already have quite a few of
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