I'd like to start filming some fishing videos. Nothing proffesional, just amature and fun,for entertainment and instructional purposes. As most of the time I'll be filming myself I'm assuming a "hat cam" type camera would be a good place to start, then I can also use it to film hunts. If anyone has experiance with this type camera or has any tips I'd really appreciate any help or feedback I can get on brands,models,types,or places to buy from.

Thanks a bunch

GoPro Hero

Kodak Playsport

The GoPro is the better camera. No question. But you will be paying for that. The Playsport is very budget friendly. Takes a pretty good HD video. Is user friendly. It's also cheap. It's not the best in very low light though.

As far as advice. Don't skimp on a good tripod. Your videos will be useless without a stable mount of some kind. I'm not a big fan of the Hatcams personally. If you do go that route, the Playsport will work just fine. The mounting threads on the bottom are standard tripod threads. 1/4 - 20 (Quarter inch diameter, 20 threads per inch) I believe.

Yeah, what Addict said. The GoPro is the best. I did a lot of research for a "2nd-level" camera... and the Kodak Playsport always seemed to come out on top. They have the ZX3 and ZX5. The specifications were almost identical, but the "5" was more shockproof. But to get that, you gave up being able to change-out the batteries. I was mostly concerned with "waterproofing", and since that was the same, I opted for the "3"... so that I could have a spare battery if the #1 battery pooped-out.

Also - as Addict said - a tripod is best... assuming that you have something/someplace to mount/set one. If you decide on the hat-cam route... I went "cheap" again. I got a hat of choice and used stainless-steel parts (1/4x20 bolt, nut and two fender washers) and made my own. To secure the camera to the bolt, I turned a wing-nut upside down and used a bonded washer (metal with rubber fused to one side) to where it tightens into the camera base. Old hat (already had or get a new one of your choice) and less than $5 in hardware, and you're good to go!

Good luck and looking forward to seeing that first video!!

for those of you that film yourselves fishing, do you turn the camera on and off or do you just keep it rolling the whole time and have to do a lot of editing?

I have a Kodak Zi8 that was best reasonably price HD cam at the time. I did what Nebraska did to mount it to an old hat. The camera does point down some so have to wear it down in back and up in front a bit. I also got a cheap external mike for better sound.

Here is a vid of my first time out with it. It was in lowest quality (non HD) mode to save memory. I left the camera recording the who;e time. Memory did not run out, but battery did after about 2 hours. I edited it at home with software.

....Bill

Bill, what software did you use? Did you like it (the software)?

Thanks,

Bob

for those of you that film yourselves fishing, do you turn the camera on and off or do you just keep it rolling the whole time and have to do a lot of editing?

My camera came with a TINY remote. So you COULD turn it off/on to save battery/memory. But, kind of hard to do (and misses the point) if you TRY to turn it on AFTER the strike and trying to play the fish. But the other way, you'll go through batteries (and why I chose the model that I could switch out batteries) and memory.

Six of one and half-a-dozen of the other.

Just got a Go Pro Hero 2 and could not be happier....I do want to mention that the initial cost is resonable, but they kill you with the add-ons, and trust me, you cannot resist once you hear about some of the accessories they make.

I just purchased the GoPro Hero HD2 Outdoor Series today, I also had to purchase the BacPac TM accessory and I already can tell I'm going to want the Suction Cup Accessory for the windshield of my boat. I can't wait to start video taping!