GoPro

[EdJodi]

We have an upcoming trip to Alaska from NC and our son-in-law suggested we get a GoPro camera and mount in the Rv. Sounds interesting and apparently we can use hand held mount as well. Has anyone tried this? What kind of results did you get?

[Brunnie]

GoPro cameras are nice and fun BUT... the battery life is about 90 minutes. They also run very warm and will shut down if they over heat. I have one mounted at the top of my windshield, outside, and I power it via a USB cable. I also put in a 512gig memory card. I"ll still use my inexpensive action cams in addition to the GoPro, and also my regular camera for recording video and sound.

[Toyman01]

I would consider a dash camera instead. They are a good bit cheaper than a GoPro. Then spend the leftover money on a good point-and-shoot that will take video.

I use a Viofo A119 1440P dash camera with a 256 gig SD card. It runs all the time.

For everything else, I use a Nikon AW120 waterproof point-and-shoot, or my Sony A7 depending on what I'm doing. Both shoot great pictures and videos.

The only thing I use my GoPro for is racing.

[shootist]

There are / were 2 advantages to the go pro. One is the quality of the video. The other is direct wifi to your phone, or other devices, no network needed. I have not paid attention to the newer models if that is still true. But wifi is light years better than blue tooth.

[wolfgolden]

We are traveling to Alaska now. Currently in the Yukon.
We have seen amazing wildlife along the way. We have a Go Pro ready but sometimes it's the dash cam that gets the shot because it's always recording.
We did get some nice go pro video of bears, moose, wild horses, a fox, etc.
The new go pro has video auto leveling so how you hold the camera doesn't affect the video. Very nice feature.
Having a camera with decent zoom is good too.

[EdJodi]

Thanks for the info!

[EdJodi]

Always good to get real world information from folks who have done it

[Phallon]

Anybody use a Gopro for a hitching camera? We have a gooseneck rather than a 5th wheel so no self aligning & more precise alignment requirements. Shortbed crew cab so no line of sight to the ball. Normal tailgate backup camera isnt relevant at that point. I've thought about getting a cheap Gopro 9 or newer off Craigslist as a wifi backup camera for my phone. Only need it for a few minutes at a time. After that I could use it for the side by side we haul in the toy hauler or something.

Other options ive seen would be more expensive and/or require mounting an extra screen I have little room for in the cab.

[johnhicks]

A Gopro will very likely have far higher video quality than a dashcam. The dashcam has a very wide lens with almost no distortion correction; that's seen as wildly bowing trees and lamp posts out at the sides, and is usually fixed focus. A dashcam is great for its intended purpose but isn't a general-purpose camera.

The Gopro also has image and horizon stablization.

What a Gopro doesn't have is longer focal lengths.

You might consider is a small interchangable-lens camera; the entire world isn't suitable for a super-wide view.

We use a Vantrue dashcam, a Dji Pocket 2 camera (gimballed, used for through-the-windshield views plus general stuff), a Sony interchangeable-lens camera and our phones with a Dji gimbal.

[Cdubbs]

Originally Posted by EdJodi

We have an upcoming trip to Alaska from NC and our son-in-law suggested we get a GoPro camera and mount in the Rv. Sounds interesting and apparently we can use hand held mount as well. Has anyone tried this? What kind of results did you get?

Very familiar with GoPro cameras from 10 years of long-distance motorcycle touring. As one poster responds: They chew up batteries when left to run.
Yes, they have great resolution and clarity that a dashcam can't match. They also can be plunged underwater when you catch that huge trout! Ask me how I know. The versatility of time lapse photography is great too. Especially as sunset/sunrise. Tons of Mounts, etc.

But they can't match a great high res DSLR or Mirrorless Camera. As another poster said "buy a good telephoto lens".

But the real key beyond equipment is going to be in your editing. You don't specifically mention what you'll do with the footage, but I can guess.
Lots of clips don't just magically become the Happily Ever Hanks. It takes a real dedication to the keyboard and screen to produce magic out of your clips. Plan on a budget for a MacBook or good editing software to really make a good show. Best of luck and enjoy the road.