Which Camera?

I want to get a camera to record my adventures on the kayak.  Specifically my hunting adventures, but fishing too, if I can ever manage to get out ofter enough to get some worthwhile videos.

Being on a kayak it, of course, must be waterproof (or like the GoPros have a waterproof housing), be mountable on the kayak, have pretty decent video quality, be able to take good stills, and generally be reasonably easy to use.  Long run times are a huge plus (additional batteries are OK).  Large storage capacity would also be great so I don't have to swap memory cards on the water.  Optical zoom would be nice. 

Reviews I've read are that the GoPro 3+ has much better run-times than the 3, but that the distance images aren't well focused.  Is that the experience here?  For hunting I'll want good clear images at 50+ yards.

I'm totally open to non-GoPro options.  Just don't know what's out there.

I went with the 3+ Black just because I will be using it for all my other adventures besides kayak fishing. Although I had to give up another toy to get it so nothing really came out my pocket which made the decision to purchase it much easier. I also have a handheld Samsung waterproof shock proof Hi def handheld camera that actually works amazingly well. It was affordable too. I think I got it on clearance at Best Buy for $50.

Andrew, all of my recent videos (everything this year) were shot with a 3+.  I think it works great.  It is expensive though.  From time to time you can find a great deal at Costco.

I want to get a camera to record my adventures on the kayak.  Specifically my hunting adventures, but fishing too, if I can ever manage to get out ofter enough to get some worthwhile videos.

Being on a kayak it, of course, must be waterproof (or like the GoPros have a waterproof housing), be mountable on the kayak, have pretty decent video quality, be able to take good stills, and generally be reasonably easy to use.  Long run times are a huge plus (additional batteries are OK).  Large storage capacity would also be great so I don't have to swap memory cards on the water.  Optical zoom would be nice. 

Reviews I've read are that the GoPro 3+ has much better run-times than the 3, but that the distance images aren't well focused.  Is that the experience here?  For hunting I'll want good clear images at 50+ yards.

I'm totally open to non-GoPro options.  Just don't know what's out there.

I'd think that at 50 yards, unless you are hunting blue whales, whatever you are hunting would be a small period on a screen. I shoot the hero 2 still so maybe the Hero 3 models are better? 

I've been trying to fill the distance gap left by the gopros.  I bought a cheap point and shoot.  Didn't like that.  I may need to figure out how to waterproof the new sony cameras that look just like the lens only.  Need to decide if I want the high quality 3.5X optical zoom or the lower resolution 10X optical zoom.   

I have to GoPro Black and I love it. It takes a little while to learn the editing but there are a ton of tutorials on the Internet that will show you step by step how to set up the camera and edit your photos and video. I have the clamp mount with the neck and mount it on the yak and it works great. My remote actually just crapped out on me and I sent it back to them (one year warranty)and they just sent me a new one which should be here any day. Great customer service; I emailed them and spoke directly to a rep. that was in Sacramento and they were great. I am a hunter too and I am going to buy the shotgun mount and the dog mount for pheasant hunting next month. I can't wait to get some action shots staring down the barrel of my Beretta, "Black Death"

I have the gopro 3 silver and love it it does take some time to figure out but the video is excellent. My remote just crapped out as well it got water in it there sending me a new one today. As for quality you can decide for your self.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxGfKacD-vYybnhWVmFSWmdhZFk/edit?usp=docslist_api

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxGfKacD-vYybnhWVmFSWmdhZFk/edit?usp=docslist_api

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxGfKacD-vYybnhWVmFSWmdhZFk/edit?usp=docslist_api

The battery depletion is an issue with the GoPro3 black.  I find that I don't even bother taking the camera out because of the battery capacity.  It's such a big hassle to get everything set up for shooting then find out the battery is dead and needs changing (I have 3 batts...)  just a PITA.  Would not go with that model for that reason alone.  Nothing to suggest as a good alternative though.  Sorry.

The 3+ does not have the battery issues.  With the battery backpack I can have it on standby for 6+ hours and leave it off with the wifi ON, for several days.

The 3+ does not have the battery issues.  With the battery backpack I can have it on standby for 6+ hours and leave it off with the wifi ON, for several days.

+1 on Lee , my backpack without the remote will record high end video for about 3-4 hours. My remotes spoda be back by Friday. Also a quality card is important as is volume of the card Cosmo has a 64 gig and has never ran out of card I only have 2 -16 gig  cards

I'm confused by the poll.  The post topic is "Which camera?" and the poll only has GoPro models listed.    I realize that GoPro has dumped the most money into marketing, but what about the other companies like Sony, Contour, Garmin, ReplayXD, etc..?  When did GoPro become the proprietary eponym for action camera? 

I had contour cameras fail on me three times.   They are not reliable.   

I'm open to others,  perhaps they should get some product testers

I'm confused by the poll.  The post topic is "Which camera?" and the poll only has GoPro models listed.    I realize that GoPro has dumped the most money into marketing, but what about the other companies like Sony, Contour, Garmin, ReplayXD, etc..?  When did GoPro become the proprietary eponym for action camera?

Look at Option 5. 

Also:

...

I'm totally open to non-GoPro options.  Just don't know what's out there.

I'm confused by the poll.  The post topic is "Which camera?" and the poll only has GoPro models listed.    I realize that GoPro has dumped the most money into marketing, but what about the other companies like Sony, Contour, Garmin, ReplayXD, etc..?  When did GoPro become the proprietary eponym for action camera?

Look at Option 5. 

Also:

...

I'm totally open to non-GoPro options.  Just don't know what's out there.

I guess most of the people that are replying have gopro, and if no one is chiming in on the others I would wonder about the quality. Btw I don't watch tv so advertising had nothing to do with my choice to buy one. Hope you find what's right for you, I can let ta know on the hunting end of it next month for deer season.

I have GoPros and love them...if I am trying to film myself or the subject at close range and in bright light.  They are not good at low light and they will be impractical for taking pictures at anything more than ten yards due to the wide angle lens.  Also, the GoPro 3+ Black is the only one over 10 mp for stills, and remember not all CCDs (megapixels) are created equally.  If you are primarily interested in filming high quality up close videos of yourself on the kayak, get a GoPro. 

If you want to have the ability to shoot high quality video and take really good pictures with the ability to zoom in on things, get an Olympus TG-3.  It is also phenomenal on hand-held close-ups. 

The problem with a non-Gopro, is there is a lot going on with the camera automatically (focusing, adjusting exposures, etc...) so it will not have the same battery life. A point and shoot may also not have a wide enough perspective for filming yourself on the yak, but I believe the TG-3 has a fish eye lens adapter.  Also, not all point and shoot water-proof cameras have the ability to start to and control them wirelessly, whereas the GoPros do have that ability, which is where they really shine in my opinion.  In the conclusion, my rambling probably has not helped you one bit. Sorry. 

I want to get a camera to record my adventures on the kayak.  Specifically my hunting adventures, but fishing too, if I can ever manage to get out ofter enough to get some worthwhile videos.

Being on a kayak it, of course, must be waterproof (or like the GoPros have a waterproof housing), be mountable on the kayak, have pretty decent video quality, be able to take good stills, and generally be reasonably easy to use.  Long run times are a huge plus (additional batteries are OK).  Large storage capacity would also be great so I don't have to swap memory cards on the water.  Optical zoom would be nice. 

Reviews I've read are that the GoPro 3+ has much better run-times than the 3, but that the distance images aren't well focused.  Is that the experience here?  For hunting I'll want good clear images at 50+ yards.

I'm totally open to non-GoPro options.  Just don't know what's out there.

I'd think that at 50 yards, unless you are hunting blue whales, whatever you are hunting would be a small period on a screen. I shoot the hero 2 still so maybe the Hero 3 models are better? 

The GoPro has both "Normal" and "Narrow" modes which limit the FOV and have the effect of bringing you closer to the action.

My only complaint with the 3+ is that I wish it had a programmable button that you could specify what you want it to do. It is too time consuming on the water to change settings with the limited interface, and that's something I wish I could do. Otherwise I couldn't be happier with it. Be aware that you need to take care of the contacts on the remote. It will act like it's not charging after a trip or two in the salt, but it's just corrosion on the contacts. The waterproof remote is probably my favorite feature.