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I wonder how long the GoPro device lasts before a consumer replaces it. In my mind, a GoPro is something you wear on your head while doing crazy stuff. Even i

I wonder how long the GoPro device lasts before a consumer replaces it. In my mind, a GoPro is something you wear on your head while doing crazy stuff. Even if GoPro never makes technology improvements, it seems like people would be destroying them as part of normal use, like other types of athletic equipment.

andrewmunsell 12y ago
I imagine that many people end up losing the device instead of destroying them, given the number of stories where people drop the cameras out of a plane, have the camera film a car crash from the interior, etc. and they survive with some impressive footage.
- spacecadet 12y ago
  Umm yeah no.. I own a few GoPro's from all generations- they are TANKS! I threw one in it's case, out of a car going 90mph and it survived...
  - eric_h 12y ago
    > I threw one in it's case, out of a car going 90mph On purpose?
    - gcd 12y ago
      I'm trying to think of a situation where you could accidentally throw a camera out of a speeding car..
      - marincounty 12y ago
        Angry girlfriend who realized to the implications of the innocent photo shoot at the deserted beach?
  - kwikshot 12y ago
    He just said that they're extremely durable and you're refuting that by saying they're durable?
  - kwikshot 12y ago
    He just said that they're extremely durable and you're refuting that by saying they're durable?
  - kwikshot 12y ago
    He just said that they're extremely durable and you're refuting that by saying they're durable?
  - kwikshot 12y ago
    He just said that they're extremely durable and you're refuting that by saying they're durable?
swalkergibson 12y ago
The case, in my experience, is nigh on indestructible. I have dropped it from the top of a hundred foot ice climb, thumped it in 10 foot Indonesian surf, and kicked it around in my bag more times than I can count. It is extremely durable. The biggest problem with the product is the battery life is utter crap, particularly in extreme weather conditions. In the cold, on a full charge, it will last about 30 minutes. Overall, it is a truly amazing product and they have made it possible for the average Joe to document his adventures without spending thousands of dollars on hiring a professional photographer/videographer.
jdfreefly 12y ago
Skydiver with 3 GoPros in the family. I started with the 1, got my wife a 2, and then I upgraded to a 3. The V1 is still alive and kicking, but the image quality was so much better on the 3 that I felt like I had to upgrade. Also, we see new jumpers every year, and the first thing they want to do is start jumping with a GoPro (even if we don't want them to for safety reasons). I think they're doing a good enough job with new features that people like me will keep upgrading for a while.
- us0r 12y ago
  Same here. I've seen one survive from 10,000 ft (lost helmet). You would really have to try hard to break one of these.
  - morganw 12y ago
    Dropped one without the case: lens onto concrete floor and it chipped it. Consequence of fumbling while trying to take it out of the case for SD card retrieval and charging. Now, I unmount the case, take it to a desk in a carpeted room & open the case.
- billyarzt 12y ago
  I found mine washed up on a beach in a waterproof case (had no way of identifying the true owner). No idea how long it had been floating in the ocean before it washed up on the beach, but it works perfectly.
  - Holbein 12y ago
    GoPro have a serial registry. Maybe you want to inquire to find the original owner? http://gopro.com/support/product-update/register-camera http://gopro.com/support/product-update/register-camera
locusm 12y ago
Largest users Ive encountered are motorcyclists and a number of RC flyers I know use them also. I have a Contour strapped to my Monster, good for recording track days and the daily commute (for insurance).
- codfrantic 12y ago
  > the daily commute (for insurance). I do the same on my bike, not a gopro but a Sony AS15 though.
  - cjrp 12y ago
    Ditto, Drift HD Ghost on my helmet (I prefer the shape to the GoPro)
  - epaladin 12y ago
    Do you just delete the footage when you get back on uneventful days?
    - locusm 12y ago
      I keep about 7 days worth, although at the start I would delete anything semi dodgy like say if I lane filtered etc. I'm over my paranoia now :)
    - codfrantic 12y ago
      I format the card after about a workweek of riding, (roughly 1 hour a day. My 16 GB card will hold about 6 hours in 720p @ 30 FPS)
InclinedPlane 12y ago
They are pretty difficult to destroy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU-KvtA20v8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU-KvtA20v8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrxPuk0JefA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrxPuk0JefA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b6n1MwXCcs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b6n1MwXCcs
noarchy 12y ago
I had the mount for my GoPro break while I was descending a mountain road at around 75 kph on a road bike. The camera careened down the road for who knows how long. The SD card had popped out of the camera, but in the end both the camera and the card still worked, and I use both to this day.
eyeareque 12y ago
The waterproof case is strong, however the camera's have a 1 year warranty, and shitty hardware so if you actually use the camera don't expect it to last you very long. I've RMAd at least 5 of them over the years and many of my friends who use them have had bad experiences as well.

andrewmunsell 12y ago

I imagine that many people end up losing the device instead of destroying them, given the number of stories where people drop the cameras out of a plane, have the camera film a car crash from the interior, etc. and they survive with some impressive footage.

spacecadet 12y ago
Umm yeah no.. I own a few GoPro's from all generations- they are TANKS! I threw one in it's case, out of a car going 90mph and it survived...
- eric_h 12y ago
  > I threw one in it's case, out of a car going 90mph On purpose?
  - gcd 12y ago
    I'm trying to think of a situation where you could accidentally throw a camera out of a speeding car..
    - marincounty 12y ago
      Angry girlfriend who realized to the implications of the innocent photo shoot at the deserted beach?
- kwikshot 12y ago
  He just said that they're extremely durable and you're refuting that by saying they're durable?
- kwikshot 12y ago
  He just said that they're extremely durable and you're refuting that by saying they're durable?
- kwikshot 12y ago
  He just said that they're extremely durable and you're refuting that by saying they're durable?
- kwikshot 12y ago
  He just said that they're extremely durable and you're refuting that by saying they're durable?

swalkergibson 12y ago

The case, in my experience, is nigh on indestructible. I have dropped it from the top of a hundred foot ice climb, thumped it in 10 foot Indonesian surf, and kicked it around in my bag more times than I can count. It is extremely durable. The biggest problem with the product is the battery life is utter crap, particularly in extreme weather conditions. In the cold, on a full charge, it will last about 30 minutes. Overall, it is a truly amazing product and they have made it possible for the average Joe to document his adventures without spending thousands of dollars on hiring a professional photographer/videographer.

jdfreefly 12y ago

Skydiver with 3 GoPros in the family. I started with the 1, got my wife a 2, and then I upgraded to a 3. The V1 is still alive and kicking, but the image quality was so much better on the 3 that I felt like I had to upgrade. Also, we see new jumpers every year, and the first thing they want to do is start jumping with a GoPro (even if we don't want them to for safety reasons). I think they're doing a good enough job with new features that people like me will keep upgrading for a while.

us0r 12y ago
Same here. I've seen one survive from 10,000 ft (lost helmet). You would really have to try hard to break one of these.
- morganw 12y ago
  Dropped one without the case: lens onto concrete floor and it chipped it. Consequence of fumbling while trying to take it out of the case for SD card retrieval and charging. Now, I unmount the case, take it to a desk in a carpeted room & open the case.
billyarzt 12y ago
I found mine washed up on a beach in a waterproof case (had no way of identifying the true owner). No idea how long it had been floating in the ocean before it washed up on the beach, but it works perfectly.
- Holbein 12y ago
  GoPro have a serial registry. Maybe you want to inquire to find the original owner? http://gopro.com/support/product-update/register-camera http://gopro.com/support/product-update/register-camera

locusm 12y ago

Largest users Ive encountered are motorcyclists and a number of RC flyers I know use them also. I have a Contour strapped to my Monster, good for recording track days and the daily commute (for insurance).

codfrantic 12y ago
> the daily commute (for insurance). I do the same on my bike, not a gopro but a Sony AS15 though.
- cjrp 12y ago
  Ditto, Drift HD Ghost on my helmet (I prefer the shape to the GoPro)
- epaladin 12y ago
  Do you just delete the footage when you get back on uneventful days?
  - locusm 12y ago
    I keep about 7 days worth, although at the start I would delete anything semi dodgy like say if I lane filtered etc. I'm over my paranoia now :)
  - codfrantic 12y ago
    I format the card after about a workweek of riding, (roughly 1 hour a day. My 16 GB card will hold about 6 hours in 720p @ 30 FPS)

InclinedPlane 12y ago

They are pretty difficult to destroy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU-KvtA20v8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU-KvtA20v8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrxPuk0JefA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrxPuk0JefA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b6n1MwXCcs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b6n1MwXCcs

noarchy 12y ago

I had the mount for my GoPro break while I was descending a mountain road at around 75 kph on a road bike. The camera careened down the road for who knows how long. The SD card had popped out of the camera, but in the end both the camera and the card still worked, and I use both to this day.

eyeareque 12y ago

The waterproof case is strong, however the camera's have a 1 year warranty, and shitty hardware so if you actually use the camera don't expect it to last you very long. I've RMAd at least 5 of them over the years and many of my friends who use them have had bad experiences as well.