20-09-13, 03:32 PM
I recently picked up a refurbished (typically returned but tested OK) Drift X170 from Amazon for £35+shipping. They seem to be gone now but if you keep your eye out these things do show up cheap. Bit of a punt on a refurbished unit but 9/10 they're fine and you can always send them back.
This isn't a modern HD one. It's standard definition, but I thought it would be sufficient for my first action cam while I get the hand of the things.
I like that it takes regular AA batteries because then when the run out mid-ride I can just put new ones in. I've got some super-duper AA rechargeables on the way from Germany (much better than normal ones).
It didn't come with any memory but I picked up a 16GB Micro SD pretty cheap. It actually takes a standard (larger) SD card but I thought best to buy the more modern Micro SD type and use it with a £1 converter because the Micro SD will fit other modern devices or future cameras I might buy.
I don't like that it doesn't have a connector for an external microphone, to be honest didn't realise that was the case when I bought it. But it's sufficient for my initial purposes of convering myself against dodgy insurance claims etc, and If I decide to do the who vlogging thing then I imagine I could open it up and solder an external mic in place of the internal one.
My bother's drift HD certainly has a much better picture quality, but for the time being that sort of thing is out of my budget. I think for what I paid I'm happy-ish, and glad I have the build quality of the drift compared to cheaper stuff. Will experiment further when batteries arrive.
Andy
This isn't a modern HD one. It's standard definition, but I thought it would be sufficient for my first action cam while I get the hand of the things.
I like that it takes regular AA batteries because then when the run out mid-ride I can just put new ones in. I've got some super-duper AA rechargeables on the way from Germany (much better than normal ones).
It didn't come with any memory but I picked up a 16GB Micro SD pretty cheap. It actually takes a standard (larger) SD card but I thought best to buy the more modern Micro SD type and use it with a £1 converter because the Micro SD will fit other modern devices or future cameras I might buy.
I don't like that it doesn't have a connector for an external microphone, to be honest didn't realise that was the case when I bought it. But it's sufficient for my initial purposes of convering myself against dodgy insurance claims etc, and If I decide to do the who vlogging thing then I imagine I could open it up and solder an external mic in place of the internal one.
My bother's drift HD certainly has a much better picture quality, but for the time being that sort of thing is out of my budget. I think for what I paid I'm happy-ish, and glad I have the build quality of the drift compared to cheaper stuff. Will experiment further when batteries arrive.
Andy