DNJ (Donny) is always asking for videos and photos, and has ever recommended a couple video cameras to me that I have purchased from Ebay. However, as good as they were, especially for the little amount of money I paid for them, they never seemed to capture what I needed. That just changed.
After watching a video about sailing the Florida Keys on You Tube, one that was really incredible, I discovered what kind of camera was used - a Go-Pro Hero. It's a tiny camera that shoots high definition video, stills, rapid fire and time lapse photos using an ultra-wide angle lens that is incredibly sharp and crisp. It is completely waterproof to depths of 131 feet, it is a true point and shoot, and has no view finder. When you point an ultra-wide angle lens it just captures everything you wish to see. I was astonished at how much it captured.
It will work in diminished light conditions, but it is primarily an outdoor camera. It has a variety of mounting options, it can be mounted on just about any surface, flat or curved, and everything is recorded and stored on a 32-gigabyte miniature card.
The Hero is the entry level camera and sells for just $129 plus the cost of the storage card, which in a package deal from Amazon was just another $20. It has a built-in mic that is actually pretty good, but cannot be used with the waterproof back on the camera. There is another back with two openings that provides access to the USB connection, and also allows the mic to come into play.
Now, I'm not gonna bombard anyone with videos of my performing - that would be a bit childish. My prime reason for purchasing this camera is to document my voyages up and down the east coast in my sailboat. C'mon April - gonna snow tomorrow night and it's damned cold here right now.
Gary