This GoPro is expensive and worth every penny. I bought this camera to use as a dash cam and I'm blown away by its capabilities. The GoPro can be used for any purpose one can imagine and there are mounts for every purpose as well. Many of the excellent YouTube videos are produced by a GoPro. The mechanical engineering of this piece is exceptional and extends to the mounts included with the original purchase. There are more settings at this time than I can remember but the simple basic settings and the defaults produce excellent, sharp, clear and colorful videos of whatever the camera is aimed at. Night photos are also excellent.
I purchased the GoPro 4 Silver because it has the viewing screen at the back which makes it simple to aim the camera perfectly to get the best views of the road traveled. This rear screen is especially nice when initially setting up the camera on a permanent adhesive mount most often stuck to the front window in the center to one side of the rear view mirror. The rear screen makes it easy to mount the adhesive in the perfect position on the first try. I spent a few days getting up the courage to finally mount the GoPro PERMANENTLY ON MY FRONT WINDSHIELD using the very permanent 3M mount (supposedly easily removed by heating it up first). I've never mounted anything permanently to my front windshield and even had a hard time adding cup holders to a car that didn't come with them. My fear was unfounded because the rear screen made it easy as pie to position and aim the camera and mark the exact spot that gave me the best view of the road in front, keeping in mind I'd have to remove the camera whenever I left the car. No problem here.
The GoPro 4 Black is an extra $100 for a few more setting details but then you have to buy a separate rear LCD screen for another $100 or so if you want the same capability for ease of installation if you want to use your GoPro as a Dash Cam. I picked the GoPro Silver from the beginning because I called the company and asked them which camera they recommended for use as a Dash Cam. When I called I knew NOTHING about dash cams or about GoPros.
When the GoPro arrived I was unable to "unbox" the camera until I read the instructions and watched an instructional video on YouTube, titled "unboxing your new GoPro - for beginners". I say this to emphasize that this was my first experience with a Dash Cam. I never saw a GoPro up close until mine arrived. Without instructions I'd still have the GoPro boxed up. The attachments and means of attaching the GoPro were different from anything I was familiar with but it all makes perfect sense and ends up easier than most familiar attachments once you see it for the first time.
I decided to go with this most expensive Dash Cam (except for the GoPro Hero 4 Black) because I never saw a bad video taken with a GoPro. I'm thrilled I made this decision because everything about the GoPro is exceptional. The GoPro Hero 4 Silver camera has some of the best engineering I've seen on any electronics product I've purchased over many years, including digital cameras and computers. The quality of materials is also superior. With all the exceptional features and capabilities, this camera is easy to set up and use. It is a simple camera and it does what it claims to do and does it exceptionally well.
Once I got myself to take the step of a permanent front windshield mounting, I was set up and ready to go. All I need to do is press the button to start the video and remember to remove the camera once I've arrived at my destination. The quick mounts and disconnects make this simple.
The GoPro is suggested as a Dash Cam only for users who already own one because there are Dash Cams selling for $29.95, making the GoPro 10x as expensive. This is bad advice! Once a person buys a GoPro it's only a matter of time before other uses for this camera show up. The GoPro is so exceptional it can be easily used to memorialize any activity one is accustomed to performing.
The GoPro photos and videos are so excellent a person is encouraged to find new uses for the GoPro all the time. All that's necessary is the purchase of a specialized mount. Many mounts can be used for multiple purposes. For instance, I may want to mount my GoPro on a headrest. I found the mount used to attach a GoPro to one's head, hat or helmet is perfect for attaching to my headrest. This is a great place to mount a camera to watch out the rear window if one wants full coverage. I'm thinking of buying a second GoPro for this, but first I have to save up many pennies. This is what happens when one has the capability to take excellent quality videos and photos with little effort.
If you are thinking of buying your first Dash Cam, I suggest going with the best. Spend the money and buy a GoPro. You will be inspired to find many other uses for this marvelous little camera once you see how easy it is to use to take perfect photos and videos.
| Brand Name | GoPro |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 5.1 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 2.8 x 2.79 x 1.53 inches |
| Item model number | CHDHY-401 |
| Batteries | 1 A batteries required. (included) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color Name | Silver |
| Special Features | Waterproof |
