Second GoPro Hero 10 Black Gotcha - Camera Overheating

I've been using the GoPro Hero 10 Black for a bit now,  The last time I posted, I complained that there was no real preview option.  That issue still exists and is still annoying.  There have been more than a few times where I've discovered that my framing is off-center or is not capturing what I require.  I'm almost to the point where it's so annoying that I may replace this camera.

There's another annoying thing that's occurring.

I want to capture in 4K reslution at 60 FPS when I'm at the firearms range.  My range visits are usually an hour long but I don't shoot during that whole hour.  I only record when I'm shooting, and between shooting, I've to load mags or retrieve/replace the target.  I'm finding that the camera can never get through the session while being turned on.  At the last 10 minutes of the range session, I always find that the camera has shut down due to overheating.

This is highly annoying, as sometimes I don't even know that the camera is off...it doesn't audibly alert me (I can't see the camera, as it sits on my head, on a ball cap, using a hat mount).

Note that the range I frequent is an indoor range that is AC-cooled. Ambient temps are cool, to the point that I usually wear a jacket/hoodie.

The camera gets hot just by being on, it seems, then when it's recording, it gets hotter.  I've configured the camera to not have the camera screens on (I view the framing and control the camera using the Quik app on my phone).  Dialing back the resolution is a very LAME workaround, but that's what I think I'll have to do to prevent this from occurring.  :/

The lack of live previewing can be negated by just buying a 360 camera.  I'm sure most 360 cameras that aren't made by GoPro will not overheat.

This is depressing because I've invested (financially) in using this camera.  I suppose I can sell it and every GoPro accessory I own to attempt to recoup financially.  I also spent a lot of time in researching if this was the camera for me.

So, the hunt begins for yet another camera.  One thing I haven't done is use the Osmo Pocket 3 at the range, and I think it will perform fine, but I really think a good inexpensive 360 camera will work...I don't need to use the $600+ Pocket 3 to replace the Hero 10.

UPDATE (8/13/2024):  I should've shared that the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 also shuts down due to overheating. As with the GoPro, the OP3 overheats when recording in 4K (30 FPS), which is sad.  It's obvious that there are limitations with the higher resolutions.

The Pocket 3 Has Arrived!

I received the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 on Thursday (3/21).  Initial thoughts are below.

I was surprised at the small size of the box!  The camera is also smaller than I expected.

The camera's battery had a a 45% charge, so I got to immediately activate it, which was pretty easy - I hear it's easier to set up if you've an iPhone or iPad.

Now, since I'd not been able to purchase Amazon's insurance (the transaction borked but the transaction for the Pocket 3 went through), and the DJI activation process was asking me if I wanted to purchase DJI Care Refresh (which is a protection program), I bought 2 years of that, which is $55.  Now I don't have to worry about the camera being damaged.  Note that although the unit is covered by insurance, to replace the camera, the owenr would still need to pay $35.  As well, I get four replacement instances, if need be.

I was also worried about the battery eventually depleting, but that is covered by DJI Care Refresh, as well.

I bought a 30W charger a few days before I received the Pocket 3.  It works well and the Pocket 3 Fast-charged to 100% in like 25 minutes.  As much as this camera costs, you'd think they'd include a charger -- maybe they think that folks will already have chargers (30W isn't really commonplace for chargers, though).

The camera easily mounts on a tripod, as it includes a tripod extension that attaches to the bottom of the camera.  I've been using it with a desk tripod.

I recorded some test videos, using the camera as a standalone camera.  I also recorded test footage using it as a webcam (using Photo Booth and QuickTime).  I recorded 1080p footage and the results were astonishing.

I used the following video to get the camera's settings to a baseline state (for me):

I now have the camera configured to use 1440p/60fps as the default video resolution and speed.  I recorded some test footage and the result is absolutely astounding!  I was able to use face tracking and even used object tracking (I was presenting a firearm and had the camera track it while I handled it).  I later posted that footage to YouTube, after editing it with DaVinci Resolve and rendering it (it took a bit for me to determine how to render it in 1440p - I had to render it a second time before I had it correctly configured).

I also have installed LightCut (which is editing software that is published by a company that DJI is partnered with) on both my Macbook Air and my iPhone.  I will take a look at the MBA editor tomorrow to see if it'll be worthwhile in using.  I do not care to use it on my iPhone, though - I can't imagine editing videos using a smartphone.

The camera isn't waterproof and it's gimbal is probably easily damaged, so my next purchase is probably going to be a case (there's nothing I can do about it not being waterproof, though).

The next following purchase will probably be the Mic 2 transmitter, although the test footage seems to indicate that the mics on the camera are adequate (for me).  Or, maybe I should purchase the extra battery handle.  Maybe I'll just flip a coin to determine which to get.

I have a lane at the range reserved tomorrow.  For now, I'll keep using the GoPro but I might take the Pocket 3 and set it up on my left side on the range table, just to see what type of footage it'll capture.

I'll post updates on my experiences.

UPDATE (8/13/2024):

I've been using the OP3 to capture video footage for my YouTube channel and the captured footage is astounding in quality.  What's really cool is that I can set it on my desk and then lock the focus on a particular object - if the object moves (for example, a dog), the camera lens follows.  If I have something in my hands and I'm moving my hands around, the camera will follow.  Even when using it as a desk camera, capturing my face, if I lock my head as a focus and move my head, the camera will shift slightly to ensure my head is center-frame.

The camera feels fragile but that's why I have DJI Care.  I'm considering a 3rd party protective shell, as the gimbal sometimes moves when the OEM shell is mounted onto the camera.

The camera bag/case is too small, in my opinion.  I'm looking for a bigger case.

I have used it once while taking a scenic walk around my neighborhood and was shocked at the resulting  footage (was daylight with no clouds; in the spring).  That's the only time I've used it outdoors but I think I should use it more when outside.

Used DaVinci Resolve to Create My First Video from Hero 10 Black Footage

I was able to successfully record some good footage using my new Hero 10 Black.  

As well, instead of taking the footage to one of my Macs so that I could edit it using iMovie, I tried DaVinci Resolve (free version), on my Dell G7.

UPDATE (5/24/2024):
I've since been using DaVinci Resolve on my Macbook Air M1.  My Dell G7 is equipped with an older i5 variant and that laptop was bought just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, so it's not a recent laptop.  That system also has an Nvidia GeForce RX2060 (mobile) graphics card, which Resolve leverages when crunching videos.  The G7 gets noisy/loud and sometimes hiccups during the video crunching process, which sometimes shows in the resulting footage.  With the Air, I've none of those issues.  In fact, the Air processes videos far quicker than the Dell G7.  I'm probably going to end up purchasing a license at some point...the software is that good.

I thought that I'd have problems using DaVinci since I've heard that it was somewhat more technical than iMovie, but it was easier than I thought, because it was very similar in usage to iMovie and Cyberlink PowerDirector.

It is posted here:

GoPro Hero 10 Black - Received!

I posted that I bought a refurbished GoPro Hero 10 Black from Amazon and that I was awaiting the package to arrive.

The package arrived yesterday.

I was surprised when I opened it.  Why was I surprised?  Well, the product description stated that I'd be receiving only the GoPro itself and no accessories.  I was expecting nothing other than the camera (I also expected that no battery would be included).

This (<=== link is here) is the one that I bought.

I received the camera, two batteries, a USB-C to USB-A charging cable, two mounts and a case.  I was shocked.  I basically got everything that I'd get if I bought a new product.

The camera doesn't appear to be refurbished at all.

About the only thing that was off-putting was that I had to charge the the batteries sequentually with the battery compartment door left open.  The charging process was long in duration, as well.  This was so much of a pain that I immediately began searching for a dedicated battery charging caddy, which I didn't initially anticipate needing to purchase.  I bought the GoPro Enduro 2-battery & charger combo pack from Best Buy (local purchase) for $59, just so I wouldn't be having to charge each battery sequentially.

I haven't really used the camera yet, as I'm actually afraid to go out and about - around here, there's a lot of chaotic last-minute Christmas shopping going on and traffic has been horrendous.

I've got the camera set up to use with the Quik app - was easy to set up.  It can be used with my other GoPro fittings and attachments (many of them were designed by 3rd party attachment makers).

I've also developed a To-Buy accessory list:

I can't wait to use this camera while at my next shooting activity!