Extend Your Video Time

Pferox · July 07, 2016, 07:00:19 AM

Most action cams run between an hour to two depending on settings with the enclosed battery.

You can extend your videoing time by adding an external power source. Most cams are water resistant enough that you can use an open case for it as long as you aren't submerging them. If you are afraid of damage in rain, carry a plastic bag to cover the unit during rain storms.

If on a boat or in a car use a charger and plug it into the charging slot. Some cams may require you to use "car mode" to allow them to video when under external power.

For portability, try one of those "Charging" batteries they sell for cell phones or laptops, depending on the size, you can actually get days of video time in one package.

As an example, my batteries last about 2 hours with the way I have my cameras set. The battery is rated at 900mAh. On Ebay I found an emergency phone charger rated at 2600mAh for $5, that more than doubles the recording time, and I still have the fresh internal battery.

For less than $20 bucks the wife got me a couple of 8000mAh batteries with two USB ports. Mathematically it comes out to almost 9 times the video time, but in actual usage I have yet to drain the battery, and even charged one camera while shooting with the other on a tripod at the same time.

It is a pretty inexpensive investment to extent your "memories" creation time.

Mike Cork · July 07, 2016, 08:47:11 AM

Great tip! I'm forever changing batteries and when I finally do catch a good fish, the battery died thirty minutes ago LOL

Princeton_Man · July 07, 2016, 09:33:43 AM

I do this on the boat and in the truck. My Garmin Virb Ellite easily allows for it and with the 64GB microSD I can get 7 1/2 hours of video. I also use the high capacity batteries though the seldom get to see a full cycle. With the highest quality settings, my only gripe is the huge file sizes and length of time to upload and edit.

Pferox · July 07, 2016, 11:50:47 AM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on July 07, 2016, 09:33:43 AM
I do this on the boat and in the truck. My Garmin Virb Ellite easily allows for it and with the 64GB microSD I can get 7 1/2 hours of video. I also use the high capacity batteries though the seldom get to see a full cycle. With the highest quality settings, my only gripe is the huge file sizes and length of time to upload and edit.

You can set it up to record in cycles, need to check your machine. One of mine only records like a dash cam and overrides the oldest. The other two allows me to program it to make 1 to 30 minute clips until the chip is full, then it shuts down. Makes processing a lot easier.

When doing in segments like that, some will put a few frames from the previous clip on, others will have a few frame lag while shifting, others will just be continuous, that is dependant on the software or programming or something in the cam.

Princeton_Man · July 07, 2016, 01:28:33 PM

Yup, I have mine set for 15 minute segments and also set not to loop. When the card is full the power light turns red and "card full" displayed on the LCD display.

I can down load individual segments although I tend to simply download the whole enchilada when I do.

flowerjohn · July 07, 2016, 04:49:59 PM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on July 07, 2016, 09:33:43 AM
I do this on the boat and in the truck. My Garmin Virb Ellite easily allows for it and with the 64GB microSD I can get 7 1/2 hours of video. I also use the high capacity batteries though the seldom get to see a full cycle. With the highest quality settings, my only gripe is the huge file sizes and length of time to upload and edit.

I get the same file size transfer problems with the GoPro shooting in hi res the files become a pain and the cards are not cheap. I transfer files to my iPad while I'm up in the country and then jut sort the mess out when I get home.

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Pferox · July 07, 2016, 06:34:27 PM

Fry's just had a sale on 64 gig cards for something like $18 and 32 gig for around $10 or $12, we stocked up. My cams max out at 32, but my Vixia and Tablet take 64 so we made out.

I have a lot of 16s from a previous deal from one of those Chinese warehouses, I now carry a couple of those as backups if I need them, but haven't yet. Funny thing is that other than AC power, I don't have a way to extend the battery on the Vixia because of the proprietary plug, and everything Cannon is through the roof, so it stays home and does the pretty takes.

I also move the data to the PC at one shot too. My transfer speed isn't too bad. It is actually slower getting the stuff off of the Wife's Sony point and shoot through WIFI.

In a pinch, I have three PCs that I can download from then move everything around to the assigned HD.

flowerjohn · July 07, 2016, 06:50:34 PM

Quote from: Pferox on July 07, 2016, 06:34:27 PM
Fry's just had a sale on 64 gig cards for something like $18 and 32 gig for around $10 or $12, we stocked up. My cams max out at 32, but my Vixia and Tablet take 64 so we made out.

I have a lot of 16s from a previous deal from one of those Chinese warehouses, I now carry a couple of those as backups if I need them, but haven't yet. Funny thing is that other than AC power, I don't have a way to extend the battery on the Vixia because of the proprietary plug, and everything Cannon is through the roof, so it stays home and does the pretty takes.

I also move the data to the PC at one shot too. My transfer speed isn't too bad. It is actually slower getting the stuff off of the Wife's Sony point and shoot through WIFI.

In a pinch, I have three PCs that I can download from then move everything around to the assigned HD.

Are you shooting 1080 on that? The problem with that res on a card for mine is that I need a 10 class card so that the video I shoot doesn't get chopped up. Damn technology. I loved the Polaroid land camera when I was a kid. It just developed pictures before your eyes!!!

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Pferox · July 07, 2016, 07:22:31 PM

Yea 1920 x 1080p, 30fps. All of the cards I have bought recently are class 10, you can find them on the cheap around here if you look real hard.

I tried 720p 60fps so I could do some more intense slo mo, but it looks chopped up. I think my software in the PC likes 30fps better.

I have some older 8gigs that aren't 10, and I leave them for the older cameras that we have accumulated that we sometimes use for still shots.

I never really did videos before all this happened, before it was all stills. Started out with a polaroid, went to 35mm, almost started to process the stuff myself, but then digital came out and I went that route. It is a disease, I tell ya.

flowerjohn · July 07, 2016, 07:25:32 PM

Quote from: Pferox on July 07, 2016, 07:22:31 PM
Yea 1920 x 1080p, 30fps. All of the cards I have bought recently are class 10, you can find them on the cheap around here if you look real hard.

I tried 720p 60fps so I could do some more intense slo mo, but it looks chopped up. I think my software in the PC likes 30fps better.

I have some older 8gigs that aren't 10, and I leave them for the older cameras that we have accumulated that we sometimes use for still shots.

That is great to know. I will have a look around for them!!!

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Pferox · July 07, 2016, 07:33:14 PM

Try Banggood.com watch what you are buying closely, but you can actually buy branded stuff pretty reasonably, they have wharehouse around the world, so shipping may be cheaper than from the US.

Frys.com is a US company, they have some pretty good deals, trying to bait you to get in the door or on their website. I went there to get a few memory cards and came out with the Vexia on a deal, and Jan got a Sony point and shoot for half price (still cost almost $200) they came close to hitting us for $600 that day.

flowerjohn · July 07, 2016, 07:51:01 PM

Quote from: Pferox on July 07, 2016, 07:33:14 PM
Try Banggood.com watch what you are buying closely, but you can actually buy branded stuff pretty reasonably, they have wharehouse around the world, so shipping may be cheaper than from the US.

Frys.com is a US company, they have some pretty good deals, trying to bait you to get in the door or on their website. I went there to get a few memory cards and came out with the Vexia on a deal, and Jan got a Sony point and shoot for half price (still cost almost $200) they came close to hitting us for $600 that day.

Thanks for the info. I will check them both out I'm just gonna get a whole bunch of stuff sent to Gville in September and take it back home. My version of duty free!!! Lol!!

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Pferox · July 08, 2016, 12:23:52 AM

Sounds like the best way to do it. Hope you find all the sales you can.

Smallie_Stalker · July 08, 2016, 04:35:11 PM

This should go in the Tips contest for sure next time around.

Pferox · July 08, 2016, 10:23:19 PM

Thanks Jim.

Oh yea Jon, if you order from Banggood or another Chinese place, plan on the deliveries to take months, literally. I swear they ship by pachyderm.

flowerjohn · July 09, 2016, 07:38:50 AM

Quote from: Pferox on July 08, 2016, 10:23:19 PM
Thanks Jim.

Oh yea Jon, if you order from Banggood or another Chinese place, plan on the deliveries to take months, literally. I swear they ship by pachyderm.

Lol Pferox tell me about it. I import stuff for work from China and it is a real nightmare!!! Thanks for that !!

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