Having lost the Drift HD Ghost in a deep Madagascar river when a low overhanging branch knocked it off my kayak and after, stupidly, forgetting my beloved Olympus TG2 Tough camera on a train from Edinburgh, I reluctantly accepted the opportunity to take the GoPro Hero3+ along on our Zambia trip.
What I liked most about the Drift HD Ghost was that it was immediately waterproof so clipping the GoPro Hero 3+ into its waterproof case made it immediately heavier and clunkier. I had the most difficulty with the Drift HD Ghost's remote, which I found confusing and was usually in a shooting mode I didn't want to be.
I loved the GoPro Hero 3+ iPhone App that I found much more responsive and easier to use than the Ghost's.
At the end of the day, I found the two devices on par although the GoPro Hero 3+ felt a little more intuitive. I really enjoyed watching the footage of our Zambezi canoe trip. I stuck the GoPro Hero 3+ to the nose of the inflatable and watching the footage, especially of times when water splashed over the camera, is a spectacular reminder of the experience.
I also used the GoPro Hero 3+ to film the Flight of the Angels helicopter flip over the Victoria Falls. I wished I'd had a suction attachment to affix it to the window rather than hold it in my hand. Most of the pilots use a camera to get footage that they edit into a DVD of your trip and bill you for it after so I understand their reluctance to allow me to use an adhesive mount on the window.
I used Mac's iMovie to edit the footage that I found very easy to do.
New in the GoPro Hero 3+ is better WiFi, increased processor speed, longer battery life and upgraded audio performance.
As tiny a camera as it is, I still don't like carrying another device with me so will be looking to get a waterproof casing for my iPhone to use that on my next trip. You can get a GoPro Hero3+ from www.omnico.co.za for around R6,000.
Here is a link to the Zambezi movie and here is the Vic Falls movie...
