Outdoor Test and Verdict on DriftHD vs GoPro 2

Before we get into the judging, here is the footage of the outdoor test. I shot over an hour of me pedaling around but this shows everything you need to see to understand what my decision will be.

So there it is. The results were exactly as I thought they would be. The DriftHD does MUCH better in the outdoor lighting than the indoor lighting. Yes, you can tweak some settings for indoor etc but this was an out of the box test so even a novice like me could get these results.

The Verdict

Both of these cameras do very well in outdoor lighting. Though you can't tell it from the compressed video here, the detail and captured resolution of the GoPro is better than the Drift. The color accuracy however goes to the Drift. The GoPro always looks just a little too overexposed. So how do I choose?

If you want a camera that is ready to go out of the box with lots of accessories, you'll be shooting in the middle of the day and outside, the Drift is the better buy. If you want to record your fishing trips and start early or end late, don't care about remotes or LCD screens (or don't mind adding them later), want a waterproof camera straight out of the box, the GoPro is your choice. Of all the cool features on the Drift, the need for a microSD card is annoying. I have man hands, not tiny little flute player hands. Loading something that small into a camera is for toddlers and toymakers. The corona effect shows up more often on the Drift which I don't like. I love the LCD screen, the zoom option and the remote on the Drift but frankly, once I set the camera to record, I go until my batteries are out. I'm not toying with a shot. I'm not Steven Spielberg and I'm not shooting a TV show. Most of us aren't.

So which one?

For options already included, daytime outdoor use and for great color get the DriftHD.

For rugged, outdoor ready, multi-light situations, get the GoPro2.

If I buy another camera, it will be another GoPro.

Side by Side Test: GoProHero2 vs DriftHD INDOORS

This is the first test. It was an indoor lighting test. I used the default settings and did not change exposures or other settings. I did set resolution on both cameras to 720p and 60FPS. I will be shooting the outdoor lighting test later this week. This is a very simple side by side. As a frame of reference, the GoPro is almost dead on with color, a touch over exposed but much more accurate.

A Camera Comparison: Go Pro 2 vs Drift HD

For the last year I have shot all of my video on GoPro cameras. It's what I knew, had an opportunity to buy and thought was the best out there. Last week I was introduced to a camera that I wasn't even really aware existed. That camera is the Drift HD. Aris at Mariner-Sails showed them to me in his store and it got my curiosity up. Being a numbers and checklist kind of guy, I wanted to look at them side by side. I have one now and will be comparing over the next few weeks with some side by side video but I couldn't wait to get started. My impatience resulted in a comparison list and that is what I want to present as food for thought before the field tests are in. 

The comparison below is from the specs listed on each of the respective websites. It is also as they come packaged. If additional accessories are available the price is listed in the column. Without further ado:

The results surprised me too. Save the lack of a waterproof case, the Drift HD is, on paper, the superior camera. The Drift HD has better features out of the box for less overall money. The puzzling thing to me is why Mariner-Sails still has a few left. Originally priced at $299, you can pick one up for $200 today. 

From everything I have read and videos I have seen, the field test will show equal footage if not better from the Drift. Drift has a new camera out, The Ghost, that has additional options that mark it as equal or better than the GoPro 3. I'll report back on that one in  a few months. 

If you need an action camera for your adventures, call or get to Mariner-Sails today and pick up a DriftHD.