Go Pro (not) - URGENT

[Captain Kidd]

Totally out of my league, but I see this on Amazon: a prime day deal that ends today 7/11.

Not a Go Pro but priced attractively at 51% off.

Would this be a good introductory camera to use while boating? Pro's/con's, thoughts?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F2SB2HCL/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=A333J910W8G3XL&th=1

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[Doug SC]

I tried to find a YouTube video review of the Hitcam? but couldn't find one. I did find this one that looks like the same thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f43CyZzmYus

The sound quality isn't great, and stabilization also isn't up to par, but at this price I think it is probably worth the money. I know that some of these cameras tend to over heat and GoPro is notorious for that. Here is a video doing a comparison of the top end action cameras. To give you an idea of what is out there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OQ7QiuEiks

You might want to spend $10 more as this camera comes with attachment accessories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OQ7QiuEiks

[Doug SC]

You may want to consider this camera which is $10 more but comes with accessories and a 64GB micro SD card. I don't see the card which you will need mention with the Hitcam you posted.

https://www.amazon.com/REEDTOCK-Underwater-Waterproof-Batteries-Accessories/dp/B09QSJQZTT/ref=pd_ci_mcx_pspc_dp_2_i_3?pd_rd_w=ZWNRx&content-id=amzn1.sym.cd152278-debd-42b9-91b9-6f271389fda7&pf_rd_p=cd152278-debd-42b9-91b9-6f271389fda7&pf_rd_r=DQZPM1MS1NDHSQ9CN69Z&pd_rd_wg=mz9U5&pd_rd_r=e7555b0f-c910-4e82-97d6-ea45d6aca9e6&pd_rd_i=B09QSJQZTT

[Wolverine]

My wife bought an action camera that looks very much like that one. The remote didn't work and they sent me another camera. Now with 2, I mount 1 facing the cockpit and the other facing the bow. I also have a suction cup mount that gives me great videos when stuck to the hull about 12" above the waterline. Cant say if they'll outlast my GoPro, I just got them a couple months ago, but for the price, if I get a couple years that's good. As for the aound quaility, they are always used in the waterproof case, so...

[Charles Brennan]

Dale, I have the dumber, older, brother of that camera.  Dumber and older, because I got it two or three years ago and Technology never stands still.  The same CMOS sensor, the same resolution, battery technology and case. About the only new wrinkle, is the display on both sides. (A dubious feature, IMHO.)

I've gone from a Hanimex using 35mm analog film:
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In the 70's and 80's, until obtaining film became problematic.

Then in the 90's and 2000's, I got a Sea Life DC600:
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It suffered the same fate as many of the things I own and care for.
They quit making replacement parts for it until it could no longer be maintained.
Dumb stuff like the main door O-ring, but also the smaller o-rings that  seal the buttons, etc.
Finally, the door hinge cracked and all that was left usable, was the inside portion of the camera system.
Then the battery door plastic got brittle with age and cracked off. 

Casting about for something, I tripped over an Intova, at a dive shop.
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Same deal; after 3 or 4 years, the plastic door hinge crumbled.
And the manufacturer was out of business by then, natch. 

That led me to the Actman 131:
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The forerunner of the one you are looking at.

**********************************
Brief Digression:
In the '70's, the Japanese government heavily subsidized electronics manufacturers to the point that they built and provided factories and workers. It was a strange time.  Hitachi would rent the factory for a few months and manufacture (for example) Stereo FM receivers, then to  Panasonic for a few months, then DaeWoo, then Pioneer, Sansui, Kenwood and Yamaha, etc.  As an electronics repair technician, it was amusing to see the schematics for the different brands were all the same thing.  Right down to R117 being a 4.7k Ω biasing resistor in all the different brands.
Different cases, different knobs, identical guts.
The Chinese  have a taken a page from the Japanese playbook and there are several different camera "brands" with identical guts.

While I still have the Actman 131, I recently tripped over a Sea Life DX1200HD, at a yard sale:
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While it is only 12MP (Mega-Pixel) compared to the 20MP you're looking at, it has a distinct advantage over the newer cameras.
No fish eye distortion.
The electronics are marvelous in these new little cameras, but the lens leave a little to be desired, compared to an old-school type underwater camera.

Which is not to say they are that bad.
Here are some pics taken with the Actman in Steinhatchee a few years ago.
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Good resolution.

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Good color saturation.

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Yeah, that's exactly how it looked to a Mark I eyeball, down there.

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Here's where they fall down, with lens limitations.
Note the curve of the horizon line.  If that were the actual horizon, we'd be on a planet the size of Mars, not Earth.  My DX1200 would show a straight horizon, even at only 12MP of resolution.

My issues with the Actman 131 camera are:
1) The thing wants to start up in video mode and has to be switched to stills mode.  I mostly take stills, but if you're more of a video guy, that might not be an issue.
2) The camera shutter button on the housing takes a little more pressure than I'm used to on other cameras and sometime you think you took the shot, but you didn't.  Or you feel that it didn't make the shot so you press harder and end up moving the camera and get things out of frame.  Not a deal-breaker, but may take practice. 
3) Be gentle with the battery door, and
4) Gentle with the housing hinged door.
Quick Edit: Have never had any overheating problems, even when it was left in the sun, for a while.

Other than that, it's a very good camera for the money.

Hope this helps,
Charles Brennan