Hi folks. I’ve been running some form of Linux since about 2006 or so. Hardware support has gotten so much better, and yet here I am, looking for personal experiences people have had using action cams with their Linux based operating systems. I’ve done research on this, but most of the info I’ve found is out of date or barely-relevant AI-generated tech chum-buckets. I’d prefer your individal experiences as fellow linux users, good or bad. Product recommendations are okay, but I’m also interested in broader observations. I’m hoping to record some footage on my bicycle, a chop it up on my computer later. I’m particularly interested in:

  • Do you own an action cam and does it work with Linux?
  • What totally rad sport/hobby do you use it for?
  • Are there things that kind-of work, or are crippled versus on a non-Linux OS.
  • Are you able to update the firmware over Linux or from he device itself? (I have windows for emergencies, but prefer not to use it.
  • How does the device mount and have you had issues with file transfers?
  • Is there any special software that helps you use your device, for example “piper” can help me configure fancy mice.
  • Can you use your device as a webcam?

Thank you for any insight you can provide.

  • @[email protected]English
    13•1 year ago

    I have a very old GoPro Hero 3 Black. It exposes itself as a MTP device to any Linux install I’ve used and have no problems getting videos off it.

    It doesn’t really have any other features than that, other than WiFi viewing which is only available via their android app anyway, so i don’t care.

    I use it for car and offroading stuff.

    • @njordomirOP
      6•1 year ago

      Thanks for sharing. I hope it will be this easy. Mounting it as MTP in the default file explorer without kernel modules or proprietary programs would be ideal.

      • @[email protected]English
        2•1 year ago

        It likely will be. The Linux kernel supports a surprising number of devices.

        If your camera supports removing the SD card then you have a for-sure guaranteed way of getting data out of it. Built in card readers are typically much faster than USB2.0 anyway, and USB3 universal ones are cheap.