Are you getting ready to book two tickets to paradise? But the prices of a new GoPro Action Camera are leaving you without enough money for packing your bags? Rather than purchasing the latest and greatest action camera, opt for surfing through the used camera aisles at your local thrift store, instead.
Today’s used camera market is awash with used GoPro action cameras. Prices for these former glory makers can range from $5 – $200, but all is not idyllic in this blissful wonderland. Remember, these are used action cameras! As such, they have been, more than likely, beaten, battered, dropped, dunked, drenched, shocked, scorched, and, generally speaking, abused beyond imagination. Unfortunately, the ill effects from this mistreatment can hide deep inside the camera. Therefore, never pay more the $20 for any used GoPro action camera; EVER!
You Can Never Buy too Many Batteries
Likewise, most of the GoPro action cameras that you will discover on the used market are sold devoid of any/all accessories. In fact, some cameras might not even have a battery. Why? Batteries are the Achilles’ heel of the GoPro action camera. Filming high resolution video while zipping through the jungle can expend the onboard battery power capacity faster than you can say, “I dropped my wallet!” Furthermore, most action heroes share one common trait, too; they hate batteries that fail in the middle of an epic escapade. So these offending batteries are typically thrown away, err, recycled.
Thankfully, replacement batteries can still be purchased for many vintage GoPro action cameras. For example, a GoPro HERO3+ purchased at a local thrift store for $5 was sold with a dead battery that wouldn’t charge. In this case, the GoPro HERO3+ battery AHDBT-302 was easily replaced with:
Jupio 2 x Lithium-Ion Battery Packs for GoPro HERO3/HERO3+ & Compact Dual Charger for $30
Another source of irritation that is inherent with used GoPro action cameras is the lack of mounting accessories. Even worse, most thrift store cameras are sold without the requisite GoPro mounting fingers. Therefore, older vintage models, like the HERO3+, that are missing mounting fingers won’t be able to use any accessory mounts, either. You’ll just have to muster some DIY initiative and use tape and/or elastic bands for holding your bargain basement GoPro action camera steadfast on your bicycle handlebars during your coastal tour through the swamps of the southern US.
Overlooking these minor inconveniences can save you enough money that you’ll easily be able to take that trip of a lifetime. So pack your bags, along with your cost-saving vintage thrift store GoPro action camera, because you’re going to leave tonight.
Enjoy.
