<start rant>
Bought an HD Hero2 along with the extended battery back and extra brackets to use on a trip. Took some video around the house and it worked pretty good. Worked good in the sink at the hotel as a test. Wife took it to the ocean a few feet down and the housing leaked and ruined the camera. The waterproof housing wasn't opened between the sink at the hotel and the water, and it wasn't banged around either. It was in a padded camera bag the entire time. Specifically, the battery back was not molded quite right and the seal wasn't tight enough for the pressure. Just for fun I tested it again in the sink, with no camera in it and it didn't leak. So it isn't an issue of it getting banged up, the stupid thing isn't water proof to the depth they said it was.

GoPro: "Because of possible user resealing error, this product is not warrantied against waterhousing leakage or any resulting damage. Please review and follow the instructions carefully when sealing the waterhousings!"

WTF. The thing is sold as a waterproof, shockproof, do everything camera and they won't cover their manufacturing problems? Especially considering it was babbied the entire time. Now I am out a $300 camera, a $60 battery back, and am seriously pissed off.
<end rant>

I wonder if Amazon will take it back as defective, it is within the 30 day window.

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C(-)ris

Amazon will take it back within 30 days with its original packing and box...

[www.amazon.com]

I almost puchased one till I read the customer reviews!

There is always some concern about pilot error when sealing/closing up the housing. That said I do believe these are now manufactured in China .

They are often used with much more expensive cameras in water sports such as, Surfing, Kite Surfing and Windsurfing. I often see this set up highly recommended. Naturally ymmv.

Rudie

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“Stay Hungry Stay Foolish"
"There are only two mantras yummm and yuk "
"There is a fine line between a rut and a groove"
"The quality of Congress is not strained. It droppeth like a fetid cow patty from a bovine cloaca." cbelt
"I got to that part and I knew there was going to be some weapons grade stupid to follow"Lux Interior
"When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted,
when all the waters are polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then
will you discover you cannot eat money."
~ Cree Prophecy

This was a virgin seal, straight out of the box, closed up, and went to use it. Never had any chance to get any dirt or salt or anything else in it. The case is straight forward, flip it forward and clamp it down. If the seal wasn't fitted in the case right or there was something under the seal that is their fault I never removed the seal.

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C(-)ris

You should have an independent repair shop take a look at it.

Just kiddin.

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Please "Like" the Meiwah restaurant page because you love the place or you pity me [www.facebook.com]

My son uses these quite a bit in the freestyle ski world. They go attached to helmets, skis and boots through snow rain and severe tumbles and crashes. He has also used them pretty extensively for training videos at ski "water ramps" in the summer.

The design is pretty burly and well thought of in the ski community. On any given day, you probably see 200-300 of just that model on my local mountain. It's possible that yours was defective or some sort of operational error.

Did you purchase it with a credit card that offers coverage?

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“Live your life, love your life, don’t regret…live, learn and move forward positively.” – CR Johnson
Loving life in Lake Tahoe, CA

Quote
Markintosh
My son uses these quite a bit in the freestyle ski world. They go attached to helmets, skis and boots through snow rain and severe tumbles and crashes. He has also used them pretty extensively for training videos at ski "water ramps" in the summer.

The design is pretty burly and well thought of in the ski community. On any given day, you probably see 200-300 of just that model on my local mountain. It's possible that yours was defective or some sort of operational error.

Did you purchase it with a credit card that offers coverage?

No, I used Amazon gift cards I had been saving up. I am sure mine was defective, and I'm sure that there are hundreds that work awesome, my problem is that GoPro flat out refuses to even consider the fact that they might have a bad unit or two go out the door. It isn't possible in manufacturing to have a 100% perfect assembly line.

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C(-)ris



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/2012 12:36AM by C(-)ris.

Is that based on just an e-mail to them or did you actually send the unit in?

Certainly could be a case of rapid over-expansion by the GoPro company. The amount of POV footage has increased exponentially in the last two years....

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“Live your life, love your life, don’t regret…live, learn and move forward positively.” – CR Johnson
Loving life in Lake Tahoe, CA

Tough break....
I'm using a Contour and digging it.

3P

Based off their website. I sent in an email with the issue, and am waiting for a response, but from reading what others with similar problems have reported back, there is almost zero chance of them covering it.

Here is their statement:
"Because of possible user resealing error, this product is not warrantied against waterhousing leakage or any resulting damage. Please review and follow the instructions carefully when sealing the waterhousings!"

[gopro.com]

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C(-)ris

"Because of possible user resealing error, this product is not warrantied against waterhousing leakage or any resulting damage.

I can see where this wouldn't be much of a problem for skiers. Rain and tumbles aren't the same as being immersed in a few feet water. Water skiing could be a different story.

I'd be reluctant to consider a product who's manufacturer cited possible user error as a reason for not offering a warranty against manufacturer defects. That gives them a very convenient out.

And that gives me pause.

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You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

-An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

There is no safety for honest men
except by believing all possible evil
of evil men.

Pixels were born to be punished. -Frederick Van Johnson

Mister, that's a ten-gallon hat on a twenty-gallon head.

I *love* Sigs. It's Glocks I hate.

Having been a longtime user of UW housings, I'll let you in on a something...

It is not a question of if a housing will leak and ruin your gear, it is simply a question of when it will leak and ruin your gear.

Any leak that occurs at an user accessible o-ring seal will always be presumed to be a user error. A single hair, grain of sand, or improper amount or type of lubricant can and will cause a leak. The difference in pressure between a sink (essentially no pressure) and submergence to a depth of 5 feet is 2.25x (each foot is .45psi increase). That is a huge difference.

I know of no housing manufacturer who warranties against leakage at an user accessible seal.

Sorry

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You can tell a lot about a woman by her hands...
- For example, if they are wrapped around your throat she's probably slightly upset.

I would return it as defective and get my money back from Amazon.

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Alpharetta, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Small claims court.

If you never opened the seal, I bet you'll win. Might be harder getting enforcement....

amazon will set you free.

Quote
RAMd®d

I can see where this wouldn't be much of a problem for skiers. Rain and tumbles aren't the same as being immersed in a few feet water. Water skiing could be a different story.

The "water ramps" ski training is going of 15-30 foot hight jumps, doing spiiny flippy things and landing in a pool. The water is aerated so skiers often go pretty deep.

He has also done some cliff diving and surfing videos. The GoPros can take it.

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“Live your life, love your life, don’t regret…live, learn and move forward positively.” – CR Johnson
Loving life in Lake Tahoe, CA

I also suggest go back to Amazon get a refund or an exchange for a defective product. ()"?(

GoPro HD Kite Surfing
[www.youtube.com]

[www.seabreeze.com.au]

[www.youtube.com]

[www.youtube.com]

[vimeo.com]

[pointofviewcameras.com]

[localkitespots.com]

[www.kiteontv.com]

[www.youtube.com]

---

“Stay Hungry Stay Foolish"
"There are only two mantras yummm and yuk "
"There is a fine line between a rut and a groove"
"The quality of Congress is not strained. It droppeth like a fetid cow patty from a bovine cloaca." cbelt
"I got to that part and I knew there was going to be some weapons grade stupid to follow"Lux Interior
"When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted,
when all the waters are polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then
will you discover you cannot eat money."
~ Cree Prophecy

This doesn't help you now, but buy it from REI and they'll stand by it regardless of what GoPro does. Just like Costco.

Quote
thermarest
This doesn't help you now, but buy it from REI and they'll stand by it regardless of what GoPro does. Just like Costco.

I was going to get it from REI, but I had the Amazon gift cards. I buy almost all my outdoor gear from REI. Love it.

Their warranty department got back to me and said I could mail it in on my dime and they would look at it and see if the damage would be covered. I could try that, but it would mean I would lose my return window at Amazon.

I did an RMA with Amazon and will be sending the camera back to them, will see what happens. They cross shipped a new one, hopefully I don't end up getting charged for two.

---

C(-)ris

Which credit card did you buy it with? Some offer no questions asked damage returns for the first 30 days.

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Quote
M A V I C
Which credit card did you buy it with? Some offer no questions asked damage returns for the first 30 days.

Amazon gift cards.

I ended up returning it to Amazon, will find out of they reject the return or not. I didn't want to take GoPro up on their offer to evaluate it, because it wasn't a guarantee it was going to be replaced and if they didn't my return window was gone from Amazon.

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C(-)ris

I ended up getting a replacement from Amazon. Which I sold a month later. Never did try taking it diving again so I can't say whether I just had one with a defect in the case or if they really don't work as deep as they say.

If you are thinking about getting one, make sure you get it from a retailer with a very good return policy. REI would be my #1 choice.

The camera did work awesome for everything else I used it for.

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C(-)ris



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/01/2012 09:47AM by C(-)ris.