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 I’ve done research on this, but most of the info I’ve found is out of date or barely-relevant AI-generated tech chum-buckets.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.
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.
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.
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.
I have a GoPro Hero 5, and it seems to work exactly the same as yours.
Do you own an action cam and does it work with Linux?
I have a DJI Action 3. It works with no issues on (Arch) Linux.
What totally rad sport/hobby do you use it for?
I mount it to my helmet while I’m out riding my motorcycle on the streets as sort of a dashcam.
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.
The one thing I hate about the Action 3 is that it requires a mobile app to do firmware updates. Just to start using it requires registration on their DJI Mimo app which is terrible.
How does the device mount and have you had issues with file transfers?
The device lets you choose if it is as a webcam or storage for mounting when turned on if it is plugged in through USB.
Is there any special software that helps you use your device, for example “piper” can help me configure fancy mice.
The Action 3 doesn’t have anything special, but a search on the AUR shows there are some for GoPros.
Can you use your device as a webcam?
Answered above.
Sounds like hardware support is no longer as sketchy as I expect. Years of barely being able to connect to various android phones have me jaded.
The note on the app being necessary is good, I worry about buying things that depend on apps to setup or use. Of course, that could easily apply to other models too. Even if they maintain an android app, what if Manjaro Phone and Pinephone hardware get good enough that I can switch. :)
The motorcycling sounds good. Thanks for the reply.
If it supports a standard USB storage type setup it should work fine. Don’t most of these use storage cards anyhow?
Perhaps hardware support isn’t as unstable as my past experiences have led me to believe. I guess I can always return something if I don’t like it.
I’ve got a GoPro 8, I just pull the SD card out and attach it by usb card reader then dump it to the nas. For pulling clips out I usually us the android GoPro app. Make a 5-10 second video and share it straight off the phone. Most of the videos I do are in 1-3min anyway.
Have you ever had to update the firmware?
Did it over android when I first got it, but you can drop the file in folder called update on the SD card https://gopro.com/en/gb/support/hero8-black-product-update/windows?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIupqBnuzbgQMVBcbtCh3oQQDKEAAYASAAEgL72_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Bit of a lol at the instructions, but it’s got everything for windows. I started out with 2/3 smaller SD cards, that’s why I’m doing the SD card dance, have since got a large one but still just pull the SD card out, I’m pretty sure it just works using the usb connection, but don’t use it
Oh and sailing, kayaking/paddle boarding, bike rides, at the beach in waves, generally anything that involves getting wet
I have an AKASO Brave 7LE. I just take out the SD card and put it in an USB reader that I plug into my home server to move the videos. Then I just use my desktop for editing with Kdenlive which has a defish filter for getting rid of the camera distortion these actioncams have.
It’s also possible to connect to the camera through WiFi, but it’s much slower than using the SD card reader.
Regarding firmware updates, I don’t think AKASO is really into that but at some point I had an issue and support sent me a file that you just put on the SD card and the camera does the rest.
I have an insta 360 one x2 and its a struggle to edit things. I got 360 studio working by running the installer through proton but its not the smoothest experience. I have resorted to just using the app which means I share my videos less :(.
On the crazy low-scale end, I have a no-name dash cam that I found for $5 on a tchotchkes table at my local Chinese takeout place. It works perfectly with my Linux desktop—both reading from the SD card and streaming directly via USB. Not at all what you’re looking for, but it makes me think that if this random junk works, more mainstream devices probably do too.
I have a similar setup in the car. The cam doesn’t want to connect to anything, but I can just pull the microSD card. I think overestimated the likelihood of hardware issues.
I had the original Osmo Action. It wouldn’t do anything unless I connected it to an app and registered an account, so I returned it. So…that’s my experience.
I use a runcam 5 orange for rc quadcopter flying. Everything works on it via Linux or internally. It also logs internal gyroscope data when recording so you can take the footage into gyroflow for stabilization. No webcam support as far as I know. It uses micro SD cards rather than internal storage.
