iPad Mini for Lessons?

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
I'm hoping to pick up a gadget I can use with my kids that's a little easier to navigate than my P/S camera. It's served pretty well for the last few years, but is clumsy to navigate and I prefer if parents/kids use their iPhones. Not ready to pull the trigger on an iPhone 6 (still sporting a flip phone at about $175 a year!) The iPad Mini seems a bit large, but if it functions well and holds up to a gear bag, dirt fields and training facilities--the price is right.

If there's another camera or gadget out there that work well in the under $300 range, please let me know.


Thanks ahead,
Ken
 
Jul 17, 2012
1,091
38
I'm hoping to pick up a gadget I can use with my kids that's a little easier to navigate than my P/S camera. It's served pretty well for the last few years, but is clumsy to navigate and I prefer if parents/kids use their iPhones. Not ready to pull the trigger on an iPhone 6 (still sporting a flip phone at about $175 a year!) The iPad Mini seems a bit large, but if it functions well and holds up to a gear bag, dirt fields and training facilities--the price is right.

If there's another camera or gadget out there that work well in the under $300 range, please let me know.


Thanks ahead,
Ken

This is disturbing Ken Very disturbing.
 
Sep 3, 2015
372
63
I use an iPad and the 'Technique' app (free) for slo-mo analysis. Works great, just get a dust proof case and you're good.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Josh Greer

DFP Vendor
Jul 31, 2013
934
93
Central Missouri
I'm not an apple guy (in fact, I'm the only Android guy in a house of 4 other iPhone people) but I think the device will serve you well if you are looking to take video and instantly analyze. Just make sure you don't skimp on size. 32GB equates to about 6 hours of HD video. But there are other things you will have on the device, so assume far less than that. Also, it is difficult to transfer data off the device without a computer running iTunes. But using a tool like Coach's Eye wight a good camera is a very handy tool.

But the GoPro HERO5 Black is a much better camera. It's $399, which my wife would say is $300 (I sure hope she doesn't read this....I may be in trouble). But again, by itself, the camera isn't valuable if you are looking to instantly analyze video.
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
I'm not an apple guy (in fact, I'm the only Android guy in a house of 4 other iPhone people) but I think the device will serve you well if you are looking to take video and instantly analyze. Just make sure you don't skimp on size. 32GB equates to about 6 hours of HD video. But there are other things you will have on the device, so assume far less than that. Also, it is difficult to transfer data off the device without a computer running iTunes. But using a tool like Coach's Eye wight a good camera is a very handy tool.

But the GoPro HERO5 Black is a much better camera. It's $399, which my wife would say is $300 (I sure hope she doesn't read this....I may be in trouble). But again, by itself, the camera isn't valuable if you are looking to instantly analyze video.

If I went with the GoPro, at least I'd know it would handle snow better than my RunCam2:

 
Last edited:
Jun 19, 2013
753
28
Oh man that was cool . . . right up until I got a horrible case of motion sickness!!

Was that at Louisville Park?

I know the camera on the iPhone 6 was a step up from the one on the 5. Do you know which version the iPad mini would have? The slo mo on the 6 I think mostly eliminates the need for other software on the spot at lessons.
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Oh man that was cool . . . right up until I got a horrible case of motion sickness!!

Was that at Louisville Park?

I know the camera on the iPhone 6 was a step up from the one on the 5. Do you know which version the iPad mini would have? The slo mo on the 6 I think mostly eliminates the need for other software on the spot at lessons.

Still not sure what happened. I think I just lost my bearing in the snow. I didn't have any warm ups and just went for it. The quad was PACKED with snow and hadn't been waterproofed yet (I know, I keep hearing about it...) I was hoping to work up to a more aggressive run with more flips, rolls and inverted stalls. This is what I hope to be doing by this summer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cw56vCOZM0

Not sure yet on what the iPad can do. I'm going shopping tonight and will do a little research before heading out. I really like the iPhone 6, but can't seem to make the jump in my head to justify going from about $15 a month to whatever plans are now-a-days!
 
Last edited:
Dec 27, 2014
311
18
Oh man that was cool . . . right up until I got a horrible case of motion sickness!!

Was that at Louisville Park?

I know the camera on the iPhone 6 was a step up from the one on the 5. Do you know which version the iPad mini would have? The slo mo on the 6 I think mostly eliminates the need for other software on the spot at lessons.
The iphone 6 does 240 fps in slo mo. I love mine. Big enough to see detail but not too big to always have in the pocket without too much fear of breakage at a practice or pitch session. The slomo feature is so easy to use to toggle around frame by frame. 240 frames per second is enough to see hand and ball position at release for pitchers. The 6 is a little older now so you might be able to find a deal on it. I intend to hold on to mine as long as possible, or until something comes out at 400fps. :)

Oops, edit. This was meant for Ken. :)
 
Last edited:
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Looks like Apple is out for me. Anyone know anything about the Samsung tablets? Also, if there are any suggestions on a camera that would work--please share.
 
Last edited:

Josh Greer

DFP Vendor
Jul 31, 2013
934
93
Central Missouri
Looks like Apple is out for me. Anyone know anything about the Samsung tablets? Also, if there are any suggestions on a camera that would work--please share.

Will be hard to beat the new Pixel C, but well above your price point. Samsung stuff is good, both the camera and display, but they load so much junk on those things that it can cause you battery and performance issues. Not sure I'm providing any value to you...sorry. But if you bent my arm, I would suggest the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2; though it is slightly above your price point, and is still only 32GB. But the Android devices allow for more external storage options.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,478
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top