OK, I must comment. This discussion is missing some important points.

Form factor size, video image quality and mounting flexibility are the key factors.

In my experience (about 6 different video camera designs for sailing, gliding and other sports) the Replay XD 1080 is the best choice for sailplane or aircraft video. The main reason for this conclusion are the very tight spaces we must mount the camera within the tiny sailplane cockpits.

The ReplayXD's pedigree is for advanced racing cars (GoPro was not suitable), motorcycles, advanced motor-sports in general. It has far more mounting options and none of its mounts are cheap plastic like all of the GoPro stuff. Replay XD uses aircraft grade aluminum (weight, strength, quality) even in the mounts. The ReplayXD form factor is purpose designed to be as absolutely SMALL AS POSSIBLE! This is key in a tight sailplane cockpit or on the exterior of the aircraft from an aerodynamic prospective.

The GoPro product is, in my experience and opinion, FAR to wide and tall, especially once finally mounted. The GoPro has takes up a ton of valuable real estate for what it really is (a small video camera with no monitor). Why must it be so large? Answer, it came to market as a cheap Chinese product design roughly 8 years ago. The GoPro owner bought the product from this Chinese developer and has not changed the basic design because he invested heavily in case and mounting accessories designed for the original form factor! This is why the GoPro 3 maintained the same ridiculous miniaturized 35 mm camera shape which makes zero sense for most applications! They chose to maintain that shape in order to allow existing customers to use their existing accessories and to maintain the popular brand image with the GoPro3. GoPro is a company good marketing, but the produce itself is lacking in many ways even after the GoPro 3 upgrade. Skiers or people without small spaces to mount will probably be happy, but a glider pilot needs as much room as possible inside the cockpit and as small of a size as possible when mounted on the skin of the glider in flight!

The ReplayXD is an ultra high quality product, is made out of an aircraft grade aluminum housing and is under 1" in diameter (the size of a large dry erase marker. The electronics are designed to handle intense shock and impact. It does NOT distort the picture with a wide angle fisheye lens. The ReplayXD mounts in less than 1/3 of the area of the GoPro. No need for a waterproof case in your glider last I checked such as the GoPro requires to use its mounts. Ridiculous. The GoPro must be used with its clear housing which is stupid in every way unless you are a diver or kayaker (the Replay has a waterproof case as well if you need it but it is not used normally).

Also, the ReplayXD has massive extended battery accessories. Battery life is easily 6 hours (full flights) and is FAR HIGHER quality in the way the extended external battery's are designed.

GoPro is basically cheap amateur grade old technology with fancy marketing.

ReplayXD is professional grade, ultra high quality components and optics for the same price. With GoPro you are paying for a cheap Chinese product developed 10 years ago with some decent upgrades.

Do your homework before running off to WalMart and buying GoPro. Don't listen to all of the marketing hype of GoPro. You can make great video's on all the latest 1080 camera's There are MANY other choices out there. GoPro is sorta junk in my opinion.

Consider mounting the camera externally. From an aerodynamic prospective you might as well tape a brick on your wing vs. Replay XD which is the size of a large marker and has a tiny frontal area in comparison to the massive GoPro camera shape.

GoPro is simply an ancient product design. The latest refresh brings it up to par optically but overall it is still far off the pace.

ReplayXD Website: http://replayxd.com/cameras/replay-xd1080-camera/
Video I made with my Replay XD Camera: https://vimeo.com/52396659

Sean
F2/7T

PS...they best software for video editing is without question Final Cut Pro on OS. $299. Not even close in terms of ease of use and power. iMovie is probably better than most other software being discussed and that is free or under $20 in the App Store.