Soloshot 3+ Review Part 1 // "Dreams Come True?"

[@jvz773]

Appreciate you doing and sharing the research. Helped me make a crucial decision, thanks! 🙏🤙

[@SkipperSurfReview]

Thanks for watching. Soloshot has sent Mike a replacement. He said it’s not freely spinning and didn’t freeze at all. However he hasn’t tested it yet if it record/tracks properly. Stay tuned! I truly wanna believe that this was one off issue and the other units are working fine. The most ridiculous thing is that they keep selling them online and complain that they don’t have enough employees to work on the orders etc.

[@frediphillips]

Can't wait for soloshot 4! Never give up hope! HAHAHAH

[@SkipperSurfReview]

Same here😂😂😂

[@flygod7898]

I'm waiting on the solo shot 5+ 🙃

[@Patto35293]

Thanks for the “review.” Wow 😯 that is so bad. Not even calibrating! That is my comment you highlight at 2:39… from a FB forum of customers waiting for delivery… This “review” has just motivated me to fight harder to get my money back… ironically in one of the many emails I received, they stated one of reasons for delivery delays was due to the fact that they have to test each and every unit’s functionality… you guys must have got a unit that skipped that phase.. What a joke of a product.. but also a shame as it is such a good idea… You should post links to this video everywhere as a warning for potential purchasers.

[@SkipperSurfReview]

Thanks for watching. Mike emailed Soloshot 3 times after we filmed it and there was no response.And only after this review came out, two days later, Barry called Mike right away and said that he will send him replacement. Then a day after he called again and said he may not even send it. Mike will try to get refund or fight to cancel the transaction with the credit card company. It's ridiculous.

[@trashstomper]

@@SkipperSurfReview wow! Worst case scenario San Mateo small claims court might be able to do a zoom session lol. It's worth checking into if you have to go small claims route. It's my next step if my Soloshot isn't received by next week.

[@Patto35293]

I saw your follow up review where the camera appeared to work successfully… thanks again for posting. I have already launched a claim with my credit card company to get my money back… But I’m glad you got a product in the end that worked…. Still though, I’m in Australia so any issues I have with any camera I’d receive would take a long time to resolve with back and forth posting and the issuing of any replacement parts… if I can get my money back… then I am going to hold off buying one due to the “customer service.” I am a little surprised your friend had to email 3 times and then argue a little to get a replacement after this first review. But again, keep posting and doing updates… you have an interested follower… 👌🏻

[@SkipperSurfReview]

@@Patto35293 thank you for watching. Yes, their customer service is so unpredictable. If I didn’t film and post it, I’m pretty sure my buddy would have a hard time getting his money back nor replacement. I would only order from them if I have just extra money that I won’t feel bad losing it, good credit card like American Express that could cancel the transaction. I heard they are good at it. But can’t 100% guarantee.

[@zencusco]

Is there a huge difference in the 3 and 3plus? I have the 3 and was just wondering if it’s worth upgrading

[@SkipperSurfReview]

yes, the quality is much better however it still has issues.. basically it's got the same principles.. when it works - it's a dream when it doesn't - it's a nightmare. I'm still holding off on upgrade and may only go for it when my two Soloshot 3's die at the same time LOL. Hope this helps!

[@fulltimekook9458]

Kook Mike with the George Costanza jacket made my day 😂😂😂 "You really like saying that, don't you?" 😂😂

[@jueyy]

it looks like from your recent Puerto Rico surf vid that you still have & use a solo shot though? Do you use a different camcorder for recording yourself surfing in addition to / instead of the solo shot? If so, what camcorder do you use?

[@SkipperSurfReview]

Hey! I have like 4 Soloshots 3. 2 of them are working and 2 are completely dead(broken belt on camera and another one is not calibrating due to motor error). In Puerto Rico, I only used one Soloshot 3 optic65. On the 7th day, I left it under heavy rain for 30 mins.. because I was waiting for a wave to come lol. It was all my fault. The next day, I’ve got all sorts of errors and it wouldn’t calibrate due to sensor issues. I was able to fix it by using alcohol wipes and cleaning up all connections. Took out the camera and cleaned it too. It worked and it’s still working but it randomly stops recording in an hour. So I have to get out and restart recording to make sure my sessions is captured. It’s a weird issue though. If you want to buy one, just go to eBay and find a used one. At least you can get a refund from eBay if it doesn’t work. I’m currently considering getting a used one for myself as a backup. Hope this helps!

[@jueyy]

@@SkipperSurfReview this is super helpful, thanks! never thought about buying off eBay instead of from the company directly. did you ever think about getting a camcorder instead of / in addition to a soloshot?

[@etage88]

Is there any other technology out there like the solo shot?

[@SkipperSurfReview]

For surfing - no but if you use it for some land filming then you can check out PIXIO.

[@NoOneisHereAnyway]

Thanks, I was thinking of giving this upgraded version a try as the v3 I had was shit...now I see the 3+ is still shit...definitely not getting one now. Appreciate you saving me the headache of dealing with their "customer service."

[@MrPoncho9000]

It’s unfortunate and I was hoping for some kind of redemption here - but can’t say I’m surprised!

[@croanster3483]

All the shore based footage is from my original Soloshot3. It’s glitchy at times, but it’s great when it works! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGnNc5eBZdiHjNE&feature=shares

[@terenceingram7786]

Is there a decent competitor to SoloShot?

[@rockawaysurfer5619]

I search every few months I don’t see one

[@SkipperSurfReview]

Unfortunately, no. There is something similar like PIXIO robot cameraman. It seems like a pain to set it up.. basically, you need to set up 3 receivers to get a signal. shop.movensee.com/en/pixio-and-pixem-robot-cameraman/18-pixio-robot-cameraman.html

[@terenceingram7786]

@@SkipperSurfReview so short story is to keep my money as the technology doesn't really work. Rather buy more surfboards and persuade my children to film me surfing

[@mixstagram]

I sent in my soloshot 3 to be upgraded back in Dec 2022 and also have the internal batteries replaced because they wouldn’t hold a change for very long anymore and after 3 months they finally sent it back to me. The 3+ is a HUGE IMPROVEMENT over the 3 however they did NOT replace the internal battery and now a year later it won’t charge at all and is effectively just a dead brick. After 5 emails to soloshot support with no reply I’ve lost hope. Anyone know a good electronics repair place in SoCal who can replace these batteries?

[@SkipperSurfReview]

Sorry to hear buddy! I heard some people were able to take it apart and replace it. I would suggest going to Facebook Group "Soloshot3" and ask if they can provide any leads.

[@DeforestLCooper]

Soloshot is an excellent product! I have had mine for almost 4 years now and most of the time it works like a charm - 100%! I even took it to El Salvador on my surf trip with Timmy and it worked no problem at multiple spots. I think you guys might be doing something wrong. Just sent me the camera and I will get it to work! hahaha.

[@SkipperSurfReview]

Hey DeForest! Thanks for watching🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼Soloshot admitted that the unit was damaged.. apparently during the shipping process. Mike has received his replacement only after I posted this review and they started communicating with him. Beforehand he emailed them 3 times and no response. His replacement works but it’s still buggy. There was supposed to be a new update pushed to the unit and it may resolve some tracking/focusing issues. We did film the second episode and that test was successful.

[@DeforestLCooper]

@@SkipperSurfReview Yes. I watched your second review. Very nice Yuri! Great job. I want to get one now. :)

[@SkipperSurfReview]

@@DeforestLCooper same but will wait for more people to give feedback. I’m still satisfied with the SS3 optic25😁

[@DeforestLCooper]

@@SkipperSurfReview Me too. I'm very very satisfied with my Soloshot65. 🤙

[@JeradAcosta9]

Let’s say I have a soloshot3. If I only had two choices: - buy 3+ and sell my 3 Or - keep 3 (No option to send for upgrade) Would you buy the 3+ and sell the 3? Or just keep the 3?

[@SkipperSurfReview]

I would keep the 3.. unless you are ok to wait for a year and eventually say goodbye to your money for 3+

[@willy6666]

thanks for the review, hope soloshot3+ can solve the problem!!!

[@youdigsurf]

it's was sholoshot3+ so they cannot solve it ;)

[@PerJensen-k9r]

The missing resistance spinning it around could indicate that the gears have fallen off inside as there is no connection to the drive gear/motor. Nice a brand new unit ...

[@SkipperSurfReview]

Yeah it was replaced but even the replacement unit has some issue with tracking. That's what Mike told me when I saw him a few months ago.

[@zaprodk]

Seems like they need to work on the gearing@@SkipperSurfReview

[@SkipperSurfReview]

@@zaprodk haha.. Am good! I’m so happy with my old Soloshots that are still going strong💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 3+ will just add more stress😂

[@landonfletes5657]

It would be cool to see DJI or go pro make something similar that works!

[@SkipperSurfReview]

GoPro should've attempted to bought them out and turn into the best product ever for different sports. May be it will happen eventually.

[@landonfletes5657]

@@SkipperSurfReview does the tripod have a hook to mount a back pack in the center to help with stability in windy conditions?

[@trashstomper]

I’m still waiting in soloshot to send my camera back, it’s been 4 months, Doubt I’ll ever see that camera again, multiple emails and no replies.

[@SkipperSurfReview]

Bummer. Did you send one to repair?

[@trashstomper]

Yes! I will update this comment when / if it’s received.

[@trashstomper]

Update! I finally received my Soloshot, they also included another tag under warranty and shipped it back. My gut is telling me they are trying to turn things around there, I sure hope so, because it’s such a cool product. My batteries won’t charge, I’ve taken it apart already and the batteries are simple to replace so I have some in order now. The current battery is 2x1500mah and I’ll replace with 2x2700mah batteries, so I will not have to worry about the external pack. I will say the SS inside looks pretty simple to work on, nothing I haven’t seen before. So I’ll be ordering some non functioning SS off of eBay for spare parts.

[@renzyyy]

oof that sucks. i have one ordered. hoping they just sent the squeaky wheel an untested product or something. really bummed out for that guy tho, damn.

[@sharkfinsurfchannel]

Get your money back

[@trashstomper]

Worst case scenario use it as a paper weight, or get about $85 bucks for it on ebay

[@emeryz10]

If you wanted to give it the best chance of working right out of the box, then you did everything haphazardly. -Turning it on before leveling -Moving the tag all over the place when it’s calibrating. I’m sure for a $1500 item, you should be able to treat it how you want, but shit, at least offer it a little break-in, period. I had the very first one that came out almost 12 years ago. You don’t treat it like it’s a $100 piece of equipment. You need to set it up at home before you go out and not in any order that seems to be casual or haphazard. You may as well have been trying to calibrate the camera with the tag buried in the sand, the camera on its tripod in the water looking at you on the beach while you’re flying a kite and calibrating it all at the same time. I know that sounds extreme, but seriously it should be mentioned.

[@SkipperSurfReview]

Thanks for your insights. If you actually watch (ad/setup) video at Soloshot.com, the lady turns the camera on before setting up the tripod. They sent replacement to my buddy but he’s been having some issues when the camera is setup on the rocks, on a higher elevation.

[@NoOneisHereAnyway]

You obviously have not seen the video they made of the 3+...as far as they say, it's a 1 turn calibration... you can move it without it having to calibrate again, and they did exactly what the video showed they did....you should really go and watch the video🤦‍♂️

[@iampetrunin]

How come it hasn't been stolen so far?

[@SkipperSurfReview]

I think the thieves are not interested.

[@foobarbecue]

Has anyone else recieved one of these? I paid for mine (upgrade, returned my old one) in Dec 2022 and still waiting. Nothing but excuses from SoloShot.

[@SkipperSurfReview]

The most common excuse from Soloshot is chain disruptions due to Covid. Hope you get your unit or money back soon!

[@JimsWindsurfing]

I am one of many that sent old unit in for upgrade and the company went silent. No returned product, people paid and have been waiting 5 months now. If you dont want to loose your old ss3 or money, do not buy ss3+ or send in old unit. You may never hear from Soloshot again.

[@SkipperSurfReview]

That's totally true! It's for someone who is ok with the statement: Patience is a virtue!

[@keithjacobson4493]

Had a SS2 then a 3. Both wereJunk and took up way too much of my time. Rinse and repeat.

[@mralexchang]

Glad I didn't get one! I was thinking of just getting a 100 dollar 4k camera off Amazon and set it up in an angle I can see the whole break. It won't be zoomed in but at least I'll be able to see some footage.

[@MensGroup]

Thats what I did. Got a waterproof camcorder that shoots in 4k so I can crop in post. :) Not nearly as good footage, but its better than missing 50% of my sessions and just being frustrated.

[@mralexchang]

@@MensGroup do you mind linking the one you got? I wanted to get a camera purely from improvement process wouldn't even be posting so im not that concerned with super high def, just need to see myself. Hows the battery life on your camcorder?

[@jueyy]

@@MensGroup mind if you share what camcorder you're using? i'm making this choice now

[@trashstomper]

Lol I wonder how many employees soloshot has? Barry is the only one who has answered my email, now they disappeared. This is the most popular incompetent company I’ve ever dealt with.

[@sharkfinsurfchannel]

Barry is the one trying to get rid of them all at twice the price 😄

[@SkipperSurfReview]

I heard there is only one employee - Barry.

[@trashstomper]

@@SkipperSurfReview wow! Such amazing tech with so much potential, grossly mismanaged.

[@surfbum8166]

3 strikes you’re out

[@kazuking7253]

新しい、SOLOSHOT3＋は日本国でも４０万円と高価なものです。この動画を見ましてまだ購入は先にしようと思いました！まだまだトラブルが多いSOLOSHOT3ですがサーフィンには欠かせない物になりましたが現在、自分のOptic65は壊れてしまいやはりOptic25のほうが良いと思います。

[@SkipperSurfReview]

I totally agree. It's so great to film surfing and learn from it. I personally love Optic25. It works great even when it's so windy out there unlike 65 that starts shaking so bad once the wind speed reaches over 15 mph.

[@rlsterling3]

Probably should’ve read the instructions first. I’m sure tipping the camera all over the place while it was trying to calibrate didn’t help it. It seemed like your friend didn’t know whether to leave the tag attached or not, update or not, calibrate or not. My 65 works without issue. Just gotta follow the instructions

[@SkipperSurfReview]

I’m not gonna argue with you. He does know Soloshot product since the first version that came ours We’ve recorded the second episode where the replacement unit worked.. however Mike recently took it to Puerto Rico and also surfed locally in Rockaway.. it still has some bugs. Soloshot may have a new update soon and I hope it resolves most issues. Stay tuned!

[@rockawaysurfer5619]

The unbelievable part about the video is that you contact Soloshot and they answer you. They don’t reply to my emails

[@chris9511]

Dude!!!! Are you kidding

[@AZD2169]

I had the original Soloshot. What a piece of crap. Soloshot customer service is terrible. So Soloshot 3 can SMD!

[@TheKerrykendall]

wow haha

[@thisiscontact]

Never shipped ours and are not refunding. Wont reply. Wont email. Terrible company.

[@SkipperSurfReview]

Ugh!!! That sucks!!! Sorry to hear about your experience! I still don't trust them despite some successful stories from people that received the new SS3+.

[@thisiscontact]

@@SkipperSurfReview would love the opportunity to receive what I paid for haha

[@nicepelt]

Terrible product! 😂

[@rockawaysurfer5619]

That’s painful. What a shame!

[@youdigsurf]

this is sad to have an interesting product this poorly executed, its like they sending alpha version on the market ...

[@rctrix9063]

OMG that looks expensive. 😯

[@SkipperSurfReview]

It is! $1500 for the whole package though.

[@richscoza4362]

OMFG that's absolutely hot garbage!! Can't even believe that.

[@ronrigor3213]

Most terrible! Will never buy new. Just used from FB!

[@SkipperSurfReview]

For real, Ron. I would do that too but from eBay. Instant refund if it doesn't work!

[@MarkMccarthy-s1s]

Why an instant refund, is that the eBay rules thanks

[@jamesvelez593]

Soloshot is a joke!!