GoPro HD Surfer Video Camera???

[JJ_BPK]

Has anyone seen, played with, or watched any video from one of these??

http://www.goprocamera.com/index.php...2&productid=31

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=konsX6eKftw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPKT3qiAEZs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs_wKkXCwDw

A friend, who is a pro videographer, has one and thinks the under-water video is almost as good as his 5k camera + 3.5K housing??? It comes with a WP case, good to 180 ft.. Size of a pack of butts. Downside,, no flash, so everything is shot with ambient light. Retail is around 230 USD..

Feedback Please..

[PSM]

Damn impressive! Except when she put her feet too close to the lens...they looked like duck feet. Oh, the camera was pretty good, too.

Pat

[Papa Zero Three]

I own 3 of them, the GO Pro Hero HD version. BLUF: it is one of the best HD cameras in the small camera class thats out there for it's size, image quality and price.

There are a slew of small "action" cameras out there that make bold claims but very few can deliver the image that you get with the Go Pro to include the standard accessories that come with it.

They are commonly used in skydiving now since they make it easier and more affordable for a person to jump a camera without having to buy a dedicated camera helmet setup. We've attached them to JPADS bundles to film the openings both during static line deployment and drogue fall deployments. The offroad world is using them as well to video off road events from the cockpit view, etc. They are very durable when inside the clear protective case. The field of view is 180 degrees, one of the widest on the market and it doesn't look bad on video or stills unless you are really far away from your subject.

Aside from doing video, they can be set up to take still pictures every two seconds (user selectable intervals) until the memory card fills up or the user turns it off. The pictures are very impressive given the size and the Field of view. Most file sizes are in the 1mb range.


It's also one of the easiest cameras to transfer the movies/stills from the memory card to your computer out there. Plug the camera in with the supplied USB cable and select the drive and move the files to your computer. Video files can be played immediately (unedited) and pictures viewed. It makes for a great debriefing tool as you can view the video immediately and then hand off the files to the person(s) on a CD/DVD in short order.

It's got two buttons you can push on it, I'd say it damn near ranger proof but you do have to look at the cheat sheet directions to figure out the screens that the buttons cycle through (easily in the 70 GT score range) the first time you use it. Other than that, I'd recommend you buy it if you are considering it for your "activity".


PS: they also work great mounted on a M4 either focused on the pointy end or back at the user for capturing action from a first person point of view.

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by Papa Zero Three

I own 3 of them, the GO Pro Hero HD version. BLUF: it is one of the best HD cameras in the small camera class thats out there for it's size, image quality and price.


PS: they also work great mounted on a M4 either focused on the pointy end or back at the user for capturing action from a first person point of view.

Thanks, I was thinking, while I watch the surfing video, that someone could short cut the AAR powerpoint by just handing in the SD card and say "watch the show".

This new version can us the 32GB SD card and at the lower res,, it could last for about 8hr. In an 8oz package..

And to think how we LOVED to hump the an/grc 109's,,, NOT..

[spherojon]

GoProHD is pretty neat, but if you are looking for the most bang for your $ then I would recommend the 5d Mark II.

Not trying to rain on any parades here, but in my experience, the 5d Mark II is the best camera I have ever used (from a Sony PMW-EX1 to Panasonic HVX200). I have a professional photographer friend that parachutes with this camera out of Parris, CA and says its the best camera he has ever touched. L-series lens are the only problem, because they cost a ton.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...categoryid=139

For only $2500 (just the body), IMHO it is the best deal on a camera in history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfUUy...1&feature=fvwp

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/13/c...-finale-direc/
You can also catch the full episode on Hulu
http://www.hulu.com/watch/148547/hou...0,vepisode,1,0

[Papa Zero Three]

Originally Posted by spherojon

GoProHD is pretty neat, but if you are looking for the most bang for your $ then I would recommend the 5d Mark II.

Not trying to rain on any parades here, but in my experience, the 5d Mark II is the best camera I have ever used (from a Sony PMW-EX1 to Panasonic HVX200). I have a professional photographer friend that parachutes with this camera out of Parris, CA and says its the best camera he has ever touched. L-series lens are the only problem, because they cost a ton.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...categoryid=139

For only $2500 (just the body), IMHO it is the best deal on a camera in history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfUUy...1&feature=fvwp

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/13/c...-finale-direc/
You can also catch the full episode on Hulu
http://www.hulu.com/watch/148547/hou...0,vepisode,1,0

I jump with a 5D as well but there is no comparing a dedicated DSLR to cameras such as the GoPro. Apples and Oranges from cost to end product across the board. For video, a lot of videographers have ditched their regular HD video cameras for the Go Pro and stayed with a dedicated DSLR for still photos when jumping.

[spherojon]

Originally Posted by Papa Zero Three

I jump with a 5D as well but there is no comparing a dedicated DSLR to cameras such as the GoPro. Apples and Oranges from cost to end product across the board. For video, a lot of videographers have ditched their regular HD video cameras for the Go Pro and stayed with a dedicated DSLR for still photos when jumping.

Sir,
not really Ron Howard and George Lucas making with the 5d. Why would someone want to use DSLR when they can use 65mm full frame c-sized sensor?

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by spherojon

Sir,
not really Ron Howard and George Lucas making with the 5d. Why would someone want to use DSLR when they can use 65mm full frame c-sized sensor?

I think PZ3's point is the GoPro is an inexpensive, robust, and water-proof little camera.

Your post about the 5D is very valid in it's own context, but not this thread.

[Papa Zero Three]

Originally Posted by spherojon

Sir,
not really Ron Howard and George Lucas making with the 5d. Why would someone want to use DSLR when they can use 65mm full frame c-sized sensor?

I think you have misunderstood the point here of trying to compare the Go Pro, a $300 action camera, to a semi pro 5D DSLR. The OP was asking about the GoPro specifically. As fantastic a little camera that it is, it is still not in the league of consumer pro or professional digital or video cameras. Trying to compare them to one another is pointless as they are each on the far end of the spectrum from one another. With that said, if you don't need a semi to professional video camera and are using it in an environment where it might get destroyed and or see some abuse, the GoPro is hands down the best in it's league for providing HD quality video footage for a low price/investment.

[Koa18B]

I have the GoPro. As an avid surfer for 22 years and hailing from Hawaii it makes a great addition to your expeditions out and about with your friends or family. I have some video footage of surfing last time I was on leave up in Sunset Beach and Waimea. I will do my best to get ahold of some of the videos and upload so you can see how well it worked for me.

[Ambush Master]

I ordered one the other day to use as a Helmet Cam for Skydiving and Motorcycle!!

Hope it gets here before Saturday!!!

[Ambush Master]

Got the Rig yesterday and grabbed a 16G SD card this afternoon. I mounted the base to my Pro-Tec Helmet and have made some initial test shots. Will be jumping it tomorrow. Wide Angle HD Video!!!

Later
Martin

[Lan]

I got a Hero3 black edition with a chest mount for Christmas this year. I'm going to use it to film my kids as they grow up so I'll be walking around with this thing all over the place. Every time I pull my phone out they stop doing what they're doing

I realized the camera requires a speed class 10 card when the thing stopped recording after 30 seconds. Apparently the camera writes so fast some cards cannot keep up.

I'm also going to mount it on my car when I complete building it.

[stfesta]

I have used mine skydiving, zip lining, scuba diving, skiing, snow boarding, and on every mode of transportation I own (car, bike, skateboard etc..). I have used a contour side by side with my GoPro. I sold my contour.

GoPro=best out there.
sf

[Flagg]

I've owned one GoPro(early Gen) that crapped out quickly.

I've owned a Contour that got stripped off my helmet via riser burn and survived a fall of about 1500 feet(some GREAT photo captures in that one).

But Contour has gone under so what's the alternative to GoPro?

A mate has been using a Sony camera system HDR-AS15 in the field that produces really good results after some quite rough treatment.

But I'm thinking my Contour will probably get replaced by a GoPro, despite my previous(and reportedly quite common) problems with an early gen unit.