GoPros don't always suck (or do they?)

[jetskier79]

I figured we could extend on the GoPro conversation without thread jacking. I know there are varying opinions on this matter, and I'm interested to hear what people have to say.

Having done some helmet cam filming with a few different cameras over the years, I'm in love with the GoPro HD. The quality is great, and aside from the weak point of mounting a plastic housing, the camera is top notch. There are a couple other cameras out there with different form factors that I'm starting to think might be better options, but I'll reserve judgment for a bit.

That being said, I agree, a wide angle GoPro is worthless for shooting other people. I've been filming with mine a little, but haven't shared much with the world because without moving the camera around the ski AND non gopro footage, the clips would be pretty monotonous.

Here are a couple of clips from our trip to Todos that I'm pretty stoked about.

http://jetskier79.com/slideshow/video/images/br-estero.mp4
http://jetskier79.com/slideshow/video/images/br-todos-point-slow.mp4

(Mp4's are better quality than YouTube)

 

[deftons56]

That looks awesome. I want a gopro hd!

 

[yamaslut]

go pro is fine if you get inventive and don't mind editing, but about 1% of people will do that. So 99% of the vids are unwatchable..
he he he...

your looks amazing Jerry, but you are not a novice either..

 

[jetskier79]

Just for grins, here's a no hand lookback from the nose cam. The roll is a bit sloppy, but I thought it was kind of a cool perspective. The problem with shooting like this, is that I would never make a video with this footage, from the same angle, even cool stuff gets boring really fast!

http://jetskier79.com/slideshow/video/images/nhbr-oside.mov

 

[deftons56]

Just for grins, here's a no hand lookback from the nose cam. The roll is a bit sloppy, but I thought it was kind of a cool perspective. The problem with shooting like this, is that I would never make a video with this footage, from the same angle, even cool stuff gets boring really fast!

I think a few of those shots in a video with a variety of other shots/views/angles would work great though.

 

[kraqus]

I have the same opinion as pretty much everyone else. The GoPro is not a good Camera to film others, it works great just to film your very near surroundings. But I do believe it's a Kick ass camera to film yourself.


Jerry those shots were really good man.... :notworthy:


I went ahead and hacked this enclosure for my Panasonic LUMIX waterproof camera that I believe is way better.

I still carry the GoPro HD to capture the same shots but from a different angle.

The editing combining Both footage should be interesting.
I don't have any recordings yet, just testing footage, but don't expect BR like Jerry from me.....NOT YET! ;-)

Going to Pismo Tomorrow !!!!!



Benny

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

That being said, I agree, a wide angle GoPro is worthless for shooting other people. I've been filming with mine a little, but haven't shared much with the world because without moving the camera around the ski AND non gopro footage, the clips would be pretty monotonous.

IMO a wide angle cam like a gopro, or any 'helmet' type cam, is ideally a secondary device. By themselves they are boring for anything past very short clips. If you can combine them with footage from something else, like a camcorder filming from a distance, things get pretty interesting. Many of the more advanced editing programs have multi-camera editing features that allow you to edit clips of the same scene shot from different perspectives with a 'live switching' type of effect. So the approach and launch of your barrel roll is shot from the beach and then you cut to the gopro footage for your invert and the landing. This is a very cool application for something like a gopro. Another boring part of the jetski footage I've seen so far is everyone picks the same mounting position (ok there are two) and never change it up. Some variation here could really help retain a viewers interest.

As far as other people go, you just have to be close... really close. Do that and you can get some awesome shots but it can be dangerous to do unless you get creative or are dealing with very experience riders. The vast majority of interesting work shot with a wide angle, film or photo, is done at a very close range. For an example, check out the first scene in the "HD Motorsports Hero" video at this link: http://www.goprocamera.com/video

The real downfall of this camera for us is how the mount was designed. Making it an integral part of the waterproof case is just asking for trouble. I have yet to break one off but I can just imagine it tearing a big hole in that case when it happens. And I can tell you from experience, even a small amount of water can fry equipment like this in a fraction of a second.

 

[FlightPlanDan]

Filming from the beach at the spot is almost impossible. The break is so far away. IMO the best way to get good photos or vids there is to have RonnyMac on the booze barge. lol

Since I'm now in the market I appreciate this thread.........now how do I thank someone?????

 

[masterblaster]

Jerry I already started another thread in the general sec about this also,Ill just copy and paste it here,hopefully more guys will see this and buy the right cam for what they are doing.most of the vids are coming out of FL and Va and both are almost imposible to shoot from the shore,so a large percentage of these vids are shot second person of others. DONTTTTTTTTTT buy a gopro for this kinda filming.I like watching ski vids and they are getting worse and worse the more of these gopros there are in jetskiers hands that arnt using them for quick 1st person clips.and instead using them to film others

http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/77793-best-hel-cam-for-surf-is-out......time-to-sell-the-gopro

strickly as a helmet cam,99% of the vids shot here are done from the helmet,and 75% of those suck cause they are shot with a 170 angle gopro and the guys have no idea how close you have to be to make that angle look worth a crap,most are just tiny black dots barely in perspective.You literally have to be unsafe close to get a decent shot.
the tachyon micro is a FAR better cam for this,its cheap and shoots with a 90 lens.........perfect for jetski action,and its got GREAT quality,handles low light and bright sun great as you turn into the sun it auto adjusts smooth.
If you have a go pro wide and all you do is shoot hel cam of others,sell it to someone outside the ski community and get the tachyon micro.you will be much more happy with the footage,it captures the true experience of the size of waves and tricks MUCH better, almost perfect.

http://www.tachyoninc.com/

check out the accurate prospective,quality of colors,saturation,smoothness,quickness of light meter from shade to sun.

 

[FlightPlanDan]

I'm gonna get one of these.....unless somebody can come up with a reason not to.

 

[kraqus]

I'm gonna get one of these.....unless somebody can come up with a reason not to.

Wait for the HD version that I am sure will come eventually.
That is the only thing that will prevent me from getting one.
HD is were is at.....


Benny

 

[yamaslut]

Torr, that looks amazing!!!!

I agree w/ you totally

Dan, just ride... you will never edit the vid and it will just be a waste of money.
i have 2 waterproof cams and I use them like never...

 

[FlightPlanDan]

I came across this for pics/vid from the beach...


http://www.heartlandamerica.com/bro...6FF3-6D48-4259-86F8-D49F62C85BD9&BC=S&DL=SEH1

 

[FlightPlanDan]

Torr, that looks amazing!!!!

I agree w/ you totally

Dan, just ride... you will never edit the vid and it will just be a waste of money.
i have 2 waterproof cams and I use them like never...

You're probably right. I do edit, I'm just terrible at it. Still learning. I know my vids suck, my cam sux, my editing sux, but I kinda enjoy it. And every once in a while you get something really cool.

 

[yamaslut]

I came across this for pics/vid from the beach...


http://www.heartlandamerica.com/bro...6FF3-6D48-4259-86F8-D49F62C85BD9&BC=S&DL=SEH1

300mm?? are you serious? you need a 800mm to get shots from the shore..

here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/542293-REG/Canon_2746B002AA_EF_800mm_f_5_6L_IS.html
it's only $11k and the body to fit it is only $4k... so $15k and you are set, well minus the tripod and memory cards

this is a nice one too: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=1000mm+canon+lenses&N=0&InitialSearch=yes
it's only $29k

 

[masterblaster]

hd is not where its at for ski vids,its a pita for no reason,vimeo and uturd destroy it and in most cases wont play back smoothly for most users.this cams res is GREAT for ski vids. refer to the other thread i posted for more details.hopefully everyone will see one of these threads and end the GOPRO GOHOME debunk

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

Get a slr adapter for a spotting scope and you could be looking at 1000mm focal length for a couple hundo.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/321386-REG/Bushnell_780050_SLR_35mm_OR_Digital_.html

 

[yamaslut]

Get a slr adapter for a spotting scope and you could be looking at 1000mm focal length for a couple hundo.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/321386-REG/Bushnell_780050_SLR_35mm_OR_Digital_.html

I can't imagine that would work well... not saying it won't but...

 

[masterblaster]

pics are cool but how often is someone standing on the beach at a inlet willing to stare through a 800 mill lens and take pics,rides like the tona freeride are more suited to pics.our everyday rides are way more suited to hel cam.edits dont have to be jerry jones perfection even though those are way cool,just thow the footage in movie maker or studio 9 simple type monkey could do it software and set it to fast forward x3 and pull the decent stuff out and throw a song on it.If the quality of the footage is good and the angle lens displays it close to real life people will LOVE it anyway. word up if your sick of watching vids shot with go pros that look like little black dots riding baby bumps in the river when in reality they were good riders tearing up 8 footers..............word uppppppppp

 

[kraqus]

hd is not where its at for ski vids,its a pita for no reason,vimeo and uturd destroy it and in most cases wont play back smoothly for most users.this cams res is GREAT for ski vids. refer to the other thread i posted for more details.hopefully everyone will see one of these threads and end the GOPRO GOHOME debunk

I tend to disagree.
HD has been available for a while and prices on TV, DVD players and PC systems that can handle HD content is extremely affordable now. Technology is moving Fast and although HD still not mainstream it is sure to become. The next big thing is 3D now.

HD internet videos are pretty good IMO, they are meant to be watched on a PC. You will never, or at least Not yet, experience the true quality of an HD video if you watch it on a PC. For that you need an HDTV.

Youtube HD has gotten better recently.
You have to deal with the Copyrights Nazis when posting on Youtube, but you just need to be More creative, use undergorund music.


This is a Yutube HD video at 720p (make sure you select the proper format)

Look at what true HD 1080p footage looks like. My God look at the details (make sure you select the proper format)

The real problem for HD content is the Highway.
It cannot be delivered fast enough. And with even phones nowadays downloading videos, the field just got more crowded. The infrastructure need to be Revamped, then you will see a lot more HD content readily available anywhere.


Benny