Which GoPro do you buy

[detroitsprings]

We are looking to purchasing the latest GoPro. Unknown of which mount we should buy first. Basically not sure if we should get the Helmet, Suction Cup or Bike mount.

I know it goes situation to situation, but any feedback that you all have to which you use the most would be helpful.

Thanks.

[Necktie Boy]

Hi Adam,

Go with the kit with the accessories that you will use the most. All the mounts can be brought after the fact. I have picked up most of the accessories after the fact. I think the best mount to pick up is the tripod mount.

Since I use my for bike riding, I have all the mounts that will work with a bike and helmet. I saw a company making metal mounts for the Go Pro, and another company that makes a metal case for it for road racing. Also, I have seen add on lens that do a better job than the one on the case.

There should be a good thread about using the Go Pro on this board.

[Run&Gun]

I have two of the "motorsports editions", which is the suction cup mount. I also have some 1/4 20 tripod adapters and cine locks and noga arms. You can buy the mounts(helmet, suction cups, chest, roll bar, etc.) separately, as well.

[SeattleShooter]

Just make sure it is tethered or you have a floatation device. I tested the suction strength prior to hitting record. All was well and it was tight. But then...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXrdQy4L6gI

[Land Rover]

Originally Posted by SeattleShooter

Just make sure it is tethered or you have a floatation device. I tested the suction strength prior to hitting record. All was well and it was tight. But then...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXrdQy4L6gI

Good lesson. Glad you got it back.

[Rad]

Originally Posted by SeattleShooter

Just make sure it is tethered or you have a floatation device. I tested the suction strength prior to hitting record. All was well and it was tight. But then...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXrdQy4L6gI

This is Great! passing to on to a phew phellow photogs

[Focused]

Can't go wrong with magnets. Just don't zap the SD cards.

[Land Rover]

I bought one last year but returned because it was just too much of a wide angle for me and I didn't like the way it intercut with my other footage. The new ones have different settings for the field of view so I'm thinking about trying it again and see how I like it. It is a great tool to have, no doubt about that.

[SeattleShooter]

You are right Rover. The GoPro Hero2 has three settings. Wide, Med, Narrow. You are totally right though about the cut between the gopro and our cameras. I have never been a fan of that. You really have to color correct it or it does not work.

I once used it a ton on a story and when I cut it I did not like the look of the gopro. So I axed it out of the story.

Still, the new one is the best. Its still good when you use it for those extreme angles.

[dazapper]

I've had two of the original Heros for about a year and they've performed well though they suck in low light. About two months ago I bought two of the Hero 2 cameras and they blow the originals away. Haven't used the first ones since.

Buy as much of their grip gear as you can afford--most of it all is fairly inexpensive but vital. I'm waiting for the wi-fi backpack to be released, it's been further delayed but should be very helpful when it's released.

[2000lux]

I saw a shot of a photog' who had one mounted on the lens hood of his full sized camera in a scrum at at an election event. The GoPro got the wide shots, while he got tights with the main camera. I thought that was a cool idea.

[2000lux]

Originally Posted by Necktie Boy

I saw a company making metal mounts for the Go Pro, and another company that makes a metal case for it for road racing. Also, I have seen add on lens that do a better job than the one on the case.

Can you give us some links to these?

[Necktie Boy]

Hi 2000lux

The Company that is making metal mounts is called K-Edge. They have two version of handle bar mounts, a saddle rail mount, use to mount onto the bicycle's seat rail, and a metal mount that can be bolted.

Here is the link to an on-line bike shop that sells them.

http://www.jensonusa.com/Cameras

Also seems that Amazon.com sells them, too. They should be cheaper...Maybe not! I think they want a tad more..

http://www.amazon.com/K-EDGE-GoPro-A.../dp/B005YVTJSO

Here is a company that makes a lens that fits on the housing. It allows you to use a filters.

http://www.snakeriverprototyping.com/products.html

Also has a lens for underwater shooting.

http://www.eyeofmine.com/gopro/underwater/index.html

Link for "skins" for the case in lots of colors.

http://www.xsories.com/hooded-silico...-gopro-hd.html

I think this is the metal case to protect the plastic case. I saw a metal case for sale on CL, but I didn't bookmark it.

http://www.amazon.com/K-EDGE-GoPro-A.../dp/B005YVTJSO

Also in DV Magazine, their is an article about using a Go Pro, talking about a 4mm lens that screws in. I know he was using Hero 2.

Hope that helps!

[adam]

If you're going flying the suction cup can fail around 8,000 feet.

I was able to mount a flat sticky mount on a mafer clamp in a position that doesn't interfer with the 5/8th pin. There isn't a lot of articulation there but it's an easy way to repurpose a piece of gear that a lot of people have lying around already.

[Lensmith]

I'm enjoying this thread. Learning a lot.

But my GoPro question involves workflow.

I've been told render times for GoPro video are long.

It was suggested, to me, if you shoot GoPro video it's best to just render it all as soon as possible, and export as a quicktime movie. Then use the quicktime movie to edit with and avoid the render headaches.

True?

The CBS station in Miami had a much promo'ed series which contained a lot of GoPro video in it. Constant, last minute changes by management. Editor had raw GoPro video on timeline and every change meant re-rendering.

Short story is a much promoted series didn't make air.

What amount of time are you allocating for editing GoPro video in a daily news story?

Just thought this was the thread to ask about it instead of starting a new one.

[marstaton4]

Originally Posted by Lensmith

It was suggested, to me, if you shoot GoPro video it's best to just render it all as soon as possible, and export as a quicktime movie. Then use the quicktime movie to edit with and avoid the render headaches.

True?

MPEG Streamclip is your friend. I'm not sure the exact settings to use but last time I checked (about a year ago) I believe it was the gold standard for making quick work of transcoding the files into something your NLE will like more.

[Land Rover]

Originally Posted by Lensmith

It was suggested, to me, if you shoot GoPro video it's best to just render it all as soon as possible, and export as a quicktime movie. Then use the quicktime movie to edit with and avoid the render headaches.

This is what I did when I had one. I used the QuickTime from that point on in FCP.

[phojo66]

Originally Posted by marstaton4

MPEG Streamclip is your friend. I'm not sure the exact settings to use but last time I checked (about a year ago) I believe it was the gold standard for making quick work of transcoding the files into something your NLE will like more.

Streamclip is the way to go... and it's a free download.

When setting up the export, make sure you use the same frame rate, screen size(1920x1080, 1280x720, etc...) and codec that you will be editing with. This will keep you from rendering constantly.

[Lensmith]

Thanks for the tip about Streamclip.

Just got it downloaded into my MacBook Pro!

I'm ready!

[Necktie Boy]

I edit with CS5.5. No long rending problem, but I drop it in a 1080 EX timeline. With the CS5.5's Media Encoder, I can convert the files to any other file.

I should say that I edit like 50 minute projects.

I do use Streamclip.

But I will render some files in DVCProHD, and report back.