GoPro Camera Ideas

[AZhitman]

Just got a new GoPro - For those of you who also have one, what's the coolest thing you've done with your GoPro?

And, while we're at it, check out the new GoPro Hero3 Black Edition- I was checking this out at SEMA, and it's awesome!

[flohtingPoint]

I won a GoPro Hero3 Black this year at the SCCA Solo Nationals for the "Hero Moment Award". After having a terrible day 1, I came back and had a strong day 2, and had the most position change of everyone in all of the Stock Classes (300+ competitors). Currently I'm doing a write up on the camera for a hardware website that a friend runs. But whats the coolest thing I've done with my camera? Competition of course...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C03ivskCkkA[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs1hDD6go9Y[/youtube]

[darylzero]

Just got a new GoPro - For those of you who also have one, what's the coolest thing you've done with your GoPro?

And, while we're at it, check out the new GoPro Hero3 Black Edition- I was checking this out at SEMA, and it's awesome!

Funny you should ask, 60 Minutes just did a story on GoPro tonight. The guy who invented it is now a billionaire! Not bad for a surfer dude

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50158867n

[Rev_D21]

I started a youtube channel about trucks. I always have it on me when I do anything car related and I always film my autoX and rallyX events. I love my gopro!

[AZhitman]

Daryl - Yep, saw that. Here's another cool tidbit: The GoPro is a loss leader. In other words, they make no money selling the cameras, but the accessories and other goodies are profitable.

That, to me, is impressive.

[Az_L320]

Greg, that's cool that you got a GoPro. I have been messing around with them a little bit too. There is an App for smart phones that allow you to run the camera and have a preview of what your recording (maybe you already know that?). I'm not very good with it yet, but wanting to learn more too. I'll watch this thread.

Also, a couple posts up, you mention the new commercial for the Nissan NV vehicles that was shot at the test track. These guys had a lot of super high $$ cameras, but I found it interesting that they also had several GoPro black editions. The up close shots of the moving suspensions was with a GoPro.

To Rev_D21 & flohtingPoint and others that have used GoPro, I have a couple questions.

1) When you are shooting a video that you want to put on YouTube, what resolution do you record it in? 1080? 720??? Also, when frame rate do you select? I ask because my files always seem to be so big they are hard to deal with. Just wondering what the best compromise is between file size and viewing?
2) How's the battery life? Do you need extra batteries? The little I have played with it, I leave the WiFi on and start and stop with my iPhone. But with WiFi always on it seems to drain the battery fairly quickly. Any tips in this area?
3) Do you use anything to view what your shooting? Like I said I use my iPHone.
4)Do you have a recommendation on software for video editing? I downloaded the free one from GoPro, but not sure if I like it. (haven't used it enough yet)

Good topic Greg, I hope I can learn a little more on using the GoPro. They are a really nice little camera.

Dale - AZ

[Rev_D21]

I have mine set to wide angle and 30fps. i just suction cup it in the general area I want to look at and let her rip. There's no science to my videos.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JynlZZsAXrU[/youtube]

Sometimes I stick it to the rear slider window.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_yV--XLX2Y[/youtube]

[flohtingPoint]

To Rev_D21 & flohtingPoint and others that have used GoPro, I have a couple questions.

K =)

1) When you are shooting a video that you want to put on YouTube, what resolution do you record it in? 1080? 720??? Also, when frame rate do you select? I ask because my files always seem to be so big they are hard to deal with. Just wondering what the best compromise is between file size and viewing?

Depends. If it's a national level competition, I'll shoot in 720/30fps. I want a video that is small'ish and easily transported so that I can review my lines between runs. Accessibility is KEY during this time. If it's a local competition or the season is over (which both was the case in the videos I posted a few posts above) and I'm just going out for practice/keep skills sharp, then I'll do 1080/60fps.

2) How's the battery life? Do you need extra batteries? The little I have played with it, I leave the WiFi on and start and stop with my iPhone. But with WiFi always on it seems to drain the battery fairly quickly. Any tips in this area?

Battery life on them sucks the big one. Not much to do aside from hardwiring the cam or carrying extra batteries.

3) Do you use anything to view what your shooting? Like I said I use my iPHone.

I use my phone sometimes to check the white-balance and positioning, but that's really about it. The more you use the app, the more it drains the cam's battery.

4)Do you have a recommendation on software for video editing? I downloaded the free one from GoPro, but not sure if I like it. (haven't used it enough yet)

Well, when I want to combine data with the video, I'll use a program called "Dashware". It allows me to join the output that I get from my Traqmate data platform in my Corvette with the video, as seen below:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAAVweWGwmg[/youtube]

The GoPro application that you can download from their site is just fine also. I used that to create the two videos I posted earlier.

[AZhitman]

Also, from talking with the GP folks this year at SEMA, battery performance has been improved with the new versions.

[AZhitman]

p.s. James, that run is insane. I'm always impressed by anyone who can mentally translate "random cones in a huge parking lot" into "road course" - and then apply proper racing lines to it.

[flohtingPoint]

Also, from talking with the GP folks this year at SEMA, battery performance has been improved with the new versions.

That's scary. I keep having to turn my H3 Black off between runs (like full off, not just stop recording) in order for it to last a whole heat. It's a bit of a shame that Contour went out of business, my Contour+ had great battery life, even when using the on-board 4hz GPS module it had.

p.s. James, that run is insane. I'm always impressed by anyone who can mentally translate "random cones in a huge parking lot" into "road course" - and then apply proper racing lines to it.

Thanks Greg. The result was a little better than what I had planned. You can barely see it, but there is someone riding shotgun with me and this was more of an instructional run. I was talking a lot through the run to the person sitting shotgun, explaining what I was doing (throttle roll on, foot/string, looking for corner exits, etc).

[krash]

I rode shotgun with James on a run in his old AE86, he kinda knows what he's doing

[Bubba1]

I have a Hero 2 that I use occasionally. A cool effect is in the process of being tested now with one of my students. I'm patiently waiting to see how they come out. With 3 Hero cameras, We mounted two inside my student's car, one pointing front and the other rear. The third camera mounted pointing forward in another car in the same run group. The goal is to have split screens of the same run from different views.


me goofing around at VIR last year with the hero on...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekjA41LFmnw

[flohtingPoint]

I rode shotgun with James on a run in his old AE86, he kinda knows what he's doing

lol, if I win a jacket, I'll concur, but that's a LONG way off in my current class. Thank you though =)

[OriginalWheelman]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RArofHji8CU[/youtube]

Crime is so bad these days.

[AZhitman]

[RED_DET]

Been using the GoPro for a couple years now. Was going to take the plunge and get the Hero3+ BE, but seems like quite a few folks not impressed with the bugs......most of the complaints were cameras that lockup, horrible battery life and some overheating issues.

[AZhitman]

News to me - I've got the new Hero 3+ SE, but haven't had a chance to take it out and play with it yet.

[RED_DET]

The SE seems to be the best choice of the two...