Go Pro Hero HD

[shwafia]

Not sure if this is the wrong spot for this thread as it doesn't directly correspond to autox, however, I did see a lot of people in autox last year using Go Pro cameras and couldn't find a section that was suited for general questions (perhaps I'm just blind).

My question is a general one of how everyone finds their Go Pro camera or any other camera they're using to capture autox footage. I'd like to pickup a camera for this type of footage (autox, lapping, etc.) and right now, the Go Pro is at the top of my list.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Cheers,
Aaron

[dscottp]

I wanted a GoPro, but couldn't justify buying another camera. In the end, I bought a suction cup mount from Henry's for $40. Can be used with any camera in it's tripod mount. The mount is great, very secure, and the video will be as good as whatever camera you attach to it. It's secure enough that I have absolutely no fears about mounting my camera outside the car.

Here's one of my runs from last season, mounted to the front bumper. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWCMeAxIbsE

[rmicroys]

For autox, I think that a GoPro would work really well. I find that for lapping, I have mixed results. The microphone on my unit, or the camera itself rattles. I get a slight "static" on my recordings. All and all the cameras are compact, mountable just about on any surface with the HD Motorsports suction cup, and they have put them on racecars on the outside had never lose them during a race. I even mounted one on the outside of the R8 with the suction cup, on the door and didn't have it come off, so I'm reasonably impressed with them. Good footage, you just want to ensure that you minimize vertical vibration because of the rolling shutter on the camera to eliminate any 'jellovision' that these cameras can experience.

[GoesFilled]

FYI Mike @ No Limits has good pricing on GoPro HD's.

I've used mine a bit last year and I liked it. I tend to forget to turn it on sometimes - and it's hard to see if it's working when I'm belted in.

Otherwise it's good though.

[gregor]

love the gopro. Suction cups stays on at mosport and bogie. Can run it at 720p for 4-5 hours, no complaints. Got mine from Mike@no Limits, his price for this is great.

[shwafia]

Thanks for the feedback guys! I'll contact Mike at No Limits and find out his pricing.

Cheers,
Aaron

[shwafia]

Thanks again for the advice guys, I'll be picking up my camera from Mike this weekend.

[cjpye]

Rob had one in the Omni for Targa Newfoundland last year. The biggest problem is that the LCD that tells you everything is on the front of the camera which is the side we could not see when it was mounted on he windshield. We were never really sure whether it was on. Admittedly, we did not use it before the event, which would have helped.

We got the 'jellovision' effect at idle, but it was fine once we were moving. It got good video, but the sound was muffled.

Chris

[shwafia]

Rob had one in the Omni for Targa Newfoundland last year. The biggest problem is that the LCD that tells you everything is on the front of the camera which is the side we could not see when it was mounted on he windshield. We were never really sure whether it was on. Admittedly, we did not use it before the event, which would have helped.

We got the 'jellovision' effect at idle, but it was fine once we were moving. It got good video, but the sound was muffled.

Chris

I've heard of the idle "jellovision". I believe other cameras will have this as well, but I'm not sure.

From what I can tell, there are many options these days for HD pocket video cameras around $300. What still has me sold on the Go Pro is how versatile it is, especially the bonus of underwater footage (which admittedly isn't a common use I will have for it, but a nice bonus nonetheless).

Also, as far as the lack of an LCD, I heard there are LCD attachments that will be released for the Go Pro Hero HD (note: not for the newly released Go Pro Hero 960 apparently). This of course increases the cost, but it's an option if I find I'd like to see what's being shot when setting up. To me, the wide angle simply means point it at the general area and it will capture what you want.

Once again, thanks for the helpful feedback guys. I plan on picking it up this weekend, so if anyone has any other feedback before then, I'm all ears!

[rmicroys]

I've heard of the idle "jellovision". I believe other cameras will have this as well, but I'm not sure.

It's easy to know if the device will be susceptible to Jellovision. If it has a rolling shutter, then it will get it, that means the device scans the sensor line by line, rather than capturing the frame in one instant - so any motion in the frame during the scanning from line to line can affect the image more so in a rolling shutter camera. All and all, I'm pretty happy with the GoPro for the price. Considering that TopGear uses them a lot, and I see them just about everywhere in any television show now (Mike Rowe's Dirty Jobs, etc) they have to obviously be good enough for main stream TV production.

[sb_600]

I've also seen them on Mythbusters

I got an HD last year and have no compaints!

[Protege2886]

I've been using the SD for two years now and just won an HD at the banquet (Thanks JP!!).

I'm really looking forward to using it.

It'd be cool to open a poll of how many people 1) Have GoPros and 2) SD vs. HD.
Could be useful information.

[shwafia]

You guys are great!

[jkcashin]

I've been using the SD for two years now and just won an HD at the banquet (Thanks JP!!).

I was wondering who won that! I have to steal JPs for my mountain bike ... think he will notice?

Jamie

[BBQMAN]

We have been selling GO PROs for over 2 years and I have a lot of satisfied customers using them in autocross, lapping roadracing and many other sports.
This winter we sold a ton for skiing as well.

We stock HD Motorsport and 960HD.

We have the best price in Canada for sure, and they are always in stock.

We also stock the accessories.

[shwafia]

We have been selling GO PROs for over 2 years and I have a lot of satisfied customers using them in autocross, lapping roadracing and many other sports.
This winter we sold a ton for skiing as well.

We stock HD Motorsport and 960HD.

We have the best price in Canada for sure, and they are always in stock.

We also stock the accessories.

Carl, what's your price on a Go Pro Hero HD Motorsport kit?

Edit, found your site, $299.99.

[BBQMAN]

Yup, $299 CDN and we still have plenty of stock.

Cheers!!

[shwafia]

Finally picked up my Go Pro Hero HD Motorsport kit! Couldn't be happier!

The bonus was that it only cost $290.00

Thanks to Mike @ No Limits for hooking me up!

Now time to learn how to use it properly in time for Spring! Snowboarding videos!

[Gamz]

Nice Aaron! I gotta pick one of those up before the snow melts