Power Kite Forum

go pro choices

BeamerBob - 14-9-2011 at 10:51 PM

So I've chatted and I've browsed. Looks like the 960 might be the smart money. Maybe even 2 for setup in the middle of the speedy run at Ivanpah, or to run on 2 of the buggies for multiple perspective movies. I'm not my usual early adopter on these so I'm deferring some research to you guys that have been down the path. Let me know the camera, mounts, accessories and such that have worked best for you and what you like/dislike about your choices. I hope to give a frequent window into Ivanpah riding with this/these camera(s).

Kober - 14-9-2011 at 11:06 PM

.......I have 3 GoPros ...... all HD hero .......
960 is good ..... however .... 1080 is a standard those days ..... the only problem is ....... editing ...... I have Mac with 8 processors and when editing 1080 footage all of them are screaming ..... when you process video for stabilization ... it takes forever ... less powerful computer .... more hours to wait ......
HD space is another issue .... I have 4 TB + 8 external..... so ... I am not thinking about running out of space ...... but every HD recorded session takes its space ...... going thru recorded video and edit takes lots of time ..... every 5 min clip that I do takes up to 4h without processing time .....

..... about mounts ....
.... I think ... best option is to buy adapter that allows mount GoPro on standard camera mounts ... then you have way more options ......and cheaper then GoPro specific .....
and Kite mount for GoPro is a must ..... If you see andy of my videos you know I use it often .......

Kamikuza - 14-9-2011 at 11:46 PM

Meh ... 1080 is over-rated. If it's mounted on anything that vibrates - even at a low frequency - you'll get bad jelly-fishing of the image. Oddly enough, even though 960p is still only 30fps, I've yet to see it bothered by vibration at all. 960 is also the "tallest" resolution, so you get a lot more.

If I were going to buy 2 cameras, I'd get a GoPro (for it's known qualities, ultimate waterproofness and miriad mount options) and a Contour something ... or any other of the action cams :D

Kober - you stabilizing with Vegas? Man is that slow - overly-slow, considering how bad a job it does. Vdub is quicker and better but the best bang for stabilization buck is that vReveal software.

heliboy50 - 14-9-2011 at 11:59 PM

+ one for hd hero. Add the mounts grab bag, and the handle bar (roll bar?) mount. The grab bag will let you improvise alot. I do have the tripod mount, but have yet to use it. Also, I'm pretty well done with helmet/pov mounts as the footage is too broken up.

@kober- I haven't seen recent threads re kite mounts. What are you using?

Kober - 15-9-2011 at 12:02 AM



gopro_kitelinemount-1.jpg - 7kB

heliboy50 - 15-9-2011 at 12:22 AM

I shoot in 960 because I like the fisheye perspective and it does cut down on the shake as well. Nice to be able to go 1080 if that won't be an issue, though.

edit- @kober again- I want one of those- who makes that?

Edit edit- found it. Thanks for the info on that. Going on the glider, I think.

Kamikuza - 15-9-2011 at 12:45 AM

There's a new version of the Kitehero line mount coming - places the camera vertically, lowering the bobbling due to the hanging mass ...

John Holgate - 15-9-2011 at 01:02 AM

I've been shooting in 720 (I started with the 960, but I like the widescreen better) - fill the whole screen on the computer and the raw files looks great. Stick it on a DVD and put it on the TV and it's great. The only time I use 1080 is if I need to 'zoom' in a bit - like RC planes etc, but as has been said, it's a pain in the rear to edit. I could easily live without the 1080. I think buying 2 of the 960's is the way to go for what we do. And get an extra packet of flat mounts - helmet, downtube, handle, pole, picavet mount for aerial photography - you can stick 'em (and screw 'em) anywhere.

Also, keep a little pump sprayer with some glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth handy - depending on the wind, the GoPro lens can get really smeared up in 20 minutes of buggying. And check it regularly for fogging - I'm not sure it it's because they have a little onboard heater operating, but the fogging is a bit of a pain. Clears almost instantly when you open the housing. Or use the open back....

nocando - 15-9-2011 at 02:03 AM

Hey Beaver dont rule out those Hoyt HD cams I bought one thru Dino I think it is quite ok but am no expert.

Sons have used it more than me doing downhill MTB footage

Pops uses one also

Found footage of boys this is Hoyt HD Cam

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinkbike.co...

Vibration is from goggle strap not tight enough Cam was mounted on the strap.

Kamikuza - 15-9-2011 at 06:14 AM

Actually, fogging is moist air trapped in the case or body of the camera - blast the bejesus out of the case and camera with the aircon in your car, then seal it up inside the car and don't open it again. That cures my fogging 100%. Oh and I made a little pad for the door out of chamois ...

Have a good look at the Drift cameras if you don't need waterproof ... Contour has a new one out too that's a good price. Variety is the spice of life :D

nocando - 15-9-2011 at 06:18 AM

Kami I think Drift and Hoyt are clones maybe ???????

Kamikuza - 15-9-2011 at 06:20 AM

Oh yeah, I see what you mean ... wonder what's going on there?

Kamikuza - 15-9-2011 at 06:23 AM

GPS and Bluetooth on the expensive Contours dude :lol:

PHREERIDER - 15-9-2011 at 07:16 AM

hd HERO +1 , fogging ,,,don't open thing when your outside. i have never had a fog problem. open /close only in controlled environments ... home with a/c , closed vehicle a/c. dry air every time its opened outside introduces moisture...this is the full case scenario at the beach.

the edit can be tedious and time consuming

if the footage is good, u can pick the front for a start point and clip it at the back add tunes, titles and credits... i process into a "medium" size movie on iMovie. working thru full HD with stabilization ...haven't had the patience for that yet. the SONY sport play rendered much quicker but theres just less there to begin with. go pro HD far superior lots of format choices as well.

working thru the raw capture to good stuff...tick tock tick tock. but its fun once u get quick with the split, clip edit stuff in your head.

heliboy50 - 15-9-2011 at 10:25 AM

Get a package of the the little desicant strips. No fog problems, and they can be reused.

g00fba11 - 15-9-2011 at 10:42 AM

I am agreeing with Mr Holgate.... GoPro 960s and get 2.

It has been proven time and time again the majority of people can not tell the difference between 720p and 1080p.

I have a new lg plasma 50 in 2011 model in 720p even my videophile friends were fooled and thought it was 1080p.

The daisy chaining of the hero hd and it's 3d capability are cool, but for what we do.... I think the hero 960 and some extra batteries and mounts is the way to go.

BeamerBob - 15-9-2011 at 11:01 AM

Thanks guys. The shake issue might be prevalent on the cobblestones of Ivanpah. On the other hand, it seems that the smoothest parts of the lakebed are also the windiest. Awindofchange told me that a while back but it was proven first hand on Sunday. It seems that the wind shapes the playa the most where it blows the most so the rough spots didn't get smoothed out by the wind.

I don't have a computer with 8 processors or anything so running 1080 might not be worth dealing with the editing burden. It looks like my notion of 2 960s might be a better value given that we have lots of space and multiple buggies running at the same time. I don't want to mix companies either due to a double stack of learning curve and chargers/batteries and such. Grab bag of mounts sounds like a long term problem solver too. Off we go!

RonH - 15-9-2011 at 11:35 AM

Correct me if I am wrong but the HD hero comes with all the mounts you could want and the 960 does not...

LCD for the HD only

Kamikuza - 15-9-2011 at 05:52 PM

Editing ... I made a PVR so I just sit on the sofa with a notepad and write down the times when something "interesting" happens then when I get to the PC it's just decided what is most interesting (or least boring :lol: ) and trim it to fit the music.

Actual editing, so long as you've set the preview correctly, shouldn't be too heavy on the system. Rendering on the other hand ... set it up and go to bed :lol:

heliboy50 - 15-9-2011 at 06:22 PM

The only time I have computer crunch issues is when I do some heavy corrections for shake, image sharpening, etc.. Then again, I am running WO a graphics card. I am going 3d, so hero HD it is.

Kober - 15-9-2011 at 07:34 PM

I always do analyzing, stabilization, noise reduction at night..... seeing up as much as I can before going to sleep ..... If there is a lot of processing I place small fan next to computer for extra cooling ....... My last video have so much shake that after processing frame was 1/2 size smaller ....... I did reduce stabilization to gain more picture ......
.... When you able to create video with you own music it is way more time consuming when editing ...... but final product is rewording ........
.... when choosing music from You Tube library is good idea to look for songs with high beat rate ..... and sometimes you luckily get everything synchronized ......

Now .... 960 or 1080 ......
quality is not that different .... however 16:9 frame is standard on most TVs and monitors now ...... and it makes full screen viewing way more pleasurable ....... Its like making vertical photos ..... is not welcome in digital era .... You are using only 30% of screen and not gaining anything ..... Make them horizontal ...... you get same picture with something on sides to fill up black bars ........

.....

Kamikuza - 15-9-2011 at 08:10 PM

960 is the "tall" version, so you'll have bars at the side of a widescreen display. That bothers me less than losing the action - see the "Phoam" thread ...

zero gee - 15-9-2011 at 08:19 PM

I use this cool, easy to use and very effective tool called Project Odessa for bookmarking highlights in my videos by briefly covering the lens with my hand. Check their video...



You can scan the videos by batch or individually (default is batch). You can store the clips with the original or in their own folder (default same folder and Windows Video folder). You can set the clip size to 5 seconds all the way to 2 minutes each at 5 second increments (default is 30sec). You can set the sensitivity of how it recognizes your hand cover (default is Medium). It is also set to ignore the first 10 seconds of video, you know... the "is it on" self portrait (default is ignore).

It scans and creates the clips in real time (but you no longer have to sit through it all). I do not notice any loss. The file name of each clip includes it's start and stop time location in its original video file. Making it easy to find in case it missed some highlights (of that clip or before or after action). You would have to get that action in the usual way though. At least you can find it quickly now.

The hand cover marks the end of the action. Prior to scanning your video, the size of the clips (ending at the hand cover) can be set from 5 second clips all the way to (at 5 second increments) 2 minute clips (the default is 30 second clips).

Here is an example of the file name of each clip.
"GOPR5323.MP4.highlight.00.26.56.to.00.27.08.MP4"
It includes the original file name. The the start and end location (hr.min.sec) of the clip in the original video. Notice the size of the clip is actually 12 seconds not 10 here.

You will still need to edit out the hand cover as it is included at the end of each clip (in the extra 1-2 seconds at the end).

The hardest part is remembering that the camera is there and that you need to use your hand to bookmark the highlights. :rolleyes:

Kamikuza - 15-9-2011 at 08:20 PM

... line mount, wife on the beach ... won't work :D

BeamerBob - 15-9-2011 at 10:49 PM

I can see that this will become half the hobby if you run video every time.

Kamikuza - 15-9-2011 at 10:52 PM

Yah.

I got footage from winter I need to chop up into a movie :o summer is looking like a winter release too ...!
Which is why I probably don't often go out with the camera ...

I did promise myself that I would film my first attempts at rotations ... but I was too lazy to hook the camera up and then Uncle Pyro was doing rolls so I thought damn if he can do them I can. And by the time I put the camera on the kite, I'd pretty much nailed back-rolls - crashes are a bit rare.

So basically, the next movie you'll see from me will be from all of summer :o but hopefully less boring than usual :D

BeamerBob - 15-9-2011 at 11:36 PM

I'm thinking of sticking to sub 2 minute highlights to keep it simple. Work my way into music and text after that. And I'd hate to get behind on it, but I guess its inevitable.

heliboy50 - 16-9-2011 at 01:46 AM

I have the song first, the the story board second, and the footage next year. That's why I have been working on my first movie since 2008.

Kamikuza - 16-9-2011 at 02:34 AM

Song usually pops into my head as I'm watching the footage ... then I try to fit the clips around that.

PHREERIDER - 16-9-2011 at 07:47 PM

the odessa seems nice , had a JVC dig vid cam with "blank" chase or something , it always went to next OPEN spot for recording from play back.. it was a tape thing though.

the blank spot would be cool for clipped up stuff.

960 X2 with the tall will be ample. the attachment with the helemt set is nice though. still haven't stabilized any with Gopro raw stuff . maybe a duplicate short, one with stab, one without. def got to help with tidy editing .

bigkahuna - 17-9-2011 at 12:45 AM

I was almost going to pull the trigger on a GoPro HD when I learned about the Contour ROAM ( http://contour.com/products/contour-roam ). For what I want to do (underwater videos) it seems even better than the GoPro.

Kamikuza - 17-9-2011 at 06:00 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bigkahuna
I was almost going to pull the trigger on a GoPro HD when I learned about the Contour ROAM ( http://contour.com/products/contour-roam ). For what I want to do (underwater videos) it seems even better than the GoPro.

How far does "waterproof to 1 meter" actually get you, as far as protection from water go?
I'd like a ROAM with GPS but no Bluetooth junk :D

bigkahuna - 17-9-2011 at 06:46 AM

@Kami - Contour sells an underwater housing that's rated to 60m for $40, bringing the total to $240 for camera and housing. The GoPro HD comes with a housing, but the curved lens on the housing causes distortion underwater and to fix it you either have to buy a new housing or replace the lens (+$45 - $100). So the Contour ROAM ends up costing less in the long run...

bobalooie57 - 17-9-2011 at 08:04 AM

How deep you looking to go? Tachyon Micro is rated to 100'(no housing, small size), though there is a video on their website showing a depth of 130+ feet IIRC. At that depth, light could be a limiting factor?

bigkahuna - 17-9-2011 at 01:27 PM

The Tachyon Micro HD at $139 looks pretty good, thanks for the heads up. We have wrecks as deep as 120 - 130 feet here so I'd prefer to have a camera that'll go that deep. I've got lights, so that's not a problem.

For anyone that's into DIY, there's also the Hobby King HD camera for $38: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idp...

BeamerBob - 9-10-2011 at 01:59 PM

Picked up a 960 today along with a grab bag of mounts. I'm sure once I see what I can do with the mounts I have, I'll get some for more specific duty. Also got a tripod mount for flybys. Already looking into getting a second one. multi buggy along with ride along to go with the fly bys.

BeamerBob - 9-10-2011 at 03:21 PM

So in a dusty environment, should I stick with the waterproof back housing? I don't expect to be going over 100 mph any time soon and it says the open housing gives a better noise reduction, but I'm sure the dust on the lakebed isn't good for the unit.

shehatesmyhobbies - 9-10-2011 at 05:25 PM

If it is anything like the sand at WW, I would leave the solid cover on! I put the open case on mine one time and spent hours getting all the sand out! Using the open back would probably be best when using on a vehicle or motorcycle. Closed back whenever you are around sand or water! Just my experience!

g00fba11 - 9-10-2011 at 05:47 PM

You can check out some of Bobby's GoPro skilz in this thread.....

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=19262&p...

bigkid - 9-10-2011 at 06:46 PM

bigkahuna,
I picked up a new mask for snorkeling, wanted the HD wide angle lens.
http://liquidimageco.com/products/water/scuba-series-hd-wide...
Nice set up with nice vids.

AD72 - 9-10-2011 at 10:50 PM

Bobby you also should pick up a Ram Mount for the buggy. Those things are bulletproof. We send them 4km deep on our ROVs holding on to cameras and lights
http://www.ram-mount.com
RAM-B-149Z-2-202A works on the back axle.

bigkahuna - 10-10-2011 at 01:31 AM

@bigkid - Yeah, I've seen those, but this will be mounted on a micro-ROV (remotely operated vehicle) that we will be sending down 65-75' to a wreck site.

@AD72 - Who do you work for (PM me if you can't say here)?

BeamerBob - 10-10-2011 at 11:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by AD72
Bobby you also should pick up a Ram Mount for the buggy. Those things are bulletproof. We send them 4km deep on our ROVs holding on to cameras and lights
http://www.ram-mount.com
RAM-B-149Z-2-202A works on the back axle.


Thanks AD. I just ordered a gopro handlebar/seatpost mount, but the RAM mount looks to offer more options including mounting on any buggy part. I use RAM for my GPS mount.

csa_deadon - 10-10-2011 at 04:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by heliboy50
I have the song first, the the story board second, and the footage next year. That's why I have been working on my first movie since 2008.



Yea! The Benny Hill theme music, and all of his crash OBE footage. He's just trying to fill the length of the music with enough bloopers!

Can't wait for the finished product.

lamrith - 10-10-2011 at 08:01 PM

Hrmm Gopro 1080p HD Motorsports Hero has a ton of adapters, mounts, etc. I think that is the one I am gonna go after...

Sounds like you guys recommend running 960 mode though?

PHREERIDER - 11-10-2011 at 05:19 AM

go pro ...gone ...ocean ate it

that was about 45 days maybe,

as smart as it is to have a leash . you actually have to put it on the unit.

lamrith - 11-10-2011 at 05:47 AM

ouch..

BeamerBob - 11-10-2011 at 08:14 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by PHREERIDER
go pro ...gone ...ocean ate it

that was about 45 days maybe,

as smart as it is to have a leash . you actually have to put it on the unit.


Yes, that hurts. Sorry Phree. Save your lunch money so we can ride with you!

PHREERIDER - 11-10-2011 at 08:31 AM

it was a gift. and i am grateful for what time it captured

12 vids and about 4 in processing so i'm cool with it, i'll replace it as soon as i get the footage i have edited . roughly a month ...better than it just sitting around and not being used.