I'm looking at possibly picking up one of the GoPro HD cameras, but the thing I get caught up on is all the different packages you can choose from. I've seen people getting the motor-sports package, others get the helmet package. Which of these best suits the kiters? I would think the helmet mountable version, but perhaps somebody else that has bought one already might have input on this?

Also, I'm having trouble understanding the accessories. Some cameras are being sold as "wide" does that mean wide-angle? Is this just an add-on lens that I can purchase after the fact, or is it a separate camera?

And as long as I'm here and haven't bought one yet, How does the GoPro stack up against the ContourHD? I've seen some other 3rd party reviews and each are pretty well matched, but I'm curious what the kiting community has to say about these two.

Thanks!

IMO the suction mount is super-useful for kites and bikes and boards ... so I vote the motorsport mount.
If you don't mind taping stuff to your helmets, you can use the adhesive mounts anyway.

You can buy the helmet mount separately if you want it ... it's like $20 or something, isn't it?

Yes, wide angle ... although the HD has slightly different resolutions which mean at highest def, the angle is 127' and at lower defs it's 170' ... 127 looks sweet!

Pretty well matched but the GoPro is muy waterproof ...!

The entire casing is waterproof, or do you have to buy the separate waterproof case? I thought I've seen some cases out there, maybe I'm just crazy?

Casing comes in the kit - every kit, I'm sure. It's waterproof to 60m but you can buy it separately too, if you mangle it.
The casing has mounting point on the bottom - you bolt a mounting foot onto that (or angle arms etc) then slip it into a mounting shoe.

Awesome, thanks Kami! Can't wait to get my hands on one!

NP

moto + helmet strap

I would consider the one that offers the chest strap for kite flying. With the wide angle you'd still get a great video and you could actually strap it to your chest without having to adhere anything just clip it in and away you goooooooo:singing:

Rather than having it on your helmet and constantly looking up or recording every movement your head makes. I have tried it on my helmet while mtn. biking and believe me it's nerve racking to watch. You don't realize the effects on your head movement until you watch it.

AND yes I know ya kinda have to look up to fly. Just not always!

PNW flyer has spoken some wise words. Head mount has its uses but over all gives a very jerk around nauseating filming. While chest mount gives you the video ya hoped to get with your head mount. Your chest has just the right amount of following the action with out snapping back and forth every time ya scan for hazards or what not.

except that, at least for me, 1/2 of the video frame is my arms. I acutally found a good way to mount the camera just behind the front fork and turned to the side. It get's good video of what's ahead and get the kite in most shots (but only when going in one direction.

Well, hopefully I will have a mixture of tripod mounted static shots and maybe some ATB mounted shots. Eventually, I want to get the 4-line mount and actually mount the camera between the lines and point it down. But thats for deciding later when I actually HAVE a camera...