Author Topic: Does anyone use a GoPro Camcorder, and if so Which one?  (Read 2723 times)

Dyffryn Ardudwy

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There are many compact Sports camcoders on the market, and quality wise, GoPro produce some of the best, even though their not a bargain.
My trip up Benn Nevis last October was really memorable, but i was afraid to take my normal camera, simply because of the possibility of heavy rain, condensation getting into the electronics, at a much higher level.


I need not have worried, as the weather was fine, but there is alway's that doubt.


Once it's in its protective fully waterproof casing, the GoPro, or similar SportCam, can withstand the elements, and still take gorgeous video or still photos.


Any advice or opinions would be much appreciated, as currently i have a thick wedge of readies waiting to buy one, but want to know what current users thing about theirs.

swanseamale47

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Re: Does anyone use a GoPro Camcorder, and if so Which one?
« Reply #1 on: 22:41:50, 08/02/16 »
I don't have one but I was told the gopro hero 4 black was the one to have, but I don't know if thats right.

Dyffryn Ardudwy

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Re: Does anyone use a GoPro Camcorder, and if so Which one?
« Reply #2 on: 10:19:37, 09/02/16 »
Thank You for the reply, the Her4 Black edition is certainly amongst the best SportCams, but it's one of the most expensive as well.
I was reading last night, that GoPro have had quite a bad trading year in 2015.
Three of their more popular affordable models have been dropped from production, with only their three expensive Hero 4 cameras now being made.

The reason i want to get one, is that there have been numerous occasions where videoing a particular event would have been rather nice.

My Ben Nevis successful assent was one of them, and having a very small pocketable video still camera that is totally waterproof to almost 130ft, would be very andy at times.

How many of us would love to photograph or video a particular walk, but the weather dictated you left your camera at home.

nick949

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Re: Does anyone use a GoPro Camcorder, and if so Which one?
« Reply #3 on: 11:53:02, 09/02/16 »
I have been using GoPros for years on my various motorcycling adventures in northern Canada, and once used it hiking in Wales. If you proceed, know that you will need to spend both time and money on video editing to achieve anything that approaches something you might wish to show your best friend. Most of what you record will be crap, with a few moments of good stuff in between.  I have used up to three GoPros at a time to get different points of view. If not, the final product will be as dull as dishwater.


I didn't find it useful at all while hiking: too much body movement (using chest and head mounts) and too little interesting change in scenery. Stills are not as good as you might expect because of the fixed, almost fish eye lens.


There is a mountain of GoPro video on Youtube. I would recommend searching for the kind of footage that appeals to you for comparison, then think very hard about how that result is achieved. 


The results can be very enjoyable - but it takes real work.


Nick


PS  my video channel (all GoPro)https://www.youtube.com/user/nick949eldo/videos  
Book: "Actually, I'm English: rediscovering my homeland on foot and by motorbike" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AGQIX1K)

Kukkudrill

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Re: Does anyone use a GoPro Camcorder, and if so Which one?
« Reply #4 on: 16:00:13, 09/02/16 »
I want to emphasise Nick's point that editing is very important in video-making, and I agree with him that body-mounted cameras are of limited value. You have to work hard to keep viewers interested, meaning your video should ideally consist of a succession of clips lasting no more than a few seconds each and including detail shots as well as panoramic views.

Having a camera that can zoom in and out helps a lot, although zooming and panning can be overused in videos. If you're worried about the weather, there are some weatherproof compact cameras on the market that can shoot HD video. See for example http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2013-waterproof-roundup/.
Make the most of the available light

nick949

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Re: Does anyone use a GoPro Camcorder, and if so Which one?
« Reply #5 on: 16:45:32, 09/02/16 »
I want to emphasise Nick's point that editing is very important in video-making, and I agree with him that body-mounted cameras are of limited value. You have to work hard to keep viewers interested, meaning your video should ideally consist of a succession of clips lasting no more than a few seconds each and including detail shots as well as panoramic views.

Having a camera that can zoom in and out helps a lot, although zooming and panning can be overused in videos. If you're worried about the weather, there are some weatherproof compact cameras on the market that can shoot HD video. See for example http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2013-waterproof-roundup/.


Agreed - I actually use the video capability of my Olympus Stylus Tough almost as much as the GoPro - as much as anything, because the view is more 'normal'.  It also has the benefit that I have no concern about hauling it out in the rain and snow, or dangling from my wrist on a motorbike without worrying about damage.


Video quality is quite good (https://youtu.be/llCP2mm-Yrg   ) but dependent on lighting and steadiness (which is true for all cameras). But zooming tends to add mechanical noise and be slightly jerky.
Book: "Actually, I'm English: rediscovering my homeland on foot and by motorbike" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AGQIX1K)

Kukkudrill

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Re: Does anyone use a GoPro Camcorder, and if so Which one?
« Reply #6 on: 19:50:38, 09/02/16 »
I shot this with a Sony HX90V:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCXqHfUv3dE


It zooms smoothly and silently but more important than the ability to zoom while shooting is the ability to zoom beforehand - that is to say for the options it gives you when framing shots and the variety it allows you to inject in the sequence of clips. Indeed I probably overdid the zooming while shooting in that video and if I were to do it again I would do less zooming and panning in individual clips.


My Sony isn't weatherproof, but this is an overrated feature in my opinion. Weatherproof or not, you can't shoot with rain on the lens because image quality will be badly affected.


Make the most of the available light

nick949

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Re: Does anyone use a GoPro Camcorder, and if so Which one?
« Reply #7 on: 20:09:23, 09/02/16 »
I shot this with a Sony HX90V:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCXqHfUv3dE
It zooms smoothly and silently but more important than the ability to zoom while shooting is the ability to zoom beforehand - that is to say for the options it gives you when framing shots and the variety it allows you to inject in the sequence of clips. Indeed I probably overdid the zooming while shooting in that video and if I were to do it again I would do less zooming and panning in individual clips.
My Sony isn't weatherproof, but this is an overrated feature in my opinion. Weatherproof or not, you can't shoot with rain on the lens because image quality will be badly affected.


Very nice. Smooth transitions, clear images and great pacing. You didn't do that in 5 minutes!
I use my camera for work (sand, grit, swamps) and on the motorbikes (vibration, risk of dropping etc.) so the waterproof and toughness are worth it to me - but it's a trade off.
Most of this was with the Olympus on a chest harness or hand held. The side views were GoPro (note the distortion) on a mount or hand held. https://youtu.be/LW4EjrgzNiA  


Nick
Book: "Actually, I'm English: rediscovering my homeland on foot and by motorbike" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AGQIX1K)

swanseamale47

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Re: Does anyone use a GoPro Camcorder, and if so Which one?
« Reply #8 on: 23:32:16, 09/02/16 »
Having edited proper broadcast video I can tell you it's a long boring job, remember it's all in "real time" if you have an hour of video you'll watch it several times just getting the clips out (if you do it properly) then theres putting the film back together with transitions, and titles and soundtrack.
Bodycams are fine if you want evidence of something but they generally don't make great viewing, your better off with a monopod held at a distance (slefie stick?) and film yourself talking to camera and showing the landscapes that way with clips shot on a tripod as well.

Kukkudrill

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Re: Does anyone use a GoPro Camcorder, and if so Which one?
« Reply #9 on: 14:44:18, 10/02/16 »
Very nice. Smooth transitions, clear images and great pacing. You didn't do that in 5 minutes!
I use my camera for work (sand, grit, swamps) and on the motorbikes (vibration, risk of dropping etc.) so the waterproof and toughness are worth it to me - but it's a trade off.
Most of this was with the Olympus on a chest harness or hand held. The side views were GoPro (note the distortion) on a mount or hand held. https://youtu.be/LW4EjrgzNiA[/size


Thanks for the comments. Putting that video together took a lot more than 5 minutes - not least because my PC kept crashing  :(


I've looked at a couple of your videos. I especially liked the clips where the camera is set up on the ground and you drive off into the distance. Did you have somebody filming for you or did you have to leave your camera behind then return for it? I'd have been nervous doing this  :)
Make the most of the available light

nick949

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Re: Does anyone use a GoPro Camcorder, and if so Which one?
« Reply #10 on: 14:54:23, 10/02/16 »

Thanks for the comments. Putting that video together took a lot more than 5 minutes - not least because my PC kept crashing  :(

I've looked at a couple of your videos. I especially liked the clips where the camera is set up on the ground and you drive off into the distance. Did you have somebody filming for you or did you have to leave your camera behind then return for it? I'd have been nervous doing this  :)


My videos are very amateurish, but I have fun, and I suppose that's the real point for me.
As I'm sure you noticed from the videos, I'm not exactly bothered by much traffic most of the time ;)  so leaving the camera is never a worry as the likelihood of a) anyone coming along, b) noticing the camera or c) having the desire to steal it, is remote. We are fortunate not to have endemic pilfering as a cultural norm in Ontario.  Having said that, I would be less inclined to do it where there were more people around, but I generally don't go to those places anyway.  Even my hiking in the UK is done in Feb/March when most people are hugging the Aga.
You might find this short one amusing - camera on my hiking pole https://youtu.be/EXI9Urpw7qc  
Book: "Actually, I'm English: rediscovering my homeland on foot and by motorbike" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AGQIX1K)

Kukkudrill

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Re: Does anyone use a GoPro Camcorder, and if so Which one?
« Reply #11 on: 22:14:45, 10/02/16 »
Ha ha loved that! I'm doing training walks with a loaded 65 ltr pack at the moment and I can identify with everything you say  :)
Make the most of the available light

redeye

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Re: Does anyone use a GoPro Camcorder, and if so Which one?
« Reply #12 on: 07:51:17, 12/02/16 »
I got a go pro off Santa and only used it a couple of times but this seems a good place to get advice.
http://goprouser.freeforums.org/index.php?mobile=desktop
and also
http://www.goprotipsandtricks.com/
« Last Edit: 22:33:38, 12/02/16 by redeye »


 

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