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Gopro Hero question...

Old 05-21-12, 02:43 PM
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Gopro Hero question...

I am considering a HD Hero2. Does any one have any experience - Good/bad or otherwise - with these. Been looking at a lot of the videos posted on you tube and elsewhere. I think it might be a fun accessory for some of those long rides and hikes and camping and...

If anyone can give some feedback I would surely appreciate it. (And don't call me Shirley).
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Old 05-21-12, 02:45 PM
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look for "freighttraininguphill" - she posts a ton of videos and I believe she has a GoPro. She might be in the northern california forum but she also posts here.
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Old 05-21-12, 03:25 PM
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I know several people who use them while motorcycling and are very happy with them. Audio and video quality seems quite good given the price of the camera. Unfortunately, all of the videos I've seen have been insanely boring! Nobody seems to understand that the most important part of a video camera purchase is the editing software!
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Old 05-21-12, 03:38 PM
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I've got one and am quite happy with it. The only gripe I have is with the plastic clasp that locks the various backs onto the main housing. It's a POS. Broke mine off on Saturday morning and I don't even know how I did it. Luckily, the strategic placement of a rubber band serves the purpose as the clasp so no biggie. But, still.
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Old 05-21-12, 03:40 PM
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I have a Gopro. I don't use it on the bicycle much but I use it on my dirt bike a lot. A friend of mine has the Gopro2. The 2 (I believe) has a few options the original doesn't like wide angle and HD but from what I've seen it goes through batteries much faster. They are pretty easy to use and a lot of fun. Do you have any specific questions about them?
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Old 05-21-12, 03:43 PM
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Originally Posted by sstorkel
I...Unfortunately, all of the videos I've seen have been insanely boring! Nobody seems to understand that the most important part of a video camera purchase is the editing software!
you should see some of my off road videos! That's why I don't use it on my bicycle though. Maybe on a good descent it might be cool.
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Old 05-21-12, 04:07 PM
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I mainly want it for the 30 to 60 seconds worth of really cool stuff that happens on my rides. Post here, show the kids, keep for my memoirs. I just mainly want to know what people who have used them think of them. Looking at the Hero2. Like the idea of it being an 11 mp still camera as well. be fun to have on family outings as well. Maybe mount it on the kayak. Video quality looks good and hopefully its as easy to use as it looks. Any ideas on editing software?
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Old 05-21-12, 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by TrojanHorse
look for "freighttraininguphill" - she posts a ton of videos and I believe she has a GoPro. She might be in the northern california forum but she also posts here.
I thought she used a Countour. Could be wrong. Don't quote me.
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Old 05-21-12, 04:34 PM
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I've thought about putting one on the bike when I start commuting one day a week (hopefully). I'd like my wife to know who ran me off the road.
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Old 05-21-12, 04:45 PM
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Here's your gadget so your wife knows who to sue:

https://www.cerevellum.com/
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Old 05-21-12, 05:26 PM
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I've been wondering when someone would make that. I wonder if it will record the video or if it's just a camera.
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Old 05-21-12, 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by PhotoJoe
I thought she used a Countour. Could be wrong. Don't quote me.
She has both. She recommended the GoPro Hero to me.
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Old 05-21-12, 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by ziggydcat
...Looking at the Hero2. Like the idea of it being an 11 mp still camera as well. be fun to have on family outings as well. Maybe mount it on the kayak. Video quality looks good and hopefully its as easy to use as it looks. Any ideas on editing software?
I forgot, the Hero2 is also bigger and a little heavier than the basic hero (if that matters).
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Old 05-21-12, 05:43 PM
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Pretty awesome camera... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orR4hvT13w8
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Old 05-21-12, 09:18 PM
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I've got a GoPro and I love it. I pretty much record most of my rides. This way when I'm stuck on the trainer when there's a blizzard outside next February, I can replay a nice summer ride to at least alleviate some of the trainer boredom.

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Old 05-21-12, 09:39 PM
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I have the Hero2. I know "freighttraininguphill" has a GoPro along with the contour, she likes the GoPro.
I love my GoPro. I've used it snorkeling along with some bike riding stuff.

I know the big complaint on the cameras has been the mount. The official mount has complaints of always needing to be tightened and that it bounces a bit. I bought the K-Edge Saddle mount (pricey mounts) and loved the difference in angle. Here is a vid I did with the saddle mount

I just got the K-Edge pro handlebar mount, I just shot a vid and haven't had a chance to cut anything with it yet. But the quick skim through the footage shows no bouncing!

Wait for the right deal to buy one, there are always deals popping up.
In fact, if you want the LCD BakPak, REI has the Outdoor Edition w/ the BakPak for 300 bucks right now during their anniversary sale.
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Old 05-21-12, 09:49 PM
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I like the GoPro for the adjustability and quality of video over the Contour cams, but have you seen the mounting profile difference? I'd be worried about low-flying aircraft with a GoPro on my helmet.
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Old 05-21-12, 09:59 PM
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https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-handlebar-cam

If you already have a regular compact camera(Nikon, Canon, etc.), I would try mounting that 1st.
Maybe you'll be happy with the results. Here's me with a Samsung HZ30W camera mounted on the bars:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jkf__aUQpE

I've had a GoPro HD 960 before, but I returned it and now use a ContourGPS.
I think the GoPro had a nicer video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHn_wenhNHA

But I like the Contour better because of the simpler Record ON/OFF button
and the shape makes it easier to mount in different places on the bike:




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jfc...hannel&list=UL
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Old 05-22-12, 03:09 AM
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I have a gopro2 (just used it this morning to video my rear cassette on my ride in).

I really like the video quality, whenever I watch the BBC making documentarys these are the cameras they use. I've seen them on soldiers helmets in Iraq, pushbikes, cars, Ewan Mcgreggor had one on the end of a stick that he used to film himself climbing in Peru I think. Even last night there was one on the episode of homeland I recorded.

So whenever I'm frustrated by the size of this thing (it's not discrete when on your helmet) I remind myself that people who know about making videos use these cameras.

I used it on a two day tour and got a couple of hours of film with it, on one SD card and one charge. But, even after trimming this down to 10 minutes and adding some groovy music, it was still boring after about 2 minutes. Whoever said about editing is dead right. For an upcoming 4 day tour I'm planning on changing the position a lot and getting more faces in shot which means not putting it on my helment.

The handlebar mount gets pretty poor reviews and apparently breaks quite often (so I've made one myself), but there are quite a few alternatives.

I've just ordered the tripod mount as I think this will give me many more options for mounting it.

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Old 05-22-12, 04:33 AM
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This past winter, it seemed that 1/2 of the snowboarders on the mountain were filming the other 1/2. The half being filmed were sometimes uttering the famous last words ---- HEY Watch this !!!

To keep this 'bike oriented' those words are also used by the MTB crowd. Followed by numerous four letter combinations.
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Old 05-22-12, 08:24 AM
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Originally Posted by sstorkel
I know several people who use them while motorcycling and are very happy with them. Audio and video quality seems quite good given the price of the camera. Unfortunately, all of the videos I've seen have been insanely boring! Nobody seems to understand that the most important part of a video camera purchase is the editing software!
Does the GoPro come with editing software? What do people use for editing?
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Old 05-22-12, 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Altair 4
Does the GoPro come with editing software? What do people use for editing?
It doesn't come with software. I'm on a MacBook so I just use iMovie'11. It's not as full featured as some but it's got more than enough features for me.
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Old 05-22-12, 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Altair 4
Does the GoPro come with editing software? What do people use for editing?
I use CyberLink PowerDirector 10. Easy to use, even if you've never used any other video editing software. Plenty of online video tutorials if you need tips/hints on how to do something. Reasonably priced when compared to other editing suites of similar caliber. The only catch is that it is 64-bit only, so you need to have a 64-bit system to run it.
Nice feature is that it does take full advantage of maximized RAM capacity in 64-bit machines unlike Sony Vegas, which caps out at something like 2GB unless you buy the $700 pro version.

I built up a 6-core AMD 1100T machine with 16GB of memory and I've had no stalling or staggering on editing side-by-side full length race videos (40min clips) for split screen.
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Old 05-22-12, 02:44 PM
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You can D/L software for mild editing from gopro's website.
If you are on windows there is windows movie maker, which is a nice little no frills editor.
If you watch for the right deals you can get pinnacle or vegas for cheaper than full price.

There is a supposed patch for the last version of vegas that didn't support the 2 gig+ ram (I still haven't matched my PC, but had no problem w/ Hi-Def vid, when I was cutting), but the newest version of vegas supposedly fixed that.
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Old 05-25-12, 09:03 AM
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I have a GoPro also and it is a great camera.

Light is probably the biggest issue...not great at night but not a big problem. I also have the LCD screen which I highly recommend although it does drain the battery. I have it set up to shut the lcd off after 60 seconds for battery conservation.

Here is a night video as an example https://vimeo.com/34571176
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