anybody here have any experience with go-pro cameras?

[rockabilly808]

for those that don't know there's a link to more info about em. http://www.goprocamera.com/

anyhow, if there's anybody here in the massive POTN community that has used one of these little cameras, I just got mine in and I'm looking for ideas of where and how to mount the thing. I ordered up a variety of mounts and have my downhill skateboard, kayak and surfboard at my disposal. ideas anyone?

[Chandler.]

The freeskiing community is embracing it. Best quality : price solution out there.

There are some questions and answers in the comments.

http://www.newschoolers.com/web/content/viewvideo/id/307192/cat/top/

[BrantG]

I have the GoPro Hero HD. I've mounted it to the inside of my car windshield and it worked pretty good. The two things I don't like so far are: 1.) The up side down feature is not in place. Therefore I have to flip the video in post which I hate. 2.) It doesn't seem to work very nice in Adobe Premiere CS4. I have been using Cineform, but it seems to bloat the file alot more than the Canon 5 Mark II files. I probably need to contact them to see what their opinions are.

Overall it's good for getting footage where a traditional video camera wouldn't work or when you don't have a second person to help you out.

[haknslash]

I had the WIDE version. Loved it for what it was. i intend on buying the HD version but only after I have my 7D.

You could get alot of interesting perspectives on the skateboard. In front of the front truck would look pretty slick as well as hanging off to the side up front looking back.

I used my GP for riding my dirt bike so it stayed on my helmet. I had the suction mount as well but never used it.

[rockabilly808]

nice, I mainly bought it for use on my surfboard as well as on the multiple sailboats I race on. I did buy the suction cup mount and helmet mount so I can mess around with other uses. so we'll see what I come up with.

[Biffbradford]

I had the wide version and used it a TON in bicycle races. Beware that the factory mounts can fail due to vibration fatigue and we saw several cameras flying down the road when the mounts broke. I was using a home made velcro mount that would not break. Unfortunately for me, the one race where I failed to apply a plastic wire tie that I was using as a safety backup, my velco system did fail and I lost the camera!! My semi-pro racer that was carrying it never noticed it missing and I never did find it again.

Lesson learned: use a safety backup to your mounts!!

[haknslash]

I never had an issue with my mounts. Then again mine might be different than the bicycle style loop mount (if that's what you used Biffbradford). Mine has been whacked by trees, slammed into rocks and ruts, submerged, you name it. All the while being on a 250cc enduro thumper no less. Haven't heard of mounts snapping on thumpertalk either. Might be a bicycle thing maybe?

[Biffbradford]

Maybe it's just the right frequency of vibration then? I just don't want to risk taking out a dozen other guys because the mount failed. If you take out just yourself or simply loose the camera then that's okay. ;) Just thought I'd bring that up because it was an issue this summer. Since my GoPro camera is gone now, I've modified the suction cup mount for use with my Sony DSC-H9 camera for use as a dash cam. Works great! Will see what GoPro has going in spring when it's time for a new bike cam.

[rockabilly808]

thanks for the info guys, I've been messing around with mounting it on a skateboard.

[blown65]

Never had an issue with he suction mount either. Road course for four 20 minute session at speeds up to 135 mph. :). Plan on upgrading to the HD version.

[shaun raney]

Bumping an old thread. I just got one of these and it is fantastic. You can get really creative with putting the little sucker just about anywhere. I love using the suction cup mount on my car. The time lapse feature is my favorite right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvxbKOYPsm8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP77Qwr93Y0

[liam821]

Here is a video i took when i first got my GoPro-wide (the non-HD version, HD wasnt available yet). I just used the included suction cup to stick it to the side of my bike and later in the video on top of the gas tank.

Nothing super special or entertaining (im not a crazy rider) but it can give you an idea of how wide it is and what it can do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVIKUfRG5Uc

[mikerault]

I put it on the front of my Ikelite underwater housing and use it scuba diving.

Mike

[nzvegan]

I use the GoPro HD for surf footage...The footage is crisp and colour rendition is accurate. In good light - especially golden hour... it's VERY good. Surprisingly so. For $250 - this is the best HD camera on the market. I wouldn't hesitate recommending this camera to anyone. I didn't like the previous non-HD version, but this is a step far and beyond their previous offerings.

This was my first video with the camera (and I am only recently getting into videography - so please excuse the poor edit) - the waves were tiny, and I'm pretty rubbish on a surfboard - but I think the image quality speaks for itself, even compressed for vimeo.

Not sure I can embed here, but here is the link. http://vimeo.com/8084321

[f1.4]

Just got mine yesterday (HD Hero) and according to FedEx my new 27" iMac will be here in one more day! Cant wait to use them both. I want to use mine for diving and I canoe a lot - I like it so far. I made one crap video with my mountain bike. I didnt have the mount so i used wire to hold it down.

Glad to see others on here who have them - use them.

Look forward to sharing.

[PixxByTango]

Do not trust the suction cup mount on anything in the water or in an environment where you do not want to lose the camera. I can tell you from experience... the second wave was all it took on my Waverunner. It took the first one at 40mph and upon hitting the second one... it was gone to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean! I never got a minute of footage from that first outing.

My second one... I used tie straps. Guess what...? They break too! I'm talking about nylon straps used to secure criminals! Can you imagine the force a brick of water has at 40-70mph?

So... I used stainless bolts with a modified mount on the side of my Waverunner to keep it put. On the upper surfaces, I use the typical stick-on mounts and then wrap a small cloth with a tie-strap around its base to keep it from flexing and breaking the mount.

I had the suction cup mount on the bottom of a Global Express XRS for a flight in the pattern to see the gear retractions. Worked fine up to speeds inexcess of 200 mph! On the Waverunner... not so much.

Here is my YouTube account link and you can see my videos there.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Pixxbytangodotcom

[shaun raney]

I get nervous with it on my car...especially over bumps and stuff going into the lincoln tunnel. I've been trying to come up with a tether system that won't damage my car should it decide to "unsuction".

Here's a new pic and a vid. I use this thing more than my 5DII.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3j8eSxl__4

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2735/4455304417_3df91bf781_b.jpg

I really wish it had a white balance option, but that's my only nit pick.