Following a response on my thread about iPads and camera compatability, I have been thinking about the use of a GoPro HD for skiing (and mtb 😉 )

There are more flavours of GoPro than I had anticipated – so which would be the ones to go for??? I see a GoPro HERO headcam, and a newer version, the GoPro outdoor HERO2 ????

Any thoughts / advice / recommended sellers etc appreciated

HERO2 is the latest and greatest upgraded version with sharper lens and some more features, better low light filming and easier to use menu system.

There are some good side by side videos on YouTube showing performance differences.

The HERO2 is also compatible with the latest features of the WiFi backpack, like video streaming.

The HERO2 is more expensive.

http://gopro.com/hd-hero-cameras/

http://gopro.com/hd-hero2-cameras/

Once you’ve picked the model, choose the kit you want – Outdoor, Surf, Motorsport etc. This describes the mounts that the camera comes with.

The HERO2 Outdoor comes with sticky mounts, helmet mount and vented strap mount, so is the best option for riding and skiing.

Also have a look at the chesty mount and a ride hero mount to stick on a pole for some cool pole cam angles. Quality is great but the key is mixing up the angles and get creative on the editing to make something watchable (unless you are a Pro athlete where straight off the cam footage looks awesome!).

unless you are a Pro athlete

er, no…

Looks like the “outdoor edition” then.

Not sure whether this is a worthwhile purchase at the mo. Easier to justify for skiing – family footage 😉

BUT – question is whether it actually gets a lot of use in practice.

Had one of the early ATC action cams a while back, and it was too much faff to get much use (and the output was a bit crap)

That’s why I had to spend hours editting 10 minutes of footage from mine 😉

The fact the quality is so good will help you use it more, but you still need to put the time in to edit the clip. My concern was how much I’d use it and how much time I’d need to spend editting. Overall, glad I got it despite the fact it won’t get used all the time (unlike my pocket stills camera that I carry almost everywhere).

Lunchtime bump…

Any skiers use a GoPro?

Yeah, I used my GoPro for a ski trip earlier this month.

gravity-slave is right, the videos look a lot better when you mix up the angles that you shoot from – you can google for different ways of mounting the camera. After I returned, found a better way of mounting it to the front of a ski boot using the helmet strap, too late for this years trip unfortunately.

Anyway, here’s the video – prepare to be underwhelmed (by the quality of skiing, but not the quality of the camera – worked very well in my opinion)

[video]http://vimeo.com/36404742[/video]

Comedyphil – what software do you use ?

That was done in Final Cut Pro X on a mac, although iMovie works pretty well too

Nice skis!

How did you do the pole mount? looks an interesting angle – but would need to be secure, especially the shots on the lift!!!

Is there a remote on / off?

GoPro’s are good but the competition are better now.
The HD-Max extreme is the same hardware BUT with a faster software, screen, rotatable lens so it’s always the right way up, remote, etc….
Contour is the same hardware too and the Drift.
GoPro were the first to give anything approaching HD which is why they are so popular and the BBC, etc have them (buying in bulk) BUT having worked with production companies that use them, they ALWAYS use 2 side by side because they have a habit of not switching on, switching off, not the right view (can’t see it to set it up), etc so it’s very worthwhile looking around at what your money gets you.
The different “types” is their response to the fact that the others all come with every mount where the GoPro never used to and you then had to pay more money to sort that out afterwards – look at another £80 for the screen, another £100 for the “wi-fi pac”, the fact they can’t be used at the same time.
For the money they want for the new HERO 2 – I’d be looking at something slightly different.
We now use the POV HD for everything – work and play, more money but as its software based there is never any redundancy on new models/more features/etc. Full 1080p, 60fps, screen, mic, etc. Broadcast quality and used in Afghanistan by the Military EGT and specialist police teams here.
The BBC are now going over to the HD Max too on replacements as it’s easier to set up, screen, lens, external mic, wp without needing a seperate back.

The pole mount was done using a tripod-type extendable pole with the tripod mount for the gopro – it all screws together, so it’s pretty secure. I am planning in putting a leash on to mine though, can’t be too careful

That was all done on the HD1, the HD2 is supposedly better. In response to te comments above, I can only say that I havent had any of those issues with mine (turning off, not recording etc.). However, the point about not being able to see the shot can be an issue. Can be circumvented by purchasing the LCD upgrade though. I believe the new WiFi remote accessory that they’re making will, when used with the HD2, allow you to use a smartphone as a viewfinder, something that I know the Contour cameras already do

Any skiers use a gopro?

If you’re on fb or even if you’re not have a look at gopro’s page, filter by posts from everyone. There’s a skiing vid along every 10 minutes at the mo

Any skiers use a GoPro?

Yes, I use it for skiing! Got it for that more than biking.

Sticky mount on the lid, chest mount, pole mount for handheld and as above, the helmet strap with the top removed gives a cool boot mount.

2nd half of this was headcam – not had a chance to edit all the rest of my footage but the pole works brilliantly.

For pole mounting – I used a walking pole, some inner tune and a ride hero mount.

http://gopro.com/camera-mounts/handlebar-seatpost-mount/

Brilliant edit Phil!

Thanks!

I was planning on doing what you’d done, using a ski pole and the handlebar mount – however, I wasn’t sure i trusted using that mount on a ski pole, which tapers towards the end. So i bought one of these:

as it can all screw together. Seemed more secure in my mind!

Anyone come across the Swann Freestyle HD ?

Local camera shop plans to stock them – apparently come with more kit incl (remote control, display etc) compared to the goPro…

Swann

I use a Contour 1080p (not the GPS one, or the Roam) for skiing, and chose it over the GoPro mainly because it is a little more discrete than the GoPro silver box on head. It also has sighting lasers and takes a standard battery, so having a number of spares is easy enough to organise.

The quality is not bad, but quite fish-like on anything but 1080p. It’s also not that good in low light, but that’s never a problem skiing.

To tell you the truth, there are times I have thought that a GoPro would have been a better choice. Ok, batteries are going to be more expensive, but the quality of the footage I have seen seems to favour them compared to the Contour. They are also 60m waterproof out of the box (handy for kayaking, but I did get the contour waterproof housing with my bundle), so could have been used for more stuff. More mounts too. I only got a goggle strap mount and a 3M adhesive one, so if I want to add another mount to another lid, I need to go shopping.

The lasers are handy, but despite my best efforts, the footage is never level…