GoPro Hero 2 and Chasing

[davefootball123]

Hello everyone. I wanted to ask if anyone was using the GoPro hero 2 as a camcorder to use when chasing. I plan on picking one up soon for this years season in Southern Ontario. It will be used as my outdoor cam that I will mount on the outside of my vehicle with my Canon camcorder on the dash. I hear the lowlight was a real problem for chasers with the hero one but the hero 2 has improved on that significantly.

Any info would be great, thanks!

 

[Chris Gullikson]

I used the HD Hero last season mounted to the inside of the windshield with the suction cup mount. The low-light performance was indeed lacking but it did well when the sun was still above the horizon. I plan on getting the Hero2 for its improvements (and wanting a 2nd hero for mounting in different locations) but I don't expect it to be a great low-light performer.
I love the wide angle view combined with a very solid mounting to capture time-lapse storm structure. I use a 32 gig card and just let it run while plugged into a charger. I use the skeleton case inside the vehicle which has cutouts for cables and memory card) Make sure you download the Gopro Cineform Studio off Gopros website to convert the files into AVI's or MOV's so they can be edited.

Watch video >

 

[davefootball123]

I have been looking at some comparisons between low light footage from the hero 1 and the hero 2. I must say the Hero 2 has to be double as sensitive if not more.

 

[ericjkelly]

Just bought a gopro hero1 and have had some fun tests with it! Get the battery pac and have a blast!!!

 

[Walt VanRheen]

The Hero2's are rather hard to get right now. The demand has been huge and seems like everyone is backordered. Another note, Steadicam has put out a model for the gopros and the videos I have seen look awesome. Price point on B&H, $150.

 

[Clarence Bennett]

Digging up an old thread here...is anyone doing any kind of streaming with the GoPro2? If so, what kind of results do you get? Are you happy with the HD? It seems like a very inexpensive way to go considering the quality of video these things produce...they also now have a wi-fi pack you can attach and use...I would love to hear any feedback. Color me wrong, but it sure seems like the way to go considering the compact size, being waterproof, tough, etc...

Thx!

 

[Terrence Cook]

I believe it was severe studios or something similar who documented a news vehicle at NAB, this East coast based vehicle was loaded with the latest in live ENG and featured multiple gopros configured to stream live video of the occupants.

Im sure this video is still out there somewhere...

 

[Rob H]

I have been looking at some comparisons between low light footage from the hero 1 and the hero 2. I must say the Hero 2 has to be double as sensitive if not more.

I can verify this. I have 60fps Hero1 video of the Mapleton tornado here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pyS3c_s81I
and Nick Nolte has 30fps Hero1 video from two cars behind me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAzpFcgjEmw

Everything I've seen from the Hero2 has been much nicer looking in low-light scenarios.

 

[Mark Ellinwood]

Digging up an old thread here...is anyone doing any kind of streaming with the GoPro2? If so, what kind of results do you get? Are you happy with the HD? It seems like a very inexpensive way to go considering the quality of video these things produce...they also now have a wi-fi pack you can attach and use...I would love to hear any feedback. Color me wrong, but it sure seems like the way to go considering the compact size, being waterproof, tough, etc...

Thx!

As far as I know, live streaming for the GoPro has not been released to the public yet. The wi-fi bacpac will have the capability this fall when the software upgrade is released to consumers. There may have been a work-around to get a live stream going with a GoPro camera (I've seen "hacks" via the HD out cable to a monitor but no direct USB to PC connection), but until this fall there has been no official way.

 

[Clarence Bennett]

As far as I know, live streaming for the GoPro has not been released to the public yet. The wi-fi bacpac will have the capability this fall when the software upgrade is released to consumers. There may have been a work-around to get a live stream going with a GoPro camera (I've seen "hacks" via the HD out cable to a monitor but no direct USB to PC connection), but until this fall there has been no official way.

I am not worried about the wi-fi on the GoPro...don't need it to stream. I am more interested in the usefulness and quality of the stream. The only advantage of wi-fi backpack is to eliminate an extra cable.

 

[Skip Talbot]

The only advantage of wi-fi backpack is to eliminate an extra cable.

The wifi capability will be great for mounting the camera in an out of the way/external location. We wanted it badly for our aerial chasing, as they make mounts for the GoPro that attach to the wing strut of a Cessna. We had no way to get the feed into the plane though, and no way to turn the camera on and off, without stringing a cable down the wing strut and running it in through the door, which we decided was not a good idea. You could stick that camera on the hood of a car, on the roof, or trunk with a strong suction mount and not have to deal with running the cable too.

 

[Rob H]

I am not worried about the wi-fi on the GoPro...don't need it to stream. I am more interested in the usefulness and quality of the stream. The only advantage of wi-fi backpack is to eliminate an extra cable.

The alternative is annoying, to say the least:

 

[Chris Gullikson]

Hero 2 timelapse. I find the quality obviously better then the Hero.

Watch video >

 

[Andy Wycislo]

Assuming the streaming update will work with iMap, I plan to get one and replace my streaming webcam and bulky camcorder with a single Hero2. Smaller, and kills two birds with one stone.

That said, I'm waiting to be sure it works with iMap before I buy one.

 

[Mark Ellinwood]

I am not worried about the wi-fi on the GoPro...don't need it to stream. I am more interested in the usefulness and quality of the stream. The only advantage of wi-fi backpack is to eliminate an extra cable.

I wasn't focused on the cables so much as there was no way to stream via USB with the GoPro.

The alternative is annoying, to say the least:

Were you actually able to send a live feed to the internet with the GoPro, or did you just get the feed to a monitor?

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Also, for those who haven't tried yet, the GoPro is pretty good for time lapses even though you can't do a manual exposure. Below is an example of a storm time lapse I took in OK earlier this year:

[video]www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHxfIfREfoo[/video]

This one is with the full 11mp resolution with the image size reduced before making the video.