Looking for GoPro ideas for this year - I have not used it before

[John Moore]

I'm looking for information and suggestions for using a GoPro for video recording for this year's chase.

I want to mount it either on the windshield, or on a magnetic mount on the top of my Sequoia - comments welcome.

If outside, do I want to buy a case for it to protect it against weather?

Also, I have questions about powering it:

1. How long does the battery last?
2. Does it make sense to power it continuously from the auto?
3. If it's outside, is there a way to power it without having problems with rain?

Also, re: WiFi:

• Do I want this?
• Does it need a WiFi router?
• Are there alternatives for remote control?
• How does it effect the power situation?
• Does it let me view the video in real time?
• Does it work with my Mac (OSX)?

 

[Mark Ellinwood]

Answers:

If using outside, the GoPro comes with a waterproof case standard, so no worries there.

Powering:
1. About 2-2.5 hours if continuously recording (1080p with wifi off).
2. Yes if you're using it for long stretches of video and/or time-lapses, though if you want to keep the setup waterproof you'll have to buy/modify an extra case.
3. I would suggest just using the waterproof case and the battery per the standard setup, unless you're clever with the wiring.

Wifi:
- Probably. It helps if you are really trying to set the frame up just right, but after several uses of the camera you can learn to kind of eyeball the angle that you need, anyway.
- It's all built-in on the Hero3 Black Edition (which I would recommend). Just turn the wifi on and search for it with your the GoPro phone app.
- Not that I know of, besides your phone and the remote that comes with the wifi devices. Some people have made their own.
- Wifi will use more power and will drain your battery faster.
- You can see the video in real time if you're using the wifi signal with your phone.
- I don't know about the OSX compatibility. There's some non-GoPro software out there that you can use to see the live video on a PC, but I am not sure if there's software available to see the feed on a MAC system.

 

[JamesCaruso]

Experimenting with my GoPro before my chase vacation... Windshield suction cup mount is tough because the mount itself is in the picture if the camera is above the mount. Below the mount would work but then the picture is upside down. (This is with the standard waterproof case and how that connects).

I bought a roll bar mount too; anyone have any experience using this to attach to a cargo rack? How did it perform at high speeds, in rain, etc.? Thinking that might work on a rental SUV...

JIM


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[Mark Ellinwood]

There's a setting on the GoPro where you can flip the captured video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS6sbZpaUc8

 

[Michael Gavan]

I have 3 gopro's between my brother and I. 3, 3+ silver, 3+ black. I used a 3M sticky mount on my dash rather than a suction up on the window. The shorter the mount attachments you use, the less prone to vibration it will be. For inside the car, the "frame mount" works well for connecting a charger chord to it. I tend to use the one on the dash through the windsheild for documenting initiation, structure, or general wait-and-see. It's also easy to reverse in place for in-car video.


I just purchased the backpac battery which should extend battery life to 4 hours on the 3+, which is about the minimum you would need at the peak of chase operations. I plan to mount this outside of the car with the surfboard mount kit just in front of the sunroof. I have in mind to use this one during the most demanding conditions or when things are really in progress, core punch/hook slice/RFD/FFD/tornadic situations. The last gopro will go on the tripod and would be used as needed alongside the DSLR's or moved around the vehicle as needed.

I will say this, 2:00 hour battery life drops to 1:00 when you are framing shots, moving around, trying to keep the battery charged. After a couple chases fighting batteries I've learned my lesson. At the very least get the backpac, or buy the extra batteries with a charger base, or get the frame so you can keep it charging while in use.

 

[JamesCaruso]

Mark, thanks for advice on flipping the video, that makes it practical to use the suction cup mount on the windshield with the camera in an upside-down position below the mount.

Michael, thanks for the information on the various options. My concern with using the adhesive dashboard mount is that it will not come off without damaging the rental vehicle. Anyone have any experience with this? Am I worried for nothing?

I did purchase the car charger, as well as an extra battery, and the frame mount.

BTW, the iPhone app works well for controlling the GoPro, although a little temperamental; I sometimes have to turn it on and off a couple times to get the preview working. Both the iPhone and iPad work well for viewing recorded video.

Anyone have any recommendations for simple video-editing software to use on a Microsoft Windows laptop? I don't think the GoPro came with any, like the way other video cameras and DSLRs have their own photo/video software... Aside from editing, do you need software to download videos from the GoPro, or just copy and paste from the camera, which appears as a removable device?

I may try mounting the GoPro externally at some point, but just feel a little paranoid about it; I will probably stick with internal, at least for the first half of the trip...

Jim





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[Michael Gavan]

Mark, thanks for advice on flipping the video, that makes it practical to use the suction cup mount on the windshield with the camera in an upside-down position below the mount.

Michael, thanks for the information on the various options. My concern with using the adhesive dashboard mount is that it will not come off without damaging the rental vehicle. Anyone have any experience with this? Am I worried for nothing?

I did purchase the car charger, as well as an extra battery, and the frame mount.

BTW, the iPhone app works well for controlling the GoPro, although a little temperamental; I sometimes have to turn it on and off a couple times to get the preview working. Both the iPhone and iPad work well for viewing recorded video.

Anyone have any recommendations for simple video-editing software to use on a Microsoft Windows laptop? I don't think the GoPro came with any, like the way other video cameras and DSLRs have their own photo/video software... Aside from editing, do you need software to download videos from the GoPro, or just copy and paste from the camera, which appears as a removable device?

I may try mounting the GoPro externally at some point, but just feel a little paranoid about it; I will probably stick with internal, at least for the first half of the trip...

Jim





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I'm having more trouble with getting it to stick to the dash than to come off. If it's a concern, definitely go with the suction cup and reverse the video.

GoPro studio comes with the goPro. And it's not half bad either! http://gopro.com/software-app/gopro-studio-edit-software

 

[JamesCaruso]

Thanks Michael. I guess the GoPro software is a free download? No CD came with it...

Do I need that just to download the videos on my laptop? Or can I simply copy the video files over using standard Windows file copying?


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[Michael Gavan]

Free download yes. And you can use standard windows file copy just fine.