I've been told it's best to pop the card from the camera and use a card reader to get the vid files off it rather than doing it from the camera via the cable to the computer.. The LCD screen is nice but it add a lot of size to the camera and uses the battery much quicker.. My HD GoPro (that I've not used yet because I don't have a program to edit HD) is the 960 and the LCD doesn't fit on it.. Make sure you always use a float because they drop like a brick in the water.. GoPro have a neat new stick on float that attachés to the back of the camera and is that same size as the camera but about half an inch thick.. Might be a good idea to get some anti fogging strips unless you have an air conditioner to blow dry air into it before you close the back.. Great little camera's.

DJ

Hi Scotty88,

The GoPro's are great. I sell them and use them so can offer you a few thoughts.

For your needs, best advice is to buy the Helmet Pro HD. It comes with the camera, two flat mounts, two curved mounts, a "J" mount, a head strap mount and a vented helmet mount. This pack retails for $399 which is just $30 more than the Naked camera which comes with only a single flat mount.

You can buy the surf expansion pack if you like, but I see little point. The actual surf mount (big white disc) is a massive overkill especially on a SUP. The knuckle joint breaks long before the adhesive on the mounts gives way. Once you stick the surf mount down, it is pretty much permanent unless you apply bulk heat.

My vid I popped onto the SUP site (SUP Ningaloo) recently was all filmed with vented helmet mount on my helmet. I also had the head strap but I find the helmet easier, especially coz I run the LCD Bacpac and this restricts the angle you can point "up" on the head mount as the longer rear casing interferes with the mounting. This can be overcome by using a "J" mount but you'd need to buy that as a seperate if you go Surf hero or Naked. You can go nuts with accessories if you have the coin. Another handy one is the tripod mount and also the Grab Bag which contains a 3 way articulated knuckle, a spare standard mount, a flat and a curved adhesive mount but would be a bit unnecessary if you go with the Helmet Hero pack.

The LCD Bacpac is excellent if you have no laptop to review footage or piccies at the beach. You can use the LCD to line up a shot or can sort through footage and review pics and clips as required. It only burns battery if you leave the LCD on. I keep it switched off when not needed which gives normal battery life. When you turn the camera on, the LCD lights up, just push the "off" button on the screen and it shuts off and leaves the camera functioning normally. It's great to be able to see your pics or clips then and there but at $139.95 it is a bit of a luxury.

I would suggest a spare battery would be a good investment at $49.95 and another good accessory would be the ride Hero mount which will clamp the camera to your paddle if you're doing waves.

Make sure you get a decent SD card, only go with Kingston or Sandisk and go with class 4 or better. I run Ultra and Extreme cards and have never had an issue. 16Gb will give you around 4 hours of footage when using R4 or 960 lines. Using R5 or 1080 (Full 1080 line HD) gives you around 2.5 hours which equals about the life of the battery. A 32 Gb card is better that way you don't have to keep dumping the data to a lappy or ext drive.

Another good idea is to take Anti fog kits or a few grains of rice, or a few grains of silica gel as the cameras can mist up and of course they only mist up on the lens :( One friend holds his camera in the aircond duct in his car to cool the camera and dry the air before he closes the housing. It works too.

Anyways, that should give you a few ideas.

Have a great trip and if I can part any other wisdom, please just ask.

DM

Not up to the high quality of the go pro & only good for 10 foot underwater but for only $60 it wouldn't break the bank if you drowned the occasional one


www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/vivitar-rolls-out-690-hd-camcorder-waterproof-720p-60/

laurie said...

1) Get the Anti-Fogs!!

2) Get the small tube mount for your paddle - great view

Nothing worse than seeing the inside of the little lens fogged up during a great sesh.

They say to dry the anti-fogs in an oven, but mine have lasted a year without & still work fine.

Anti-Fog: www.seabreeze.com.au/shop/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=47

Tube Mount: www.seabreeze.com.au/shop/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=35

Thanks Laurie.
How's your stock in:
The fogs
Small tube mount
Helmet Pro
Is it just couple of days for delivery ?

Cheers Scotty

wheels said...

DM or any one with Gropro experience
Can you download straight to a portable harddrive from Gopro using Gopro menu and no laptop or other equipment.
Have you got any pics of Gopro mounted to a paddle.
Do you sell the stick on bouancy pads.
Can you plug Gopro into a HDTV and playback stills and vid.
Whats the best software to get for editing
Any feeback greatly appriciated.

thanks Wheels

Hey WHeels,

Download straight to a Harddrive using GoPro software? Can't be done on a standard ext hard drive without SD Slot.

This is what you need:
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/797720-REG/Nexto_DI_ND2730500G_ND2730_Digital_Photo_Storage.html

Use the GoPro Ride Hero mount kit to clamp to the paddle shaft.



We have almost every accessory in stock but haven't heard of the bouyancy pad until this thread. It's not on my order sheet. Perhaps a very new accessory?

Yes you can plug the GoPro cam directly into a HDTV with the supplied cable and you can watch still and video.

Editing software depends upon how techy you want to get and how user friendly. I don't go for bling so Windows Live Movie Maker works for me. Plenty of cheap and even free editing software if you look around. That last question is deserving of it's own thread.

Cheers,

DM

Thanks DM, i will come in and check out what you have.
Do you have accessories kits and if so what do you get and how much?
Does anyone actually have a fcs plug put into the board and if so where abouts on the deck do most people position it?
cheers

wheels said...

Thanks DM, i will come in and check out what you have.
Do you have accessories kits and if so what do you get and how much?
Does anyone actually have a fcs plug put into the board and if so where abouts on the deck do most people position it?
cheers

Hey Wheels - my 9'3 is in the shop right now getting the FCS plug put in and its probably about 30cm from the tip of the board. I didn't want it so close to the edge due to the force that the edge of the board often takes and besides the GoPro has such a wide angle that you dont need it right on the tip. It also depends on the size of your board too...

supanimal said...

Hey Scotty....guess that rules you and I catching up for a paddle anytime soon - LOL.

Helmets are a good thing in my world - even if looking like a stuntman.

Looking forward to a catching up - helmet or no helmet. Need to pick your brains on a bit of video editing. GoPro on the way this week.
Cheers Scotty

Piros said...

Another thing on the LED backpack is it creates heat , the anti fog strips won't combat this . Use the screen to set your shot and then take it out.The best anti fog measure is still to cool the case in front of your car aircon to pull out the moisture then seal it up.Don't let the camera heat up in the sun keep dipping it in the water to keep it cool.

Best way to download is through a external card reader heaps faster than from the camera.

I will have my laptop with me for play back. With this in mind do you reckon the BacPac is not required ? I will be using the head strap and mount on the sup only.

AKSonline said...

Hey Scotty88,

Backpack wont be necessary if you have your laptop.

Cheers,

DM

Thanks DM

Scotty88 said...

laurie said...

Thanks Laurie.
How's your stock in:
The fogs
Small tube mount
Helmet Pro
Is it just couple of days for delivery ?

Cheers Scotty

Sorry; neglected to check this topic again .. everything in stock, we Express Post everything same day as the order, so will be in your hands next day (for most metro locations)

G'day Scotty88
The waves have been pumping in Fiji got some great waves on Namotu lefts today surfed for 5 hours my 8'4'' Woody just floats me (Help Me Please Mr Wizard). Buts once I'm on a wave the 8'4'' surfs unreal just like a short board. Treasure Island is 22.82km away from Namotu Island come to the Island for a beer at the Wanga Bar its always happy hour at the Wanga Bar. .

^^I was going to ask that, is it a computer glitch?

laurie said...

wheels said...

I am not to keen on having plug put into board,my board is 9' and about 250mm from the nose there is the breather plug which has a 8mm thread, I am thinking of making a GoPro mount with a 8mm thread and screw it into breather hole,has anyone tryed something similar?

Not done it, but if you can double-end the bolt, you could put a tripod mount on the end of it?



The challenge would then be getting it facing the right direction, once screwed in.. a locking nut perhaps?

.. or, worse case, you could try gaffa taping a mount to the nose of your board for an interesting angle .. check this video

www.seabreeze.com.au/News/Stand%20Up%20Paddle/Spinn-and-Grinn-with-Dave-Kalama_5131298.aspx

Thanks Laurie ,
Great idea, i just ordered a tripod mount and other things from you last night so will find out what thread size the tripod is and weld the two together with a lock nut for positioning (stainless)I am just trying to avoid a FCS plug or sticking the pad on the deck.Thanks again for your thoughts (could be a patent ).