I’m getting my GoPro HD tomorrow, and I was wondering how many other people here have one, and how you like it. The one BIG disappointment for me is the fact that you cannot view or playback footage to see what you’ve shot.
It does have a super wide angle, so pointing it in the general direction you really can’t miss much, but I’d still like to be able to at least review what I’ve shot, right there in the trail or wherever.
So I was thinking maybe I could carry a second small p&s camera that uses the same type of sd card, and shoots HD video in the same format as the GoPro, which is MP4. Then I could just remove the sd card and put it into the other camera which has a monitor so I could play it back. Any thoughts on that, and whether you think it would work?
seems like a misdesign. i usually repeat shots a dozen times to get it right, but i would have no idea with this camera. i guess an old digital wil work if the sd card works
I think they omitted the monitor to keep the camera as small and light as possible, and to extend battery life. I did speak with a rep about it and they have a firmware upgrade that will let you plug in an external monitor, and in the coming months they are supposedly going to have their own monitor that fits the gopro directly as an add on accessory.
In general, this camera is designed to video your POV and to be mounted on your body or your ride… like a helmet, your chest, car, bike, surfboard, or hang-glider. The shot you’re trying to take IS the shot it’s taking by definition.
So there isn’t a strong need for a display.
In the case of a videoing a “third party” in a scene, you’re using the camera differently, and a display would be ideal.
An old digital will not work unless it:
Can read SDHC cards. (4GB - 32GB SD cards)
Can playback (and thus, probably record) the same video produced by the GoPro HD. (mp4, same resolution?, other codec details?)
My newest camera other than the GoPro HD is about 4 years old. It can’t read SDHC. An older PDA of mine can’t either.
That’s pretty much what I was hoping to find! I’ll have to call GoPro to find out if it will work with their camera. Thanks for the info!
Edit: I just called the company that sells the monitor and they said it should be perfectly compatible with the gopro. He also gave me the address of a local distributor.
Another heads up. As you probably know, the GoPro camera is like a little box.
It generally goes in its plastic case when in use.
So you’ll have to open the case to access the A/V ports to connect it to a monitor. You might find that annoying.
I worry the latch is going to break every time I use it. It’s closes very tight and its hard to open. Makes me nervous.
I suppose you might be able to drill a hole in the case. But then it won’t be waterproof. Maybe get a second sacrificial case?
I sent that last link of the 7" monitor to a gopro rep, and he thinks it will work fine, since it has component inputs. The other wrist-worn monitor he said will not work, because it does not have the correct inputs.
The camera has a 2.5mm jack for composite video and audio.
It comes with a cable that leads from this jack to 3 RCA plugs (composite video, left audio, right audio) Like this:
I can’t tell what type of jack is on the VX-WLCDM wrist display. I don’t see any RCA jacks. I see a few small holes on its left side:
It might have a jack like the camera. So I imagine you just need the right cable to make it work. I bet the GoPro rep says it won’t work, because you won’t have the right cable out of the box.
I emailed Veilux and asked.
Though maybe you like the 7" display better.
I’m obviously interested in a display too, hence my efforts. I’m not sure what size/cost would be better for me.
I called that company and they said that monitor does not have the component INputs, so it will not work with the gopro, who also told me that mnitor would not work. The 7" one will though.
Just got my new GoPro Hd and here are a few stills or Morty, and one frame capture of my 29er in 1280x720 60fps mode. pretty awesome fisheye effect. You can can amazingly close to the subject and still fit it in. In this mode it has a whopping 170 degrees field of view! the camera was almost touching the uni frame on that shot! These shots have been greatly reduced to conform with file size maximums.
The GoPro has both component and composite outputs.
The monitor may not have component input, so it probably (must) have composite. Then it’s just a matter of how to physically connect them.
Sorry… am I being difficult?
Nice pics!
Here’s a rig I experimented with in the winter, trying to get a cool POV. Too shaky, and too close to the ground. But kind of cool. The video quality isn’t as good as it should be… I was (am) still learning to edit properly.
I had the non HD, and now the HD for several months which addressed the main probs with the earlier version. with a POV camera not being able to see playback on the spot isn’t really a big deal, plus you end up with some surprising results sometimes
Definitely worth following GoProCamera on Facebook, the daily movie and pics are usually great!
That’s a neat setup you have. I’d be afraid of bailing and having the camera hit the ground! That why for pov stuff I usually just hold the camera which is on an extended mini tripod held away as far as possible. But now with such wide angle, the results should be much better.
I’m heading to Henderson, NV tomorrow for an undetermined time; maybe several weeks, for a family matter. But if I have time I plan to go to Bootleg canyon for some riding and filming with my new toy! It’s only about 15 min. from my brother’s house.
I always wanted one of these for paintball, but they don’t work so well since with the fisheye you can’t really see who you’re shooting at. Also they’re kinda big and bulky when strapped to a gun.
I just got one of these cameras yesterday Terry. The camera has such a wide angle lens that pointing it should not be a problem. I put it on my helmet and just had to make a small adjustment to get it pointing where I wanted. You will need a screw driver to crank down on the thumb screw to tighten the mount. There is no way to get it tight enough by hand, it will just swivel and point at the ground eventually unless you use a screw driver.
Those battery powered 7" monitors should work, but you will have to drill a hole through the case in order to point your camera with the monitor. So you will need another case if you still want to have a waterproof case.
To view your video on the road, I was thinking of one of those cheap Aiptek video cameras. I don’t know if it will work or not, since the memory card was formatted in a different camera. At home I put the card in a USB card reader and plug it into my Playstation 3.
Personally I rather have a wired remote than a monitor. It is hard to hear that beep when you press the record button in a noisy environment when you have the camera on your helmet. I guess I will have to use a small mirror to see if the red light is on.
To close the door on the waterproof case, squeeze the door shut to take the pressure off the black clip, then press the black clip down. If you just press on the clip, you will eventually break the clip.
The camera would be perfect if it had a monitor, and a remote with a led on it to let you know that it is recording. A tripod socket on the camera itself would have been nice too, and maybe some way to put a polarized filter on the front of the lens.
Don’t throw away the big square mount that it came mounted on in the plastic case. Some people put some straps on it and turn it into a poorman’s chest mount.
Good stuff to know, thanks! I almost like the idea of shooting ALL my footage and waiting 'till I get home to see what I’ve got! Plus, I will likely be shooting the same shot at least a couple times from different angles anyway, so I’m bound to get some good footage.
