I decided to get myself a gopro and record some rides. I did some testing yesterday and have some problems. Before you ask, yes I did read the instructions. Its also the first time I have used it.
My first problem is skipping on the 1080P setting. Any motion seems to skip frames so its not fluid. It doesn't do it on any other settings. I suspect I may need a better SD card but Gopro recommend a class 4 and I'm using a class six although its not a high speed one. Apart from skipping, there is also some distortion and wavering. By this I mean the white lines on the road seem to snake around when I know they are straight.
The second problem is mounting. I thought I would have plenty of options with the exposed frame but not so. I can't seem to work out a good place to mount it for forward vision. I used the suction cup to mount it on the screen but there is too much vibration.
Any suggestions on both counts?
Leigh see the vid from Dan_t in the weekend coffee ride thread (recent post).
I think Dan_t and Cakeman are the ones to ask as they seem to be able to do some pretty decent videos and both have the GoPro.
Quote from: techno on May 21, 2011, 08:32:48 PM
I decided to get myself a gopro and record some rides. I did some testing yesterday and have some problems. Before you ask, yes I did read the instructions. Its also the first time I have used it.
My first problem is skipping on the 1080P setting. Any motion seems to skip frames so its not fluid. It doesn't do it on any other settings. I suspect I may need a better SD card but Gopro recommend a class 4 and I'm using a class six although its not a high speed one. Apart from skipping, there is also some distortion and wavering. By this I mean the white lines on the road seem to snake around when I know they are straight.
The second problem is mounting. I thought I would have plenty of options with the exposed frame but not so. I can't seem to work out a good place to mount it for forward vision. I used the suction cup to mount it on the screen but there is too much vibration.
Any suggestions on both counts?
Hey mate,
the skipping might not be the go pro, but instead you computer. At 1080p HD it is recording/playing back at 30fps. SOme computers might have trouble keeping up with this. I know i cant playback Go Pro HD vid on my crappy laptop.
Try recording at 720p (thats usually what i record at anyway)
On to mounting , your right, its a pain in the Ahole! I bought the handlebar clips thingy and i mount mine on the fram faceing forward. I havent had the guts to use the suction cap yet, but DanT recorded a vid this morning with the suction mount on the carbon belt covers and got an awsome angle. Im going to try this but attach a piece of string or something to it and to the frame just in case it all goes pear shaped.
Hi, only just bought one myself & loving playing with it!
Here's a couple of early 'trials'. I'm sure they'll get better the more I practice & play with it.
http://www.youtube.com/user/FunOn2Wheels (http://www.youtube.com/user/FunOn2Wheels)
So far, I've found the suction mount to the tank is great, solid and good view forward. Stuck to the side, just in front of your knee & angled down & forwards.
I've also tried the suction cup stuck to the carbon fibre belt cover on the right hand side, not bad, but a little movement due to the carbon fibre not being as solid as the tank / frame parts.
I'm working on a solution to get an angle from behind, that also looks forward. Nothing too great just yet.
As for the flickering, not too sure. I'd recommend going to their website & updating the firmware.
Bu default, the GoPro's are set to play back in NTSC format, which is for the North American market. We use the PAL format here in Oz. The new firmware allows you to play back in PAL in 1080p at 25 frames per second, or 720P at 50 frames per second.
Not sure if this is causing the issues, but worth investigating.
Good luck & I know you'll have heaps of fun, I am !!
Quote from: techno on May 21, 2011, 08:32:48 PM
My first problem is skipping on the 1080P setting. Any motion seems to skip frames so its not fluid. It doesn't do it on any other settings. I suspect I may need a better SD card but Gopro recommend a class 4 and I'm using a class six although its not a high speed one. Apart from skipping, there is also some distortion and wavering. By this I mean the white lines on the road seem to snake around when I know they are straight.
Just starting to play with a Gopro as well and having the same issues. It looks like the image is projected on a wobble board with Rolf playing has heart out....quite strange really. A straight white line starts automatically turning into curves..
I haven't tried the 720 setting yet, only been shooting on Mode 4 & 5. I don't think it is your SD card, I'm using one out of my SLR, at Class 10 SDHC....so I don't think it's a speed issue. The only thing I can put it down to is high frequency vibration....what makes me think this it, my MTB helmet mount is OK, Surfboard / Kitesurfing mounts are OK......Monster Mount super wavey and distorted, however when I back off on the throttle you see the image clear up and the vibration changes.
I will try the 720 setting, however thinking about getting a 25mm S/S Round Bar and machine the mount grooves into it. So trying to eliminate the 3 extension arms that I use to get the right orientation and angle....then I will mount this either from the headlight bracket, or similar.
Just tried my first GoPro video....you notice around 1.22sec, I back off for a wet corner, and how clear the video gets...I think the mounting has to be quite rigid....or maybe I am completely off the mark...
PieinSky (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iAp9PCkKR4#normal)
The "wobble" in the picture is definitely vibration induced. Try to mount the camera as far from the engine as you can.
My first video was shot with the camera mounted on the pillion peg - it was terrible. If you mount it from the trellis frame near the front of the bike it isn't too bad.
A suction cup on the tank is awesome, as is a mount on the forks / handlebars, or even the rear most section on the trellis under the seat.
Helmet cam is even better, as your body absorbs all the vibration. Unfortunately it doesn't give an accurate indication of lean angle in the corners...
720p mode will give a better sensation of speed. As the frame rate is slower in 1080p, the playback just doesn't look as fast.
There's some pics here of where I mount mine - http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=45297.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=45297.0)
Sorry Cabron but your vid made me seasick :-X
Thanks for all the replies and help. Just what I expected from this place! [thumbsup]
Cakeman, you may be right about the problem being my computer. I am using a four or five year old laptop and its probably not up to it. I do have a plasma tv with an SD card slot so I will see how that goes but I deleted the 1080p stuff so will need to take some more for testing.
I don't think vibration is the main culprit. I stood at the top of my driveway and took some short footage on each setting for comparison. In the 1080p test there was a car driving past and the skipping was still present. It wasn't wavy so thats probably a vibration issue.
Today I used the handlebar mount system to mount it to the trellis near where the belt covers are. I set it to 720P as 60fps and was much more pleased with the result. I went over grass tree hill just outside of Hobart. I will try to post up a small sample soon. Its a bit monotonous from that angle and would like to get a few others to splice together.
I think I may have another option for front mounting but I will see if it works first.
I got myself the rollbar attachment and attach it to the front fork for the frontview.
Best positioning ive seen so far is niks on with the suction cap on the belt covers
I'm telling ya, update the firmware and record and watch back in PAL format. Considering that Aussie TV's & DVD players are all set up for this format (not the standard GoPro NTSC format) I think this could help.
As for all of the chat around frame rate, sure, if you wish to play back in super slow mode, the higher frame rate of 50 frames per second in PAL (or 60 fps in NTSC) is the one to go for; 720P / 50 fps.
But for all other filming, the 1080 at 25 fps should be just perfect. Keep in mind that the standard for Hollywood blockbusters, which should be very fluid, has always been filmed at 24 fps.
Give it a try and see if it makes any difference.
maybe its just me but that vid you posted looks ok. Doesnt look like ot wobbles to much.
This is one from about 6 months ago. after the first couple of minutes i open it up a little so you can see what sort of vibrations im getting. Mine looks like it vibrates quite a bit, but she'll do ;)
Ducati Monster - Wisemans Ferry Loop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bR6j2tfk0I#normal)
I built this originally for a ContourGPS camera, but that thing was a piece so I slightly modified it (changed the shape of the plate) to fit the GoPro.
Rock solid video for the most part, some slight vibration under very hard acceleration. I'm going to try shortening the arm and see if that improves the output.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/theartfuldubber/ContourMount2.jpg)
Veeeedio.
BAD Ride 4-30-11 (http://www.vimeo.com/23202938)
Bloody gopro! >:(
Here's another tip. Don't let your battery go flat while you are recording otherwise it will corrupt all the other perfectly good files on the card.
Ask me how I know. :'(
This thing is working out to be harder than I thought. Most of it is probably user error.
Depending on what sort of card you have you might be able to use SanDisk card rescue and save the data.
Ask me how I know!
Made a new mount for the Gopro, has removed a lot of vibration and waveness from videos. Originally had on Headlight bracket, (as in photo) however have since mounted off LHS top radiator mount that you can see under the indicator in the photo.
Making a new one's up for various other mounting positions. Also changed to 720 as well, no loss of quality, possibly help remove more waveness as well.
http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac284/Cabron999/P1000150a.jpg[/img]](http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac284/Cabron999/P1000150a.jpg) (http://[img%20width=800%20height=600)http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac284/Cabron999/P1000159a.jpg[/img]](http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac284/Cabron999/P1000159a.jpg) (http://[img%20width=800%20height=600)
Mate, that looks really nice!
Look forward to the results..
Also, wonder what effect rubber washer/gromets would have if used between the plastic housing and your machined mount.
Saw an interesting mount the other day where someone had mounted a Cisco Vlip Video on to a Manfrotto/Bogen Ball head which was mounted on to the grab rail at the back of the bike.. Riding was slow, though, so couldn't tell how effective it would be.
Nice work. I reckon you will get some good footage from there.
Post some up when you get the chance.