The Official GoPro Thread: Custom Mounts, Videos, etc.

[CayoHueso]

This thread is dedicated to those with GoPro Camera's and any unique custom mounts you have made, tips for others, etc etc.

I've had GoPro camera's since they came out several years ago and were being advertised in Sky Mall (those catalogs on airplanes)! I was on a business trip, came across the advertisement and thought it was pretty cool, so I bought it. That's where my love affair with this awesome device begun. I've been fortunate enough to meet the founder of GoPro, Nick Woodman, a few times. Great guy that took a vision/concept and ran with it to one of the most popular sports/adventure cameras in the world. Enough about that.

First of all, I have found the connector screws to come loose pretty frequently. A quick trip to the local hardware store and I replaced all of them with M5 hex bolts. Here is a picture of the case I keep them in. It holds the connectors together MUCH MUCH better:



The GoPro does come with some functional mounts, but I've aways wanted an extended mounting arm. Sure, GoPro sells all those little pieces, but I was sick of bolting them together, keeping them straight, etc. Therefore, I got some small PVC Pipe and made my own extenders with using two GoPro brackets to use on the top and bottom. Here are a few photos. If anyone wants the direction on how I made them, shoot me a private message:




I love doing time lapse photography and having a GoPro makes it so easy with the preset photo option within a given amount of time (every 2 seconds, 5 seconds, etc). To do some interesting ones, I took an egg timer and rigged it up to mount on a tripod and then the camera on top. You get an awesome 60 minute, 360 degree time lapse. It's very cool. I wanted a bit more functionality, so I purchased a mechanical water hose timer and did the same thing. Works like a dream.




And of course the bag I keep everything in!

[muskrat]

I just got mine last weekend.   I'll keep this thread at the top so I can tinker with ideas brought here.   I'll be filming my first run this weekend, can't wait.   Only issue for me is editing the video, I suck at that so any software that helps I welcome.

[CayoHueso]

Are you using Windows or a Mac computer?

Lots of options for video editing programs, but none of them are exactly "easy." However, I have found that Pinnacle Studios (Windows based program) is probably the easiest on the market to use.

[ZLTFUL]

Got my Hero2 for Valentines day but haven't had a whole lot of opportunites to use it yet.

[muskrat]

Are you using Windows or a Mac computer?

Lots of options for video editing programs, but none of them are exactly "easy." However, I have found that Pinnacle Studios (Windows based program) is probably the easiest on the market to use.

Mac.  I downloaded GoPro Cineform Studio

[Le Pirate]

Mac.  I downloaded GoPro Cineform Studio

Honestly,

I kind of like plain old iMovie for making videos. Simple.

[ab]

I may pick up a Hero 2 in a few days.  I already bought 32Gig class 10 sandisk from b&h photo, auto charger 2 usb and plan to get the battery bac pac so I can charge on the bike.

Anyone DIY anything to hook up external mic and get decent bike ride videos along with ext. mic ?
Very interested in hooking up external mic.

as for editing, FCP X.  If only i had creativity to edit nice cuts.  I find it hard to cut a clip because I think it all looks good and is important.   

ps.  reason for getting go pro is in case some cagers f's me up, at least story can be told.  I got to figure out easy way to turn it on and off ( i guess the blue tooth thing they are coming up will help).  Had the 1st gen Go pro but that battery was sooo horrible.

[CayoHueso]

Mac.  I downloaded GoPro Cineform Studio

Cineforum is pretty limited, but nice for easy cuts. Like AB.....I use Final Cut X. I downloaded it off piratebay.org (note: I do not condone using torent sites). It is pretty complicated, but I am figuring it out. There are tons of How To videos on YouTube to learn the basics.

www.lynda.com is a good website for Final Cut X tutorials.

I may pick up a Hero 2 in a few days.  I already bought 32Gig class 10 sandisk from b&h photo, auto charger 2 usb and plan to get the battery bac pac so I can charge on the bike.

Anyone DIY anything to hook up external mic and get decent bike ride videos along with ext. mic ?
Very interested in hooking up external mic.

as for editing, FCP X.  If only i had creativity to edit nice cuts.  I find it hard to cut a clip because I think it all looks good and is important.   

ps.  reason for getting go pro is in case some cagers f's me up, at least story can be told.  I got to figure out easy way to turn it on and off ( i guess the blue tooth thing they are coming up will help).  Had the 1st gen Go pro but that battery was sooo horrible.

I don't have any experience with hooking up a mic, but check out:

goprouser.freeforums.org

It is a forum dedicated to GoPro's. You will find a TON of useful information. If it has been done...you will find it there.

As for the remote use.....it was supposed to be released in April, but they pushed it back again. I am not sure of the tentative date anymore. I find it rather easy to turn on and off by just using the buttons. I know on the forum I posted people have rigged up remote triggers for them. Kind of slick.

I think the noise at speed would be awful. I've tried this as well and it always ends up sounding like shit, unless you rigged a mic near the exhaust or the engine. If you have a dry clutch bike, all you hear is the rattling of the clutch if you run an open cover.

[ab]

....
www.lynda.com is a good website for Final Cut X tutorials.
.....
goprouser.freeforums.org
...

The best FCP X tutorial i found is by 1) Ripple Training  2) Larry Jordan. Highly recommend both and worth every penny. 

I will have to check out the forum you mention for go pro.  Really interested in hooking up the mic near the pipes :-)

[ab]

Do any of you have the "battery bad pac" and does it really allow you to charge it and at the same time tape ?  I was thinking to hook it up to the battery for continuous taping.  Anyone try it ? and can confirm it works.  Did they include the skelton door with it ?

[muskrat]

Maybe I missed something but how do you know when you're battery is charged?  And if I have the battery pack installed (2nd battery piggyback), will it charge both?

[CayoHueso]

Do any of you have the "battery bad pac" and does it really allow you to charge it and at the same time tape ?  I was thinking to hook it up to the battery for continuous taping.  Anyone try it ? and can confirm it works.  Did they include the skelton door with it ?

I have the extended battery and the LCD. sucks you can't use both at once, but I got the LCD basically to just set up my mounting before shooting. I hate the fact you really have no idea what you are seeing with the standard camera. Now I can mount the LCD, move camera around to get the positioning I want and then slap on the extended pack to get longer video/photo. You can get continuous power by plugging it in while shooting, but not sure how the cases work while doing this. I haven't tried it.

Maybe I missed something but how do you know when you're battery is charged?  And if I have the battery pack installed (2nd battery piggyback), will it charge both?

Another great question and one that I was baffled by as well. If you are charging the standard battery in the camera the red light turns off when fully charged. There is a battery meter on the shitty display when it is fully charged. I just plug mine in for 3-4 hours and then think it is charged.

If you have the extended battery, you have to plug the charger into that......not the camera. It charges separately through its on USB port. I have no idea how you tell how this is fully charged since there is no indicator. There is a button that you hit that lights up 3 green lights. This indicates the battery strength. Obviously the more lights lit indicates more battery strength. Sorry I can't help more, but that is the best I have figured it out.

PM me if you want to chat more about this.

[muskrat]

ok so if the battery pack is installed I still have to charge separately then right?

Oh and today I screwed up and filmed only part of what I intended, plus I mounted it too low and on the crash bar on my Harley and it bounced off that the whole way.  I need that LCD display ASAP.  This "good deal" I got is starting to be a money pit. 

[CayoHueso]

ok so if the battery pack is installed I still have to charge separately then right?

Oh and today I screwed up and filmed only part of what I intended, plus I mounted it too low and on the crash bar on my Harley and it bounced off that the whole way.  I need that LCD display ASAP.  This "good deal" I got is starting to be a money pit. 

You are correct on the charging. I have no idea why it works that way, but it does. You have to charge them independently.

Dude, they are totally money pits!! The LCD is a must have if you want to guarantee accurate footage. I have taken plenty of shitty footage, mostly while mounting the camera on my helmet. Now that I have the LCD, I can check out what I am see prior to recording. I have my wife adjust the camera while mounted on my helmet to ensure good footage.

Definitely check out my fix for securing the brackets together. I've found the stock tightening bolts to slip and move. I use my M5 bolts now and it NEVER moves. Cheap fix.

[JEDI PIMP]

Videos too right?
alex and kim ride Rev B.mp4

3 Drz 400's Me, My girlfriend Kim and my brother Jonathan.
Fun ride, Kim's first time on two wheels, She crashes very lady like.
Im white, brother bumble bee and Kim is lovely in Blue

Total Newbs with the HD gopro