Have noticed a few windsurfers at my local patch have recently purchased GoPro's and they appear to have only been used a few times.

I was wondering whether after the initial enthusiasm of the purchase wears off once you've filmed yourself a few times, you lose interest and the camera just sits on the shelf?

Also, has anyone found it useful as a diagnostic tool that assists in the "learning a new move" context?

Cheers

Whether the GoPro is worthwhile propbably depends on how much disposable cash you have and whether you like the idea of sharing what you do for fun with others. With my GoPro I've shared my windsurfing with friends, colleagues and family. They get a good idea what windsurfing is about.

I think most people think windsurfing is either hitting the lip of 20 foot waves and doing loops or drifting around a lake and falling off every 10 seconds. There doesn't seem to be much middle ground. Filming the type of windsurfing I do shows there is a bit of a middle ground that is otherwise ignored by the wider community and media.


Whether I'll continue filming is difficult to say. The videos are quite large and take up a lot of room on the computer however external hard drives are cheap. What I hope to do is buy different GoPro mounts and get a few different angles as right now I only use a helmet mount. I like the helmet mount as it gives almost a first person view of the action however mixing it with boom, mast and board mounted footage would be superior. Just having the same mount at the same location is getting a little repetitive though I'm learning each time I use it and try to improve.

I think overall GoPros make windsurfing a more sociable events. People are happy to get footage taken of them and discussions take place about how to improve the footage. Even if you are sailing on your own you can share the session with others.

On the other hand like any gadget or toy after the initial enthusiam and novelty wears off there may come a time when you don't worry about it. I think the trick there is not to feel obligated into taking the camera out, just do it when you want to. Chances are when you are sailing and you don't have it, you will see or do something and wish "why didn't I bring the GoPro?"

They are pretty cool but there is waay too much boring unedited footage on the net - i just cant watch 5 minutes of helmet cam

However there is more to the go pro than that:

They are great for doing photo timelapses - you set the still camera function - not the video camera - to take a photo every 2 seconds. You then bring these photos into an edit application as an image sequence - and you get stunning quality because each frame is a 5mp photo. These are so large that you can crop and pan through the resulting timelapse video with some interesting results

I once did a snow boarding trip to Japan with just a go pro as my holiday video camera- the resulting video was fun to make as you have so many options with the camera - you get a certain discipline from shooting 1 camera with a standard angle

http://exposureroom.com/0d1fda6c74c34b14a8ec573818a63528/

the wideangle stabilises moving shots nicely - dont forget - you can tighten up the angle slightly by shooting in 1080p mode


not to mention the ease of travelling factor - it weighs nothing

Of course the sound is pretty terrible

Dont just think of the go pro as a mount camera - it can be used for so much more

Most tv production companies now have 4 or 5 of them to drop in cut aways from interesting angles - you will often see them on car dashboards , mountain bikes etc etc

If you dont have the ability and budget to edit - ie hardware and software investment - then i would say dont bother with the gopro - if you do - go for it!

and please - no more long edits of the same angle ! I think those are the videos that turn people off the go pro footage

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albers said...
Also, has anyone found it useful as a diagnostic tool that assists in the "learning a new move" context?

Well, unless you have a buddy that sails 24 x 7 with a camera behind you there will be zero "learning a new move" benefit. GoPro cameras are generally setup to give you a POV view.

Yes you can mount them to the mast or boom but from my experience the results are mixed... actually lost one camera because the mount thread tore off.

Also, without silicate gels the cameras will always fog up sooner or later if used in water.

They are a gadget in my opinion and make sense if you use the footage as a cut away... eg. I have friends who use them for commercial projects were it's impossible to mount a full size camera without jumping through a million hoops first. eg. front of trains, cars, helicopters etc.

Reflex Films. Why do you keep posting your films to Exposure room? I find their video service is single most frustrating such service on the net. Why not go Vimeo?

For social movies and family stuff, I prefer someone around filming me and others.
Gives the 3rd person perspective to the viewer later.

For freestyle moves: again prefer the outside shots - easy to find mates for flatwater freestyle clips, but not so in waves.

Helmut cam = fun at first but loooong sequences get boring, including my own. For freestyle helmut cam: too much motion - makes me nauseous to watch, even my own movies !

Instead of buying for a couple of uses in the summer, just borrow one from a mate, buy him a couple of tinnies - it's a good trade.

Thanks for the replies, the borrowing for a slab idea sounds good (ps. a slab of home brew, that is)

With regards the learning diagnostic tool, I was thinking along the lines of mounting the GoPro on top a pole which could easily be inserted into the sand near the waters edge (like an umbrella). Assumming you don't sail out too far (so as to keep an eye on it just in case someone tries to knock it off), could it be used to possibly film your "learning a new move" session?

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albers said...

Thanks for the replies, the borrowing for a slab idea sounds good (ps. a slab of home brew, that is)

With regards the learning diagnostic tool, I was thinking along the lines of mounting the GoPro on top a pole which could easily be inserted into the sand near the waters edge (like an umbrella). Assumming you don't sail out too far (so as to keep an eye on it just in case someone tries to knock it off), could it be used to possibly film your "learning a new move" session?

Hi Albers,
I'd recommend you take a look at the Kodak Playsport for your "performance feedback" camera. It shoots HD and is water proof, has decent audio and a basic digital zoom...around 200 bucks.

The wide angle lens defeats this approach. ONce you are more than 20-30m away,
you become tiny.
I have a shot a bunch of ski-ing stuff in the last few days, but it will take some editing to convert that into something watchable.
I've found the helmet mount to be very unstable while ski-ing. I'm going to look at getting a chest strap which I've seen a few people use.
Snow is a bugger to film though, as there is no contrast. Trees help a lot, but I did some gnarly steeps today, which look like nothing at all.
A better angle of view can be obtained using some kind of out-rigger device.
I did some cycling stuff using a pole clamped to my handlebar which was OK, and also a long pole up behind a kiddy trailer I was towing, which worked well too.
I think an outrigger on the boom behind would be good, and I find the top of mast views nice to watch as well. Haven't organised that for myself yet.
Like all gadgets, messing about too much with it can detract from the actual activity, though they are pretty set and forget too, which I really like.
Set it up, turn it on, and forget it's there, until I get home and download to see what I caught.

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albers said...

Thanks for the replies, the borrowing for a slab idea sounds good (ps. a slab of home brew, that is)

With regards the learning diagnostic tool, I was thinking along the lines of mounting the GoPro on top a pole which could easily be inserted into the sand near the waters edge (like an umbrella). Assumming you don't sail out too far (so as to keep an eye on it just in case someone tries to knock it off), could it be used to possibly film your "learning a new move" session?

stehsegler-

Thanks for your feedback - i'll assume the video was slow to load for you.

The reason i use exposure room is that it hosts hi quality video


i also use vimeo and youtube

- i might switch to vimeo as i suspect their servers are faster than exposureroom

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KenHo said...

The wide angle lens defeats this approach. ONce you are more than 20-30m away,
you become tiny.
I have a shot a bunch of ski-ing stuff in the last few days, but it will take some editing to convert that into something watchable.
I've found the helmet mount to be very unstable while ski-ing. I'm going to look at getting a chest strap which I've seen a few people use.
Snow is a bugger to film though, as there is no contrast. Trees help a lot, but I did some gnarly steeps today, which look like nothing at all.
A better angle of view can be obtained using some kind of out-rigger device.
I did some cycling stuff using a pole clamped to my handlebar which was OK, and also a long pole up behind a kiddy trailer I was towing, which worked well too.
I think an outrigger on the boom behind would be good, and I find the top of mast views nice to watch as well. Haven't organised that for myself yet.
Like all gadgets, messing about too much with it can detract from the actual activity, though they are pretty set and forget too, which I really like.
Set it up, turn it on, and forget it's there, until I get home and download to see what I caught.

albers said...

Thanks for the replies, the borrowing for a slab idea sounds good (ps. a slab of home brew, that is)

With regards the learning diagnostic tool, I was thinking along the lines of mounting the GoPro on top a pole which could easily be inserted into the sand near the waters edge (like an umbrella). Assumming you don't sail out too far (so as to keep an eye on it just in case someone tries to knock it off), could it be used to possibly film your "learning a new move" session?

Re showing steep stuff.. probably need someone to go ahead of you & film them or they go behind you & film you .Still never shows up though.

there GEAT to have not just for windsurfing but for many applications.

there needs to be an upgrade thought one with a viewer or an i phone app that would be cool !! and a simpler system

I love mine I just wish there was more wind nothing better that analysing what u did wrong and let me tell ya your gybing improves no end wen u have it on !! haha

I just have the helmet cam at present as i really don't want to see my expressions!!

but looking forward to getting some new angles

love also to maybe strap 3 on at the same time on a good day that would be handy for a final edit

GET ONE THEN I CAN BORROW IT I'll repay by lending mine of course

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lelos12345 said...

there GEAT to have not just for windsurfing but for many applications.

there needs to be an upgrade thought one with a viewer or an i phone app that would be cool !! and a simpler system

I love mine I just wish there was more wind nothing better that analysing what u did wrong and let me tell ya your gybing improves no end wen u have it on !! haha

I just have the helmet cam at present as i really don't want to see my expressions!!

but looking forward to getting some new angles

love also to maybe strap 3 on at the same time on a good day that would be handy for a final edit

GET ONE THEN I CAN BORROW IT I'll repay by lending mine of course

No way can I gybe with that thing watching me![}:)]

Yes.
It's snowing quite a bit at present, so the light is FLAT as, bro, and consequently shows very little detail.
Dumping for another 2 days, then clearing, so I'll see what the weekend brings.

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sboardcrazy said...

KenHo said...

The wide angle lens defeats this approach. ONce you are more than 20-30m away,
you become tiny.
I have a shot a bunch of ski-ing stuff in the last few days, but it will take some editing to convert that into something watchable.
I've found the helmet mount to be very unstable while ski-ing. I'm going to look at getting a chest strap which I've seen a few people use.
Snow is a bugger to film though, as there is no contrast. Trees help a lot, but I did some gnarly steeps today, which look like nothing at all.
A better angle of view can be obtained using some kind of out-rigger device.
I did some cycling stuff using a pole clamped to my handlebar which was OK, and also a long pole up behind a kiddy trailer I was towing, which worked well too.
I think an outrigger on the boom behind would be good, and I find the top of mast views nice to watch as well. Haven't organised that for myself yet.
Like all gadgets, messing about too much with it can detract from the actual activity, though they are pretty set and forget too, which I really like.
Set it up, turn it on, and forget it's there, until I get home and download to see what I caught.

albers said...

Thanks for the replies, the borrowing for a slab idea sounds good (ps. a slab of home brew, that is)

With regards the learning diagnostic tool, I was thinking along the lines of mounting the GoPro on top a pole which could easily be inserted into the sand near the waters edge (like an umbrella). Assumming you don't sail out too far (so as to keep an eye on it just in case someone tries to knock it off), could it be used to possibly film your "learning a new move" session?

Re showing steep stuff.. probably need someone to go ahead of you & film them or they go behind you & film you .Still never shows up though.

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Reflex Films said...

stehsegler-
- i might switch to vimeo as i suspect their servers are faster than exposureroom

I ended up watching the Japan video after taking aaaaages to load.

I think you hit the nail on the hammer with the way you used the cam in a creative way. I think you are right in that the biggest problem is still people just putting their unedited GoPro footage up... it's interesting the first time you see ... but the 100th POV shot of people sailing in a straight line is just outright boring.

Ofcourse the real problem is that even the "simple" edit you did with the Japan footage is time consuming and requires some effort.

GoPro is !@#$%

STOP SHARING IT WITH US PEOPLE!!!!!

We don't want to see it.

This is the sort of stuff we want to see:

Hey RadLad, this video has really got to you, hasn't it!

Just spent an hour doing an edit of some Go-Pro and realised something.
Photography only has as much value as the activity or the subject matter.
If you are just blasting back and forth on the same water, then you'll quickly lose interest.
But if you go on holiday, or visit a cool place like Sandy Point or Green Island, then you will probably pull it out again.
My vid I just edited would mean little to anyone here, I suspect, but it has a high value to me for remembering my holiday and the places I skied.
So, it's really about you and whether there are things that you want to record for yourself.
It's certainly not about Rad-Lad.

Cmon Kenny, you know its lame, you just admitted it. "Back and forth", "high value to me".............. = LAME.

And yes albers that video has affected me like no other windsurf video has ever managed to do.

Go play underwater.
Maybe not everyone does just go back and forth.
High value to me is just that. I don't give a rats arse if you like it or not. It's not my job to entertain you.
"LAME" jumped the shark a long time ago as an expression. (yes, the irony was deliberate)

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Rad Lad said...

Cmon Kenny, you know its lame, you just admitted it. "Back and forth", "high value to me".............. = LAME.

And yes albers that video has affected me like no other windsurf video has ever managed to do.

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KenHo said...

Go play underwater.
Maybe not everyone does just go back and forth.
High value to me is just that. I don't give a rats arse if you like it or not. It's not my job to entertain you.
"LAME" jumped the shark a long time ago as an expression. (yes, the irony was deliberate)

Rad Lad said...

Cmon Kenny, you know its lame, you just admitted it. "Back and forth", "high value to me".............. = LAME.

And yes albers that video has affected me like no other windsurf video has ever managed to do.

Next you will be telling us how great the march was on Saturday night in Sydney.