GO Pro 3 for the Boat

[Exile]

Originally Posted by Tim R.

My GoPro 3 black has wifi built in and it works fine. It can be used as a cam but you would need to keep the charger plugged in.

Not sure about a lookout capability as you cannot have the charger plugged in with the water proof case installed.

In that case it probably wouldn't work as a web cam either. For either application, I would want it mounted up on deck somewhere & thus exposed to the elements.

Thanks for the info.

[MarkJ]

Just a word of caution to those about to buy a GoPro camera... they are great in many ways however they were designed as remote cameras. Thats a camera that doesn't have an operator. Only needs to be turned on and left to run.

They are great in extreme sports because you dont have to control them.

Thats great for some uses.

However, to make a cohesive story in video a good camera operator and editor is looking for something different than a GoPro can do.

In filmmaking a camera shoots a scene, or an object in 3 different shots: Wide shot, Medium shot and Close-up. There may be some additional shots (Establishing shot, or Extreme Close Up - ECU) but everything is shot wide, medium, CU.
In editing the shot is cut from Wide to Medium to Close-up. It reduces time, makes the film flow better, and tells a more entertaining story.

The difference between amateur videos and professional is in the editing. With professional theres no long boring videos, just short snappy, story-telling videos. In amateur its long shots of varying degrees of boring to abject sleepy-time.

So a GoPro is great for one shot. But an 'normal' type of good video camera can be much better to make a movie because its easier to take those W, M, CU shots to be edited.

If it was just in the camera they wouldn't need more to shoot a Hollywood movie than a camera and a few fluff-ball actors. A camera operator, cinematographer, director and editor would not be needed.

Consider what you want the end product to be... a good shot, or a good movie.



Mark

[noelex 77]

Thanks Mark

I have been doing a bit of internet research and I am considering an Olympus TG-2
as an alternative.

Unfortunatly it does no quite deep enough for my diving so I would need the optional underwater housing which doubles the price.

I am more interested in the quality of the stills rather than the video.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

Thanks Mark

I have been doing a bit of internet research and I am considering an Olympus TG-2
as an alternative.

Unfortunatly it does no quite deep enough for my diving so I would need the optional underwater housing which doubles the price.

I am more interested in the quality of the stills rather than the video.

I suggest using a housing even for snorkeling. Ive been through a couple of Olympus cameras...the little proprietary seals cannot be removed/replaced in the field...unlike standard orings...and one nick or grain of sand and its all over. A housing gives you redundancy and serviceable orings.

[Paul L]

We had the older version of the Olympus. They are fine for the occasional weekend snorkel, but just don't hold up to being somewhere where you snorkel everyday. Even if you religiously wash them after each use. You need a camera with a case. Take a look at the Ikelite packages.

[scoobert]

hey guys,
here is a vid i made with a professional grade camera, and a hero 3 black.
the hero 3 silver is actually a hero 2, that has been shrunken.
the hero 3 black is sold on the go pro web site for $400 US.

watch them on youtube for high def.


first the professional camera

Injector Removal 5.9 Cummins How To HD Part 1 - YouTube

now the go pro 3 black

How to set valve lash 6.7 cummins diesel part 2 - YouTube

HERE is my other waterproof camera, an Olympus.
you can see the quality difference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKiJFW_vpMk

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

A housing gives you redundancy and serviceable orings.

Yes that my view as well. I go for a few snorkel trips a day and the seals don't inspire confidence for that sort of usage. So I would only use it snorkelling with the housing.

Watch out anchor manufacturers some of the terrible sets will be exposed.

However without the housing it would be fine for sailing shots trips ashore or to other boats etc.

[noelex 77]

Thanks for taking the trouble to upload the videos Scoobert.

What model Olympus was it?
How would you rate the still quality? (Particularly underwater if you have used them for this)

[scoobert]

your asking the correct questions of the correct person.
the camera is an 850SW
here is an underwater photo, taken by me.


unfortunately, the underwater photos are on the lappy, on the yacht, that i am not on right now. suffice to say they are 100X better.

[Noreastern]

I purchased a GoPro Hero 3 Silver directly from GoPro for $200, it did not come with memory card or mounts except the basic stick on. As mentioned high quality SD card is needed, mounts I have been making, one for sailing, one for bicycle helmet and so on. I do have to reformat memory card from time to time unless camera will stop recording from time to time. Mine takes a lot of abuse from shock and vibration when I mount it on my bicycle bar and has worked fine from day one. Sound is good with slotted cover on but then not waterproof, almost no sound with waterproof cover on.

[scoobert]

as promised Noelex here is the hero 3 photos underwater.
i also have a hero 3 underwater video i can upload later if you want