GoPro HD Advice

KiteDuck · Since 17 Aug 2009 57 Posts

Looking to get a GoProHD and have a couple questions:

1. I imagine I should get the SURF Hero ... correct?

2. Which additional mounts should I get through GoPro for good angles?

3. Isn't there a guy on this forum that makes a line mount? Anyone have contact info?

Thanks in advance.

(I wish I could start giving and stop asking for advice, but I am a newbie)

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

Hi Kiteduck ,
If you check their web site you'll see they offer a grab bag of mounts ( $20 for four extra mount ) This including the mount that comes with it should do you fine .
http://www.goprocamera.com/
and
x-msg://98/www.jimstringfellow.com
Here's where you can find the line mount .
Awesome little unit and it's wide angle so it covers lots of ground .
I bought one and have had fun with it , works great .
Have fun
Jack

Chooch · Thu Nov 26, 09 12:53 pm

Stringy is the guy your looking for with the line mount. Find him here:
http://www.nwkite.com/forums/privmsg.php?mode=post&u=558

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1734 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

My recommendation would be to get the new GoPro HD wide angle camera.
The video from this camera is amazing and at the under $300 pricepoint, it's the best deal around for an underwater/wideangle camera that takes pictures as well as video.
If you want to mount it to your surf board, then get the Surf Hero.
If you want to mount it to your helmet, then get the Helmet Hero.
The Helmet Hero kit comes with a headband that can be modified and used as a strut mount on your kite.
I did this with some slight modifications and a plastic buckle I borrowed from my backpack.
And get the kitehero mount.
available at www.kitehero.com.
feel free to send me a PM for more info on the product.
I've been producing the kiteline mounts since this summer.
I'm fortunate enough to see a demand for the mount.
When I set out to create a mount, I wanted to get that closeup experience of the rider and be able to show people what it's like to see a kiteboarder up close.
I have yet to see any other cameras that can achieve such a perspective.
When I made the first one I just wanted to make it for me, but everyone that had seen it said I should sell those.
well I do sell them through a couple of online retailers.

Thanks JackZ for purchasing one! Can't wait to see what you come up with.

With the recent release of the HD GoPro, I have done a slight redesign of the current mount to see if it can be even more efficient.
Here's a cool video I put together that shows what it takes to build this new mount. It gives you an idea of what's involved in building something so small from the design to manufacturing.

http://vimeo.com/7825350

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

cool vid, Jim. how much total machining time? gonna mold that?

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1734 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

hein,
I've been tweaking the design so until I get a mount to perform as well as I expect, I won't be molding anything anytime soon.
I was considering it, but the HD camera just came out and is different than the previous GoPro versions.
That means the mount needs to be optimized.
I'm close but still need to work on the design a little bit more.
today was my first day using the camera with the line mount and the results are good.
video quality is superb considering the conditions I shot in.
footage from today up on whidbey island. pretty overcast and a little rain. but nice and toasty at 46 degrees!
and the mount that was machined in the video took about 40 minutes, but it's a prototype, so I have yet to optimize the machining program.

http://vimeo.com/7908573

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Nov 30, 09 5:19 pm

WOW!! pretty damn sweet!!! I can't believe the depth of field that its able to achieve. Been thinking that the GPHD would be pretty sweet to have strapped to my mountain bike somewhere.

Stringy, in your spare time could you please design a vibration isolation mount for the camera Smile

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

And by DOF, you mean how little there is? Wink

JacobBee · Since 26 Oct 2008 41 Posts Oregon

Or pog?

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Nov 30, 09 11:11 pm

I dunno, I mean the foreground isn't super crisp but for a camera that is designed to work in all light conditions it seemed pretty good. Do they have an electronic aperture? Guess I don't really know how they work come to think about it..

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1734 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

I'm sure we can come up with some sort of vibration isolation mount!
anyhow, I thought I would bump this thread one more time with another video I put together tonight.
footage from the HD GoPro mounted on a local kiter's 5-line shift system bar on his naish torch.
some stability issues but pretty happy with the results from this filming.
This afternoon provided seattle with some northerly push enough to make our 14 meter kites get a good workout. And to top that off, not a cloud in the sky.
sunshine in seattle? take my word.

http://vimeo.com/7934246

a shot of the mount and camera in action

nice sunset session (not shot with a gopro)

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

Stringy,
I don't think you need a vibration isolation mount, the solution is much simper:

The jittery motion is because the camera is not balanced correctly on the lines. If there was a counterweight on the other side of the lines (hint hint) that would put the center of gravity on the same axis as the kite lines, you would theoretically be able to eliminate all that shaky footage. I'm definitely going to buy myself a gopro HD, and one of your kite line mounts once you got it all dialed in Very Happy

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Dec 02, 09 9:21 am

vibration mount for a bike..not a kite.

I would think that any kind of additional weight would increase the cameras momentum..and thus motion from the moving lines.

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1734 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

sorry for this thread going a little off the topic. I just wanted to respond to the mount concerns.
I was actually making reference to pdxmb's request for a vibration isolation mount for his bike.
I've always wanted to come up with some sort of vibration mechanism for handling the rough bumpy experience when snowkiting on frozen lakes where powder is not an option.
As for a counterwieght, I have found that minimal wieght is the best for kite line mounts.
Early on when I started developing a mount this past summer, I was going that direction but the consequences of more wieght and possibly interfering with the performance and safety of your kite flying is at risk.
The main reason you are seeing any stability issues in this latest video is most likely because the kiter was on a 14m kite with it up at noon. If the rider is powered up then this becomes a non issue as the tension of the lines will maintain a nice stable fixture.
thanks for the feedback guys.

stringy

toddjb · Since 16 Oct 2007 271 Posts MD Obsessed

Killer!

I just got the HD and recommend the helmet version as it comes with so many attachments. You can always buy the stick/on board mount seperately.

Is that white board mount permanent or can you move it to different boards?

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