Jul 17, 2009, 10:37 AM
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GoPro Hero HD!
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I've been quite impressed with how easy it is to get very cool angles with the GoPro Hero. Unfortunately, the video quality is horrific (I'm an HD snob now), so I've not considered it anything more than a cool toy.
Release says it'll be $299. I just got a CX100 for $439. I'd imagine the lens and imager (Exmor) is much higher quality on the CX100, so I'm not sweating my purchase at this point. But if the lens/imager is half-way decent on the GoPro, and it shoots in 1080p, it could be an interesting contender due to its smaller size and thus, easier ability to mount in creative locations.
DSE (D 29060)
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Jul 17, 2009, 11:37 AM
Post #2 of 192
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According to information from GoPro, the compression rate will still keep it less than optimal, but with the resolution there......it can easily be fractalled up...
Hypoxic is actually a dealer with GoPros. I'll try to get a sample as soon as possible. I too thought the SD version was a neat camera, but the quality was pretty damn bad. Hopefully they also fixed the black dot sun problem.
-Trunk
DSE (D 29060)
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Jul 17, 2009, 10:32 PM
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Hypoxic is actually a dealer with GoPros. I'll try to get a sample as soon as possible. I too thought the SD version was a neat camera, but the quality was pretty damn bad. Hopefully they also fixed the black dot sun problem.
-Trunk
That's a relatively "easy" fix, I'm betting they don't have any dynamic range restriction (which is dumb, because they'd get a better image with narrower latitude). I had forgotten you'd become a dealer. Justin rocks, yeah? They're really good people. One of those situations where my opinion was swayed 180 from my original (I thought their products all sucked, based on an early product experience). They are 110% a rock-solid company to deal with.
Hypoxic is actually a dealer with GoPros. I'll try to get a sample as soon as possible. I too thought the SD version was a neat camera, but the quality was pretty damn bad. Hopefully they also fixed the black dot sun problem.
-Trunk
I was curious about the black hole sun issue, and release date for the HD GoPro... so I e-mailed their tech support, and heres' the answer I got:
From: support@goprocamera.com Sent: Jul 28, 2009 5:15 PM To: wxyz@mindspring.com Subject: RE: GoPro Case 08642: When will the HD version be available?
Hi Chris,
Sorry, but at this point we do not yet have an estimated release date for the HD HERO. The image sensor that will be used in the HD HERO will be able to accurately represent direct sunlight.
Please let us know if you have any further questions.
I'd seen that, but the first "review" is as valuable as the paper it's printed on. No discussion of dynamics, no discussion of imager, noise, bitrate, etc. This guy got a first look, but it appears he wasn't allowed to edit or transfer. The information he posted has been available from Justin at GP for a while now. I'm expecting it to be a decent cam, and they say they've got the dynamic range issue licked...but at the expense of what? If anything?
And I must admit, if it's genuinely good quality, I'm going to be a bit pissed off.
Camera helmet - $500 Various RAM mounts - $75 CX100 - $430 Opteka 0.3x - $100 Hypeye D - $100 CX100 Box - $100
If this little bitch can accomplish essentially the same thing (cool mounting positions, good quality footage, wide angle), with more variety in mounting locations (due to size/weight), I'll shell out for it, but I won't like it.
Please Spot, tell me something bad about the GoProHD to make me feel better...
(This post was edited by bdrake529 on Sep 22, 2009, 2:04 PM)
You're not seeing it on a big screen. That's where you'll see the macro-blocking of this, and other small format mp4 cams. Don't be pissed, you're in the best situation. Macroblocking is bad enough in AVCHD as it is. Very wide lens plus mp4 shrunk down for the web=good picture. Same thing on a 42" panel...not so good.
Still, this camera is a must-buy already. With my plethora of mounts, I can get quality CX100 footage and throwing in the occasional shot from the GoProHD (in really creative mounting spots) won't look so bad.
DSE (D 29060)
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Sep 22, 2009, 3:02 PM
Post #17 of 192
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I think you oughta put a mount inside your container so we can see those lines lifting out. Maybe a mount on your chin cup with the stickum tape. j/k Serious about the in-canopy, even if it's just for 7 seconds from deploy to ground.
It'll cut well as long as it's not a primary view cam. Because it's 4:2:0 colorspace, it'll allow you to match it up reasonably well using Color.
The "jello" (horizontal macroblocking) is expected from low-bitrate, non-profiled MP4. the 720p is pretty nice with 60p, but the slo mo only makes the horizontal look more strange.
PhreeZone (D License)
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Sep 22, 2009, 3:46 PM
Post #20 of 192
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Nigel can you get a picture of the bracket? I could not find anything on their webpage. To mount it on a helmet with the standard box it seems to have a lot of snag points.
! Awesome !! 
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