A bit miffed with all the new settings and resolutions your new box of magic is throwing at you then look no further. ABE KISLEVITZ has written a very easy understand and highly informative article on all the ins and outs of your Hero 3. Take it away Abe. So you got a new GoPro HERO3 Black Edition! Luckily for you, GoPro has added about 137 different filming options so you’ll never really be sure if you’re using the right mode for the activity/film job. Hopefully I can break it down a bit and unshroud the mysteries of the modes. Keep in mind this is written for the slightly technologically inclined. A few things need to be explained when talking about the technical aspects of video resolutions, framerates, and video quality. In digital video there are a lot of different variables that go into what makes up the overall IQ (image quality). 1080P on a GoPro is FAR different than 1080P on an Alexa – and it’s not just the image sensor that makes it different. Processors in cameras are a huge determinant to how video gets from the sensor to the SD card. There are tricks and shortcuts that can be made to ensure the camera pumps out all the different modes we want in the end. Starting with the sensor, the camera is told to read a certain window of the overall sensor – the bigger the window, the more taxing it is on the processor. Reading the full sensor means you’re getting the full view coming from the wide angle lens of the GoPro. The sensor in the HERO3 Black edition is 12MP with a 4:3 aspect ratio. For 4K in the GoPro it’s reading the full width of the sensor, but not the full height – it’s capturing a 16:9 portion of the middle of the 4:3 full sensor. Since the final delivery is 4K, it doesn’t have to scale that initial capture at all. This capture window is identical for, say, 1080P Wide; however, it scales it down to 1080P for the final output. The final output size also has a say in processor taxation – we can get 4K at only 15FPS, while we can do that same capture window but scaled to 1080P at 60FPS. When we talk about digital video sometimes we use the term native to the camera or not. In the HERO3 Black the camera can capture that full wide 16:9 window, scale it to 1080P and do that natively 60 times a second. 1080-60 and 2.7K are just about the most optimal modes in the camera that really show the true power of the sensor and processor combo. There are some modes in the camera that are read off of the sensor slightly differently which will end up showing some aliasing (jagged edges). Take 1440 for example – look at 1440-30 at full resolution and compare it against 48. The way 48 is read and processed is slightly different than 30FPS to get that large of a resolution combined with a high frame rate. You’ll see the same type of thing in a Canon 7D when looking at 1080P at full resolution compared against 720-60 at full resolution. Canon’s 720P will have jagged edges because of the way they process the image to get a high frame rate from such a large sensor (high pixel count). | Let’s talk about sensor window captures and fields of view (FOV). This is where the Medium & Narrow FOVs come from. 1080P Medium only captures a window in the very middle of the sensor, meaning we don’t see the full wide angle of the camera lens – only that middle slightly distorted part. The raw capture is still larger than 1080P, so it still scales down after the capture. 1080P Narrow is an even smaller capture window at the very very middle of the sensor so the distortion is even less. By this time, the capture size is nearly equivalent to the pixel size where we are reading nearly 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels (remember the full sensor is 4000 pixels wide by 3000 pixels tall). In this narrow mode it’ll appear fuzzier since the pixels are very small on the sensor and are accompanied by a decent amount of noise. When we are reading more pixels there are image processes that are done to clean up this noise – and scaling helps a lot. With no scaling, the narrow mode is extremely zoomed in from the original (imagine grabbing the middle 30% of a gopro photo – that’s what your full 1080P video will be). This is very different from digital zoom because the final readout is still native, we’re not digitally increasing the video capture size at all.
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I got sent an email from Dan, a guy who traveled the world for 4 and a half months and filmed the selfie spin in some of the most famous locations around. Not sure what the selfie spin is? then just click play and see for yourself. Nice work Dan and happy spinning......Just shows what a bit of creativity and a GoPro can achieve..... "Countries visited: Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, England, France, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Dubai. Get out there and travel. Music: Big thanks to "Coma Coz" for officially alowing us to use their song - Revival check it out here: https://soundcloud.com/coma-coz/reviv... Please follow me on insta: http://instagram.com/danandmooreSubscrive on YouTube if you like our vids and want to see Moore! Check us out on Twitter: https://twitter.com/danandmooreShare and like + dont forget to subscribe :)"
So your better half bought you a GoPro Hero 3 for Crimbo and had a bit of a sour face when she unwrapped her J Lo perfume but, hey, its the season of goodwill to all men. Having trouble sinc-ing up your phone to the camera? Then look no further. This short vid runs you through what you should be doing to get all that GoPro control straight onto your smart phone using the GoPro App.
Hold onto your hats, the new GoPro Hero 3 has been launched and its fair to say the guys and girls at GoPro have outdone themselves this time. What distinguishes the camera from the company's earlier versions are its specs. It's one-third the size of the Hero 2 but with twice as many frames per second, and it contains 64 GB of storage. The top-of-the-line Black edition ($399) ramps up video resolution to 4K, territory once reserved for Hollywood films. Built-in Wi-Fi (connectivity came separately on the Hero 2) allows for live streaming and a quick link to the new GoPro iPhone app. (An Android version is in the works.) Feast your eyes on the new specs and take a look at the promo film GoPro flick they released to temp you into buying this little magic box......
While looking into future projects and what Fisheye can offer, it seems alot of potential customers are looking for a time lapse camera that will shoot over a period of weeks or months. After looking into various ways the GoPro can for fill this function I stumbled across the guys at can-do.com who in a stroke of genius have designed a plug in circuit that acts as a programmable Intervalometer.
The GoPro Time Lapse Controller is a small high quality circuit board that plugs into the accessory connector on the back of the GoPro HD Hero and GoPro HD Hero 2 cameras. It is small enough to fit inside the extended back doors provided with the GoPro accessories such as the GoPro LCD Bacpac or the GoPro Battery Backpac. No battery is required. The controller uses the GoPro battery. In standby it uses very little power (similar to a watch) and does not reduce the battery life. Because it requires no power source and fits inside the waterproof housing, it can be used in any environment the camera can handle. The Time Lapse Controller is available as a fully assembled and tested naked PC Board or safely encased in a rugged acrylic enclosure. GoPro Timer Features - Compatible with HD Hero and HD Hero 2 cameras.
- Programmable delayed start.
- Repeat cycle or continuous operation once started.
- Programmable repeat cycle from 15 seconds to one week or more.
- Programmable on time from 3 seconds to infinity.
- Low light option skips shots when there is insufficient light.
- Night cycle resumes immediately when lights come on. Can be triggered by motion sensitive security lights.
- The cycle can be programmed to allow automatic image transfers using theEye-Fi Wireless SD Card.
- On board USB connection for powering the GoPro camera for extended use.
- Compatible with solar power packs for long term unattended use.
- External trigger capability is included for advanced users. Trigger the GoPro camera with timers, computer interfaces, cellphones, remote controls and more.
- External output can be used to turn on lights or interface to an alarm or signalling device
| | The cam-do.com Time Lapse Controller for GoPro cameras is a programmable intervalometer designed for taking long time lapse sequences.
The GoPro camera comes with a time lapse (PES) setting for taking multiple photos timed from 1 second to 60 seconds apart. This can be very useful for capturing fleeting images or rolling an hour's motion into a one minute video. However, the GoPro camera does not turn off between shots, so the longest time you can record using the internal battery is about 2 hours.
The Cam-Do Time Lapse Controller is designed to turn the camera on and off to maximize the battery usage. In most cases, the camera will take about 2,000 images on a single battery charge. These images can be spread over hours, days or even weeks.
Over the past year, we have made a number of custom timers for professional photographers and commercial clients. We decided to take what we have learned from this experience and create a manufactured controller combining the features that were used in the custom projects.
 The GoPro world is buzzing with the relaease of the their Wi-Fi Bacpac, enabling the remote control of up to 50 Gopros . If you like to place your GoPro in out of the way positions like wing tips or kites, this gadget is a must for you cutting the editing time from a 45 min ride with only 2 highlights in it straight to the action.
Here is the description write-up directly from GoPro's website. This is a wicked accessory that I will definitely be picking up.
The Wi-Fi BacPac attaches to your HD HERO2 camera to enable long range video remote control via the Wi-Fi Remote or a smartphone / tablet / computer running a free GoPro App. Waterproof and durable, the Wi-Fi Remote enables complete control of up to 50 HD HERO2 cameras at a time.
When paired with the Wi-Fi BacPac, the HD HERO2 also supports live video streaming and remote control via smart-devices, computers, and the Web wherever Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot is present. Record one video stream to your HD HERO2′s SD card while sending a second video stream via Wi-Fi to your smart-device, computer or the Web.
The original HD HERO is compatible with the Wi-Fi BacPac and Wi-Fi Remote with support for remote control functions only. Video streaming is not available on the original HD HERO camera.
Firmware update for GoPro Hero and Hero 2.
Download: http://gopro.com/software-app/cineform-studio/
The guys at Cineform have all you need to update your camera to the latest firmware to use the Wifi Bac Pac and a whole lot more.
GoPro’s CineForm Studio line of editing tools makes it easy to create professional quality clips from your GoPro content or prep for more advanced editing with Adobe Premier, Final Cut Pro, Sony Vegas, etc. From simple adjustments like slow motion control and clip trimming to more advanced color correction and 3D editing, CineForm Studio is a powerful tool for all GoPro content creators.
CineForm Studio features:
Keep your GoPro cameras and BacPacs current with the latest software updates
Easy playback and trimming of your GoPro video clips
Frame rate adjustment for slow motion
Quickly create videos from your timelapse photos
Convert GoPro H.264 MP4s into editor friendly CineForm AVI or MOV files
Apply real-time, non-destructive image adjustments that don’t require re-rendering as changes are applied.
Adjust video white balance, exposure, contrast, saturation and framing
Support for ProTune and push-button color presets
Process and adjust videos captured with the GoPro’s 3D HERO System
Export MP4/MOV for web sharing, including pre-formatted 3D content for YouTube and 3D TVs
Preview 3D content on supported 3D monitors and TVs
Support for other H.264 MOV/MP4 sources such as Canon and Nikon DSLRs
 I recently had an email from a guy called Mike who started a company called Risefal. One of the products he designs is a carrycase for GoPro cameras and accessories. Im sure as a GoPro user you have found it a little frustrating pulling out you zip lock bag of bits and bobs looking for that 90 degree extender or for your tripod head adapter, especially when the rider is waiting for the off. Mike has come up with a simple but highly effective solution for this and has launched his product on Kickstarter http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/riseful/rollpro-iii-organizer-case-for-gopro So jump across and have a look at his product, I for one would be very interested in getting my grubby hands on one and getting rid of the ever growing zip lock bag or have a skegg at the video below to understand where Mike is coming from.
Good luck with this Mike, I think it is a no brainer
The team at GoPro has developed a dive housing which can be used their entire line of GoPro HD Hero and Hero2 cameras. The Dive Housing includes a flat glass lens which allows users to take full advantage of GoPro’s high definition video capture. The advantage of using a GoPro Dive Housing is that it will be free of vignetting, which tends to reduce under water video footage quality and resolution The GoPro dive housing is Waterproof to 197ft / 60m, and dive housing is ideal for diving, snorkeling and any underwater filming scenario and retails at around $50 What’s Included in the GoPro Dive Housing: - 1 Waterproof Dive Housing (197′ / 60m)
- 1 Protective Lens Cap Assorted Mounting Hardware
- Assorted Mounting Hardware
GoPro, maker of the world's most versatile HD cameras, have launched the Dive Housing. The new GoPro Dive Housing features a large, flat glass lens that allows for maximum photo and video sharpness underwater in all resolutions. Waterproof to 197ft / 60m, the Dive Housing is ideal for diving, snorkeling and any underwater filming scenario.
Having finished the Soundfest Festival with GoPro Im now back in Mui ne and decided to put my effort into creating timelapse with the Hero 2. Mui ne offers such a good amount of places to shoot and now every Tuesday I will post a new timelapse from the places and people I met during the week. The first one concentrates on a typical day here strarting at dawn with the fishing boats coming in and unloading their catch and finishes with the setting of the sun over the bay.
Hope you enjoy......
Having just got back from Oz I get a phone call asking if im happy to help out at Soundfest with GoPro, so 5hrs travelling back to Saigon and Im now shooting daily updates of the arena, stage and general stuff to edit and post to build up the event. Take a look at the timelapse and a teaser of where we have stuck GoPro cameras for some unique and weird angles from guitars to rock drummers heads to the mic itself....
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