GoPro in motorsport

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FlatOutMedia

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Aaron
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Just wondered if anyone uses GoPro's for motorsport? and if so what they think of them? I'm considering buying one and just wanted some opinions on them first?
 
Unless you are driving - No.
 
any reason why not? I know they are obviously commonly used for in car or on car footage, but as a versatile camera that can be controlled from an iphone, the camera could be placed in an area, where a photographer couldn't stand, lets say for safety reasons, which could make for some new shots that would normally be impossible to get.
 
maybe I should be more specific, this would be for covering rallying, probably not much use for track work etc
 
I bought a gopro black 3+ a few weeks ago - Used it for the first time on the Rally GB and thought it was great
 
great footage there! that's what I was looking at buying one for.
 
To be honest, the trouble with video is quite what to do with it.

Unless you just fancy slapping up some content on youtube (ie creating free content for google), you really don't have many more outlets for it.

To make a truly quality video it takes a bit more than just some straight from camera files and a stolen audio track (which of course can get you in trouble).

I'd agree that go-pro ("other brands of small video camera are also available") looks a really fun toy, but here at BLZ-HQ we've spent ages trying to come up with a way of doing something with it and really, there isn't anything.

I've no idea what sort of mobile phone you might have, but why not give it a freebie try out using that to start with? Might show you what you would get without spending a bucket load of money.
 
Video is not a one person job, however using a gopro to take stills from places a person can't be is an interesting idea. However, I'd imagine a similar priced P&S might be better. Neither do RAW anyway.
 
Sticking stuff out in "dangerous places" could have a nasty comeback though - if the device is collected by a vehicle and either damages vehicle/occupants and/or spectators you will almost certainly be liable...
 
As a GoPro owner (Hero3+ Black) and longterm fan of what it can do, I'd say no. The whole GoPro concept is engaging video, ie first person type stuff or alternative angles - in car, outside car etc. If you are a spectator I think you are a lot more limited to what you can do with it. Apart from maybe positioning it somewhere and hoping it survives there are definately easier to use cameras available.
 
The GoPro concept (other cameras are available) is fine for in-car or dangerous situations where a man couldn't get to or stay safe at, or fitting to an octocopter, but for filming motorsport video from trackside or spectator areas, then I would look at 'proper' video cameras before a GoPro.
 
Yeah the wide angle is a bit too wide for standing behind the fence unless you don't mind noisy dots blitzing past.

Try it with your phone to start with, see what you get - it won't be much better IMHO.

The cams all come into their own when you strap it to something....

For alternatives, Ghost Drift HD - used by BSB and BTCC teams heavily now for on vehicle footage.
 
I've used my Go-Pro 2 for still before. But it's certainly out of it's depth and the images take a lot of work.

The main issue is you cannot control ISO or Shutter speed (Aperture is fixed) So you have to reply on ambient light conditions informing things like shutter speed.
Gary on here has used a small compact camera for the same job and the result was much more impressive. Although i seem to recall the camera did not appreciate the heat!

GOPR9967-L.jpg


BTCC Now use 100% Go Pro 3's for their in car footage. I'm impressed they trust the batteries frankly. I barely get 1 hour out of mine on video.
 
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I got the latest GoPro earlier on this year with the intention of taking stills from an obscure vantage point but the quality of the stills was poor. Video quality is however very good!
 
The Drift Ghost seems good, I got one a couple of days ago and am really looking forward to using it properly in decent light.
The most impressive thing is the included remote and ability to monitor and control from Smartphone.
Stills seem better than expected, similar to a 'good' phone picture.
I used to try doing similar stuff with big camcorders in the past and would have absolutely loved what you can do with these tiny, tough and waterproof cameras.
 
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you can get a case called 'The Frame' from gopro which allows you to feed cables into the side for power/picture out -

pdp_image_TheFrame_1.jpg


great for use in cars where the battery won't cut it
 
Ady N said:
I got the latest GoPro earlier on this year with the intention of taking stills from an obscure vantage point but the quality of the stills was poor. Video quality is however very good!
Click to expand...

You may have a faulty unit if stills are sub-standard. Some early Hero 3+ cameras had focus issues which affected stills more than video.

Out of interest what are the first four digits of the serial number after the H3B+B????
 
In answer to the original question, I'd say you could catch some great footage from a perspective you wouldn't normally be able to stand and video.

Stick something like this into the ground and control it via the Wifi Remote or your smartphone...

GoPro-GoSpike-Ground-Spike-Monopod-500x500.JPG
 
Hobby Mounts said:
You may have a faulty unit if stills are sub-standard. Some early Hero 3+ cameras had focus issues which affected stills more than video.

Out of interest what are the first four digits of the serial number after the H3B+B????
Click to expand...

1327

No focus issues - just not all that good quality..............
 
Ahh, what's after the H3B+B, should be something like 0813, 0913, 1013, 1113, 1213
 
I love my GoPro Hero 3+ Black
used it on the NVG mount
and got a good POV of us getting a helicopter and inserted onto a hill side
my pictures seem ok for the size of the camera though
 
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