GoPro HD Hero Camera

[RichardU]

Vibration is the biggest challenge for these cameras. I have experimented with mounting the camera in various locations:

• Handlebars had so much vibration it was unwatchable.
• Helmet was better, but still not ideal, plus all the problems of the picture moving every time I check my rear view mirrors, etc.
• Mounted to my skid plate / frame is mostly stable image, although the front wheel is always in the picture, and there are artifacts.
• The chest mount is the most stable image, but the mirrors get in the picture. Wouldn't work on a bike with windscreen.

I have also tried various foams. The camera doesn't weigh enough to compress neoprene. Softer foams can actually increase vibration.

There is a difference between vibration and shock. My GPS is mounted on a Touratech mount with rubber boots to reduce shock. But it still vibrates a lot.

There is a reason why most mid to high-end videocameras have image stabilization. And there is also a reason why professional vehicle-based cameras are stabilized with gyroscopes.

The other solution for video is to fix it in post. A variety of editing programs will apply image stabilization after the fact.

[FakeName]

Yes, it's easy to isolate cameras from vibration, pros have been doing it for years. All you need is one of these:



Might be a little difficult to mount on a helmet, but it's the only way. And attachment to a vibrating and rapidly moving object will result in a vibrating and rapidly moving image.

It's a limitation of the media.

[CodeMonkee]

IMO the best vids I have seen for cams are on Vimeo - they don't seem to sample down the resolution as bad as any other hosts - although YouTube recently went up to 1080p.

This is a demo I found on Vimeo:

http://vimeo.com/7996230

[greenthumb]

I would suggest trying to make whats known as a 'steady cam' in miniature. if you look at an f800 brake resevior, it is basically the same principal. it consists of a counterweight and the fixed point being between the cam and the weight.
heres a professional and homemade example. much bigger, but scale it down and it should work.

[FakeName]

Sure, it will work great. As long as you hold it verrrry steady as you are riding.

[Wesley J]

Ok bitches. Cropping a short 1080p clip in its native form for download.

Any suggestions on a location to upload?

Wes

[tokenboy]

vimeo

[Wesley J]

Just an FYI for you guys, there is actually a free tool to cut these video files down.

Here it is: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/AviDemux

And if you want to trancode it to something else, say something that a crappleTV will play, use this: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/SUPER

Video Shortly.

Wes

[Wesley J]

Originally Posted by tokenboy

vimeo

No transcoding allowed. Vimeo transcodes everything, i want to let people dl a file just how it looks. I'll put it up on my website I guess. I think I have unlimited bandwidth but it's relatively slow.

Wes

[Wesley J]

Here's a short video including a 3rd gear wheely at 80 kmh, a crash and a donut or 2..... Colors are a bit muted as the lens is dirty from spray from cars.

Please right click and save as

Video

If its brutally slow and someone wants to put it somewhere else for dl, feel free.

Wesley J

[Gramp-Z]

[IMG]%5Burl=http://gramp-z.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/RTW-visit/1082443[/IMG] Lets see if my attempt to insert a picture of my GoPro mount works . If you end up with a "post" mount , you could try wrapping a nice bunch of modeling clay around shaft to see if it helps. In machine work , we use it to cut down vibration on thin material , works well . If it makes a difference , then move on to a dense foam collar . I may do a litttle work on this problem , as I think I'll be going to a Wee-Strom this spring . Going from the velvet smooth V-4 , to a twin , I may deal with this problem a little more . Good luck .

[Wesley J]

[LarryB]

Anyone know what the orange rubber thing that comes with the HD Hero is?

[munchmeister]

Originally Posted by greenthumb

I would suggest trying to make whats known as a 'steady cam' in miniature. if you look at an f800 brake resevior, it is basically the same principal. it consists of a counterweight and the fixed point being between the cam and the weight.
heres a professional and homemade example. much bigger, but scale it down and it should work.

I'm not so sure a steadicam is the answer, even if you could fabricate one. A steadicam is designed to eliminate the ups and downs caused by walking with your camera. The vibrations from the bike are high frequency vibes, the ones you feel in your grip. Just about anything that is secured to the bike is going to have the bike's vibrations transferred. I've thought, perhaps, that if a camera could have a mount on the bottom of the camera that is isolated by rubber or something, it might remove some of the vibes. For example, think of two common screw eyes which are bound together by, say, a rubber band. Pull the two screw eyes apart a bit to flex the rubber band between them and let this absorb the vibes. Build a platform for the camera for it to rest on, keeping it secure with the jig described. Make sense? I may have to draw this up in SketchUp or something.

Ok, here is a quickie, crude SketchUp drawing.

[Rashnak]

I have the non-hd version. The HD version definately has some upgrades, especially in the battery.

But regardless of version- this is a fun camera. I have several mounts on my bike, and also on top of the helmet. I interlace the GoPro footage with still shots and video from the other two cameras.

Here is the result...



.