Member of the Month

animator
December, 2020

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

How often do you use your Gopro?

profile picture
bangarangmules
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 80
So I just graduated college, and I've been thinking about getting myself a GoPro for a little reward. It's something I've had in the back of my head for a while now, but it's pretty damn expensive. So my question for you is:

If you own a GoPro, how often do you use it? What would you say your experience with filming/editing is, and do you think you got your money's worth?

I am really interested in buying one, and I'll make that money substitute teaching this week, but I don't want to drop $300 on something that I won't end up using too much, or something that a novice filmmaker would not have much fun with. I'm hoping that it will encourage me to get out mtn biking more this summer, along with other activities. So what do you guys think?


Other: What model/package did you purchase? If I do end up getting one, is the outdoor package good or should I look at one with a chest strap? The chest strap footage looks pretty sick for skiing and mtn biking. Too cheap to pay any more than $300 right now haha.

Sorry for all of the questions, just hoping to feel a little more confident before I buy something this expensive. I appreciate any help. +k
Thanks guys.
May 15 2012 10:14AM 0 0
profile picture
Gypsy_Skier
Posts: 2663 - Karma: 5,203
lol i never use mine. any i take it i always forget to shoot and when i need it it always seems to be out of batteries.
May 15 2012 10:17AM 0 0
profile picture
theBearJew
Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,597
This. My battery runs out alot. Idk what im doing wrong there...
May 15 2012 10:18AM 0 0
profile picture
Lemuel
Posts: 14004 - Karma: 6,334
I used mine once skiing this year. I bought a dslr last summer and I use that now. If it's your only source for shooting video I would say go for it. I'll probably use mine more in the summer with biking.
May 15 2012 10:20AM 0 0
profile picture
Ali.
Posts: 380 - Karma: 68
yeah mine seems to be dead alot, i just check the battery the night before and if it needs charging i charge it. But i love mine, i don't use it alot but when i do i'm really glad i have it.
May 15 2012 10:22AM 0 0
profile picture
fragglemuffin
Posts: 3312 - Karma: 438
I used mine maybe once during this past ski season, but hopefully I'll use it more paddling this summer. I keep thinking about selling it, but I know that if I did I would probably regret it.
May 15 2012 10:24AM 0 0
profile picture
bangarangmules
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 80
Thanks guys 10/10. Hoping that somebody comes on here and says they use it all the time though hahah.
May 15 2012 10:26AM 0 0
profile picture
Skiingsnow
Posts: 1567 - Karma: 796
if you want to use one you will, my brother got one as a present and after an entire season in whistler skiing everyday, he didnt make 1 single edit, a mate and i used it for like 3 days and got some really dope footage, going to buy a hero 2 as soon as i get back to whistler for next season.
May 15 2012 10:29AM 0 0
profile picture
Craze
Posts: 1132 - Karma: 420
I never used mine as much as i thought i would at first and for skiing, I always forgot it, the memory card was full, or the battery was dead. But honestly i still film a lot of fun stuff around the house like tramp edits, tramp bike, riding trails or beer pong games in the pool. And lately i just keep it sitting beside my computer to watch/ clear old footage and keep it charged as i go. I definitely think i got my
$300 worth out it so far.
May 15 2012 10:31AM 0 0
profile picture
Poems
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 3
Never.
May 15 2012 10:58AM 0 0
profile picture
peterpants
Posts: 230 - Karma: 432

i use mine almost everyday i go skiing and just keep it in my pocket when im not using it, as long as you charge it and make sure you have an empty card it really isnt a hassle. Ive used chest mount, pole mount, helmet front and side mount and all seemed to turn out pretty good and ive gotten alot of sick shots this year.

here is a link to an edit from earlier this season of just a few shots ive gotten with mine, its definately worth it if you actually remember to bring it places

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APfDhDdkX1s

May 15 2012 11:12AM 0 0
profile picture
snowisholywater
Posts: 337 - Karma: 57
i am so so jealous
May 15 2012 11:20AM 0 0
profile picture
bermbuster49
Posts: 7444 - Karma: 89
well i'm pretty extreme so obviously i use it every day


but really, i use it like once a weekend if i'm racing dirtbike

this was last weekend's fun:

watch in 720p



May 15 2012 11:26AM 0 0
profile picture
.Hugo.
Posts: 17354 - Karma: 28,152
I use mine all the time. It's fun to just experiment with it and see what different things you can film. This past wekend i brought it fishing, tied a rope to it and lowered it down to the bottom to see if I could get any video of some fish
May 15 2012 11:31AM 0 0
profile picture
gotti
Posts: 4269 - Karma: 4,512
if you are trying to film yourself it is really convenient or if you just want simple camera to carry around. But if you want to actually make good edits, go with the t2i. I use my gopro a lot for mtb and cliff jumping, but much for skiing cuz we legit film for skiing.
May 15 2012 11:35AM 0 0
profile picture
.R-Lohin
Posts: 1685 - Karma: 107
This, I never use mine for skiing. I think its only good if I was skiing powder/backcountry.
May 15 2012 11:39AM 0 0
profile picture
will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,419
I use mine a lot but I would say that the chest mount should be avoid. All you see is knees and it looks like the rider is skiing super backseat.
May 15 2012 11:40AM 0 0
profile picture
jkauffman22
Posts: 2592 - Karma: 1,150
I rarely use mine as well. If I was you I'd save up a little more and go for a dslr. Way better quality and you can take pictures etc. I find my Gopro not shooting as well even if it's in 1080. Save up for something really nice
May 15 2012 11:49AM 0 0
profile picture
Gypsy_Skier
Posts: 2663 - Karma: 5,203

Wait, i know. the best use of the gopro is at parties¨! u can get the most amazing crotch shots and beer pong footy, and everything looks cooler on a wide angle lens. plus you can never destroy it

May 15 2012 11:50AM 0 0
profile picture
bangarangmules
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 80
Sick videos^ and thanks for all the posts guys. +k And to those suggesting maybe saving up for a better camera, I appreciate that, but I really have no experience with filming, and this would just be more of a hobby and film some of the stuff I do now and again. But thanks for the suggestions, keep 'em coming! +++k
May 15 2012 11:51AM 0 0
profile picture
stupendous-man
Posts: 8633 - Karma: 13,246
I would definitely recommend one. I have the old HD Hero, and I always take it with me skiing, even if i dont use it its nice to have it in case you or a bud starts throwing down and you absolutely need to get some footy. Its waterproof so i use it cliff jumping and such too, and I bike with it a lot as well. and to the guy who said the chest mount sucks for skiing, mount the camera upside down and flip the video in the camera's settings. example (not mine, but filmed entirely on gopro):


May 15 2012 12:08PM 0 0
profile picture
Chaunceyskis
Posts: 2190 - Karma: 280
I use my gopro daily for skiing, skating, puppy stuff, folf, fishing. I strapped it to a gas powered tempt control car and drove it around a fatty field and it looked sick they are a lot of fun
May 15 2012 12:20PM 0 0
profile picture
Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,424
I use it for filming porn. Seriously.
May 15 2012 12:22PM 0 0
profile picture
Flying~Squirrel
Posts: 6494 - Karma: 178
if i had done any skiing worth filming this year i would have used it a lot more. but i made this video which is pretty kick-ass

The Waffle from Colin Davis on Vimeo.



and the function to have it take a picture every 2 seconds is pretty neat, i set it up on a tripod and use it to take photos of me on the slackline which works well.
May 15 2012 12:30PM 0 0
profile picture
sleazy
Posts: 374 - Karma: 279

I got one for christmas this past year and the only time I use it is when I go backcountry which is maybe 5 to 10 days out of the season cause other then backcountry and park skiing is really not worth filming.

 When I do use it is pretty sick. Im also new to video editing so I don't think I fully appericate the gopro to its full potential... so was it worth the $300 for me proably not, but it is pretty cool.

but if you think or know you will use it, might as well get one. but if not it is proably not worth it

May 15 2012 12:33PM 0 0
profile picture
Bar_Down
Posts: 5896 - Karma: 386
i dont use it too often but only because i havent had too many chances to use it so far. when the opportunity comes though i use it a lot. like last year i went on a ski trip out west and used it every single day
May 15 2012 12:46PM 0 0
profile picture
theBearJew
Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,597
I did use it to make a 7 hour time lapse. That ended up being awesome. Id get it. You will eventually find a use for it.
May 15 2012 12:51PM 0 0
profile picture
TheClap.
Posts: 21570 - Karma: 3,690
everytime I have sex. go on adventures


i use mine a lot
May 15 2012 1:05PM 1 0
profile picture
nickyb
Posts: 201 - Karma: 677
not last season but the one before, i used it everyday. this past season i barely used it because i picked up a dslr.  but its such a great little cam to have because its so solid and versatile.  i'd go for it.
May 15 2012 1:36PM 0 0
profile picture
bnewbs6
Posts: 1914 - Karma: 1,416
I use mine all the time. really good for just an average filmer. and the chest mount is rad. I use that the most. I also got the 960 one that was only 180$.
May 15 2012 1:40PM 0 0
profile picture
moment54
Posts: 101 - Karma: 42
Well i'll be a person that says I use mine quite a lot. I take mine on plane flights to shoot time lapses, ride bikes with it, ski with it, surf, windsurf, attach it to my car. play lacrosse with it. I use it for a lot. It's not the best camera to be using for a lot of that stuff. But it's my best camera, and its cheaper then most dslr cameras. plus its waterproof. i've taken it down to 80ft scuba diving, and even attached it to a plane at 10k ft. its a great piece of work. you can use it for anything.
May 15 2012 1:41PM 0 0
profile picture
Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,106
3D sucks.
May 15 2012 1:49PM 0 0
profile picture
Smuffy
Posts: 4653 - Karma: 3,087
t2i is awesome, but theyre going to be at least twice the price. of course, its twice the quality and diverstiy, but thats what you sacrifice. (except you cant drop a t2i in the water, or toss it around with your buddies)

as for my gopro, i use it a ton. often times that just results in a whole bunch of shitty edits like this one



but you can also do interesting stuff like this lapse thing i made


basically what im trying to say is, if you have no interest in producing legitimate stuff, theyre real fun to mess around with
May 15 2012 1:58PM 0 0
profile picture
AWALLRUS.
Posts: 5762 - Karma: 214
i use mine all the time because its the only camera i have. the biggest problem with it is thatg none of my friends are smart enough to know whether its on or not. likeseriously? there is one fucking button to push, can you really not tell if the red light is flashing or not?
May 15 2012 2:19PM 0 0
profile picture
snowisholywater
Posts: 337 - Karma: 57
where was that first edit shot? By the looks of it somewhere in the alps? just wondering looks super nice
May 15 2012 2:24PM 0 0
profile picture
bermbuster49
Posts: 7444 - Karma: 89
me and my friends always wanted to do a time lapse putting the go pro in the fridge behind beer and watch all the different people grab some
May 15 2012 2:31PM 0 0
profile picture
Smuffy
Posts: 4653 - Karma: 3,087
Fellhorn, Germany/Austria!

It's real tight, you can ski across the border and ride two different parks in seperate countries.
May 15 2012 2:54PM 0 0
profile picture
EastCoast.
Posts: 1888 - Karma: 406
I actually use mine a lot now because it's almost summer because you can mount it on basically anything and can get really cool angles! Plus cliff jumping with it is super fun!
May 15 2012 2:57PM 0 0
profile picture
pduncan
Posts: 1129 - Karma: 1,595
My brother used to have one and I used it a lot but he didn't really use it that much. If anyone has one for sale pm me please
May 16 2012 6:06PM 0 0
profile picture
Dr.Gonzo
Posts: 2552 - Karma: 87
literally never, im pretty sure im going to sell it pretty soon, everyone at my school seems to want one.
May 16 2012 6:59PM 0 0
profile picture
BaileyB
Posts: 589 - Karma: 160
get a 960p hd instead of 1080. No difference except for 960 being way less $
May 16 2012 7:20PM 0 0
profile picture
.ZT.
Posts: 5679 - Karma: 2,776
M/A Media and Arts might help you out. I use my contour about 1/2 as much as my Canon t2i(My brother's) If you want to see some videos click on the links in my signatures.

Although I think a DSLR is good investment if you want to make edits. I know you are tight on money but it looks way better than a go pro/ contour. Good Luck with your decision
May 16 2012 8:31PM 0 0
profile picture
Dr.Gonzo
Posts: 2552 - Karma: 87
wow, zandertower has been trained in the ways of being a productive member of NS, im almost proud, your still 12 years old in my mind though, good progress though.
May 16 2012 8:34PM 0 0
profile picture
p.hawks
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
I primarily use my gh2, but I use my go pro all the time for filming random shit, and its so nice just to be able to pull it out and go, nothing to set up. I just feel like I film so many more things. One guy on my ski team (club college racing) left it on his headstrap for a party. resulted in some very interesting videos the next day. I would say go for the original hd hero
May 16 2012 9:17PM 0 0
profile picture
Lucas
Posts: 4877 - Karma: 1,495
Batteries are way to short...
May 16 2012 9:33PM 0 0
profile picture
AWALLRUS.
Posts: 5762 - Karma: 214
and the 960 can do 60fps, i've heard the 1080 doesnt have that.

and I don't think that battery life is bad at all. on a trip one time, I got about 1 hour and 54 minutes worth of pov footy in 1 day. it used the whole battery, but that's a lot of usage. I had it on pretty much the whole day and it was recording almost every run.
May 17 2012 11:50AM 0 0
profile picture
Flying~Squirrel
Posts: 6494 - Karma: 178
cant you get an extended battery? im pretty sure i have one but im not sure since it was a gift. i have recorded in 720p for probably 3-4 hours before the battery died.
May 17 2012 11:55AM 0 0
profile picture
nickyb
Posts: 201 - Karma: 677
yea the battery life is not bad.  buy an extra for like $30, charge them both the night before and you should be set.  you can also choose this setting that starts recording as soon as the camera is turned on, so basically you turn it on to start recording and off to stop it, really saves battery. 
May 17 2012 1:03PM 0 0
profile picture
ShredMasterPlus
Posts: 1156 - Karma: 791
Depends what your skiing. I don't watch a lot of park but POV for park is usually pretty lame cause you don't really see it all and it never oozes steeze. For big mountain and pow though its sick because then you can just ski all day on a pow day hit whatever you want and mess around and then pull out the good shots after. That's what my friends do I don't have one but there fucking convenient for that
May 17 2012 1:39PM 0 0
profile picture
PeteSpin
Posts: 316 - Karma: 18
You may want to pick up a GoPro 960 instead of one that shoots in 1080p. The main difference is that it costs a lot less than the newest model and some (like mine) use AAA batteries, so you can use rechargeable ones or if those run out of juice you can just pop some fresh ones in.

As far as use goes, I use mine a couple times a week primarily for dumb stuff like strapping it to a dog or putting it on a skateboard. If you're motivated to use it, then buying one is a wise choice.
May 17 2012 1:45PM 0 0
profile picture
scratchproteen
Posts: 5173 - Karma: 286
I have 2 and me and my buddies use it all the time, definitely justified my 600 dollars for the two....bust it out every day skiing even if its for one trick..during the summer we film random shenanigans with it, whether its long boarding, golf shots, putting it on my dogs collar and letting him run around. etc....its a really fun camera and there are endless possibilities with it, you can put it places that regular cameras can't go so it rocks.
May 17 2012 2:47PM 0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)