GoPro HD Video Camera – Gear Review

For all those amateurs out there ready to “Go Pro”, I believe this camera will bring you to the next level. It can’t promise sponsors or face time with Sage, but it can deliver some serious HD footage of your mediocre skills. I’ve been playing with this camera for a couple weeks now and I had different results. Pretty much every company wants to sponsor me and all the TGR skiers are trying to ping me on twitter, sorry guys, no time. I wish.

The GoPro HD Camera

After neglecting my office work for 4 hours because I was tuned into the GoPro website, I knew this camera was going to deliver. The demo booth at Outdoor Retailer was also quite impressive, with its launch of shooting 3D footage. Yeah. Pretty soon we’ll all be wearing 3D glasses at every movie, so why not for the family videos and homemade ski vids?

GoPro Camera Specs

• Three different options: Helmet, Motorsports, Surf.
• Price ranges from $269-$299. You’ll want the Helmet Hero – $299.
• Record in 1080p/960p/720p HD resolutions.
• Shoot up to 60fps
• 2.5 hrs of shooting on lithium battery.
• Waterproof case.
• Outside and Indoor shooting modes
• Built-in Microphone
• 5mp still shots
• SD card storage
• 3.3 oz

Using The GoPro Camera

First advice: Don’t throw away the manual. This camera takes some getting use to. When you are setting up the settings with modes and resolution, that manual has to be next to you. Make sure to fully charge the camera before starting to use. The input for charging is the same as a Blackberry charger which is super cool and even worked with my Solio magnesium charger. Double score!

The waterproof case works seamlessly with the camera. From turning it on, recording, and pointing it up and down from the mount. I had it mounted on my handlebars and had to change a flat tire, flipped the bike upside down and completely slammed the camera into the ground. It scuffed the case but that’s about it, tough little bugger.

Pressing the on and off button takes getting use to. As I was mountain biking I messed up and didn’t record what I thought I was recording. You really have to turn off the iPod and listen for the beeping for recording and standby. Hot Tip: In the settings, leave the beeping ‘on’, totally worth it. There is a red LED that flashes on the front of the camera to show if its recording or on/off. I wish GoPro would have put this on the rear of the camera or the top. When the camera is mounted on your helmet it doesn’t matter but when you have it on the handlebars or your chest this would help a TON.

Using GoPro Accessories

I was very impressed with the ease and functionality of the many accessories offered for the GoPro. Hot Tip: When mountain biking, don’t record while the camera is on your chest. The footage sucks. The chest mount would be great for kayaking because if you roll, you don’t want this camera dragging on the rocks below you. As for skiing, the helmet is the way to go, from what I’ve seen the “Pros” do. Up high gives you more range with the wide angle lens.

Definitely use the handlebar mount for biking or the helmet mount. On the helmet you’ll have less vibration but the handlebar is easier to turn on and off. Hot Tip: Definitely turn on and off, the battery burns up easily (maybe from the blinking and beeping?). The strap mount is also pretty sweet. I strapped it to my ankle for long boarding and it was super slick.

From their website, skiers are mounting the camera to their ski pole down by the basket and holding it up in the air shooting down. Very cool footage to be had. Definitely keep all the screws and mounts together when possible because they work together well. I even combined a couple pieces and attached the camera to my rear triangle of my road bike. Kinda dorky but it was cool that I could film my leg hair waving in the wind while riding.

GoPro Quality

The camera is tough. It’s basically this teeny metal box that is tough as nails. The fact that you can throw in a SD card makes this the ultimate versatile hands-free camera. I’m not the most hardcore person out there (You probably thought I was huh?) but the footage I’ve taken comes out crystal clear.

Within minutes of filming, I can drop the footage on my iMovie and export it to my iTunes and then to my Apple TV. On my 95 inch flat screen it comes out great….whoa did I just say 95? Sorry I meant 42. When I had the Flip Video I was so frustrated the footage never worked with my software because they wanted you to use their clunky hunk o’ junk program.

Final Thoughts

If GoPro put the LED light on the top and back of the camera for recording and on/off, that would improve this product. I think the next big accessory for this would be a wireless wrist remote on/off and record device. That would be the next level so you don’t look like too much of a gomer on the trail fiddling with your electronics.

BUY NOW: The GoPro HD Camera and accessories on Gear.com.

Check out my SPOT Adventure for where I took the GoPro camera.