To and From from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.
This is a new little toy I've added to my collection. The GoPro HD Hero. It's small, has no LCD screen for you to preview any pictures or video, it has a little cryptic screen on the front which is used as the menu to change different settings. The case itself is durable and is water-proof up to 60m. While I haven't tested it underwater yet, I've read that some people are getting blurry images because of the case and water. I suppose, like with any photography, you need the right amount of light to work with. With no LCD display (Although they are planning to release add-on packs, one of them being a display) means you can't compose your image. You have to guesstimate. Add to that you can't preview your image and do a re-shoot, unless you copy the files onto a computer in the field. The low-light ISO on this is a bit noisy for my taste, so using it in brighter day time conditions is best. This is a camera that is meant to be worn on helmets, wrists, the body, windows of cars and other vehicles etc. The durability of the case is amazing, this I have tested (Accidentally dropping it from about 3 meters up to concrete. You can always replace the case if it breaks and the company even has replacement lenses if you happen to scratch that. I've read that some people have had trouble with certain types of cards. I tried an old SD card my wife had for her PS Canon, and it worked fine. I bought a SanDisk 16GB card and this has worked without issue. These files, like those of the Canon HDSLR series, need to be converted to an easier to edit codec. I use Neoscene, which is $99 but there are free apps out there that you can use. On the site they talk about slow-motion video. To clarify, this means taking your 720 60i footage and then putting it on a 24p time-line to give it a slow-motion effect. There is no 24p on this little guy and I'm not sure why what with the popularity of 24p. However, you can most certainly convert the footage you do take to 24p. At only $300 for the camera, case and a bunch of different attachments, you can't really go wrong. The sensor is 5MP, which is all you need for the 720p video. I wouldn't use this as a photography camera, not being able to properly compose your shots, but as a B camera for video in harsher conditions where you don't want to attach larger, more expensive cameras that are harder on the wallet if you break it.
Stay tuned for some more GoPro video. This is a camera I would recommend to anyone interested in some good time-lapse video or for slow-motion effects for B roll. If you are a cyclist or outdoor enthusiast and what something that you don't have to worry about breaking, then get one. If you check out Phillip Bloom's site you'll see in his behind the scenes work on a Lucas film (Where he's using the Canon DSLR's) he's also got 2 of the GoPro HD's mounted side by side for what he has hinted at being for some 3D fun and practice.
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