need advice for using a Go Pro camera

[Scottintexas]

@J-RAD or anybody with good experience,

about 2 years ago I bought a go pro for my daughter (with intentions of using it on the boat). I don't remember the exact model but it is wifi and I can view/control it from my phone.

It mostly sits in the closet and I'd really like to use it more to capture our boating but find it very cumbersome and not convenient even trying to control it on the phone since the battery goes fast.

How do you use your go pro?
do you turn it on and leave it on all day (or until the battery dies or card fills) ?
Do you control it off of your phone for each rider or turn it on and off between each run ?



.

 

[Bluewater272]

If you can mount it somewhere mostly dry, you can always run a USB cable to it to keep it powered. If it's prone to get wet, you can also get the GoPro remote control to turn it on remotely, capture, and then turn off.

 

[biffdotorg]

That is the deal with GoPro cams for this sort of thing, it's never on when the action starts, and too late once you do.

I have used 4 different models, and the same thing for years on sleds, bikes, boats, SXS. I got to the point of leaving it on, and hitting the record button when things happen, and then swap batteries on a regular basis. If I left it to record the whole time, then I had hours of video to sift through to edit. So I learned to use highlights.

In the winter, we had to leave them in standby to generate heat, to keep them alive! HA! I actually tested a Lithium power brick that has USB Ports on it, and two slots for GoPro batteries to charge! It's sweet to keep rotating batteries out.

I have a strap mount on my tower for some towing records, but let's be real, unless you are surfing off the back, the gopro lens is not ideal for anything at rope length. I have gotten used to using a selfie stick with the GoPro Max or a gimbal with the GoPro 7. Spare batteries is key.

To start/stop, I have an official gopro remote, but it lost power faster than the cam, so it was worthless. Fore remote control, your phone or voice is best. Voice is pretty effective if you don't have the stereo at 11.

For those that have not gotten into editing, as it seems to be a painful process, do yourself a favor and update to the latest version of GoPro Quik. Nice quick edits of the good stuff.

Good luck!

Here is a quick inspirational edit. GoPro Hero 7 Black on a Removu Gimbal

 

[2kwik4u]

I used mine this past season, and then some on our trip to Jamaica in February. I've found it's best to get the floating handle. Then I'll either use it like a hand camera as I'm doing a thing (like climbing waterfalls in Jamaica, or riding a wakeskate in Indiana ), OR, I'll turn it on, and toss it to someone in the water. They then record what they think is interesting and pass it along. I give it to the boys and have them hold onto it while jumping/swimming/etc. Until just yesterday I didn't have access to the app, so I learned the button commands quickly and just used those. The angles are wide enough you USUALLY get what you need/want from just pointing in the generally correct direction.

Really good friend of mine made this for us a decade ago with GoPro's and no app integration. Just point and shoot.

He's a professional photographer and graphics guy, so there are so many subtle details in this movie it's hard to describe, but you get the idea.

I'm hoping to use it some more this summer, because honestly......it mostly sits like yours. I'm finding you have to WANT to be a videographer to use it. You have to remember to take it with you, charge it, turn it on, frame the shots, take the shots, then come home and transfer the files, edit the files, upload the files, share the files.....It's a LOT of work that you have to WANT to spend the time on. It's gotta be part of the hobby for you, or it'll go by the wayside.

 

[Robconn]

I take short video cameos then getting still pics from Them.

 

[J-RAD]

I started replying to this day's ago... We are newer to the GoPro game with my Hero 8 Black. We've quickly learned that battery life is an issue. We've resorted to stop and start footage. I can control it from my phone, but my phone is usually controlling the tunes. I've found it hard to be both driver, videographer, and DJ, so we usually just make sure it's set and pointed where we'd like and then have whoever's nearest start and stop.. Sometimes we'll let it run thru an entire set. I picked up the GoPro large bar mount which works great for attaching to the tower.

I like to do my editing sitting on the couch on my phone with as much distraction as possible... lol! I found am app called YouCut, which is decent and pretty intuitive. I just have to worry about space on my phone.

 

[QuakeTen]

I have a strap mount on my tower for some towing records, but let's be real, unless you are surfing off the back, the gopro lens is not ideal for anything at rope length.

So true. We picked up a Hero 8 to try to capture some tubing action and the distance is a problem. I keep looking for a mount that would attach to the tube rope but it appears that is not feasible.

 

[biffdotorg]

It's feasible, just don't expect it to stay upright without counter weight. In other words, something has to hang below the tube rope to keep the gopro up. And then it's slapping the water. (Pss, unless you tow from the tower)

Attaching to a tow ball may be interesting, again, with counter weight. You would get seconds of good action, and minutes of water. HA!