GoPro Surf Hero Board Mount Camera

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[Blane Chambers]

Just picked up and installed the GoPro Camera.    We figured it would be a good way to document the epic days and get some cool shots.   

Cost was $149 plus you have to buy the SD Memory card and batteries separate.    It takes AAA recharge types.    It comes with a sticky pad or you can use a FCS plug to install.    Tiny little thing.   Installed it onto my 10-6 and it is clear of the paddle when I swing it over the board.


5 MP that takes 56 min of video or 1900 pics every 2 seconds.        Its a good way to see what you are doing while paddling etc.     Another thing I noticed when loading the pics is this camera IS ALL ABOUT ME!    It even says on the mounting plate, "Be a Hero".    Its actually a little disturbing to see so many photos of yourself up close.      If you love yourself, you need this camera.    I can honestly say after going through 300+ pics I am sick of looking at my various degrees of monkey face.   

Anyway, here's the results of a quick session this morning.   Videos later.  Today was all about finding position etc.   Camera is very easy to set, turn off and on etc.   

Pics from the first test in early am conditions.










I like my photos with the horizons straight so you can tell what is really going on.   Because the camera is mounted you need to turn your photos and crop to get the reality.    Here's one before cropping.


More....





All in all I feel its a very good product for the price.    Easy to use, picture quality is definetly good enough to capture those epic days and waves.   I wish I had it yesterday when it was bigger and going off the richter.   Because it makes the waves look smaller than they are I think the huge days will look decent in the pics...

Aloha,
Blane






www.paddlesurfhawaii.com

[Hoffenator]

Yo Blane, those are way cool shots, makes me feel like I'm sitting on the front or your board.  I could look at pics like that all day long!  You'll have to take some with the camera facing forward  .

[sylvano]

Hi Blane,

First of all, congrats for the pics.

Good light, nice waves, good camera, excellent surfer and for sure a magic shape under the feet.


3 questions:

Is the "Be A Hero" expensive?
Have you been wached with the mounted camera on the board? Is the mounting system really trustable?
have we any chance to surf a PSH one day here in Lanzarote (Canary Islands)?

[DW]

Great photos. Cropping to level the horizon is key. All the other "videos" I've seen with nose mounted cams, just don't look impressive because the horizon is not level.

Still shots with horizon corrected are amazing! What would we do without Blane to show us the way 

Thanks! 

[Blane Chambers]

Uhhhh, I think that's going a little over the top...

I found these that looked pretty cool.   Looks like this little camera is capable of some good shots.... Take into consideration I never tried to set up a shot.    Just surfed a normal session while trying to turn it off as much as possible.


I like this one because you can see a nice wave going unridden in the background...


Not sure about this one but it looks pretty cool.

[Princess]

That looks like so much fun! Some stupid questions: once on, is it stuck there for ever? I know you may not be able to answer this one but would it work on skis or snowboards?

[hawaiian.style]

mean pictures Blane!  I've been waiting for someone to review one of these on the surf forums I'm a part of.  my main concern is how study is the suction mount?  and is this the exact model you have:
http://www.goprocamera.com/index9.htm

[Blane Chambers]

It has a sticky pad that you can heat up with a hair dryer to get off when needed.

Its really easy to operate.   You push the button on the front and it displays on a small screen the settings.   You set it for video or a picture every 2 seconds or a variety of other things then you hit the top button and it starts.   Hit the top button again and it stops but goes on stand by which is ready to go again when you press it.

This camera has mounts for all kinds of stuff including snowboards etc.     Its really a relatively  cheap way to get decent quality shots.

I haven't tried the suction mount.  I actually used epoxy to mount the plate so it would be solid in bigger surf.       Yes, that is the model.   I ordered it and it came in 2 days.     I'm going to try the video next..

[hawaiian.style]

after you test the video, let us know how the battery life is in picture & video mode.  shoooots!

[stoneaxe]

Too cool Blane. I have the Go Pro on my Xmas list...hope Mrs Santa is paying attention. It was cammars Go Pro vids that 1st got me really stoked to try SUP. Can't wait to see some vids of your action.

[greatdane]

I have found with my GoPro that the only batteries that work well are Lithium.  I get about 2 hours video record time.  Rechargeables and alkaline are awful-  less than hour, especially in cold weather, not sure about the tropics unfortunately. 

Also, if you use it with a Mac, there are some extra steps to follow to erase the SD card before your next session... the older GoPro's did not have this info in their instructions.  I had to contact the company for help.  Maybe the new ones are updated?

That wide angle is a huge improvement over the older model!

[linter]

wow, blane.  terrific shots.  i especially love seeing your paddle flex when you're leaning on it.  all around cool.  a whole new perspective.  i like it!

[Paddle-Plappe]

I guess it's a kind of fish eye lens that makes a strange flex when paddling.
I notice that Blane, when surfing, lean on the frontside of the blade, using angle in a right way... interesting technique point.

[DW]

Uhhhh, I think that's going a little over the top...

When you switch to video mode and loose the ability to correct the horizon, you will agree.

I have done lots of nose mounted camera video. All turned out lame. Don't shoot it anymore.

I love the way I can really feel how much you're cranking the board over when you carve.

[Blane Chambers]

I agree.   I don't like when the perspective is skewed when the board leans over.      You lose a lot when cropping but at least you get an accurate account of what is really going on at that moment.   Today the waves are bigger so I'll see if I can get some shots...     

BTW, I installed one on Austins board yesterday.    He may get some good shots to.    I feel like putting one on all our friends boards that charge.       I just got some pics of Ikaika at Pipeline yesterday and if he had one he would of gotten crazy good shots!!!