Let me start by saying that I one hundred and ten percent love the Gopro cameras! However, there are a few things that I think people need to understand before making a purchase; this especially holds true for anglers. At the end of the day, the pros far outweigh the cons!
One of the biggest attributes and what makes this camera so popular is that it shoots broadcast quality high def. 1080p video and it's extremely small. It is waterproof while in it's waterproof housing so you don't have to worry about taking a spill with your camera on you, and the HD Hero 2s actually take great still photos as well. Gopro has done an excellent job of taking the guts that would be in larger HD cameras and shrinking it down to size. The picture quality is as good as cameras that would cost four times as much. Here is a sample video with the camera mounted on my head to show you guys what I'm talking about. Make sure to turn the quality up to 1080 to get a full appreciation of this clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvdU_enMBDQ&list=UUykRVZCzc45NtHBn-HQRnkQ&index=9&feature=plcp
Now let me explain the things that aren't obvious that most buyers would expect to have that this camera does not. This camera does not have a built in LCD screen or viewfinder. What does this mean for you? It means that you have to get really good at either guessing what the camera is seeing based on it's wide focal length, or you have to fork over the extra 80 bones to get the LCD BacPac. This is the price you pay for being able to have the guts of a more expensive camera and still keep the cost low.
Another small downfall is that as long as the camera is in the waterproof housing it cannot record sound. Each Gopro kit comes with a back that is sealed so the elements stay out, and a replacement back that has open vents so you can pick up sounds while risking getting the camera wet if you fall in. Last and most important for anglers is the fact that if you planned on shooting great underwater video with this camera then you need to invest in the "Dive" housing. The reason you ask? It's because even though this camera is advertised as being waterproof the normal housing for the camera is horribly out of focus while submerged. The Dive housing corrects this and it runs $50. I'm sure that after watching this you will agree that it is definitely worth the extra cash! Again turn this one up to 1080 before watching.
Let it be known that all of these "cons" I'm talking about aren't really that bad considering what you're getting for the price. These are just things that consumers need to be aware of, and is why I wanted to write this review. Make no mistake this is a very good camera for an even better price that a lot of professionals are using these days. It might surprise a lot of people to know just how many commercials and t.v. shows we see every day that were shot with the Gopro. I give this camera a 9 out of 10 for it's size, versatility, and above all else picture quality. For $300 there currently isn't a better video camera on the market in that price range.
For questions concerning this article or to find out my rates and availability for a guided trip shoot me an email at jonkleisflyfishing@yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment