Go HD Hero 2...

I've been waiting my offshore fish seeking spaceship.. Now that that's been taken care of the GP2 is next on the list.

Great research insayn! I am going to upgrade to the GP2 soon.  My 2 pennies on the battery back is that it's invaluable for the angler who wants to set and forget it. With a 32gb card and that back I could get a little more than 5 hours of continuous recording. Not having to open the housing and the camera itself to change batteries every so often is huge for me.

Anyone ever find out it the wifi is going to work underwater? I highly doubt it will, but sure would be nice to send the camera down and see what yer fishing on your iphone.

Great research insayn! I am going to upgrade to the GP2 soon.  My 2 pennies on the battery back is that it's invaluable for the angler who wants to set and forget it. With a 32gb card and that back I could get a little more than 5 hours of continuous recording. Not having to open the housing and the camera itself to change batteries every so often is huge for me.

Anyone ever find out it the wifi is going to work underwater? I highly doubt it will, but sure would be nice to send the camera down and see what yer fishing on your iphone.

I'm wondering if you used a steel cable if the wifi might transmit through that.  My research says wifi frequency has a range of about a foot underwater.....

How much recording time do you get?

Recording time will vary according to the resolution setting used and the card capacity. Here are the average recording storage times for a 32GB SD card:
1080p (30 fps): 4h 21m
960p (30 fps): 5h 26m
720p (60 fps): 4h 21
720p (30 fps): 8h 09m
 WVGA (60 fps): 8h 09m

Based on this snippet from GoPRo.com regarding the Hero HD, I'm curious what settings folks use on the water for video?  Do you favor longer record times over better quality video, or the opposite?  Obviously we have to compromise somewhere along the game. 

I totally want to record in 720 (60 fps) so that if the opportunity arises during editing, I'll be able to smoothly slow down the thrashing of a fish or a great Huli.  But at the same time, I don't want to chew up all that valuable disk space just for that "potential" moment. 

Sound off.....

How much recording time do you get?

Recording time will vary according to the resolution setting used and the card capacity. Here are the average recording storage times for a 32GB SD card:
1080p (30 fps): 4h 21m
960p (30 fps): 5h 26m
720p (60 fps): 4h 21
720p (30 fps): 8h 09m
 WVGA (60 fps): 8h 09m

Based on this snippet from GoPRo.com regarding the Hero HD, I'm curious what settings folks use on the water for video?  Do you favor longer record times over better quality video, or the opposite?  Obviously we have to compromise somewhere along the game. 

I totally want to record in 720 (60 fps) so that if the opportunity arises during editing, I'll be able to smoothly slow down the thrashing of a fish or a great Huli.  But at the same time, I don't want to chew up all that valuable disk space just for that "potential" moment. 

Sound off.....

I use 720 at 60 fps for my video.  I do not leave the camera running the whole time, though.  I have it in a position I can reach it if I get bit.  I have it set to start recording as soon as the power is turned on. Most of the pictures I post of myself are pulled from the GoPro footage.  I want one of those remotes so it is easier to turn on and then I can position it further away.

Found a link to some more details on this WiFi BacPac unit. 

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/43889/go-pro-wi-fi-bacpac


The good stuff!

The HD Hero2 can create its own Wi-Fi network, enabling long range video remote control via the Wi-Fi Remote or a smartphone, tablet, or computer running the free GoPro App.

So, that means you can hit the waves, slopes, trails or any other gnarly location with easier control from your wrist or even let a friend take care of the controls from a distance. We're told that it has a range of 100-300meters (110-330yards) depending on conditions and the BacPac also supports live streaming so your pals can watch your extreme action unfold in real-time.

I think with this WiFi Unit, and a Smartphone I won't need the LCD BacPac.  I could just use the phone to fine tune where the camera is aimed while kayak fishing.  Especially if the camera is mounted behind me, or way up in front of me.  Just start the GoPro App on the phone while in the seated position, and adjust as necessary.

One thing I am kinda surprised at with the GP2 is that it doesn't support 64gb cards.  Other somewhat comprable cameras, like the Panasonic Lumix, have supported them for a while.  I shoot at 960p (30fps) because I favor duration at the expense of quality. 

I favor duration at the expense of quality.

That's what she said....

I favor duration at the expense of quality.

That's what she said....

She and I are in agreement for a change! 

hey Insayn, i'm lookin at that back pac and i think it's a WiFi R/T, so you would actually still need it to put that network together.

still not getting a warm fuzzy on someone trying to use a wi fi system underwater tho.. like i think was said elsewhere, the range would be somewheres in the neighborhood of Zero feet.

hey Insayn, i'm lookin at that back pac and i think it's a WiFi R/T, so you would actually still need it to put that network together.

still not getting a warm fuzzy on someone trying to use a wi fi system underwater tho.. like i think was said elsewhere, the range would be somewheres in the neighborhood of Zero feet.

I'm still waiting to see this free GoPro App for the Smartphone. 

I was gifted one of the GP HD Hero 2 for Christmas and used it to record my trip south over the holidays.  It's my first HD Hero and don't really have tons of experience with digital camcorders but I was pretty generally impressed with its performance.  I should get around to doing a full review but was generally impressed with the camera.

I was, unfortunately, limited in how much HDD space I had available so most of my videos were taken in 720p, but I also took quite a few timelapse picture series at the full 11 megapixel resolution and I have some full 1080p clips.  My one complaint would be the battery life.  2-2.5 hours seems to be about as much video as you can get on a charge, and I was really surprised how much power it took when on and not recording at the time (seemed to be less an issue when in timelapse mode?)

Here are a few sample videos I threw on the youtube without editing (waiting to get some software).

Full 1080p clip on dry land:


Full 1080p underwater.  I basically had my 3 foot monopod and was sticking the camera in the water so I wasn't able to get particularly deep.

That fur ball was cool!

At first I thought the fur ball had a nose ring and maybe grew up in Portland, but it was just snot. Cool vids though!

Yeah, the little guy sure was interested in the camera.  My best guess is that the lens is about the same size/color as one of their eyes, so he thought it was his mother.  Or he wanted to throw down against it.  Or he just wanted to clean his nose, since he sure rubbed all the snot off on the monopod.