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Product Review: GoPro Surf Hero Waterproof HD Camera
12/8/09 4:52 PM
Transworld Surf Home » Features » Product Review: GoPro Surf Hero HD Camera
Product Review: GoPro Surf Hero HD Camera Justin Cote 7 comments
November 30 2009
Product Review: GoPro Surf Hero HD Camera
Mount And Rip With GoPro’s New Surf Hero HD Camera If you’re like 99% of the surfing population, ain’t nobody taking photos or videoing you while you’re getting your rip on. It’s just not fair. Why should the pros be the only one to get footy of themselves?
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Product Review: GoPro Surf Hero Waterproof HD Camera
12/8/09 4:52 PM
Sometimes you gotta feed your narcissism. That’s where a product like the GoPro Surf Hero Camera comes in. Small enough to hold in your palm and encased in a water-tight housing, the Go Pro cam makes documenting your session in high quality video easier than ever. You’ve seen the pocket-sized cameras (both video and still) here before on this Web site, but what’s new for the 2009 Holiday season is the HD version. Just as compact and easy to use as the original, the HD cam kicks it up a notch in quality. Another improvement is the rechargeable battery—it plugs it into your computer just like an iPod, which eliminates battery costs.
A screen shot from the new Go Pro Surf Hero HD camera.
To test out this new HD version, I used it for a three-day stretch around Thanksgiving. One day I took it down to Blacks Beach on a two-to-three foot day with crystal clear water and pulled into a few closeouts (I couldn’t buy a good wave that day!). Day two was an underwater session at Swamis, and on Thanksgiving, I had my neighbors (Chris and Bishop Slingerland) pull into closeouts at an undisclosed location.
http://surf.transworld.net/features/product-review-go-pro-surf-hero-hd-camera/
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Product Review: GoPro Surf Hero Waterproof HD Camera
12/8/09 4:52 PM
For better or worse, the Go Pro Surf Hero catches every moment of your session...
While I’m no Jack McCoy, I sure felt like him when armed with the GoPro Surf Hero, clear water, and a bit of swell. For $269.99 the new HD camera is a bit pricier than the original but when you plug that bad boy into your 42” HD TV and press play, you’ll be happy to have spent a few more bucks. Like my Grandma said at Thanksgiving while watching some of my footy, “It’s surreal!” Believe me (and my Grandma) the GoPro Surf Hero HD camera is the ultimate stocking stuffer for the surfer on your gift list.
http://surf.transworld.net/features/product-review-go-pro-surf-hero-hd-camera/
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Product Review: GoPro Surf Hero Waterproof HD Camera
12/8/09 4:52 PM
Lost in my thoughts, I almost took this kid out bellyboarding into the beach.
Ease Of Use Despite my rank as an Online Editor, I’m pretty dumb when it comes to technology. Put it this way, I can’t turn the TV on at TransWorld. Yet, despite me being a dipshit, I successfully inserted the battery, mounted it to my board, and filmed a few closeout barrels without pulling the old filming-the-sand-and-missing-the-wave syndrome. In fact, the new HD version is easier to use than the older version; you simply push a button and the camera is rolling. Footage Quality The quality of the footage is unreal…my only issue was that it somehow gave me a double chin. Weird. Different Ways To Use There are a few different ways to film with the new GoPro HD. You can mount it to the front of your board and position it either looking forward or back at the rider. You can also mount it to a helmet for a good rider point of view, or, just swim into the pit with the smallest waterproof camera on the market. It would also be cool to use the GoPro HD camera while spear fishing or scuba diving. Hints For Success -Hit the record button early, there are a couple seconds lag time between hitting the button when it starts recording and you can always edit the extra footage out. -If you mount the camera to a board, pick one and stick with it. While you can remove the stick-on mount, it’s a hassle to keep removing and applying them. -If you’re holding it with your hand, make sure your finger doesn’t go over the lens. -If you see someone who could be eggy about you filming, tuck the camera into your wetsuit.
http://surf.transworld.net/features/product-review-go-pro-surf-hero-hd-camera/
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Product Review: GoPro Surf Hero Waterproof HD Camera
12/8/09 4:52 PM
Go Pro Surf Hero HD screen shot
GoPro Surf Hero Tech Specs Camera Optics Lens Type: Fixed Focus (2ft/.6m – ∞), glass Aperture: f/2.8 (high performance in low-light situations) Angle of View: 170º ultra wide angle in WVGA, 720p, or 960p mode Angle of View: 127º wide angle in 1080p mode Video HD Video Resolution Modes: (subject to change, pending final firmware release) 1080p = 1920×1080 pixels (16:9), 30 fps, 15 Mbit/s data rate 960p = 1280×960 pixels (4:3), 30 fps, 12 Mbit/s data rate 720p = 1280×720 pixels (16:9), 60 fps, 15 Mbit/s data rate 720p = 1280×720 pixels (16:9), 30 fps, 8 Mbit/s data rate WVGA = 848×480 pixels (16:9), 60 fps, 8 Mbit/s data rate Sensor Type: 1/2.5″ HD CMOS, 2.2µm-sized pixels Light Sensitivity: Super low-light sensitivity (>1.4 V/lux-sec) Video Format: H.264 compression, saved as Windows- & Mac-compatible MPEG4 (.mp4) file Exposure Control: Auto with user selectable center weighted average and spot metering settings White Balance: Auto Audio Microphone: Built-in, mono with AGC (automatic gain control) Audio Format: 48 kHz, AAC audio compression Photo http://surf.transworld.net/features/product-review-go-pro-surf-hero-hd-camera/
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Product Review: GoPro Surf Hero Waterproof HD Camera
12/8/09 4:52 PM
Resolution: 5 megapixel Capture Modes: Single shot, photo every 2, 5, 10, 30 or 60 secs.; 3 photo burst; self-timer Storage Memory: SD card, up to 32GB capacity (SDHC) Average recording times (using 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 Power & Battery Battery Type: Rechargeable 1100 mAh lithium-ion Battery Life: Approx. 2.5 hrs Charging: via USB to computer or optional power adapter Charge Time: 80% capacity after 1 hour with optional power adapter; or 2 hours with a computer’s USB port Waterproof Camera Housing Depth Rating: Up to 180 feet / 60 meters Construction: Polycarbonate and stainless steel Hardware: Stainless steel Size & Weight Dimensions (H x W x D): 1.6” x 2.4” x 1.2” (42mm x 60mm x 30mm) Weight: 3.3oz (94g) incl. battery, 5.9oz (167g) incl. housing Optional Accessories Additional Rechargeable 1100 mAh Lithium-Ion Battery (not yet available for pre-order) Full Line of Mounting Accessories Categorized: Features, Videos | Tags: go pro, Go Pro Surf Hero Product Review, GoPro, GoPro Camera, Product Review, Waterproof Camera
Comments (7)
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Sort by: Date Rating Last Activity ChrisCote 28p · 1 week ago
+1
Damn, that thing is super clear. Are the photos on this post taken from screen grabs or were they shot in photo mode? Report
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jcote1271 45p · 1 week ago
+1
On this post they're all screen shots/frame grabs but you can set it to photo mode if you want. Get back to work grom. Reply
1 reply · active 1 week ago
http://surf.transworld.net/features/product-review-go-pro-surf-hero-hd-camera/
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Product Review: GoPro Surf Hero Waterproof HD Camera
SashaM · 1 week ago
12/8/09 4:52 PM
0
Seriously sharp video stills...bomber! Report
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hoofcovers 48p · 1 week ago
+1
agree on the quality of the frame grabs... Report
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Brett Barley · 1 week ago
0
i got one of those... only have used it a handful of times, i broke the board that had the mounts on it. pretty dang sick, i love it. SUPER clear footage when the lightings right... check my latest video out.
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jcote1271 45p · 1 week ago
+1
The King of the Outer Banks has spoken...and his video is way better than mine. Report
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Brett Barley · 6 days ago
http://surf.transworld.net/features/product-review-go-pro-surf-hero-hd-camera/
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Product Review: GoPro Surf Hero Waterproof HD Camera
12/8/09 4:52 PM
one thing i will add... if your in slow barrels that you have to stall hard on, you end up spraying the camera 99% of the time and your footage looks bad. backsides always harder not to spray it too. so, the faster the wave is, the clearer your footage. Report
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