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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

GOPRO Hero3 - 4K

I had some high hopes for this thing. I looked at the 2.7K mode and was surprised that Apple didn't put that in the iPhone 5. I looked at the 4K mode and I thought it would be perfect for stills - just keep the thing rolling and choose your frame later. Heck, there's some kind of RAW mode, too. But there is no exposure lock.

What is the point of such a tool if it does not allow you to at least lock in exposure? Okay, fine, you don't care what it's doing when it's on your helmet (or wherever you want to stick it) but for crying out loud... Damn, even the iPhone lets you lock exposure. FFS. Well, let's see what competition brings.

GoPro will not see a cent of mine. Maybe next year. Still, I'd love to see high quality sample images. I'd like to see if the quality is better than the ratty picture from the older GoPros.
 
Look forward to your views after you get Hero 3 about its underwater performace. And whether any of the red filters work better.


Steve Gibby said:
Good point...obviously a flat port can create problems in the image - refraction, radial distortion, and chromatic abberation

There are some 3rd party accessory manufacturers now making wet mounting dome converters for dive usage with the GoPro Dive Housing, including domes incorporating red filters.

Oculus Dome red filter for GoPro Hero HD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijZBC5Tov_4&hd=1

SRP Dome red filter for GoPro Dive Housing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcbpF0IQS6w&feature=relmfu


I'm assuming those wet mount dome port solutions, which go onto the GoPro Dive Housing, will also work with the Hero3 because GoPro has said their Dive Housing will work with the new camera. Even though the original GoPro housing will work underwater it has serious focus issues. The Dive Housing focuses much better than the original housing.
Side by side test: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s86PWJ5WWws&feature=related

Here's a test reel for the GoPro Dive Housing without a wet dome port
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucivXRBrP_0&feature=youtu.be

Here are some more aftermarket GoPro accessory tests:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_DG44VST2E&feature=related

None of the above videos was shot with the new GoPro Hero3. I'm guessing that the new camera in the Dive Housing, with a wet mounting red filter dome port will generate some pretty good images. I'm also guessing that the GoPro Hero3 incorporates some in-camera algortthms meant to minimize refraction, radial distortion, and CA when the camera is used with the GoPro Dive Housing, which has a flat port. The 2.7k/29.97fps and 1440p/48fps resolutions may look very good with the Dive Housing equipped with a wet mounting dome red filter attached. I'll look forward to someone testing something like that out to see the results, not on YouTube, but in its native resolution on a good monitor.

Obviously hardcore underwater shooters aren't going to choose a GoPro Hero3 solution for their A camera. But as a B camera for them, with proper accessories, in certain situations it just may produce some very good images. The camera should definitely a good B or C camera, and POV camera solution for professional terrestrial shooters who work in certain genres of production - for example mobile EFP genres (action sports, music, documentaries, lifestyle, cultures, etc.).
Click to expand...
 
Just got the Black and it is charging.

I promised I would post when I heard back from GoPro re simultaneous SD monitoring during record. We have it! This should rock for my intended use!
 
Just picked up the only Black edition from Best Buy. They had a lot of the Silver editions.
 
Stephen Mick said:
I'm amused by the fact that I ordered one the night they were announced, and it won't ship until mid-November. Meanwhile…some people can walk into Best Buy and grab one.
Click to expand...

I thought it was odd seeing them there today, remembering the announcement.
 
Stephen Mick said:
I'm amused by the fact that I ordered one the night they were announced, and it won't ship until mid-November. Meanwhile…some people can walk into Best Buy and grab one.
Click to expand...

I spoke with someone who works at GoPro today about this. He told me they were really caught off guard by Best Buy's early release of the Hero3. Best Buy wasn't supposed to start selling them until next week, so they're already getting calls for support issues and questions and they themselves have hardly had time to use the cameras. Crazy stuff. In the mean time, I'm very impressed by the Hero3. Really glad I was able to get my hands on a couple of them. Now if only the weather would cooperate so I could go paragliding and put them to good use!
 
Got two yesterday at Best Buy... says in the manual that 2.7k mode is for 'tripod shots only' and boy do they mean it. 1080p Medium-view mode looks pretty decent...
 
What do you mean tripod shots only, DL?

The manual doesn't say anything about "only" tripod-mounted, it says
Recommended for tripod or fixed position shots.
Click to expand...

But why? Too much smearing? Haven't had much time to test out my Hero3s yet.
 
best buy got approximately 2,000 units for their whole chain to be sold starting sunday 10/21. some stores cheated. but some stores did not get any, some got many, probably based on how many units they sold of hero2.

make sure you download cineform and upgrade the cameras.

we have 4 and have been using them like crazy.

good luck.

dino
 
Trevor Meeks said:
What do you mean tripod shots only, DL?

The manual doesn't say anything about "only" tripod-mounted, it says

Recommended for tripod or fixed position shots.

But why? Too much smearing? Haven't had much time to test out my Hero3s yet.
Click to expand...

Just my initial impression from some quick tests, but the rolling shutter is very noticeable - even for normal handheld-type stuff that you could get away with on a DSLR. I think it was inevitable that 2.7k was only gonna come with a serious sacrifice in sensor-readout (just look at Blackmagic...). Fortunately I had assumed that already, so it wasn't a major letdown. In 1080p mode it's a whole different story, and the readout appears to be very fast.

I'll be doing some more tests over the next week, including a quadcopter shoot, so I'll try and post back if I get anything good.
 
History Channel just did a big shoot with a bunch of these last week, footage looks pretty good. Like 4K DSLR with lots of mud on it.
 
I've used mine a bunch the last couple weeks... 2.7k actually looked very smooth when I stuck it on the head of our jib above the Scarlet on a music video shoot, no rolling shutter at all. 60p looked pretty good on a quadcopter, but without image stabilization I'm sticking to my Sony HX9V for now. And I was asked to shoot a super slow-mo job just a few days after I got them - launching ice balls at a roofing membrane to test it's durability against hail. 120fps on the Scarlet was much crisper, but the GoPros let us shoot at 240 with the camera right up in the blast radius of the ice chunks. Handy little tool, but the dynamic range is very limited...
 
I just received mine from GoPro and I have not opened it yet, I kinda need to sell it to buy some other gear. Let me know if anyone wants to buy it from me for the same price I paid + shipping or I will just return it back to them.

Thanks!
AJ
 
Lost mine in a Jet Ski race. It's now filming in the bottom of the Atlantic ocean... :(
 
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