Thanks for you comments, David. There undoubtedly are annoying videos out there done with the GoPro, but probably no more than are made with any other camera or video camera.
You said you don't know what you would like to achieve with it. The best GoPro videos I have seen are ones that capture an experience, for example sky diving, dirt bike racing or ski jumping. There are several activities I enjoy that I would like to capture digitally, but I feel would not be suited for my M-5 II S. In 11 days, we leave for a month on Maui. While there, I do some snorkeling and scuba diving. Although I have a film underwater camera and a digital one, I have never been able to capture the experience adequately. I also will swim with sea turtles once or twice out there, another event I believe may be suited for the GoPro. While I certainly intend to use my Pentax DSLR on whale watches, since the action is sometimes extended, that is another time I intend to try the GoPro. I would like to take some decent videos of the surfers and wind surfers at Ho'okipa. Once or twice a week I will rise early to paddle with the Kihei Canoe Club. We often see whales, dolphins and turtles out on the Pacific, but with the paddle in my hands, a camera I can strap to my chest or head would be quite convenient. The waterproof case is also a big positive for me. I don't really see it as replacing any of the DSLR shooting I expect to do, but I hope it will add another dimension to my efforts to capture the beauty and the spirit of a place I love. Dan Matyola http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola On Sat, Jan 3, 2015 at 12:58 AM, David Mann <[email protected]> wrote: > On Jan 3, 2015, at 5:12 am, Steve Cottrell <[email protected]> wrote: > >> In broadcast TV all material is shot in interlaced (hence 1080i) and >> broadcast interlaced. Cathode ray tube TVs display interlaced images. >> All LCD and LED and Plasma TVs display progressive images - they >> convert on the fly in real time to progressive as you view. For web >> viewing any interlaced footage needs to be converted into progressive >> footage otherwise you will see nasty horizontal artifacts on any moving >> images. So it may be as well to shoot progressive (eg 1080p) with the >> gopro as you will no doubt want to share the video for viewing on >> computers or other LCD screens. Shooting at 720p is another option, less >> resolution but for web viewing, not a problem. > > That's interesting but it makes me wonder why we'd ever shoot interlaced if > all the end use nowadays is progressive. > >> Note that there are settings for 'wide, medium, narrow' and these relate >> to field of view. The gopro lens is fixed and cannot be zoomed, except >> by this method. So if the image is too wide for your taste or needs, set >> to medium for a less distorted image. > > Knowing nothing about Gopro cameras, this is also interesting to me. Only > because I see so much footage that annoys me because of a fisheye effect. Do > the narrower views eliminate the distortion or just reduce it? > > FWIW a lot of other companies are coming out with action cameras now, eg > Shimano and Garmin. I'm not sure if Contour is still around. It's good to > see some more companies getting involved. > > I wouldn't mind playing with one of these things but when I think a bit more > seriously I just don't know what I'd want to achieve with it. > > Cheers, > Dave > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
