GoPro has truly revolutionized the video world with its lineup of compact, rugged, HD Hero cameras. They allow us to place cameras in places never before possible, to get that truly unbelievable and unique shot. Their rugged housings allow them to be used underwater down to some 190′ and the vast array of attachments means they can practically be mounted anywhere you can think of.
But the biggest problem facing these inexpensive high-tech cams has been in the Pro sector; where the ultra contrasty and compressed footage has proven very difficult to mix with other cameras that cost 10X and 100X their price.
GoPro’s Solution? A Protune Firmware upgrade for the Hero 2 and recently released Hero 3, that give the cameras not only much higher recording bitrates, but also a log curve, cinema style, picture profile for greatly increased latitude and gradability in post. This makes these little guys very inticing indeed to use on a shoot.
This gave myself & 2 very good mates of mine, Mat Seguin and Marti Monette, the idea to test these different models GoPro Heros and see just what they can do. I’m sure most of us has seen the amazing videos GoPro has released with the Hero 3 Black Edition, claiming 2.7K resolution at 30FPS, increased low light performance and a new flat lens case, but do these cameras hold tru in the real world? We went to find out.
We performed 5 tests with the Hero cams:
Resolution Test- Hero 1,2,3
Slow Motion Test- Hero 1,2,3
Wifi Remote Test- Hero 3 Black Edition
GoPro App Test- Hero 3 Black Edition, Ipad 2
Action Test- Hero 1,2,3
THE TEST TEAM
Myself
Martin Monette- thecheapcanuckfilmmaker.com
GH2 Camera Op: Matt Seguin- motionarcstudios.com
Boom Op: Steve Mariotti (my brother)
Talent: Clarissa Pisaric & Steve Mariotti
Special thanks to our friends Ashley & Tim for lending their Hero 1 & Hero 2!
Our followup discussion on the results can be found here.
[…] The GoPro Shootout 2013 […]
great job Marty and Ryan and pretty accomplice!!