By JEANNE AZAROVITZ
I was happy to take on this assignment because I want a GoPro camera. What is a GoPro camera? GoPro is a manufactured brand that offers a sturdy waterproof camera for recording action shots and videos. New GoPro cameras start at $129.99 and can go as high as $699.99 for a fully loaded GoPro Hero 4 Black.
GoPros may seem like something for the younger set, but all sorts of people upload videos on YouTube or on Vine. A fisherman might record the one that got away. There were some great white shark videos from Cape Cod on the news this summer.
There are many GoPro video clips on the Internet, and I enjoy most of them. I think the most interesting ones are the videos shot of the water, waves or surfing. The perspective from the top of a surf- or paddleboard is fun, and I have really wanted to share it. I also travel and hate the idea of carrying around anything besides my phone and a wallet and sunglasses when I am on vacation. I want to be less burdened and ready to go.
So why not try a GoPro? Before you head out to the store to purchase one for a friend or for yourself, there are a few things I would recommend thinking about first.
You need to ask: what am I going to use the camera for, or who are you buying it for? Is this going to be mounted on a helmet or a bike? While practicing a sport or training one can use a wearable camera and they are among the more popular ways to use them.
If you just want to shoot a video from your car and you don’t want to jump in and buy a new camera just yet, consider the cheaper alternative of a camera mount or a selfie stick. There are also other brands that have been around just as long as GoPro as well as kick start companies that have their own version of an action cameras.
Think about the purpose of the video or pictures shot and the quality of the picture desired. If you are using it to train, you might not need super definition and you can get away with spending less money.
The last thing is to remember that the camera still needs a place to record the information and will probably need to be charged. Don’t forget to purchase the SD card or the cables you need to charge the camera or an hdmi cable, which will allow you to play back your images to your TV or other device. Use the Internet to shop or visit a store and get advice in person. Oftentimes, holding the camera and talking to a person who can walk you through your questions is worth the drive to a local store.
My first call was to Board Stiff on Main Street in Falmouth. They stock new GoPro cameras. I didn’t see any offered at Olympia Sports but at larger retail sporting goods stores they may stock them. Call ahead, even if you see them offered on the website to make sure they have what you need in stock and ask if the brand alternatives are compatible with GoPro products or at least have universal camera mounting options, so you can have more choices when taking pictures or video.
My visit to an Apple store in Hingham was interesting and a fun shopping experience. It was late on a Sunday afternoon and the whole shopping complex was busy. I walked in, and the place was mobbed. There were many salespeople on the floor. A clerk said that the GoPro cameras they carried were flying off the shelves, and I noticed that the GoPro Black was sold out. If you know what you want, you can just go in and browse and grab one. A service clerk who was not helping a customer was happy to answer my questions. Apple also had accessories, alternative cameras, and that other thing people want for the holidays: drones.
Technology today has allowed the idea of a simple security camera to evolve into tiny hidden mounted or wearable camera. There is even a mistletoe offered on the Hammacher Schlemmer website that has a camera in it. If someone approaches you with glasses on, they may have a camera mounted on them as well. Smile and behave: this world may never be completely private again. Two years ago I saw a drone fly over our house for first time. It was a very bizarre visit, and I never did find out who was flying it.
For friends who already own GoPros and are thinking about an upgrade, based on the initial reviews I have read and the people I casually surveyed, a drone may be a better choice. The drones have a wild range of prices from less than $100 at Radio Shack and up.
A top shelf gift is an automatic or “auto follow camera.” One product is called a Lily Drone, and you wear a chip and then literally toss the drone in the air like a Frisbee (turned on, of course). You can ski, walk, bike or do whatever you want to record, and the drone hovers over you. A quick search on the Internet can point you to some videos posted on what you would have to invest for this. It is worth a look; some items are lesser known brands and more affordable than you think. If you want a nice HD video or picture and remote possibilities in a sturdy waterproof camera with many, many accessories, stick with the GoPro line and you will be happy. Shop around for the right price, Radio Shack in Falmouth did carry the GoPro at one point and now carries other items. They have some accessories still available as well as other phone mounts.
There are also many robots you can program. You may even find the GoPro cameras and accessories in the clearance section to make room for some of these newer toys. If you don’t want to spend so much on brand-new technology, you should think about an alternative brand than GoPro. There is a camera offered by Staples, in stock in their Falmouth store, that comes with its own line of accessories that look very similar to the ones offered by GoPro. The price tag is cheaper, less than $100.
With careful thought a little homework, and a well-planned selection, you can find the shutterbug, budding movie or YouTube director on your holiday gift list a cool present that will get lots of use. Good luck, and have fun exploring the wearables that are available today for photographers, social media users or athletes, and enjoy the holidays this year.
The Test Drive
This fall I was able to borrow a GoPro from a friend to test it out. It wasn’t boating weather anymore, so I took the camera for a trial run in Alabama where we had tickets to camp on the infield of the Talladega Super Speedway for the NASCAR activities during October. I thought why not take the camera on a walk through the pits on race day? I charged it up and packed the straps I needed. The camera charged using my laptop and a USB adaptor.
Don’t forget that you need that SD card for memory as well and don’t pop in an old card it may be formatted and you will lose all your old saved pictures.
I should have spent more time reading the instructions and paying attention to the settings. When I do get a camera, I will be sure to get any apps that are available for upgrades, updates or operating instructions.
It took only a short while to find a spot where I could mount the camera besides my head. I put in on the top of my rib cage facing out. Shades of color or changes in light catch my eye and it was very freeing to know the images around me were being recorded without having to stop to take a picture. At this event there were no drones allowed. Banning drones has become more widespread now, so before you pack your equipment, check ahead to make sure you can use it.
It was a great day and I did get lots of decent shots. Let’s just say it was a great practice run and I was also glad I had an iphone for a backup. I had nice responses from people who noticed the camera. It is amazing how accustomed people are to having their pictures taken. Every time I brought up a GoPro camera either at a store or at the track, someone knew someone who had used one and loved it. I noticed cameras mounted in many of the cars. One car had three on at once to capture all the angles while the car raced around the track at 200mph. The cameras are definitely sturdy and didn’t move. If you aren’t training with it or using it, it could become another gift that ends up in the closet. But if you love photography or want to experiment with recording action this is a fun gift.