I want an HD cam for sailing, everyone i hear still says the gocam is the best for us... any other (new) oppinions?

I think the wide angle is best? am i wrong?

also how /where do you guys like to mount it?

cheers

Hi Andrew,

I recommend the wide lens. When I bought it, there was only the 3m version available. But I would buy the 5M version without hesitation. Good place is and of boom, tiller or spin pole. Go to vimeo.com look for "smiths cat" (serach people) and see what you would miss, if you donÄt buy it.

Cheers,

Klaus

Buy the wide lens, and order it with the motorsports kit. Comes with a whole mess of ways to mount it. A friend just bought one, and I really wish the setup he has was available when I bought mine. I have the old school wrist mount version.

The HD is wide angle ony. The angle changes depending on what settings your using. I put together a mount out of PVC that puts the camera out past and above the end of the spin pole on a gimbal. I haven't used it yet, waiting on new boat. Ed

I bought the HD Version but it couldn't try it, due to the weather conditions, yet. You can choose either a 127° or 170° angle, but from what I tried the first is sufficent and has the better video quality, too. I bought the rollbar mount with the camera and this works perfectly on the spi pole.

Great data.. thanks guys! I wasn't sure about the wide angle as i thought it was just a fish-eye lens (curved) but perhaps that was incorrect.

Both are wide angle, but teh "wide" is a true fish eye. The HD versions is only available as "wide". For attached sport cameras are can only recommend a fish eye. The feeling for speed is more realistic and the fact that you have much more "in the box" is worth the negative fish eye effect.

Cheers,

Klaus

The below link is a hero hd recorded in full 1080p. I had it on a head mount of one of the teams I work with at 2am during the 24 hours of Daytona. This is truely an amazing camera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpLAHbjlyYU

I am at the 12 hours of Sebring now and hope to get more great footage.

Gopro HD is high on my wishlist.
Here's a tutorial on using it properly: http://pointofviewcameras.com/blog/pov/article/gopro-hd-hero-mounting-and-filming-tips

Mount it from the back.... of the boom.

...and even then you have to point it outward (slightly) to get you in if you are on the wire.
On the boom it is also a good way to review your manoeuvres.
If you put it on the mid boom pointing upward it is excellent to check your sail trim

I think this excerpt from the owners manual explains the various options best.
My major use for the camera is not to make movies to entertain myself or others but to have a tool to improve manoveurs etc. - so I will mount the camera on the spi pole right in front of the snuffer facing backwards.

I just got one, plan on mounting in several places, haven't figured out exactly how yet so looking for specific feedback.

Places considering:
- One a pole extended out the front of the spin pole (ahead of the tack of the spi), with this distance from the crew, perhaps setting r5 as I don't need as much width in the field of view (fov)
- On spin pole, somewhere clear of spin during hoist / douse, perhaps on spin pole just behind snuffer (maybe setting r4)
- Back of boom, facing forward. Maybe off a pole extending it back farther? Maybe setting r2/r3 or r5?
- Front starboard beam, for close up trap action...
- Top of the mast looking down, starboard side...

Any suggestions on how to attach (I have the handlebar mount, as well as a bunch of the sticky mounts) and feedback / experience on settings would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking to put together a bunch of training vids for myself and others to use.

This will be on AHPC Vipers, Capricorns and C2s, and later down the season perhaps some other F18s if I can get people to put it on their boats at some regattas.

Cheers,
-P

i have mine mounted on my spin pole about 2' infront of my front beam... lead to some interesting shots.. but kinda boring.

i have the helmet straps that come with a soft strap. works great. but you can get sea sick watching your video (depending on how much head movement you have) can also be used to wrap around the boom and face sideways.

i took my cam out on a walk and tested all the modes.. i currently use r5 all the time. makes for big files but i dont care about that much. i did NOT like the wide angles because it made everything bend and waive (felt like i was having a 60's flashback... and i am to young for that)

Andrew,

This is the wide angle with the motorsports kit suction-cupped to the window of the Surf City Skiff. Still experimenting. It has some limitations for what I do, but the waterproofness and the HD are cool.

looks cool J.
I am sure the wideangle is good for many views, but when mounted on the helmet cam, or in the center of the bows (sprit) it makes objects on the outsides of the focal point curved and odd.

That being said, i feel you all have the wrong idea of what this camera should really be used for....

this is a low res version (as i had to render it quickly this morning before i left for work, so i could upload it ....

We went for the HD which, as has already been said, uses a wide lens.
Here's Paul's first attempt to try out the abilities of the camera and also a few different mounting points (for windsurfing). We'll get some F16 footage up later in the year.....

Thanks guys, the more input the better, my general thought is try them all (I like 16x9 framing of the Jalani's vid) and combine shot angles for actual movies. Plus kick butt music helps. If only I could afford three of these things at once....

and girls jumping on trampolines...

Now for one with a built-in windscreen wiper!