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Go Pro. How'd ya like me now?

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Beach Bum said:
eyeswideshut said:
003tvd said:
A while back many here poo-pood Go Pro as a fad, something skateboarders used to watch each other getting injured, but hardly serious imaging devices. Seems they've done OK. Is this "The Next Big Thing" in the imaging world? http://www.dji.com/product/phantom-2-vision-plus/video Click on "introducing the Phantom 2 Vision+", but turn down your speakers for the first part, it's way LOUD.
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You wanna know if something is going to be big? Follow the babes, they have an uncanny knack for devining the next big thing.
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Brilliant. Thanks for that insight.
Beach Bum said:
Who'll get lucky? The guy on the board with a Go Pro or the measurebating equivalist worrying that that puny sensor will never allow decent subject separation and narrow-dof goodness? You guessed it.
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Brilliant again.
Beach Bum said:
Really, my best wishes for Go Pro. If they succeed we can reasonably expect to return to cameras unashamedly optimized for stills, with only rudimentary - if any - video capability. Seems manufacturers only recently introduced 60p/second and already the yahoos are screaming about 4k video in every g&dd@m camera.
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This theory has been debunked over and over and over. Video takes absolutely nothing from stills. And, if anything, the extra processing power only adds to the stills capability. And, if GoPro were to succeed, one would hope that there would be something left over with better than the crud quality that GoPro produces.

Furthermore, video is the future. Stills are the past. The day they have a YouTube site devoted to still images, I'll eat my hat. You can't really tell a story or document an event with stills the way you can with video. And, very soon, individual frames of video will be quite competitive with dedicated still images.

Virtually no manufacturer is going to create a stills only camera. It would be suicide.
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"GoPro is simply one of the least capable companies I've ever come across. They bring new meaning to the concept of grossly overhyped."

Some Go Pro numbers...

GoPro started in 2004 with the founder selling them from the back of his van
On June 26, 2014 the company raised $427m on its first day as a publicly traded company. At the IPO price the company is valued at $2.95b
Not too bad for a flash in the pan over hyped product..

BTW, Apple does not make any of their products either , nor in fact does Sony make all of theirs .

You Tube comparison . if you really want to compare image quality, have a look at the GoPro image on a 50" HD screen then try that with the key chain version.

Now go and edit your 808 footage and make a movie out of it...

or take a look at one of the reasons for the GoPro success :

http://gopro.com/software-app/gopro-studio-edit-software

"Update! It's the morning of June 27, and GPRO's share price keeps on climbing! In just the first few hours of trading alone, the stock has surged an additional 20% and the company's market cap is now $3.2 billion! That adds another $90 million dollars to Nick's fortune ($1.44 billion as of this writing)."

Loading…

www.celebritynetworth.com



BTW, no I don't have a horse in this race nor a chip on my shoulders.
 
Beach Bum said:
And, granted, the GoPro does produce marginally better quality than the 808's. But so what? Whenever we talk about the troubles the Japanese makers are going through with cameras, it's always the same argument. Cell phones are good enough and people don't need the better quality from real cameras. But with the GoPro, they do need the tiny improvement that it offers over a $50 toy.

Complete bunk. GoPro is nothing more than a name and status symbol. These things don't last forever. Today's household name is tomorrow's has-been. I just don't see this company producing anything that will carry them to 2020. We have reasonably high quality video in so many disposable things now, I don't see them being able to sustain a $300 or $400 price tag into the future.

If I were a gambling man, I'd give their stock a pass.
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If any of the cell phone cameras / $50 keychain cameras had as great a video as the gopro, came with several mounts, and a high quality, durable, waterproof housing, gopro would be in the same boat as Kodak and sony. I think gopro camera's get lost in the surf for months and still work fine when eventually found. Traditional camera manufacturers tell you to expect their waterproof cameras to leak/ fog up and that it is your problem.



But they are all too traditional to build housings and mounts. That is someone else's problem. And so GoPro gains a sale. No biggie. There is room for everyone at the camera table.



If you are going to mount a camera to your kayak, ATV, airplane, high altitude balloon, or jetski,...who ya going to call? GoPro! The perfect solution comes in any one of their boxes. Especially if you don't want to take the time to become a photography engineer yourself. Even the least skilled hobbyist is happy with the results.



I don't think GoPro's competitors understand its customers. They also probably think all of us, as customers, are just stupid or following a status symbol. Therefore, GoPro is in no danger of loosing customers.



Aren't all action video camera's called GoPro's now? Like Velcro fasteners and Xerox copies.
 
Beach Bum said:
You can't really tell a story or document an event with stills the way you can with video.
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I assume you mean in a boring way that no one will ever watch.

I've seen a lot of wedding albums on coffee tables. When you ask them for their wedding video, they go rummaging through a crawl space looking in some damp boxes for it. It's simply because the video is too boring to watch and also because no one can simply flip through it and hold a conversation at the same time.

--

Lee Jay
 
eyeswideshut said:
But we are approaching a point where I believe we may see a parting of the ways again between stills cameras and video gear ==> important point: for some cameras, mainly the classic dslr.
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I think what you say has about the same chance as that of a snowball staying solid on the surface of the sun.
 
FrancoD said:
"GoPro is simply one of the least capable companies I've ever come across. They bring new meaning to the concept of grossly overhyped."

Some Go Pro numbers...

GoPro started in 2004 with the founder selling them from the back of his van
On June 26, 2014 the company raised $427m on its first day as a publicly traded company. At the IPO price the company is valued at $2.95b
Not too bad for a flash in the pan over hyped product..

BTW, Apple does not make any of their products either , nor in fact does Sony make all of theirs .
Click to expand...
I know Apple doesn't make their products either. It's a definite problem with American companies. They're entirely reliant on others. The most critical part of a PC though is the CPU, and those are made in America, not Asia. But I do believe they do their own software, so it's not entirely the same thing. A lot of their value is in their operating systems and other software.

All quality imaging sensors are made in Asia.

And I've never been overly impressed with what Apple does, but I'm not here to start a flame war. But IMO, they also produce a lot of overpriced gear that goes to people looking for a status symbol. I've always found Microsoft to be more reliable, business friendly, and much less likely to ditch all their past operating systems and software on a whim. But hey, Microsoft is American too.

Sony, as is typical with Japanese and other Asian manufacturers, make most of their own stuff. They, of course don't make the processors that go in their PCs.

FrancoD said:
You Tube comparison . if you really want to compare image quality, have a look at the GoPro image on a 50" HD screen then try that with the key chain version.
Click to expand...
I've seen a lot of sample GoPro footage. It's perfectly fine. I wouldn't call it pro quality by any stretch. If you know of any raw, unedited footage that I can look at on my big screen plasma, I'd be happy to. I've seen a lot of YouTube and Vimeo footage though. And I almost always do watch it on my TV, not my computer screen.

I don't believe it's going to look markedly better than the 808 #26 or the Mobius. I believe the Sony AS100 is likely to look better because of the image stabilization built in.

And I don't think any of these are suitable to make a movie.

FrancoD said:
Now go and edit your 808 footage and make a movie out of it...
Click to expand...
I have news for you. You can't make a movie with the GoPro either.

FrancoD said:
or take a look at one of the reasons for the GoPro success :

http://gopro.com/software-app/gopro-studio-edit-software

"Update! It's the morning of June 27, and GPRO's share price keeps on climbing! In just the first few hours of trading alone, the stock has surged an additional 20% and the company's market cap is now $3.2 billion! That adds another $90 million dollars to Nick's fortune ($1.44 billion as of this writing)."

http://www.celebritynetworth.com/ar...rfer-became-billionaire-thanks-gopro-cameras/

BTW, no I don't have a horse in this race nor a chip on my shoulders.
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I don't really have a horse in this race. I've just been completely unimpressed by GoPro. They make one thing. They don't manufacture any of the components whatsoever. I do have a problem with companies that have to buy every component and mark it up accordingly. There is a definite price penalty for this.

If their single product weren't so ridiculously simplistic, I might not have such a problem with them. And if I didn't think that their very existence hurts the camera industry as a whole, I wouldn't have a problem with them.
 
Lee Jay said:
Beach Bum said:
You can't really tell a story or document an event with stills the way you can with video.
Click to expand...
I assume you mean in a boring way that no one will ever watch.

I've seen a lot of wedding albums on coffee tables. When you ask them for their wedding video, they go rummaging through a crawl space looking in some damp boxes for it. It's simply because the video is too boring to watch and also because no one can simply flip through it and hold a conversation at the same time.

--

Lee Jay
Click to expand...
There's a lot of interesting amateur stuff on YouTube. Granted, some people don't know how to do video right. But when it's done right, it's a whole lot more interesting than going through a series of still images.

Still images are nice for their artistic value, but you're not going to start laughing hysterically at a still image or be captivated in the same way.

Just IMO. When video is done right, it's a much more powerful medium.
 
no text
 
ZX11 said:
Beach Bum said:
And, granted, the GoPro does produce marginally better quality than the 808's. But so what? Whenever we talk about the troubles the Japanese makers are going through with cameras, it's always the same argument. Cell phones are good enough and people don't need the better quality from real cameras. But with the GoPro, they do need the tiny improvement that it offers over a $50 toy.

Complete bunk. GoPro is nothing more than a name and status symbol. These things don't last forever. Today's household name is tomorrow's has-been. I just don't see this company producing anything that will carry them to 2020. We have reasonably high quality video in so many disposable things now, I don't see them being able to sustain a $300 or $400 price tag into the future.

If I were a gambling man, I'd give their stock a pass.
Click to expand...
If any of the cell phone cameras / $50 keychain cameras had as great a video as the gopro, came with several mounts, and a high quality, durable, waterproof housing, gopro would be in the same boat as Kodak and sony. I think gopro camera's get lost in the surf for months and still work fine when eventually found. Traditional camera manufacturers tell you to expect their waterproof cameras to leak/ fog up and that it is your problem.
Click to expand...
I've watched a lot of video in my life, and I just don't feel that GoPro is fit to hold Sony's jockstrap when it comes to video or imaging. Sony does produce several mounts that are high quality, durable, and completely waterproof. If you bothered to look, you would see that.

And GoPro is in trouble. Their sales and profits are down big time.

ZX11 said:
But they are all too traditional to build housings and mounts. That is someone else's problem. And so GoPro gains a sale. No biggie. There is room for everyone at the camera table.

If you are going to mount a camera to your kayak, ATV, airplane, high altitude balloon, or jetski,...who ya going to call? GoPro! The perfect solution comes in any one of their boxes. Especially if you don't want to take the time to become a photography engineer yourself. Even the least skilled hobbyist is happy with the results.

I don't think GoPro's competitors understand its customers. They also probably think all of us, as customers, are just stupid or following a status symbol. Therefore, GoPro is in no danger of loosing customers.

Aren't all action video camera's called GoPro's now? Like Velcro fasteners and Xerox copies.

--
"Very funny, Scotty! Now beam me down my clothes."
Click to expand...
 
Beach Bum said:
FrancoD said:
Click to expand...
Beach Bum said:
You Tube comparison . if you really want to compare image quality, have a look at the GoPro image on a 50" HD screen then try that with the key chain version.
Click to expand...
I've seen a lot of sample GoPro footage. It's perfectly fine. I wouldn't call it pro quality by any stretch. If you know of any raw, unedited footage that I can look at on my big screen plasma, I'd be happy to. I've seen a lot of YouTube and Vimeo footage though. And I almost always do watch it on my TV, not my computer screen.

I don't believe it's going to look markedly better than the 808 #26 or the Mobius. I believe the Sony AS100 is likely to look better because of the image stabilization built in.
Click to expand...
Are you aware that the GoPro can shoot at 35Mbps using the cineform codec? That mode IS significantly better than what anyone else is doing in the action cam field.

Not sure if all the GoPro models have the high bitrate codec, but the Hero3 Black does.
Beach Bum said:
And I don't think any of these are suitable to make a movie.
Beach Bum said:
Now go and edit your 808 footage and make a movie out of it...
Click to expand...
I have news for you. You can't make a movie with the GoPro either.
Click to expand...
Why is that? I routinely edit GoPro footage, maybe I am doing something wrong. Better inform MythBusters too, as they use a lot of GoPro footage.
 
Beach Bum said:
You can't really tell a story or document an event with stills the way you can with video.
Click to expand...
Sure you can, it has been done for years. It's just harder to do and takes more skill. A perfectly timed static image of an event frozen in time is often a more dramatic presentation. Video is great for some things, but it's not a replacement for still photography.

Sure you could grab a still from a 4k video cam that will work for most print sizes and the web, but that is the low skill, cheap way out.
 
That is the weight and size for the entire package I bet.

I like the shape of that camera (and the Contour) better than the GoPro. More aerodynamic.



Then you see this commercial . I wonder if GoPro's business plan and overall culture fear new products from traditional camera makers. Like if Spektrum fears Futaba or Kraft? :)



New upstart companies making waves in the traditional company's pond. So disrespectful! LOL.



It is odd that GoPro is down in profit and revenue but that is the problem with tech companies. But I like the company and how they developed from someone trying to sell lanyards to hold cameras on the surfboard. I think many people are learning how to market cameras from them. Good stuff.



Never been unhappy with the video results.
Never been unhappy with the video results.





You guys all earned a selfie with your persuasive arguments.
You guys all earned a selfie with your persuasive arguments.







--
"Very funny, Scotty! Now beam me down my clothes."
 
GodSpeaks said:
Beach Bum said:
FrancoD said:
You Tube comparison . if you really want to compare image quality, have a look at the GoPro image on a 50" HD screen then try that with the key chain version.
Click to expand...
I've seen a lot of sample GoPro footage. It's perfectly fine. I wouldn't call it pro quality by any stretch. If you know of any raw, unedited footage that I can look at on my big screen plasma, I'd be happy to. I've seen a lot of YouTube and Vimeo footage though. And I almost always do watch it on my TV, not my computer screen.

I don't believe it's going to look markedly better than the 808 #26 or the Mobius. I believe the Sony AS100 is likely to look better because of the image stabilization built in.
Click to expand...
Are you aware that the GoPro can shoot at 35Mbps using the cineform codec? That mode IS significantly better than what anyone else is doing in the action cam field.

Not sure if all the GoPro models have the high bitrate codec, but the Hero3 Black does.
GodSpeaks said:
And I don't think any of these are suitable to make a movie.
GodSpeaks said:
Now go and edit your 808 footage and make a movie out of it...
Click to expand...
I have news for you. You can't make a movie with the GoPro either.
Click to expand...
Why is that? I routinely edit GoPro footage, maybe I am doing something wrong. Better inform MythBusters too, as they use a lot of GoPro footage.

--
The greatest of mankind's criminals are those who delude themselves into thinking they have done 'the right thing.'
- Rayna Butler
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ok.. and the Sony as100v has xavcs @ 50mbps

also...

Loading…

www.dropzone.com



$400 gorpro got smashed by $300 Sony as100v





10213-work-pov-cam-exit-shot.jpg
 
Beach Bum said:
... The day they have a YouTube site devoted to still images, I'll eat my hat.
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Smugmug, Panoramio, 500px, Facebook, Flickr, DeviantArt, Snapfish, Behance ... Would you like ketchup or fries with the hat?
 
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GodSpeaks said:
Beach Bum said:
FrancoD said:
You Tube comparison . if you really want to compare image quality, have a look at the GoPro image on a 50" HD screen then try that with the key chain version.
Click to expand...
I've seen a lot of sample GoPro footage. It's perfectly fine. I wouldn't call it pro quality by any stretch. If you know of any raw, unedited footage that I can look at on my big screen plasma, I'd be happy to. I've seen a lot of YouTube and Vimeo footage though. And I almost always do watch it on my TV, not my computer screen.

I don't believe it's going to look markedly better than the 808 #26 or the Mobius. I believe the Sony AS100 is likely to look better because of the image stabilization built in.
Click to expand...
Are you aware that the GoPro can shoot at 35Mbps using the cineform codec? That mode IS significantly better than what anyone else is doing in the action cam field.

Not sure if all the GoPro models have the high bitrate codec, but the Hero3 Black does
Click to expand...
The Sony AS100V has 50Mbps XAVC-S.

Loading…

www.redsharknews.com

The AS100V has a sharper lens, better sensor (even though the GoPro uses a Sony sensor), image stabilization, and a far better codec with a higher bitrate.

GoPro is completely outclassed here. And FYI, Sony can do far better than GoPro with lower bitrates. They know far more about video encoding than GoPro. When Sony ups the bitrate to a higher level than GoPro with a far more advanced codec, it's game over.

GoPro is hopelessly outclassed here. Watch the YouTube videos for yourself.

GodSpeaks said:
.
GodSpeaks said:
And I don't think any of these are suitable to make a movie.
GodSpeaks said:
Now go and edit your 808 footage and make a movie out of it...
Click to expand...
I have news for you. You can't make a movie with the GoPro either.
Click to expand...
Why is that? I routinely edit GoPro footage, maybe I am doing something wrong. Better inform MythBusters too, as they use a lot of GoPro footage.

--
The greatest of mankind's criminals are those who delude themselves into thinking they have done 'the right thing.'
- Rayna Butler
Click to expand...
 
Size:108*42*42.4mm
Weight:4.8oz

What you saw included the entire package of mounts and accessories.

It's a way more aerodynamic package than a square gopro, which matters if you plan to put if on a model airplane.



Polaroid_XS100i.jpg




--
Lee Jay
 
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eyeswideshut said:
Lee Jay said:
eyeswideshut said:
But we are approaching a point where I believe we may see a parting of the ways again between stills cameras and video gear ==> important point: for some cameras, mainly the classic dslr.
Click to expand...
I think what you say has about the same chance as that of a snowball staying solid on the surface of the sun.

--
Lee Jay
Click to expand...
It has already happened once with the Nikon Df. A tentative step in the direction of 'pure photography' as they called it in their teaser ads.

Currently DSLRs are "burdened" with video because Canon was first and did such a fine job of it on the 5d - as they don't have a comparable MILC camera (yet). But video really, really does not require a mirror/pentaprism arrangement. It's quite superflous in fact and an EVF is much better for that sort of thing. Meanwhile you may notice what is happening to the DSLR. Those who want to use them for video demand swivelly lcds, audio jacks, vu meters etc etc. None of that has much to do with photography.

--

Cheers
eyeswideshut
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The Nikon DF was a dumb throwback. DSLRs will have video going forward, and it will be expanded in capability. We might even see hybrid viewfinders.

--
Lee Jay
 
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