Old Dog, New Tricks: Waiting for my GoPro HERO3

I can't wait. I'm like a little kid waiting for Santa Claus to put my presents under the tree. Ever since Steven Evans blogged about the new GoPro HERO3 in February, I knew that this was the camera I've been looking for. Being the director of education at the New York Institute of Photography, I've always felt guilty that I never came from the ranks of photographers. I've always been a professional blogger and leaned more towards videography. I have an older prosumer Panasonic videocam, and it served me well for years. But its built-in mic was problematic, the camera body was bulky, it wasn't HD, and on and on. Time for an upgrade.

I just pulled the trigger and purchased the HERO3 Black Edition with a headstrap mounting attachment and extra backup battery (always a necessity). The plan is for me to let you know my progress and to share a few videos with you. Hopefully we'll be making some videos that have to do with general photography, but they just might be fun videos I'm making with my new toy strapped to my head! (Or maybe I'll become good enough to put together something like today's Video Pick, below.) I'll keep you posted, particularly as I check out the battery life, which I've been reading a lot of complaints about online (the reason why I purchased a spare battery).

WHO ARE WE?

We're the New York Institute of Photography, a distance education school teaching photography since 1910 - over 100 years of knowledge and experience.

 Click here to watch the New York Institute of Photography video.

New Video Camera Contender from Blackmagic Designs

 

For just under $3,000, the new Blackmagic Cinema Camera from Blackmagic Designs is sure to challenge the DSLR and pro-video camera market. Blackmagic, known for manufacturing external recording boxes, is now a challenge to RED, Arri, Sony, and Canon.

With a lighter camera body (yet heavy enough to ensure shooting stability, heavier than your usual DSLR) and a high dynamic range preferred for independent film and television makers, the Cinema Camera is a lower-priced contender. The early word is that this camera will be a good product for still photographers who would like to add more video to their portfolio. Click here for Blackmagic Designs' official product description and click here for an EOSHD.com trial report on using the new camera.
 

Join the Discussion

Is this a camera you would invest in for your photography practice?
 

We're the New York Institute of Photography, a distance education school teaching photography since 1910 - over 100 years of knowledge and experience. Listen to the following podcast to learn more about who we are and what we do. WHAT IS THE NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF PHOTOGRAPHY? [20:58M]

7 New Cameras - Which Is Your Favorite?

New gadgets - that's what it's all about, isn't it? A guy or a gal ... and their gizmos! We wanted to highlight a few of the 7 new cameras that have been released this season. Is there one in this new pack of gadgets that you'd like to test drive or purchase? Click on each image for more information.

Tiny palm-sized Minox DCC packs 5.1 megapixels and is made from the same folks who built those 1940s CIA silver spy cams

Another tiny camera, the Pentax Q boasts DSLR features, including shooting HD video

The colorful plastic bodies of the Lomography Sprocket Rocket houses an analog camera that exposes film all the way to the edges, past the sprocket holes

This 18-megapixel Leica M9 has a stylish full-metal titanium body and a stylish price tag at around $16,000

The new FUJIFILM X10 looks retro but has a CMOS sensor and high-def FUJINON F2.0 lens that can wide-angle and manual zoom like a pro

The CANON EOS REBEL T31 features solid video and still photography features

Samsung's MV800 Multiview Camera features a wicked flip screen to take shots at various angles, and many other innovative features

We're the New York Institute of Photography, a distance education school teaching photography since 1910 - over 100 years of knowledge and experience. Listen to the following podcast to learn more about who we are and what we do.

Audio Link: WHAT IS THE NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF PHOTOGRAPHY? [20:58M]

All I Want for Christmas is a Looxcie 2

Well, I have other items on my holiday Wish List, but the tech head in me is really yearning for the Looxcie 2, a wearable video camcorder that allows you to record footage from your own worm's eye point of view - and then you can share it right away with your social network buddies. The charge is about $180 - but click here to get it for about $155 at Amazon - and you'll get about 10 hours of footage. Here's a great review of the features and shooting tips from Mark Bridge of ThePhonecast.com.

We're the New York Institute of Photography, a distance education school teaching photography since 1910 - over 100 years of knowledge and experience. Listen to the following podcast to learn more about who we are and what we do.

Audio Link: WHAT IS THE NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF PHOTOGRAPHY? [20:58M]

Slider System for Your Digital Video Toolkit

Does your DSLR have a good video mode? (I've been drooling over the Canon EOS 7D and Nikon D300s lately.) As a digital video guy, I've often wanted to do low pan shots, but it's mighty awkward to crouch low to the ground, mount my camera on a tabletop tripod, and pan. I loved the following video because it demonstrated how I could mount my camera on a slider rail (as in this set by Juiced Link), slightly angle the rails, and slide my rig downhill on roller bearing wheels. Slick. I can get the same effect with long pans from a higher position that I can comfortably reach, too - you just need to brace the rails and let your camera roll. 

Do you shoot video with your DSLR?

Is this something you'd like in your DV toolkit?

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Tune in on YouTube.  Visit the Official Site at NYIP.com.