GoPros

Why are GoPros looked down on by a majority of climbers that I've met? These are almost some of the people who wish there were more sources of media for climbing.

Am I the only one that is confused by this thought process?

I don't think most people are inherently against GoPros, it's just the ridiculous ways they're often used.
Like the guy I saw TRing a 5.9 at the gym the other day with a GoPro strapped to his forehead. Or the other guy I saw leading a 5.8 at Sport Park with a giant backpack on that had a PVC contraption tied into it so the camera was 4 feet in front of his face the whole time.

Yeah, that sounds a bit less like what I envision. I am only a 5.9(soon .10) trad climber. And I think it would be nice to have a GoPro on a pro's head to see where he places hands and gear, etc...

As a surfer and snowboarder also, I hate the GumbyPro culture. Probably can place the blame on Facebook.

0.05% of the footage captured will actually be compelling. I guess its great for accident footage, though.

I agree with MattN. Most GoPro footage is terrible to watch. You can't see what's being done, can't see the big picture, and the view changes too quickly to follow.

Just depends on how they are used. For filming long routes, big walls or alpine climbs, they would be pretty unbeatable, light weight and weather proof (I don't know temperature wise how low than can go). Also for educational purposes it would be great for explaining some more complicated aiding or big wall techniques, I'm surprised you don't see more super topo or something educational videos filmed this way.

Climbing 'gopros' pretty badly as sports go. Even pros in climbing porn don't wear em. The shit is boring and the POV footage usually sucks away the context from the action. Look up, move hands, look down at feet, move feet, look up, look down, look up, move hands, look down, move feet. It's not very exciting. Surfing and skiing, not so much: look where you are going, move very fast. Most people (esp. who suck at climbing including me) climb wicked slow. Watching myself climb on video once taught me that.

The only climbing gopro footage that is any fun to watch has the words 'big whipper' in the title

Matt N wrote:As a surfer and snowboarder also, I hate the GumbyPro culture. Probably can place the blame on Facebook. 0.05% of the footage captured will actually be compelling. I guess its great for accident footage, though.

I have hours of gopro ski footage. There's probably a minute or two worth actually watching. It takes a lot of tuning and tweaking to get a good angle and something worth watching. Then you have to fiddle fuck with it to get it on. Then you can't remember how many beeps it did. I guess the new ones would solve most of these problems, but I don't have cash to shell out for the new one, or the LCD. I don't even take it with me on tours anymore, one more thing to not mess with

The only good footage out of those things is when a horrific fall is captured.

yeah my countour hasn't given me much to watch. Apparently you need to be a pro and log unlimted time to get a good 15 minute edit.

Now for surfing, after realizing that no g/f wants to video or shoot you while you sit in the water doing nothing or paddling for 95% of the time - I always wanted to patent a radio based camera setup.
Someone made one last year:

The original SOLOSHOT product which launched in 2012, solved a problem that has existed since cameras were invented: how to be in the moment and capture it at the same time. The solution was SOLOSHOT, a two part system consisting of a transmitter worn by the subject and a motorized base which automatically rotates to keep whatever camera was attached pointed towards the transmitter. Two years of solid customer feedback, technological advances and intense internal development has resulted in the SOLOSHOT2 platform, the breakthrough capabilities of which are listed below.

I'm wary of it getting messed with/stolen or I may have bought one by now. Could be useful for single pitch climbing, though...

and a recent .000001% contribution from a professional surfer during a contest last month:

youtube.com/watch?v=JpegLYk…

Yep, first person climbing footage almost always sucks.

I like mine for still shots: The wide angle lens is great for selfies and/or scenery, and having it conveniently on my helmet allows me to take pictures while doing other stuff.

GoPro footage?

I got motion sickness just from reading this thread.

Just the word "GoPro" seems to have created a Pavlovian response in me.

Dave Kos wrote:GoPro footage? I got motion sickness just from reading this thread. Just the word "GoPro" seems to have created a Pavlovian response in me.

I have used a go pro for big climbs and edit it down to a few minute video. Mostly its just for my enjoyment, most people dont likewatching pov climbing footage. Its great to pull still shots from. Snowboarding/skiing and mtn biking is more enjoyable footage to watch. Heres a short clip (raw footage) from some earned turns yesterday in NH.
youtube.com/watch?v=lhKrpdZ…

My buddy has one that he strapped to his helmet. He was belaying me on an ice route and as I started up he began to narrate it. It freaked me out as all I could think of was "this is going to end up on the 6 o'clock news if things go bad" and backed off the climb. He never brought it again.

Vanity cam's.

I set my Countour up to take a picture every 30-60 seconds for long multipitch or alpine routes. Most of my shots are crap, but I get some pretty amazing ones I otherwise wouldn't have gotten. I think that's the best use of a Gopro while climbing - the camera mode.

Travis Dustin wrote: from some earned turns yesterday in NH

GoPros arent an extremely old thing, I believe the gopros are becoming more mainstream just like dslrs and photography there's a learning curve & also creativity required or maybe more so a level of proficiency to making a good action video. There are tons! far more than .000000005% of videos out there everything from snowboarding,climbing,kayaking, canyoneering, base jumping, downhill etc all being filmed amazingly & all by amateur sports enthusiasts & very amateur videographers. A camera that costs $300 and performs like a $1500 camera just a learning curve like I said.