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GoProcamera.com has become the dominate source of active onboard/wearable photography and is touted as the “world’s highest performance wearable 1080p video and still photo camera”. The GoPro HD Hero camera is unique on many levels with five resolutions for video ranging from WVGA to full 1080p, sound capture, 5MP photos with 2, 5, 10, 30 and 60 second intervals, triple shot burst, 1100 mAh 3.7v LiPo power source with an internal battery heating system for cold weather use, USB or power adaptor charging, up to 32 GB SD storage (2.5 hours of video) and it operates in both a Mac and PC environment.
Prices range from $179.00 for the HD basic camera to $299 for helmet, and motorsport versions. All GoPro cameras are waterproof to 180 feet (60M) when housed in the polycarbonate shell which renders the camera safe from all kinds of abuse. The lens is fixed focus from 2-feet (.6M) to infinity with an f/2.8 aperture making low light photography possible. View angles are excellent with 170° for WVGA video and 127° for full 1080p. Aspect ratios include both 16:9 and 4:3.
When coupled with a head strap mount ($14.99) you have the perfect setup for shooting your own flight/car/boat video and photographs for internet publication. The HD camera can be mounted either on your forehead or to the side at eye level. The light gathering qualities and clarity of the picture are excellent and with just a little adjustment your ability to keep on your target will become routine. Sound recording is outstanding and a separate back is provided with the camera when waterproof conditions are not necessary to improve sound capture.
For onboard video and photography the GoPro weighs in at just 3.3 ounces (94g) with the battery and 5.9 ounces (167g) with the polycarbonate housing. A huge variety of adhesive mounts for flat and curved surfaces and every possible angle for swiveling the HD GoPro camera are available. Repairing any damage is easy with a full line of parts. –David R. Vaught
