GoPro HD at NAB 2010: Concepts and Upcoming Products
UPDATE - January 30 / 2011
The Gopro LCD BacPac is the long anticiated detachable LCD screen for your Gopro HD HERO 1080p camera. One of the things missing from Gopro's excellent cameras has been the ability to preview your shots. Now, with the LCD BacPac video buffs can frame their scene before shooting video.
Some companies are just committed to excellence and GoPro is no exception. At NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) 2010 they offered excellent tips and creative options to capture the kind of footage you need.
GoPro has come up with a unique homemade steady cam design adapted from items you probably have lying around the house. Secured using four GoPro Ride HERO Mounts clamped onto a road bike handlebar, the HD HERO is connected via the included component cables to an external monitor for live, wide angle, HD output. A new skeleton housing is currently in development with port holes for AV and HD output, but you can get the same basic effect by altering the existing GoPro housing. The entire unit is powered by an external USB battery and since the HD Hero films in wide angle HD, this ingenious rigged up system records very steadily, perfect for reporting on the go.
Not to worry, GoPro is still working to release the LCD BakPac for Summer 2010. Retailing at just $49.99 US, this expansion pack utilizes the removable back door and innovative expansion port on the back of the camera, the HERO Bus™ to give you an LCD screen on the back of your GoPro HD for on-camera preview and playback.
UPDATE - January 30 / 2011
The Gopro LCD BacPac is the long anticiated detachable LCD screen for your Gopro HD HERO 1080p camera. One of the things missing from Gopro’s excellent cameras has been the ability to preview your shots. Now, with the LCD BacPac video buffs can frame their scene before shooting video.
Available in Spring 2010, GoPro introduces the HD Wrist Mount option. Encased securely in GoPro housing, the camera is clipped into the Velcro wrist band, allowing you to flip it up at moments notice to record, then fasten it back into place, allowing you to get on with your ride, run… whatever.
Some other new developments from GoPro include the Military Helmet Mount Kit and 3D Housing. How cool is this… taking 2 HD HERO’s, combined in a single housing, you are able to film in sync, in stereoscopic 3D, wide angle, 1080p HD. This wicked kit should be on the market near the end of 2010 and makes 3D video an affordable option for the first time ever!
Leading the pack with their innovative ideas and superior technology, GoPro has once again impressed with the pending introduction of these new products. I wonder how many of you are taking the handle bars off your bike right now.
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12 07 2010 at 11:00 AM
Still no concrete details from GoPro. They used to say Spring 2010, then summer 2010.
If you would like to preview your footage sooner than later we now carry these portable media players:
http://pointofviewcameras.com/viewsonic-vpd400.html
Mike
29 08 2010 at 05:06 AM
Will the media player linked in the previous comment
(http://pointofviewcameras.com/viewsonic-vpd400.html)
have “live-view” if you, for example, connect your GoPro HD hero to it?
30 08 2010 at 10:15 AM
@Axel Friberg - unfortunately not. You would only really to be able to obtain a live feed by connecting it via an Av cable to an external monitor… with this you basically are getting the convenience of a small screen for playback, etc without having to lug around a laptop…
02 09 2010 at 10:48 AM
OK.
In one of the Gopro HD helmet hero “commercials”, the crew hook up one of the bikers HD hero to a monitor to tune the angle of the cameras point-of view.
Do you know of any portable screen where you can see what you film, live, when connected by cable to the camera?
02 09 2010 at 02:23 PM
@Axel Friberg - It needs to be a portable LCD monitor with a component or composite input. Specifically, brand is up to you, but if has either of those inputs, it should meet your needs…
27 09 2010 at 12:35 PM
Any way of getting a live feed from a Contour?
28 09 2010 at 08:43 AM
@paul barker - unfortunately no, Contour’s connect via USB, so there is no live feed option on the current models.
If you are looking for live feed, the GoPro HD Hero cameras support live feed: http://pointofviewcameras.com/gopro
28 10 2010 at 05:25 AM
is there any way of getting a lead to hook up an iPhone 3GS to the Serial bus to use as a screen with an app?
28 10 2010 at 09:52 AM
@Ells - no… that is not currently an option… but you never know… it could happen!
19 11 2010 at 01:11 AM
What type (brand/model) monitor and USB battery are you using in the above video?
Also, is that handelbar rig something official that is for sale?
19 11 2010 at 10:49 AM
@Ray. I’m pretty sure you can use any 3.7V (or up to 5V) USB battery and any LCD monitor with RCA inputs. Let us do some more research on this for you.
19 11 2010 at 03:15 PM
Thanks. Found the Monitor… it’s by Haier.
I though he was powering the Monitor AND the GOPRO cam with the battery… I think it’s just the Cam though. The monitor is rechargable.
20 11 2010 at 08:00 AM
GoPro make a good little camera, that’s why I’m going to buy one. I e-mailed them about this screen of theirs, and they said it’ll be released in late January 2011. Which is quite a problem for me, because I need a screen for mine before New Years.
I’ve searched around, and I hate to be a bother, but could you guys recommend something? I only need something in the 2.5-3.5” range, and preferably the cheaper the better. Something I could stick to the back of it. Thanks in advance.
22 11 2010 at 02:35 AM
No matter, I’ve decided to get a Drift Innovation anyway. But to that one guy that e-mailed me back, thanks, I appreciate it.
22 11 2010 at 01:24 PM
Good to hear JD. In you case (since you were looking at having a display) the Drift HD 170 is a great choice.
03 01 2011 at 07:19 PM
how is the monitor mounted to the handlebar? i have the same set up going and im not sure how i want to mount it
04 01 2011 at 07:24 AM
Haier HLT71 7” LCD TV
04 01 2011 at 12:19 PM
@Shea. I’m not sure how they mounted it. Which exact monitor model do you have? We might get one for testing.
04 01 2011 at 12:21 PM
@Cinetryx. Is that the Haier monitor you are using?
30 01 2011 at 01:56 PM
some have hooked the camera to a Coby Zone, since it can accept an external feed.
17 05 2011 at 03:08 AM
Does the LCD BakPac also come with a new housing that fits it?
17 05 2011 at 11:59 AM
@Discovery Playground
The LCD BacPac includes 4 expanded back doors. Two for use with the HD HERO Quick Release Housing and two for the HD HERO Wrist Housing. One of each is waterproof and one is vented for better audio but non-waterproof.
21 10 2011 at 04:48 AM
I called GoPro yesterday to ask if they supported wifi transmission of live feeds and they said they do not.
Are you aware of a method to accomplish this using the GoPro and 3rd party equipment?
We need to have live feed via wifi from a helmet cam on an offshore drilling platform.
Thanks.
21 10 2011 at 10:43 AM
@Debi
GoPro does not support wireless video feed themselves, but you can achieve this using the Video output port using 3rd party equipment. You would need the following parts to wirelessly transmit video:
- Wireless Video Transmitter (range will vary based on power and frequency)
- Wireless Video Receiver
- Battery packs or power source for transmitter and receiver
- RCA connector cables to connect camera to transmitter and receiver to monitor.
Note: Audio does not transmit wirelessing with the HD HERO.
You should be able to find the necessary parts through a speciality A/V retailer.
05 12 2011 at 09:44 AM
I’ve been looking for that exact lcd monitor that you have shown on your set-up. Can you please tell me the name and model of that lcd live monitor you’re holding in the video and picture.,
Thanks
05 12 2011 at 10:06 AM
@paul
GoPro used a Haier HLT71 7” LCD screen for this demonstration.
11 07 2010 at 06:20 AM
When will I be able to purchase the LCD
BakPac??