Another Tripod/Grip Added to the Stable

I enjoy taking my GoPro everywhere with me. However, using it in it's polycarbonate case is not easy unless you have either a hand strap or some other way of holding on to the camera. I spotted this online and had to grab it. It's a "Fotomate M-07" tripod/grip. It's comfortable to hold and it's compact. I can easily hold it at waist level for long periods of time.

Here it is without the camera.

 Other angle.

Here it is as a tripod. You can change the angle of the mount by pressing the little purple button. 

The top of the mount is a rubbery material which grips the GoPro Tripod Adapter well.

 Here's the GoPro mounted to it.

Another view.

Here it is being held. You can see that it's a good angle.

It's very comfortable to hold.

The only shortcoming of this grip/tripod is that the angle of the mount is a bit weak and so can change very easily without pressing the purple button. Also, the grip/tripod doesn't hold together very well so you have to keep a good grip on it. Perhaps it would be wise to wrap it with a velcro strip or some hockey tape! So far, I'm enjoying it. It fits in my Scottevest very easily.

More later,

Ambrose

Fotopro MS-5 monopod/tripod

I've wanted/needed a small portable tripod for my GoPro HD Hero 2 for a while now and couldn't find anything online that would fill my requirements. I wanted something that was very compact when folded. Something that could be used as a camera extender or wand so that I could get shots of myself or others that was higher or further away than normal handheld shots. I wanted something that could be used as a tripod and not just a monopod or wand. I wanted something that could be used to raise the GoPro higher off a table than just resting it on the table. I wanted something that was very compact.

I think I found it and it arrived in the mail! It's the Fotopro MS-5. I bought it from Meritline.com for $12 when it was one of their daily specials. I love Meritline because of their very low prices and their free shipping. The tripod arrived very quickly and this item actually came in a nice cardboard box with instruction manual in Chinglish!

Here it is in it's smallest position.

Here it is with two extensions. There is one more available so it can be even taller.

More later,
Ambrose

iPad 3 in the house!

I ordered a Verizon 4G LTE iPad 3 or as Apple calls them, the New iPad. The better camera, higher resolution display and 4G capabilities were exactly what I was looking for! I'll have more from the iPad 3 later!

Ambrose

How to NOT use a GoPro!

I read this story and had to relay it. It seems that a company was covering a rally in Moscow with a GoPro HD Hero hoisted above the crowd with 6 helium ballons when the line holding it broke and the balloons took off! If you happen to be in the Moscow area and see 6 helium ballons, please let these folks know! This is the area where they think it went! I guess the lesson learned is have redundant safety systems and have a "Plan B" in case things go haywire!

link: http://themoscownews.com/local/20120224/189485104.html

Timelapse Traffic Jam 2-10-2012

I was stuck in a traffic jam this morning behind a crash that happened on the Beltway. I took this time lapse video. It starts slow and then takes off after the crash scene! If you stop the video at the right time, you'll see the one car left on the scene about to be hoisted on to the flat bed.

Another Timelapse Video 2-7-2012

It was a lovely evening so I decided to do another time lapse video! This was at a 2 second interval again and the golden hour colors were lovely!

Comparing the GoPro HD Hero 1 to the HD Hero 2

I knew that my Hero 1 wasn't a perfect camera. I thought that it lacked a bit in sharpness and I just wasn't happy with how the colors looked. It would blow out highlights and looked washed out most of the time. However, since I sold my Hero 1 before I got my Hero 2, I couldn't compare them side by side.

I found this video which proves how much better the Hero 2 is compared to the 1! Be sure to check it out in HD by clicking on the little gear icon and pulling up to at least 720P: