Product Test: “Surf Hero” GoPro Camera
Justin Cote
- December 01 2008
- 2,732 views
- 23 comments
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TransWorld SURF Online Editor Justin Cote putting the “Surf Hero” GoPro camera through the paces at an undisclosed beach break in San Diego County 12/1/08.
Admit it, you love to watch yourself surf.
Remember back in the day when you’d get your buddy with the broken wrist to video the surf session but all he’d get was 15 minutes of sand shots and a couple birds passing by? Thanks to the new “Surf Hero” camera form GoPro, those days are long gone my friends…
GoPro (www.goprocamera.com) came out with these neat little cameras that can take quality stills or record video a couple years ago, but they really stepped it up as far as I’m concerned with the latest “Surf Hero” which has a fisheye lens and comes in a tiny waterproof housing that fastens easily to your board.
After enough pestering, I was able to get my hands on one and took it for a little test drive Monday morning at a rippable 3-4 foot beachbreak. I kinda felt like an egomaniac with the camera mounted to the front of my 6’2” but those feelings quickly vanished after my first little head dip. “I’m gonna be a star!” I thought. A star in my own little cubicle, but a star nonetheless.
Anyway, after one session here are some notes I scribbled into my wax…
—The camera makes you do sweet roundhouse cutbacks. I think it’s the bit of added weight on your nose that makes the board kinda swing around like a pendulum when you do a cutback.
—Go for the barrel. As you can see, it looks a bit wonky on video when you’re pumping down the line, but barrels and cutbacks looks sweet. If you’re not at a barreling wave, the best bet is to go with the still camera mode that takes a photo every two seconds. You’ll get some hilarious outtakes and enough keepers to keep you “busy” at work or school after the session.
—Stay on point. While looking through the footy, I saw way too much ball scratching, double chins, paddling, and duckdiving. Save yourself some editing time and turn the camera on only when there’s a set coming.
—Wait ‘til we get it out at Pipeline in the next couple weeks! I have some test pilots in mind…
Just think, how many times have you had a wave you want to share with your bros, even if your only motive is to rub their noses in it? With the Holiday season upon us, any surfer on your list would be stoked on a “Surf Hero” GoPro camera.—Justin Cote/TransWorld SURF Online Editor
TransWorld SURF Tested And Approved!
“Surf Hero” GoPro Camera Bullet Points:
—Waterproof to 100 feet
—With a 2GB SD card, it shoots 56 minutes of video or one 5 megapixel photo every two seconds.
—Comes with three different mounting systems. The FCS screw in is recommended but requires someone to install the plug. I used the smallest attachment mount and it was fine, too.
—Super lightweight and can literally fit into the palm of your hand (but mounts to your board).
—Features a 170-degree wide-angle lens.
—Suggested retail: $149.99
Go to www.goprocamera.com for more info, video clips, photos, or to purchase.
Have you tried a Surf Hero Go Pro Camera? Give us your feedback in the comment box below!
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December 1st, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Did your eyes dry? Or will your eyes not dry like Brian Conley?
December 1st, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Soaking wet bra…watch out Conley! Yeah right…
December 1st, 2008 at 11:06 pm
can you flip it around and use it to point down the line?
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:06 am
Geez that looks like fun. The gopro people should send one of those to Manoa so we can see the guts of Teahupo’o (pronounced cho-po, not cho-poo). Nice surfing Justin!
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:30 am
Yep, you can face it down the line no probs and aim up or down for different angles.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:57 am
I’m asking for one for Christmas! Can’t wait to get that little puppy in the barrell!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:44 am
put it on the tail. It will take a big board but it will look killer. Watch the kicking though because those things sink if you don’t attach the “leash” to something.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Beacon’s looking fun! Everyone should surf there! Hahaha!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
justin rips!
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Love the video. I own and am crazy about THE HERO. I hate songs about heroin.Too many young kids getting a bad message here. it’s not like there aren’t other terrific songs.
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
i say thats d street i don’t think any other beach break really barrels at 3-4 foot
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Video is great with a great product, music sucks
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:52 pm
justin laird cote better not put one of those cameras on his sup
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:47 pm
That thing is so gay!! waves looked fun yet the video looked like shit
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:56 pm
thats fagtastic!
December 4th, 2008 at 8:20 am
gnarrrrrr!!!! dude im asking for one for christmas:) it will work nice on my seven eight
December 4th, 2008 at 9:25 am
This haole has squid style. Needs to bend his knees. Looks like da tin man surfing, all rusty and stiff. Give him some oil. Suprised he got covered up considering he only hinges at da waist.
December 5th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I buy my cam type motorsport hero 5 wide from digital-hero.de and what can I say: It’s absolutly cool for any motorsport-/ actionsport hobbyist.
December 8th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Will the suction cup really hold well enough on bigger days. It seems like the water would just rip it off when duckdiving or when you eat it. I dont think I would like the fin plug thing cuz its permanent.
January 9th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
no its blacks
February 21st, 2009 at 6:13 pm
hey, can you put the camera on a short board?? like a 6.0 6.1
cuz all the videos that i see is long boards..
thanks for the help!
April 30th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
hi,
They say in the surf hero gopro’s manual that we can remove the stick on mount with a hair drier but can we stick back again and how many times can we do this? someone already tried?
thanks
November 7th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Can u put this on a boogie board