Gopro for disney?!

[jennriggs]

Hi all
We are coming from the U.K. in September, our first holiday with our 2 year old. I am trying to decide whether I should buy a go pro for it....what are your thoughts?! Are they worth it? Just keep thinking the amazing video we will capture. Is my iPhone video just as good? Obviously not waterproof. Any thoughts? We will not be going for ages after this holiday so want it to be an amazing trip!!

 

[Raenstoirm]

I bought a go pro for a 7 night RCCL cruise we took (followed by 2 days at WDW) in May. I LOVED the video/pictures I got on the cruise and after 2 days felt the money spent on it was well worth it. That said I HATED the pics and video I got at WDW. At least in my experience go pro does not like taking footage in dark places so rides had mediocre footage at best. Although I bought a viewfinder, I was not using it for either WDW or the cruise. I think the cruise/tropical footage needed to be less specific a target for the images, while WDW needs the camera to actually look at a character or specific thing. I think I would have been a lot happier with the WDW pics if I had been using my viewfinder. For example I filmed the entire Fantasy Parade, but the way I had the camera positioned, I only got the bottoms of the floats and the characters walking. The camera did not see the really neat tops of the floats, but with no view finder, I did not know that until I uploaded the footage that night. I am going to be bring it next month and I will try a day or so with the view finder to see if that changes my opinion of go pro in the parks.

 

[68earlybay]

I've been thinking of getting one for the trip (but I'd also use one a lot at home too, when I take my bus to vw shows) and I was thinking to wait til I am there in October to buy one, they're bound to be cheaper there

 

[actopp1017]

My husband LOVES his Gopro. We have taken it on many rides at disney as well as videoing walking around the park. He also has the waterproof housing case he uses ok water rides and swimming in the pools. It's unique footage you may not get elsewhere.

 

[MaxsDad]

I was thinking about getting one for a while and as I was reading this thread I realized it would be a great way to capture my daughter's reaction to everything without having to pull out the video camera every time and vacationing through the view finder.

My wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday and this seems like a great suggestion. I haven't done much research on them yet so I was wondering which one people would recommend. Also how and what do you mount it to when in the parks? I might get a new backpack for the next trip, and am thinking I might look for one with MOLLE shoulder straps so I could mount it to that. I would also love to put it on the stroller so I could capture her reaction, when she is in that but I am not sure that is a great idea. She is three, and I imagine it wouldn't last long on there, lol, I'd also be afraid I leave it on when parking the stroller.

 

[Raenstoirm]

I was thinking about getting one for a while and as I was reading this thread I realized it would be a great way to capture my daughter's reaction to everything without having to pull out the video camera every time and vacationing through the view finder.

My wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday and this seems like a great suggestion. I haven't done much research on them yet so I was wondering which one people would recommend. Also how and what do you mount it to when in the parks? I might get a new backpack for the next trip, and am thinking I might look for one with MOLLE shoulder straps so I could mount it to that. I would also love to put it on the stroller so I could capture her reaction, when she is in that but I am not sure that is a great idea. She is three, and I imagine it wouldn't last long on there, lol, I'd also be afraid I leave it on when parking the stroller.

The black edition is the top of the line. I have the 3+ black which I think is still the best one you can buy (Ive only had it for 6 months so I really hope it hasn't been replaced yet). It was $400 or so. That said I spent another $200 on stuff for it. It comes with the waterproof case, but thats it. It eats batteries so you need to buy at least a second (I bought 2 extra), plus the viewfinder if you want to actually see your images before you take them (I actually rarely use this so I don't think it is required, but I did buy it.) Plus a large micro SD card and reader.
As for attaching it to you there are about 1000 different accessories. I have 10 or so different ones depend on what you want to do with it. The one I used the most was the telescoping pole. It is only a few inches long and nice to hold, but mine extends to about 3 feet. There are also clips to attach it to you backpack strap if that is what you are thinking or ones to connect it to a baseball hat or the center of your chest or your dog or your toddler (think of the cool footage from her point of view). The possibilities are truly endless.

 

[jennriggs]

Thank you all! So we bought the black hero 3 one! Just need to practice with it! A few questions....how do you know it's capturing the picture/video you want? Also can you get rid of the fisheye? Any tips when filming? Anything else you think is essential for it?

 

[jennriggs]

Thanks all, so we bought the black hero 3, just need to practice with it. Any tips? Also any tips to make sure you capture what you want to? With having no display? Also any way we can reduce the fisheye? Do you see this much on the footage? Any other essential things we need?

 

[PapaPiper]

You can go into the settings an turn the fisheye effect off. It's a neat effect in certain situations, but I'm not sure why it's the default.

I'd practice with whatever mounts you intend to use (chest mount, headband, hand held, etc) for a little while and you'll get the hang of it. I got mine about 3 days before a week long canoe trip to Canada with 2 of my boys and I figured it out on the trail. Worked out great.

Good luck and enjoy! I'm looking forward to taking ours to Disney in January.

 

[jennriggs]

Perfect thank you! We are going in September so will have plenty of practice time! Thanks for your help x