NAB 2017 saw the introduction of the Sennheiser MKE-2 Elements waterproof microphone for GoPro Hero 4 Action Camera. Curious as to how it is possible to make an waterproof external microphone for a GoPro? Read on for all the details!  Sennheiser microphones have proven to be one of the leading standards for audio recording, and now they are tackling the lack of good-quality audio for small action cameras, such as the GoPro Hero4. When a GoPro is housed in the waterproof casing, the audio suffers and sounds muffled, but the new Sennheiser MKE-2 Elements waterproof microphone aims to guarantee better audio even in the most action-packed sequences.   As Achim from Sennheiser describes it, the development of an external audio solution like this proved challenging as the camera itself is kept completely sealed in its housing. Situating the microphone outside of the sealed compartment, your are exposing it to dirt, dust, snow, ice and of course water, so obviously a waterproof solution had to be implemented. Sennheiser took their “sweat-proof” stage application technology one step forward, and created this “waterproof” solution. Here is a great “side-by-side” example, between GoPro’s internal microphone capabilities against the Sennheiser MKE-2 Elements: The unit is built into its own backdoor casing for the GoPro housing which accommodates the battery-extension from GoPro, it plugs right into the GoPro’s USB port and the audio is controlled by GoPro’s auto-level functions. The microphone itself is suspended on a soft mount to reduce rumbling noise and is covered by its very own waterproof windshield. The Sennheiser MKE-2 Element is waterproof up to 1m for approximately 30 minutes. Sennheiser MKE-2 Elements for GoPro Hero 4 is available now for $199.95. Sennheiser is also working on a GoPro Hero 5 solution, but pricing and availability for that product are yet to be announced. What do you think of the Sennheiser MKE-2 Elements? Would you use it to improve your GoPro’s audio? Please let us know in the comments below.

GoPro 360-degree camera solutions are expected to usher in the next big step in the world of digital video. At this year’s CES, YouTube CBO Robert Kyncl held a keynote explaining how this platform is situated in a world of abounding digital video. It truly is an interesting watch. If you haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, we recommend you take a look – you might have to go to YouTube to see it as there seems to be some content restrictions in some countries for the embedded version: In the framework of this discussion, GoPro is positioning itself as a big player in the innovative field of 360-degree video. We have known since last year about the Odyssey, where the Google Jump video assembler works in tandem with the 16-camera GoPro array. This is pricey and only available to a select few of those who apply online.   However, GoPro CEO Nick Woodman hints that the company is already working on a smaller 360-degree video solution that reduces the rig to a simpler, consumer-friendly format. Unfortunately, there is no information available about the product, except that it will incorporate 6 GoPro cameras and will come in 2016. The question that springs to mind is whether this decision to branch out into other markets will play to GoPro’s favour. The emergence of many competitors at lower price points capitalizing on the popularity of action cameras has understandably translated into a big hit for GoPro. Also, the company’s latest action camera—the GoPro Hero4 Session— has seen big price drops since its release, after a starting price of $399 failed to convince consumers. Factors like these seem to have caused a loss of confidence in investors, with recent reports revealing that the company share prices have plummeted up to 70% in the last year. As a result, a significant number of their employees are being let go, and the company has suffered severe losses  due to restructuring, as well as price-protection, manufacturing and excess inventory costs. But the world of video is advancing, with the mass adoption of newer technologies such as 4K and 360-degree video clearly dictating what the next steps will be. And this company is showing that, with their new GoPro 360-degree camera arrays and the recently announced GoPro Karma drone, they are not afraid of stepping outside of their comfort zone in the way to innovation despite the bumps along the way. Large names are clearly positioning themselves to facilitate both creation and consumption of a new kind of video experience. With products by household brands like GoPro, support from the YouTube platform, and simple solutions like Google Cardboard, the adoption of this relatively new medium seems imminent. And when these tools become available to everyone everywhere, it will be interesting to see what it will mean for the future of video, and for us as creators. What kind of project would you do today if you had access to an affordable, compact 360-degree video capture solution like the GoPro 360?

The Exo GP-1 GoPro housing unit on Kickstarter features a compact camera form factor, built-in viewfinder, cold shoe, & other accessories GoPro users might find beneficial. There are many accessories for the GoPro that help to increase production quality on these little cameras, such as drones, sliders, and stabilizers. But what about a simple housing unit to give it the form factor of a more traditional camera? Well, there is a Kickstarter campaign to develop just such a product. But the question is, will the Exo GP-1 be a serious option for professionals, or something more appropriate for the average consumer? There are a couple of features that make the Exo GP-1 worth mentioning for pro shooters. First, the housing unit has a built in viewfinder. While not electronic, it does allow you to perform simple tasks like framing a shot without having to use a Touch BacPac. Also, it has a cold shoe allowing you to attach accessories such as a handle for low-angle shooting, microphone, or even an iPhone mount to monitor and control functions on the GoPro. There is, however, a shutter release button on the top of the housing unit which allows the camera to be operated without an iPhone or other remote control. The manufacturer is also developing a set of filters that attach to the front of the unit, such as neutral density or polarizers. It would be interesting to see how much those neutral density filters are able to reduce the shutter speed. What about the Exo GP-1 may not be useful for pro shooters? Well, while the unit does feature a standard 1/4″ tripod mounting thread, GoPro has its own separate tripod mounts that are much cheaper. So, if you benefit from some of the other features then having a tripod mount as well might be appealing. But if all you need is a tripod mount there are other options. We like to highlight products in development like this that might be of use to professionals, and even to up and coming independent filmmakers on a limited budget. But to be perfectly honest, there is one major negative aspect about this product – the price. If the campaign is successful it is projected to sell for $185 USD. Given its list of features that seems a bit high, especially considering that’s just over 1/3 the cost of a Hero4 Black. However, if you are interested in exploring the Exo GP-1 further visit their Kickstarter page (please note that, on the Kickstarter page, the pledge amounts listed on the right are in New Zealand currency, not US Dollars).

GoPro CEO Nick Woodman just went on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco to tease a few interesting things the company is developing behind closed doors. Asked about drones, he said “A drone opens up a world that we’ve never seen before, like from an angel perspective. That truly is the invisible camera.” More precisely, he also added, “Development is on track for the first half of 2016. We have some differentiations that are right in the GoPro alley.” This sounds like we can expect exciting drone news from the maker of the world’s best-selling camera next year, possibly at NAB 2016 time? This will put them squarely into DJI territory with their Phantom 3 and Inspire 1 drones, which also feature a camera similar to GoPro in quality in their standard specifications. Watch the full interview session here: He also added that Hero4 Session sales are slower than they were expecting, but said that compared to anything that their competitors are doing, the camera is still doing remarkably well. Another new GoPro focus will be the software side of things – particularly a cloud based solution that they have been developing for a while now. They want to enable users to share their captured videos more instantly, with the “GoPro servers” that “will let you make 60-second or 2-minute videos without any effort on your part.” That of course doesn’t sound like professional filmmaking, but that’s also not what GoPro are after, and that’s not where they make their real money. via TechCrunch

It’s 50 percent smaller. 40 percent lighter. And it’s waterproof. GoPro announced the Hero4 Session and it’s definitely getting some buzz. GoPro has announced a new smaller and lighter version of their popular action cameras. The Hero4 Session is getting a lot of buzz right now mainly because of its small form factor. But the question remains as to whether or not it is a good choice for filmmakers. First, here are some basic facts about the camera. It has an 8MP sensor as compared to the 12MP sensor on the Hero4 Black and Silver. It records in 480p, 720p, 1080p, and 1440p with frame rates ranging from 25fps up to 1oofps, depending on which resolution you choose. It can shoot a Medium angle of view in 720p and 1080p, with the option for UltraWide in all other resolutions including 1440p. And it can be controlled either with a separately purchased GoPro Smart Remote or via the iPhone app. But what about cinematic features that filmmakers are looking for? Right off the bat it must be stated that this camera does not shoot 24p. So why are filmmakers talking about it? Here’s a quick look at some the other features people are talking about. GoPro HERO4 Session Features (via NoFilmSchool) Video at 1080/60p, 720/100p and 1440/30p (2.5k) Waterproof to 33’ (10m), no separate housing required Easy one-button control: short press of shutter powers camera on and begins capturing video, long shutter button press powers camera on and begins capturing time-lapse photos Captures 8MP Single, Burst, and Time Lapse photos Compatible with GoPro mounts and accessories Dual Mic system captures enhanced audio during high wind and water-based activities Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth® enable easy connectivity to GoPro App and Smart Remote Auto image rotation corrects image orientation during recording Includes standard and low-profile frame mounts for increased mounting versatility New Ball Joint Buckle mount is included Price: $400   The Hero4 Session is waterproof, no extra housing required. So, obviously the frame rates aren’t something to get filmmakers excited about – No 24p. And the same goes with the resolution – no 4K. It does shoot up to 2.5K, but only in 30p. But the fact that it is waterproof without the need for an extra housing unit is interesting. What about other important features GoPro users are already familiar with, like Protune? Well, Philip Bloom got his hands on the camera and shared his thoughts on his website. He compared his Hero4 Silver with the Session, and thought the Protune on the Silver looks better (see images below). It’s also worth mentioning that the bit rate on the Session is only around 25 Mbps.   GoPro Session 1080p 50p protune sharpness off UNGRADED (Via: Philip Bloom) GoPro Session frame GRADED (Via: Philip Bloom) GoPro Silver 1080p 50p protune flat sharpness low ev to -0.5 white balance 5500k UNGRADED (Via: Philip Bloom)   GoPro Hero 4 Silver image graded with FilmConvert. (Via: Philip Bloom)   The GoPro HERO4 Session may not end up as ubiquitous as the Hero4 Black with its cinematic capabilities, but with its small form factor and waterproof housing it should make for another choice when a compact camera is needed for action shots. It will cost $399.99, is currently available for preorder, and will start shipping later this month. (Photo: The Wall Street Journal) Specs Sensor: 8 Megapixel Angle of View: Medium (1080p, 720p), Ultra Wide (1440p, 1080p, 960p, 720p, WVGA) Video Format: 1440p (fps: 25, 30), 1080p (fps: 25, 30, 48, 50, 60), 960p (fps: 25, 30, 50, 60), 720p (fps: 25, 30, 50, 60, 100), 480p (fps: 100, 120) ISO Sensitivity: 400 – 1600 Remote: Works with GoPro Smart Remote and iPhone app Battery: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Battery Life: 2 hours per charge

Gunther Machu works for a large engineering corporation and travels the world for business. On his trips, he has started shooting video for pleasure with amazing results that have brought him a lot of fans on his Vimeo account, not only from enthusiast filmmakers but also from professionals. He always uses the smallest kit possible – the Panasonic GH2 and the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera are usually his main work horses. In this guest post, he shares his experiences with the GoPro HERO4 which he tested on his ski vacation last week, using the newly announced firmware update for higher slow motion capabilities (report here). (nl) General When I bought my first GoPro Hero 3 black edition in February 2013, I was quite fascinated how capable such a small camera can be. Using the right video modes (e.g. 2.7K 24p, 1080p60 or 720p120 in narrow mode) it delivered moiré and aliasing free, high bitrate images. Especially the Protune mode provided a flat color profile which can be tweaked quite heavily without falling apart. Hence, I was not too excited when the GoPro 3+ came to the market. It had too little to offer vs. the Hero 3. This changed with the announcement of the GoPro Hero 4 about a year ago. What really pushed me over the fence was the announcement of a firmware update to be released in February 2015 which included new video modes like 2.7K 60p or 720p240! Hence, I bought a Hero 4 Black Edition one week ago for my ski vacation, hoping for the release of the latest firmware just in time. GoPro Hero 4 vs. 3 Black Edition Things I immediately noticed The Protune flat color profile on the Hero 4 now looks very neutral – the Hero 3 sometimes had an ugly, yellowish overcast which I found difficult to remove in post The highlight roll – off now looks much nicer, the Hero 3 always had a very harsh, digital looking transition All the video modes have vastly increased in effective resolution – first and foremost the 4K modes, but also the high framerate 2.7K modes. On the Hero 3 it was barely possible to tell the 2.7K images apart from the 1080p ones, no matter which field of view was used. Now on the Hero 4 it is possible to limit the maximum ISO the camera uses Also, the Hero 4 now offers EV compensation (ranging from +2 to -2) However, the dynamic range has not improved unfortunately The lens seems to be the same on both, at least the typical GoPro fisheye and field of view is very similar The GoPro Hero 4 Black Edition video modes Having installed the latest firmware 2.0 from February 4th, I was eager to test the new video modes, 2.7K 60p and 720p240. 2.7K p60 should be super useful to apply optical correction in post for the fisheye lens (e.g. with the GoPro Studio software or Adobe After Effects (in the effects tab use ‘distort’ à ‘optical compensation’ then tick ‘reverse lens correction’ and FOV values of about 70). Also, additional image stabilization in post (like warp stabilizer in Premiere Pro) further zooms into the image hence any resolution overhead is highly welcome! Well, what I found is the above statement only holds true for certain modes: Superview Pah, not for me – squeezed and distorted à looks like wrong aspect ratio 80’s TV Field of view “wide” 4K all frame rates super detailed and very nice – but the data rate (~64mbit/s) is on the limit and compression artifacts appear if there is a lot of movement – only use for locked down shots or stabilized drone shots 2.7K 24, 25, 30, 50, 60 modes are disappointing – absolutely NO difference to the corresponding 1080p modes! This situation changes very positively once the 2.7K modes are used in the “medium” field of view settings. It seems that the Hero 4 cannot cope with the additional data reading the full sensor in “wide” mode. A fact which I unfortunately noticed only after having shot the enclosed test video. See the screenshots from a 1080 timeline below, zoomed to 140% (click to enlarge) 1080p 24, 25, 30, 50, 60 modes are all very detailed and nice, no compression artifacts 1080p120 mode has a lot of aliasing – use with caution 720p modes are all fine, with the exception of the 720p120 mode – aliasing Field of view “medium” Whoa, everything changes with the “medium” field of view. This is where the 2.7K modes shine and really provide the extra resolution they are promising. Also, the bitrate of ~65mbits/s seems enough even when a lot of motion is present in the images – no compression artifacts are visible to my eyes. “Medium” FOV for 2.7K means obviously 1:1 sensor subsampling – clean, moiré and aliasing free images which are much more detailed than the 1080p modes! “Medium” field of view for 2.7K is less wide than “medium” for 1080p which makes a 1:1 comparison between these two modes impossible, but here are 140% zoomed in frame grabs from a 1080 timeline for both resolutions (click to enlarge): Notice the wider field of view of the 1080p60 “Medium” mode. Field of view “Narrow” the 1080 modes as well as the 720 modes seem to be 1:1 subsampled from the sensor (windowing), hence they are detailed (exception 720p240) and aliasing free 1080p120 fantastic slow motion, detailed, no aliasing – my choice! 720p240 is only available in narrow FOV, sounds amazing! However I found it disappointing. It shows compression artefacts, is very soft – not for me. It really looks like a standard definition image (screengrab from a 1080 timeline, click to enlarge): Conclusion The new GoPro Hero 4 Black Edition with the latest firmware 2.0 is an amazing upgrade from the Hero 3 black I bought 2 years ago. I will only use those modes on the Hero 4: 4K for slow moving, locked down or drone shots 2.7K “Medium” field of view all frame rates for action shots – for twice the resolution of the 1080p modes, giving me still a decent 1080 image after de-fisheyeing and image stabilization in post 1080p120 “Narrow” field of view for slow motion shots   This video I shot partly with the old, partly with the new firmware (it arrived in the middle of my ski vacation), using mostly 2.7K and 1080p120 in Protune flat and sharpness dialed down as far as possible in cam. One advantage of the high (automatic) shutter speeds having zero motion blur in direct sunlight is that you can further slow down the shots with optical flow algorithms (available e.g. in the GoPro Studio software, or After Effects (timewarp) or Twixtor). I used this effect a few times in the test video. As mentioned above I only learned after the fact that the “wide” 2.7K shots do not provide any advantage over the 1080p modes – hence the action shots appear soft. Lesson learned, you should always test before you shoot! Also, I really liked the “Night Timelapse” functionality of the Hero 4 – you can set the shutter & the interval (in my case 20s shutter and 30s interval). The battery of my Hero 4 survived more than 1,5 hours at -10°C for the night timelapse shown at the end, which I find quite amazing! Also, no need to worry if it starts to snow or rain during the timelapse – the camera sits safely in its waterproof housing. Most of the shots were de-fisheyed with After Effects, and image stabilized with warp stabilizer. Vimeo does not take 50p clips, that’s why I rendered everything in 25p – believe me, in 50p the action looks way better! My wish list for a future Hero X: Better optically corrected lens – I hate the fisheye … Higher bitrate for the 4K modes Bigger dynamic range – its probably around 8 – 9 stops today And of course, higher frame rates are always welcome!

GoPro have released a firmware update for their HERO4 Black camera adding great new capabilities to a camera that has been in the market for about one year now. With the latest firmware update, it can do 240fps in 720p (Narrow Mode only), which clearly expands its usefulness for fast-paced sports action, one of GoPro’s biggest selling points. I stuck a GoPro HERO3 Black on a rocket for a documentary once (see here), using the 120fps in 720p on that camera – 240fps would have made the rocket blast look even better as it did.