This backpack cam shot is my favorite so far this season, mostly because
it shows more of the valley, and oh yeah…sickbird POWDER!!!
It’s been a snowy last few days up here in JH, which has been awesome, and if you could withstand the 2-3 second long whumps in the snowpack while breaking trail, there was some great powder skiing to be had on the first bluebird(ish) powder day of the year today. I’ve been fiddling with a backpack cam mount, becasue I think they are cool, and here are some screen grabs from today. I still need to make some adjustments, but I think there will be some good stuff in the end. Enjoy the sun!
I don’t know about you, but I like the backpack cam more than the POV on the helmet/head. The contraption it takes to dial in the angles takes a bit of fiddling (and is heavy/bulky) to get it right. I think I’m getting closer though. The cracks are in the snowpack draw my attention here…whump!
I don’t think I have to explain this one. 🙂
can we see a pic of the backpack cam? interested.
yeah chris…it’s been a LOT of trial and error, and i’m still a bit on the error-side right now. i think i’ve got the mounting system worked out, but i just need to get the angles figured out. i will show some pics when it’s dialed.
expecting a new AvaLung pack this week, so hopefully final tweakage is coming soon.
hahaha sooo good, just didi the same thing today, pow and backpack mount testing… we should compare…email me
Those picture are awesome! That angle is so unique and captures the scene much better, in my opinion, than a helmet or goggle mount. You use use the Contour correct? What mount do you use? It looks like the Contour bike mount looks the most promising for something like this, allowing the most adjustability, assuming one is using some sort of pole.
ben…glad you like them. and yes…I use a Contour GPS POV camera. the bike mount is the basic attachment point, but the trick is to get it very stable, the angles right and not have it too heavy or bulky so you can actually haul it around with you, beyond the token one-day photo-shoot.
I almost gave up. My video always looks funky.
I tried an extended mount on the back of my helmet, a chest harness, a headstrap, a pole shoved into a backpack with Styrofoam inside, two v-shaped aluminum braces inside a backpack – pointing backwards and holding the pole in the v’s wedge, a ski-pole mount, and a ski mount.
I’ve decided that the key to great movies is editing. And, if you can afford it, two cameras. Much of my POV video is useless right off the SD card. There’s always a problem with capturing steady shots, the right angle, and limiting distortion from wide-angle lenses.
For extended trips into the backcountry, I keep it simple and hope for the best with a helmet mount. If I’m using an ice axe, I’ll take a Velcro mount (that was made for the Flip cameras) and is attached to my ace axe which is attached to my backpack on descents.
For the helmet mount, I’ve learned to limit my head movements especially unnecessary up & down motions that cause the field of view to bend as the horizon changes.
For the backpack, it’s mostly about getting the right angle and figuring out a mount that gives the steadiest shot. Backpack mounts that don’t move with your head or shoulders make you look like a puppet being controlled from behind. They’re neat & eerie.
Best of luck to all the film buffs.
agreed harley…stability is really the first hurdle to tackle with the backpack cam…then you can fine tune the angles.
the one downside of the Countour GPS is that it only has a 135-degree field of view, so i’m finding i need to get the camera rather far away from the backpack so my upper body doesn’t take up too much of the frame.
Thanks for the wisdom!
Pretty cool pics, Thanks again for the leather scarpas. Only the pikas and the grey jays saw my turns going into Island Lake last week. Very funky snow for my Karhu XCDGT’s and long nights in the tent. I’m so old I forget!
bmoe…glad those scarpas are working for you. maybe next time we can set you up with a light AT setup.
man…you are probably the first to make turns in the winds this year. call me next time!!!
Its 8:55 and I’m in society and technology looking at web cams and early season pow shots. I miss Wyoming.
The original GoPro HD Helmet Hero is on sale for $169.00 at Amazon (sat, Nov 26th) – still sold around town for 299.00. IMO, without the housing and mounts, the original camera isn’t worth $80. The quality of pictures and video is underwhelming compared to typical P&S cameras one finds for $150. The newer model (Hero 2 – $299) is a incremental improvement.
The old model can act as a more affordable 2nd POV camera. As with most of these sub $300 POV cameras, quality is never what you expect or want. And functionality is limited (zooming, exposure control, etc).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VA56I8/ref=s9_pop_gw_g421_ir03/186-3158445-5790713?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0AQ3YN2AD89J5T3BSPV6&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1263340922&pf_rd_i=507846