Follow cam tips for GoPro

T

The_Hannes

Member
Lots of my friends bought GoPros this year, and I was wondering if any of you guys had tips on how to do the best follow cam with a GoPro? Use 1 or 2 hands? Use the pole mount, some other kind of mount or none? The biggest problem is that the footage is getting really shaky, especially when doing bigger jumps.

Please post any tips that could help us, Thanks alot!
 
i agree 100% with this statement ...

also for good followcam shots the filmer should have a short run-through with the rider so they both know what they're going to do and can anticipate on eachother ...
 
definitely. switch up your angles a lot too, no one wants to see footy from behind the rider the whole time. and get up nice and close, gopro's have such a wide lens for a reason.
 
I swear gopros are the easiest things to ise. They are the embodiment of point and shoot. The best thing to do to know your camera is play around with it. They watch and compare the footage to you your angles and distances.

Since it comes with sticker support, you can put them anywere...just make sure its above freezing temperature.A simple broken ski pole, with the end flatten; you tape the mount on the pole is the best and cheapest solution.

Gopro has an image stabilizer. If you stay fluid with filming, you will get better video.
 
The one thing with GoPro's it that they dont have good depth perception so stay close to what, or who your filming you'll get better results, and the lens is wide angle so dont worry about missing your shots
 
Definitely. If you can ghettorig up some sort of simple counterweight on the opposite end of the pole it will really smooth out shots.
 
The best and cheapest solution for this would be to take the mount that the camera comes on out of the box (the plastic plate one). Cut that mount so all the thin plastic is gone and just the mount remains. Take that and bore a little hole in the center for a screw and screw it to the top of your pole. If your your pole has a screw already in the top for you pole strap use that. You can also use glue or expandable foam to secure it more if it does quite match up with the top of your pole. Its honestly the best solution and you'll always have it on you without having to carry around an extra stick and you don't have to pay a dime. And when you don't wanna film you still got poles to ski with. Thats my two cents.
 
dont shoot with the cam facing the sun. (try your best anyways)low angles and high angles look best.

filming in front of the rider looks sick.

point the camera ahead of the rider (rule of thirds)

film everything!

the longer the pole the smoother the shots.

dont be afraid to get close.

make your shots dynamic.(always move the camera)

Thats about all i can think of for now.

just study edits. Travlin circus is good to watch if your interesting in filming rails.
 
sorry for the dub post but one more thing.

remember that people watch edits to see things they dont normally see. that means tricks and skiing from dif POVs. i always see skiing from head hight so switch it up. hence the low and high angles.
 
Something as simple as duct taping some large metal washers to the end of the pole (add a few pounds of weight to the opposite end of where the camera is). Seems like a ridiculous idea but could really improve shots by smoothing them out.
 
I did almost the same thing but made it more complicated Because I drilled a hole in the pole and I just thread a screw through there. I really like the idea of a top-pole mount because the you dont need to mess around with an extra pole. Good thread OP, theres a lot of good ideas in here
 
ive never used a gopro for follow cam but im planning to this season, im assuming that if you mount it on a regular ski pole you'll be able to see the basket and stuff in the shotn which wont be the best, that being said i dont want to carry around part of an old hockey stick all day, are there any other suggestions on how to mount it for good follow cam?
 
threads for when i get my gopro

and also the thing about pole mounts is true, and i saw something about switching up the angles, thats also key, my friend does an angle where he sits in the chairlift while we hit rails underneath him, makes for some sick shots
 
well if you mount it on the handle you could hold the back of the pole or you could take an old pole and cut off just above the basket a bit and mount it there (thats what i did)
 
Definitely pole.

Has anyone tried to make a rig like you see at X-games? Most half pipe runs are filmed with that particular, V-shaped rig.

I know its kind of useless considering how light a GoPro is compared to their cameras, but would it help smooth things out?
 
best tip for smooth shots. ski smoother.i mounted my gopro on the handle of my ski pole and i hold it just over the basket so the basket is snugged up against the bottom of my hand. tends to work well.
 
Omg I've been wanting to use that song for like the past month.. Thanks for crushing my dreams by posting that edit lmao..

On topic: I'm definitely trying out some pole mount follow cams this season.
 
mount the gopro underneath the pole if you dont have a counter balance, it weighs that end down making it smoother than being on top of the pole
 
Makes it a lot steadier. If it's handheld every little movement will show up, but when that movement occurs a couple feet from the source the effect is greatly reduced. The longer the pole the steadier the shot (in theory)
 
As everyone said, followcam is undoubtedly the way to go. I put mine on a pvc pipe using a single elbow at the end. This way when you want to stop using it, you can just pocket the camera with elbow mount, and leave the pvc pipe on the side of the trail or at the lift line. If someone steals it or you forget it there, they're less than a dollar to replace. Plus, you can always change lengths of the pole for a couple cents based on how you want to film that day.

1282763450DSC_4082.JPG
 
I've been using this for a few months now, works great, adjustable length, great control. http://i40.tinypic.com/wbtmjp.jpgadjusted the handle a bit, electrical-tape closest to the (below the grip) "stick" shuv bicyclehandle over > Voilà!

If anything id suggest one of these!
 
^^^^ creative setup. props

I have mine setup with the pole mount and extenders so i can bend it so the cam lens is in line with the pole. no pics tho. Has anyone tried converting the display mount they give you into a chest mount? I've been thinking about trying it but im lazy.
 
do you really need the counterweights? cuz i think im just gonna get a handlebar mount and put it on my pole when i want to.
 
Definitely not at all necessary, just an idea for people who were looking to experiment and mess around with getting smoother shots.
 
my hockey stick rig: i just handsaw'd off the blade and stuck the GoPro mount on the end. simple, really.

6e67fdc1.jpg
 
This is what I used in the setup I made for my contour, only I kept the blade and mounted the camera on there. That way, the boom NEVER gets in the way of the camera when filming, and you have a bit of overhang to play with.

I got the idea from how audio booms work, as many are set up to give you plenty of overhang on the target in order to give you more angular range to get the mic in the 'sweet spot' if you will.
 
i was just thinking the exact same thing ....

my handlebar mount works so nicely and gopro + mount still fit inside my pockets, so much easier than making a special pole for it ...
 
I use the gopro pole/handlebar mount as well, and its legit, but I would rather have a pole mount based on the quick release, as opposed to having to unscrew and take off the gopro mount...if you are switching between pole mount to helmet, etc, its better to have a quick release system. I originally made one for my pole but it wasn't super durable hence why I got the gopro pole mount. Gonna go back to the homemade tho as soon as I figure out how to make a more beastly one.
 
I'm in the process of using a rc heli and then mounting a suspended rig under it to reduce vibration. Should work pretty good.
 
Be careful about leaving a handlebar mount on your pole when you are not using it. I crashed and mine got ripped off and I never saw it again. Now I use a flat adhesive mount on the end of an old lacrosse stick.
 
multiple reasons

1. I had 1 extra pole laying around in my garage

2. It fits in my back pack after I'm done using it

3. only use my actual poles when I'm filming myself
 
Because you can only do so much with a ski pole. If I'm doing some followcam in the park, I bring my hockey stick boom so I can do more.
 
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