I need help for a camera setup for my next big trip (NEBDR)

[Shingor6]

I'm going to do a 9 day trip to the https://ridebdr.com/nebdr NEBDR. I would like to have a bunch of video of the trip for me and my friends.


I'm wondering what I should get. I currently have a gopro hero 4 that I mount on my helmet, but I often forget to start it, the video are shaky and often not horizontal.

My ideal setup would be something that is plug into the bike USB power so it is always filming on a loop and I can just click on a button to save the last 5/10 minutes to keep interesting stuff saved to the SD card. I would also like to be able to easily take picture when I see something fun without having to stop and pull out a camera.

I'm wondering if I should go 360 camera or not.

I ride a lot offroad so the bike is going to be vibrating a lot.

My budget is around 500$

What do you suggest?

Mount camera on helmet or motorcycle?

360 or regular action cam?

Is it realistic to leave the camera running all the time and just click something to save the intersting parts?

Thank you

 

[Hippo-Drones]

Sounds like an awesome adventure
The issues you are having are not really too much of a problem, I know many big YouTube channels that still use the Hero 4... Shadetree Surgeon still does I believe, as do many more. You need to learn to angle the camera correctly, it is something that once you learn it, it is never really an issue again unless you take a tumble. The stabilisation is nice on modern cameras, but if helmet mounted, not 100% a requirement. Saying that, I absolutely love the GoPro Hero 10 when run on the GoPro white endurance batteries, I can almost do a full days trail riding on a single battery by turning the camera off between trails.

I personally love 360 cameras, but I also personally don't feel they are of a quality yet to replace a proper action camera. Saying that, the Insta360 X3 would do what you want of it if bike mounted I think, but it is not an efficient way to record a trip.... They take up a LOT of memory card space on the camera before they are edited into a fixed window video.

I always think it best to have a helmet camera as main camera, so maybe grab a second hand Hero 10 and learn how to angle it, get the Max Lens Mod if you struggle to get it angled 100% and run the endurance batteries.

If you are happy to spend some time editing your footage to be engaging to an audience on YouTube, then with the spare cash, see if you can grab a second-hand Insta360 One X2 and mount that on the bike.

A channel in the UK called Premises187 uses the tag feature of his GoPro to help him edit it, so you can do that... although if on a long trip, you'll be better off turning it off between locations you want to record.

 

[R-Rated]

I use a Hero4 Silver as a back up camera on long trips. My primary for the helmet is a Hero8 Black and second camera is either a Hero 360 or Hero5 session. The second mounted to the handlebars. The second camera gets plugged into the bike so I can leave it running.

The Hero 360 mounted on the bars where it can look over my shoulder is great because captures everything I may miss. In a group ride this can be wonderful.

I then use to Hero8 Black with voice command to grab what I think is interesting without running it the whole time.

I also use a GoPro remote to start and stop both cameras too.

As far as Hero4 being shaky - that can be fixed in edit with software for stabilization.

So for $500 you can get a Hero360 and remote to add to your Hero4. Plus you can get door from Ulanzi for the 360 to allow a power cord to be plugged in.

 

[Shingor6]

Which software would you recommend to stabilize the image in post production?

 

[R-Rated]

Which software would you recommend to stabilize the image in post production?

I have used both PowerDirector and Adobe Premiere (not the subscriptions). The Adobe Premiere Elements 2019 was good on adjust stabilization and allows to easily take out Haze.

The Hero4 shows the sky where I live like it truly looks, whitish due to the humidity. Taking the haze out makes it look more blue.

 

[lonerockz]

I'll add a few thoughts here, although my vlogging experience is limited.

First, 360 cameras add an additional burden for editing, and can't really be shared with anyone until you edit/reframe it. So if you are not in to that I'd avoid. Also while they offer great unique views, the video they produce is never as good as the newer action cameras.

The latest GoPros have awesome stabilization, they produce pretty darn good video on default settings and there are lots of tutorials on how to get the best out of them. The Hero 11 doesn't need much (any?) out of camera stabilization. Its really good at that.

For battery life on bike mounted cameras, most of the cameras have optional battery doors that let you plug in a USB cable to power them while you are shooting.

I'm running a GoPro max on the bike with a USB cable. On my Helmet I have a Hero 11 and microphone.

Good Luck!

 

[Shingor6]

I’m thinking of ordering a GoPro 11 black with the max lens mod and usb passthrough door.

445$

I will buy a 360 camera when they bump up the resolution and have easily replaceable lens.

 

[lonerockz]

Oh and one more note. I buy my GoPros on the official gopro site to get the subscription. Being able to backup and store my videos for $49 a year is a pretty good deal. If you are like me and shoot way too much it saves a lot on backup space.

 

[Drakhen99]

I use a Hero 10 on my helmet, Hero 9 on my handlebars, and sometimes a Hero 8 mounted elsewhere. I also mix in my GoPro Max occasionally. I did it recently, and for some reason, the GoPro Player app would not export in HEVC, so I used CineForm. My GOSH, that's a big file. A 6.5-minute video, which out of the camera was 3.2gb, turned into a 42gb file. BUT, the detail and clarity are amazing! I got such good footage out of it, that I may just have to use CineForm moving forward.

I also reframed my 360 footage inside Davinci Resolve, which I use to do all my editing. If you want to see how the 360 footage came out, watch the High Rock video [should be top row on my channel - link in my signature]. About 12 minutes in, I get to High Rock and break out the GoPro Max. It was wild compared to my previous videos using Max footage.

-John