Hey folks,
Just wanted to say, if any of you are thinking about picking up a GoPro HD Hero 2 but are having doubts about it, DO IT.
I've had the original GoPro 1080P model as well as a ContourHD1080 since last year. The HD2 is going to replace both of those -- I used to use the GoPro for daytime riding and because of its superior mic, but the ContourHD (horrible mic for wind noise) at night since the GoPro1 sucks with low-light scenarios. Neither of them were particularly great at producing sharp, detailed images in low-light or at nighttime, but they are both good cameras overall. I'd shoot at 720p/30f for the extra-wide angle with the GoPro, but 1080p/30f on the ContourHD. At 720p on the GoPro, you sacrifice some image quality, but I prefer the wide camera angle.
The GoPro2 on the other hand, has an improved mic system (deals better with wind noise etc), retains compatibility with all of the cases/mounts/BacPac accessories, and produces surprisingly high-quality video in low light. You'll still get some "noise" in the picture when in very low light such as riding on unlit roads at night, but I was surprised to find (at 1080P/30f at least) that it easily makes out details such as license plates, signs etc even at a distance, where the GoPro1 would have major issues. It also allows you to keep the extra-wide angle that formerly only worked at 720p.
That said, I'm eating up space on my 32GB SDHC card like nothing, so I'll probably need to compress any lengthy videos I choose to keep in the future.. but it's worth it for the better overall performance of the camera. Already caught one moron's plate tonight who nearly sideswiped me on the 401 trying to cut across to an exit. (Gotta love people who try to split the lane with you and think you're going to just stop/move over somehow for them... rather than just slowing down and going behind me instead.. dummies.)
Just wanted to say, if any of you are thinking about picking up a GoPro HD Hero 2 but are having doubts about it, DO IT.
I've had the original GoPro 1080P model as well as a ContourHD1080 since last year. The HD2 is going to replace both of those -- I used to use the GoPro for daytime riding and because of its superior mic, but the ContourHD (horrible mic for wind noise) at night since the GoPro1 sucks with low-light scenarios. Neither of them were particularly great at producing sharp, detailed images in low-light or at nighttime, but they are both good cameras overall. I'd shoot at 720p/30f for the extra-wide angle with the GoPro, but 1080p/30f on the ContourHD. At 720p on the GoPro, you sacrifice some image quality, but I prefer the wide camera angle.
The GoPro2 on the other hand, has an improved mic system (deals better with wind noise etc), retains compatibility with all of the cases/mounts/BacPac accessories, and produces surprisingly high-quality video in low light. You'll still get some "noise" in the picture when in very low light such as riding on unlit roads at night, but I was surprised to find (at 1080P/30f at least) that it easily makes out details such as license plates, signs etc even at a distance, where the GoPro1 would have major issues. It also allows you to keep the extra-wide angle that formerly only worked at 720p.
That said, I'm eating up space on my 32GB SDHC card like nothing, so I'll probably need to compress any lengthy videos I choose to keep in the future.. but it's worth it for the better overall performance of the camera. Already caught one moron's plate tonight who nearly sideswiped me on the 401 trying to cut across to an exit. (Gotta love people who try to split the lane with you and think you're going to just stop/move over somehow for them... rather than just slowing down and going behind me instead.. dummies.)
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