Lately I have been getting some inquiries about the pole cam system I was/am using to get some of the shots I was with the GoPro camera over the last couple of years. I worked out a portable system that would allow me to shoot point of view style, but from angles away from the body and not having the hand holding the camera in the shot. There were quite a few revisions. Most of them worked just fine, but the overall length was best carried in a frame bag. To overcome that I ended up segmenting the pole. Here is a peak at my latest compact version.
Key Features:
- The pole moves the GoPro about 12 inches from your hand
- The pole breaks down into sections about 8 inches long
- Additional extension pieces can be used for added length
- 1/4" 20 threat will work with existing camera tripod mounts and accessories
- Rare Earth magnets in the handle allow for quick mounting to sign posts, fence rails, guard rails, etc. The world is your tripod
- Hand shaped wooden handle with flat side for indexing camera orientation and durable shellac finish
As with a bunch of things these will be added to the storefront in the coming weeks, with a street price around $30. If you are interested drop me an email through the contact page.
As for capturing the images, I set the camera to grab stills every 2 seconds, trigger it, hold it out to get a series of shots, then turn it off that simple. It is the same basic process for video or riding past it mounted to something. An easy and portable way to get more creative shots with you GoPro while on tour this summer.
This one is for all of you out there who carry your cameras on the bike on EVERY ride. Just like saddles and helmets, choice of camera gear and how to carry it can spark endless debate. You have seen the bags I use, but may wonder how I am getting some of the shots you see here on the site.
My Kit now consists of two cameras, GoPro and Panasonic GF1. The one that is always with me is the GoPro. Is small, light and so simple you can not over think it. 180deg field of view means you just point it an a direction and work with what you have. I generally set it to capture a still picture every 2 seconds, set up the shot and take a series. Weeding out the best shots during post processing at home only takes a few minutes. I often shoot while in the saddle and moving. To get the camera away from my hand I have worked through a series of short poles. This helps to create an image that transmits the feeling of "being there, with me", not the usual GoPro point of view shot where you feel like the doer of the activity. The latest poles are about to go into a period of refinement, but I am really happy with where they are at now. The handle has a flat section that helps mentally index the way the camera is pointing without having to look at it. The flat combined with a couple of inset magnets has also allowed me to turn in into a self supporting mono pod with the help of found steel: signs, fence posts, guard rails, electrical boxes etc.
I still have and use my Joby Gorilapod often. The pole above weighs 1/3 of the gorillapod, has 90% of the usefulness for a camera as light as the GoPro, and therefor ends up in my frame bag on every ride. The gorillapod holds up my other camera, Panasonic GF1, which while half the size of a traditional DSLR is still a tank compared to the GoPro. Then there are the times that you forget the tripod, and just work with what you have.
While not ideal, it did just fine. I was able to capture the image currently serving as the header for r the site.
Such are the joys of photocycycling, the merger of two passions, photography and cycling. The fun only extends into making the gear that works and the gear work for you. Have fun, play outside, and take lots of photos.
I think many of you are familiar with the shots I am able to get with my pole and GoPro set up. Almost every fish eye shot of me on my Roadeo in the last 6 months was taken with one of these combinations.
I have started to make these by hand in small batches, and am offering them for sale.
This example shows the one I use almost daily, with the first two that are available.
They are about 15" long, custom lengths are available by request. The handles are 1" Diameter by 6" long with shellac to seal them. The all-thread is 1/4" 20 and will fit most common camera tripod lugs and or Micro ball head mounts for greater angle control. I cover the thread with shrink-wrap to protect you and your gear while leaving the end exposed for the jam nut and camera to mount. Please note that the GoPro housing is there for example and not included.
I would only recommend these for use with light cameras like the GoPro or smaller point and shoot models. I have tried it with my 3 pound GF1 and it did not go well. With a little creativity you can capture a variety of angles:
- Hand held of course
- The shrink-wrap allows you to hold it in your teeth if needed
- Stab it into the sand on the side of the road
- Prop it up in the top of a pole or sign post
- Stoker on the tandem
- Toe strap to hold it to a pole or tree
As for how to carry them? Mine fits well into the frame bag or saddle bag. For shorter rides I leave it sticking out of my handlebar bag or lay it across the hoods of the brake levers.
Starting price on these is $25 shipped in the US. Please use the contact page to purchase on while I am getting my shopping cart sorted out.
Thanks - Rob
P.S. I am also starting to re-populate the yard sale page a bit each day.
Making a bike ride out of trip to the post office is a great way to inject a little adventure into the Friday lunch break. It just so happened, there was a hole in the fog and a little blue sky peaking through. Dropping off an outbound saddle.
After the drop off, and picking up the Pro Compe I was waiting for this week, it was time to hit the park for our first playground trip.
Then off through town to check the surf,
Around the point and back towards home the clouds and fog were closing in,
It is hard to imagine a better way to spend 45 minutes in the middle of the day.
Happy Friday, Happy Father's day and Go Play Outside this weekend!
One of the challenges of being the photographer and the model is getting the camera far enough away to capture the angle of view you a shooting for while still being able to control the camera. Often times is will use a combination of tripod, remotes and timers. Other times, as readers likely know, I use the low tech solution of keeping my arm stretched out as far as I can without dropping the camera. This past week I put a little time into fleshing out a pole mount for the camera.
Version 1.0 has been going pretty well. Materials list includes; 1/4 - 20 all thread, a piece of scrap dowel and a couple of cinch nuts to keep the mount secure at the camera end. It is a little whippy, but more than stout enough for the GoPro. The bend in the first picture is cold set using an old 26" wheel as a mandrel. The length works well for the Xtracycle. I am not sure how to carry it on my other bikes, and now I have a shorter version on the project list as well as a stouter model for the GF1
Finally found the confluence of factors to get back into the water for a short window in time this morning. It felt good, cold, but good. The current wind conditions have the water temps in the 50s with air in the upper 40s, brrrr. Still it was wonderful taking some pictures from the other side of the sidewalk.
The
GoPro® Helmet HERO™ Wide Camera
performed pretty well for my first day in the water. I ran into some of the same snags many users do with water spots. I had tried rain-x as recommended, but my bottle was ancient as we do not use it often out here in SoCal.
The wife's cruiser performed perfectly as well, although my hands were frozen by the time I made it home. Much to her dismay it has morphed into the family surf cruiser, with the baby we now surf in shifts. The bike is paying the price for its time locked up in front of the ocean.
Living in a small to medium-sized town near your work and playgrounds definitely makes the car light lifestyle so much more accessible. The temperate climate is just the frosting on the cake.
Back out to the canyons on what was a bit colder than I expected morning. Temps at home were around 37, but out in the fields and back in the canyons there was frost. The wool worked and the wind breaker never came off. The only things that suffered were my feet, next time I will pack some extra socks.
The star of the show today is my new
GoPro® Helmet HERO™ Wide Camera
. In my quest to better capture the rider point of view on my cycling adventures, I opted into one of these little power packs. The angle of view is about 170 deg and grabs a far wider line of sight than the lenses I currently have for my other cameras. Out of the box impression is really good. I want to use it a bit more to form a better review later next week. The two biggest plus points are the wide-angle and waterproof for the rain. The only downside so far is the signal to noise ratio, using the camera for still captures there are a lot of throw aways while the camera is running on autopilot strapped to your helmet. So here are today's light grabs.
Looking back towards Point Mugu
Frigid and frosty in Wheeler Canyon, I was not really prepared for this and my feet are still a bit chilly..
I still am amazed at times how many miles of near empty back roads there are. It is particularly nice when they are freshly re-paved...
Island views for the ride home, crystal clear weather before the next storm
Have a fun and safe New Year, enjoy the weekend and get outside.
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