ByMike Moffit

The cool, breezy evenings have set in and we’re starting to feel the first wave of Autumn here in Vermont. It is a bittersweet feeling, as always. I hate to see summer go by so quickly. As I said in our last edition, we’re in the midst of our busy back-to-school rush, which affects every department in different ways.

Going into the fall, we’re all gearing up to take tons of photos, especially here in Vermont. While I’m stocking up on color film and developing chemicals, I’m also looking into a better video rig. One of my coworkers has the latest GoPro Hero5, and I must say, the HD recording at 120fps is quite impressive. For the past couple of years, I’ve shot with a Canon 70D, which is well regarded for its video recording capabilities. This system is especially handy for filmmaking, as you can attach a variety of lenses to the body and achieve almost any cinematic look you desire. I’ve found for action video, this camera falls short for a few reasons. First of all, a larger camera body usually means less stability in the image. GoPros are so lightweight, you tend to have an easier time keeping things steady. In addition, recording 4K video gives you the resolution flexibility needed to apply heavy image stabilization in post-processing stages.

When I purchased the 70D, I never expected an action camera at half the price would surpass it in terms of video capacity and ruggedness. I should add, the 70D still has a superior image sensor in so many ways I won’t get into here, but if you’re looking to shoot action without the larger camera body getting in the way of your participation in said action, I think a GoPro is a worthwhile purchase. I’m especially fascinated by the extended range of FPS (frames per second) options going all the way up to 240. If you have a minute search for 240FPS GoPro footage on YouTube. Yes, your iPhone can now handle super slow motion at the same capacity, but I’d rather not take my iPhone out water skiing, skateboarding, or strapped to a dog’s head, for example.

Speaking of strapping to a dog’s head, we have a ton of GoPro mounting accessories at the South Burlington store, including the Karma Grip, which stabilizes even the most rocky footage, using an electronic gimbal. Very cool! If you’d like to hear more about these products, come see us at the store. If you happen to see Erich or Riley, make sure to ask them about their GoPro experience.

Have fun with your last couple weeks of summer, we hope to see you soon!

Patrick McCormack
patrickm@smalldog.com

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