I've had a GoPro Hero 5 for years and it has those desirable features, even the monitor on the back. 7 years later it is still going strong. I always attach my camera to a floaty handle and mount it from there. When I've been using it hand held, the floaty makes filming much easier (and smoother panning), and when I've accidently dropped it, it hasn't sunk.
@@PaddleTV haha I appreciate it! Honestly this is the type of video I would’ve loved to see when I was starting out. You’ve got insane production quality as well!
GoPro made this market, but they have followed in Apple's footsteps, making expensive proprietary dongles. For example, it is needlessly expensive to add a microphone that not only needs a USB dongle to interface with an external microphone, but you can't even use a generic USB-to-3.5mm adapter. Unfortunately, finding this dongle can be difficult, and then trying to make it work may be futile. Making specialty hardware devices to lock out off-the-shelf parts only provides more modes of failure and makes it harder to replace parts.
Agreed! Just ordered one after much research and debate. The final selling features ( as they have all the same features as go pro) was the free use of osmo's editing app and the lower overall price.
Had birthday a few days ago, got a GoPro as well as an inflatable Kayak. I was planning for quite a while to get a kayak & gear since I moved to an area with a LOT of lakes with beautiful scenery. But right now I don't have the financial options to get one right away, so that inflatable Kayak was an awesome idea. Since I also don't have any real knowledge of video capturing, I decided to just take the GoPro and the Kayak for a short trip to on the closest lake test it out. Some makeshift attachement to the front of the Kayak and I was ready to go :D I just came home 30min ago from that trip, turn on the computer and YT to see what's new, and see this video on top of my suggestions. What a perfect timing! Looking forward to watch it!
Superb stuff Ken and very useful, thank you. You just talked me into a GoPro 9 damn it! I recently tried filming a paddle on a cheap action cam (in a waterproof case) and learned - almost immediately - that I need to spend some money to get the quality of footage I want. Anyway. Top video, very watchable and, as always, beautifully produced.
@@PaddleTV Oh I get that. Never mind the features Ken, if it's a lovely thing to own then it's worth the extra money. You deserve it 🤣 Actually, so do I 🤣🤣
I loved this because even though I am a lightweight kayaker on my local lake, with my Aruba SS8 and have thought about getting a GoPro, I use my phone and it’s very awkward and nerves if u lose it. I have thought about GoPro for awhile, even just to show my family what it is like to kayak on the water
informative, entertaining and valuable info Ken- thank you! I just bought a used GoPro Hero 4 with various attachments and I can't wait to try it out. I'm so tired of using my phone (ruined two already).
Its so rare for me to subscribe after just 1 video but this was very informative without any fluff added. Some great examples from each of the features you discussed. Really well done
what a thorough breakdown… thanks so much for this. I have a go pro 11 and just got the kayaking bug. Looking forward to doing much more recording of my adventures!
Thanks for this masterpiece. I couldn't find any good video in french about filming within a canoe. This one is clear, with professional images and sound and very useful. I am going to experiment all that very soon.
Thank you Ken, you answered all of my questions concerning filming whilst kayaking (even those I didn't know I have them). I agree with Gatewood Brown: Another great video!
Very informative! I bought an action cam for kayaking but didn't have things figured out like, how to turn it on when you want to record, if it's mounted where you cannot reach it. I really didn't get much of a chance to use it due to a fire in my home this last summer but am slowly but surely getting the things I lost...including my kayaks. Paddle TV is awesome so, keep up the good work!
This is extremely helpful instruction to get you started filming your own kayak adventures! Your tips helped inform some purchases and saved me some experimentation with mounts. Much appreciated. Thanks, Ken!
I enjoy your teaching style. You've inspired me on quite a few things so far since Ive been binging your content. Thank you. So I did my first kayak adventure yesterday. I've tried them out before just when someone had one and let me try it for a few minutes. Yesterday I took my brand new boat for its maiden voyage. I stayed close to shore and had an action camera on the bow looking back at me. It worked out really good. The first trip was really only about 45 min on the water going back and forth around the park. But it was also a dog training session as well. We're learning together. And it went quite well actually. I'll be uploading it once I finish editing it. Great tip about shooting in a lower resolution to help the editing process. 👍
Well this video convinced me to buy a goPro 9. There is a good deal right now where they bundle in a waterproof hand held grip and the clip on grip. Thanks!
I highly recommend considering 360 cameras. If you want to start filming, you just get it started, and let it go. It will film everything, and later, you can pick and choose and create a standard video that shows what you want. This is especially handy in a wildlife encounter. You don't need to fiddle with the camera after it's started, and you can enjoy the moment. Then, when editing your video, you can tell the software to track the animal through the shot, and you'll have a video clip that keeps the animal center frame for as long as possible. It's so much better than trying to be a cameraman - you'll get better video and still be free to enjoy it as it happens without distractions.
I found mounting it on a whitewater kayaks really difficult as the footage is better on a selfie stick. Unfortunately my stick snapped on a branch and I lost my hero max in the dirtiest river I've ever paddled
Yeah... the Hero 9 is probably the biggest update yet. Hard to keep up with them, as they keep changing and improving. Can't wait to see DJI's next generation of action camera too.
When I bought my used Wilderness Systems Tsunami 165, the previous owner included an unused GoPro Hero 7 and a bunch of other stuff. Until I saw this video, I didn't know it had voice controls. I had wondered how I was going to be able to start and stop the video recording from the cockpit and was struggling to come up with finding a mount. This will open up a lot more mounting options for me! Thanks Ken!!!
My GoPro is so old I have to take it to the Fotomat to be developed. Been enjoying Gatewood's channel for awhile, he really does makes top notch videos. Maybe a collaboration in the future? It was cool seeing you in a River KIngs collab..
Another great video Ken!! Great balance of info vs tech overload. What about waterproof audio? Is the Rode Go waterproof; I’m guessing not, so caution needed?
That was a lot of good information. Thank you. 👍 _Off topic:_ Are you guys doing some super-hybridization up there in Canada? At 14:00 on the left side of the frame there appears to be a deciduous tree growing a pine cone. 😲 😉
Great video! In my view you really hit the sweet spot where it was enough information to be more than basic, but still not too much to be not practical. Very useful - thank you!
Great info. Thanks Ken... I have a pair of GoPro 9s and have been shooting my paddling adventures. My problem comes with editing. Can you recommend a good editing program that a beginner will have no problem using. I learned a lot on this video thank you again
Thanks, this a is a great video with some useful tips to try.... is the media mod waterproof should it be needed? Also the Rode go? Is that waterproof. DO you ever use the go pro in a housing (waterproof) or reply on the camera own waterproof capabilities?
Thank you! The last camera I had was about 8 years ago. Very cheap. The problem I had was not knowing if it was actually recording or not. So there were times I thought I was recording only to be disappointed later when the moment was gone. I'm hoping the latest have a visible (or in the case you just showed, an audio) indicator that it is recording.
Hi Ken I’ve been watching your videos for quite a while and discovered the Trak 2.0 which I eventually bought from your video about it . Any tips unique to mount on skin on frame kayaks??
Does the gopro stay wateproof when you add external mic? Rode wireless go mics are great for the money, especially with lavalier mics, but they are not waterproof, or are they?
Great question Sami! No, the GoPro doesn't stay waterproof with the media mod, nor is the Rode wireless go mic system waterproof. You don't want to mount those anywhere they'll get soaked.
Wow, PaddleTv is going to be better with another episodes! This video is really cool. Thanks Ken for tips. But... There always be "but", we watching you filmed by professional crew and, I think, equipment, and by fact, is super to watching. Audio is great, visuals as well. Action cameras make movies not so bad, but not good as PaddleTv episodes. Perhaps, changing AC(action cameras) to compact photocameras with filming feature is a great idea. I know but what about the price? Is surely a some difficulty, good photo camera is expensive, but it provide vast possibilities super photos and movies and sound (audio with ext. microphone). Thanks PaddleTv crew for such a hobby delicious dinner! Best wishes! 🧡🛶💦
@@PaddleTV thanks Ken. May I as you something? I'm searching for movies on yt with good quality picture and sound, without music, and dialogs (monologs too). Do you recommend someone? I recommend a pair from Germany "wandershuh und faltboot", they filmed without any disturbing if its too much and no needed music, talking etc. I love nature sounds, but even they cant bring me a close satisfaction. Perhaps someone else is great to compare? I hope you understand me.
@@tominnenPL You might want to check out Erik Normark. Here's a recent video of his that I really like, for all the reasons you mention: th-cam.com/video/n6F1YNKS2xo/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much for this. In the past couple of months, I've started asking many of the questions you answered here. Now if only the GoPro 9 didn't cost six or seven times what my kayak did...
Ha! The GoPro 8 is about $100 cheaper, and a super camera too. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. As Christopher mentions as well, the Akaso is a great budget option. It's amazing what it does for the price.
Maybe look at the Osmo Action. Similar with great imaging. Downfalls though are poorer audio, but Ken mentions the GoPro is mediocre too. And no Hindsight, which sounds like a great feature. But we love the Osmo Action and its smooth interface for around $200US.
Hey Ken, I’ve been following your videos for a while now and love your content. Have you found any good solutions for mounting a GoPro or 360 cam to your Trak Kayak?
I actually haven't found a great solution. I've used a helmet strap around the bow of the kayak, which has worked out alright. Personally... I think every kayak (portable or hardshell) should have an integrated and fixed action camera mount.
I thought my spray skirt while in the boat would be a great place to work like a table. I needed to change the battery on my GoPro. I never once had the battery door come off doing this. But it came off and with little height or momentum it took one bounce like a taught trampoline and in the water it went. So, now I pull back the skirt and change it in my lap.
For atmosphere, I preferred the sound captured from the go pro. It was more natural, as though you were along on the trip, which on many occasions you don’t hear your buddy paddler precisely. But it’s horses for courses. In an instructional video, you might not want any ambiguity of sound, so closer mic setups are better. Um, your lavalier mic was muffled and lost a huge amount of ‘top’ unfortunately, i.e. Crisp, high frequency sound. Excellent video though, as always. Big respect.
Audio was the part I was interested in. But while you spoke about waterproof and safety for camera, you did kind of skip it for the audio. The Rode is not waterproof as far as I know, and how about the lavalier mic? Kayaking with a lot of waves maybe even rain, or worse yet, you fall into the water. How to do quality audio, considering these issues? Gopro is not good, but even worse when it has been submersed, it is muffled.
All good points. The reality is that there isn't a good/affordable option for a waterproof mic set. The Rode isn not waterproof. If I'm in conditions where getting splashes or flipping is a real possibility, I'll put away the Rode. I'll then pull it out when things are calm again. During the rough stuff, the best bet for audio is direct from the GoPro. If you use a chest harness for the GoPro, this puts the camera in the best location to capture good audio. If it gets soaked, the sound will likely get muffled though.
the problem with the media mod is your gopro is no longer waterproof . I will just stick with the built in mic unless I can find a decent bluetooth waterproof mic
I’ve been toying with the idea of getting an action camera. So glad I watched this before following through with a purchase. You brought up some points that I hadn’t considered, yet are sort of “duh” for action cameras. I was looking at the GoPro Hero 7 (a smidge more affordable), but it didn’t occur to me that it had no front facing camera. Thank you so much for this video.
A GoPro Hero 7 has no "front-facing" camera? Dude, EVERY GoPro since the beginning of time has a front-facing camera. You point the camera at something and it records it. It's quite simple, really.
Another reason not to film with your phone: decent action cameras come with MUCH more secure mounting options than even the most secure phone mount setups. You're a lot less likely to lose a properly mounted action cam than you are a phone. Plus, action cams will do things even the best phone won't. 360 filming so you can literally capture EVERYTHING all at once and choose what appears later? No problem - no need to adjust camera angles while trying to manage your boat. Best digital stabilization available? You bet. Waterproof and shockproof and dustproof? Yup.
I've had a GoPro Hero 5 for years and it has those desirable features, even the monitor on the back. 7 years later it is still going strong. I always attach my camera to a floaty handle and mount it from there. When I've been using it hand held, the floaty makes filming much easier (and smoother panning), and when I've accidently dropped it, it hasn't sunk.
Couldn't have said it better myself! This is a masterclass in paddlesports filming for sure. Another great video!
Thanks Gatewood... This might be the masterclass, but you've definitely earned the master title! :)
@@PaddleTV haha I appreciate it! Honestly this is the type of video I would’ve loved to see when I was starting out. You’ve got insane production quality as well!
Super helpful. I've watched this several times.
We love the Osmo Action as an option - great interface, stabilization, 240 fps, blah, blah, blah - at half the cost. Great quality, HDR, etc.
Yup. DJI is the one company that gives GoPro a run for the money for action cameras. I can't wait to see their next version.
GoPro made this market, but they have followed in Apple's footsteps, making expensive proprietary dongles. For example, it is needlessly expensive to add a microphone that not only needs a USB dongle to interface with an external microphone, but you can't even use a generic USB-to-3.5mm adapter. Unfortunately, finding this dongle can be difficult, and then trying to make it work may be futile. Making specialty hardware devices to lock out off-the-shelf parts only provides more modes of failure and makes it harder to replace parts.
Agreed! Just ordered one after much research and debate. The final selling features ( as they have all the same features as go pro) was the free use of osmo's editing app and the lower overall price.
What a thorough and well laid out video. As a beginner to this stuff - thank you!
You're very welcome!
Had birthday a few days ago, got a GoPro as well as an inflatable Kayak. I was planning for quite a while to get a kayak & gear since I moved to an area with a LOT of lakes with beautiful scenery. But right now I don't have the financial options to get one right away, so that inflatable Kayak was an awesome idea. Since I also don't have any real knowledge of video capturing, I decided to just take the GoPro and the Kayak for a short trip to on the closest lake test it out. Some makeshift attachement to the front of the Kayak and I was ready to go :D
I just came home 30min ago from that trip, turn on the computer and YT to see what's new, and see this video on top of my suggestions. What a perfect timing! Looking forward to watch it!
Right on! Hope you find the video valuable!
Superb stuff Ken and very useful, thank you. You just talked me into a GoPro 9 damn it! I recently tried filming a paddle on a cheap action cam (in a waterproof case) and learned - almost immediately - that I need to spend some money to get the quality of footage I want. Anyway. Top video, very watchable and, as always, beautifully produced.
Thanks Graham! FYI... I'm using the GoPro 10 now. I don't know if it's worth the extra money over the GoPro 9, but it sure is nice!
@@PaddleTV Oh I get that. Never mind the features Ken, if it's a lovely thing to own then it's worth the extra money. You deserve it 🤣 Actually, so do I 🤣🤣
More great Tips from Ken,yes gatewood has got some awesome footage on his Wilson creek Adventure from a Packraft
I loved this because even though I am a lightweight kayaker on my local lake, with my Aruba SS8 and have thought about getting a GoPro, I use my phone and it’s very awkward and nerves if u lose it. I have thought about GoPro for awhile, even just to show my family what it is like to kayak on the water
Glad you found it helpful!
informative, entertaining and valuable info Ken- thank you! I just bought a used GoPro Hero 4 with various attachments and I can't wait to try it out. I'm so tired of using my phone (ruined two already).
Its so rare for me to subscribe after just 1 video but this was very informative without any fluff added. Some great examples from each of the features you discussed. Really well done
Thanks! Really glad you found it helpful!
I love your video editing. The special effects and sounds are hilarious. 👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you!
Two thumbs up!!!! Great video. I learned a lot.
what a thorough breakdown… thanks so much for this. I have a go pro 11 and just got the kayaking bug. Looking forward to doing much more recording of my adventures!
Glad it was helpful! Happy paddling!
Thanks for this masterpiece.
I couldn't find any good video in french about filming within a canoe. This one is clear, with professional images and sound and very useful. I am going to experiment all that very soon.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you Ken, you answered all of my questions concerning filming whilst kayaking (even those I didn't know I have them). I agree with Gatewood Brown: Another great video!
Always great videos. Thanks
Very informative! I bought an action cam for kayaking but didn't have things figured out like, how to turn it on when you want to record, if it's mounted where you cannot reach it. I really didn't get much of a chance to use it due to a fire in my home this last summer but am slowly but surely getting the things I lost...including my kayaks. Paddle TV is awesome so, keep up the good work!
Thanks! Bummer to hear about the fire... Hope 2022 is a better year for you!
This is extremely helpful instruction to get you started filming your own kayak adventures! Your tips helped inform some purchases and saved me some experimentation with mounts. Much appreciated. Thanks, Ken!
Thank you for explaining all this. Very good simplification of a complex subject. Thanks again Sir.
Cheers!
I enjoy your teaching style. You've inspired me on quite a few things so far since Ive been binging your content. Thank you. So I did my first kayak adventure yesterday. I've tried them out before just when someone had one and let me try it for a few minutes. Yesterday I took my brand new boat for its maiden voyage. I stayed close to shore and had an action camera on the bow looking back at me. It worked out really good. The first trip was really only about 45 min on the water going back and forth around the park. But it was also a dog training session as well. We're learning together. And it went quite well actually. I'll be uploading it once I finish editing it. Great tip about shooting in a lower resolution to help the editing process. 👍
Im doing as much research as possible, since I’m just now starting . Glad I came across this! Thanks for the tips!
Great video! Subscribed! I love figuring out new ways and place to mount cameras and filming options.
Ken, great video. Thanks for the info. Yak On!
Well this video convinced me to buy a goPro 9. There is a good deal right now where they bundle in a waterproof hand held grip and the clip on grip. Thanks!
Wait one month, Jacob! The 10 should be coming out and it should help knock the Hero 9 prices down a bit
I highly recommend considering 360 cameras. If you want to start filming, you just get it started, and let it go. It will film everything, and later, you can pick and choose and create a standard video that shows what you want. This is especially handy in a wildlife encounter. You don't need to fiddle with the camera after it's started, and you can enjoy the moment. Then, when editing your video, you can tell the software to track the animal through the shot, and you'll have a video clip that keeps the animal center frame for as long as possible. It's so much better than trying to be a cameraman - you'll get better video and still be free to enjoy it as it happens without distractions.
I found mounting it on a whitewater kayaks really difficult as the footage is better on a selfie stick. Unfortunately my stick snapped on a branch and I lost my hero max in the dirtiest river I've ever paddled
Editing takes more work, but it's worth it.
Excellent Overview. I’m a GoPro fan but haven’t kept up with the new ones. I think I see a trip to the camera store in my near future!,
Yeah... the Hero 9 is probably the biggest update yet. Hard to keep up with them, as they keep changing and improving. Can't wait to see DJI's next generation of action camera too.
Wow. So helpful! Great job
Cheers!
Ken, Thank you for making this. ☯️🙏
Great video. Thank you for making. Lots of good, useful information.
When I bought my used Wilderness Systems Tsunami 165, the previous owner included an unused GoPro Hero 7 and a bunch of other stuff. Until I saw this video, I didn't know it had voice controls. I had wondered how I was going to be able to start and stop the video recording from the cockpit and was struggling to come up with finding a mount. This will open up a lot more mounting options for me! Thanks Ken!!!
My pleasure!
My GoPro is so old I have to take it to the Fotomat to be developed. Been enjoying Gatewood's channel for awhile, he really does makes top notch videos. Maybe a collaboration in the future? It was cool seeing you in a River KIngs collab..
Thanks for this video. I am going to put a lot of this into practice.
Great to hear!
Excellent video Ken. Hope your having a great start to a new year.
Thanks Gordon! So far so good... but looking forward to paddling season! Hope your 2022 is going great too.
Great video. Love your presentation style.
Thanks! I appreciate it.
Another excellent video jam-packed with valuable information. Running looks good on you lol. Greetings from Canada.
Cheers! Running has never looked good on me! :)
GREAT VIDEO!!!! Have you had any problems with external mics getting wet?
Good to see I'm doing a few things right. And some things I can improve. Very detailed and insightful video. Cheers mate.
Glad I could help a bit!
Another great video Ken!! Great balance of info vs tech overload. What about waterproof audio? Is the Rode Go waterproof; I’m guessing not, so caution needed?
Cheers. Great question about waterproof audio. I haven't found a solution yet. The miss get muffled by the water, even if they're 'waterproof'.
Fantastic ideas, thanks so much!
Great Video! Very educational for me, learned a lot. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
That was a lot of good information. Thank you. 👍
_Off topic:_ Are you guys doing some super-hybridization up there in Canada? At 14:00 on the left side of the frame there appears to be a deciduous tree growing a pine cone. 😲
😉
You're very welcome... LOL not sure about the hybrid. I'll look into it next time I'm there. :)
Really useful. Can’t believe that setup went for a swim, luckily you captured it on footage. Now we know where it is…
Very informative! I bought a GoPro8 when it first came out but yet still unused. Feel like I could tackle it now. Thanks!
Glad I could help!
This is great info. Thank you!
My pleasure! Glad you found it. :)
Great video! In my view you really hit the sweet spot where it was enough information to be more than basic, but still not too much to be not practical. Very useful - thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Great info. Thanks Ken... I have a pair of GoPro 9s and have been shooting my paddling adventures. My problem comes with editing. Can you recommend a good editing program that a beginner will have no problem using.
I learned a lot on this video thank you again
Thank you! 😎
You bet!
Thanks, this a is a great video with some useful tips to try.... is the media mod waterproof should it be needed? Also the Rode go? Is that waterproof. DO you ever use the go pro in a housing (waterproof) or reply on the camera own waterproof capabilities?
What about waterproof of the external mic solutions ?
Thank you! The last camera I had was about 8 years ago. Very cheap. The problem I had was not knowing if it was actually recording or not. So there were times I thought I was recording only to be disappointed later when the moment was gone. I'm hoping the latest have a visible (or in the case you just showed, an audio) indicator that it is recording.
Yup. With the front facing screen, you can see if it's recording.
Hi Ken I’ve been watching your videos for quite a while and discovered the Trak 2.0 which I eventually bought from your video about it . Any tips unique to mount on skin on frame kayaks??
Thanks for the info Ken.
My pleasure!
Great video, thanks for the tips Ken... Been playing around with a couple GoPro 9's lately and the Zoom F6 field recorder.
My pleasure! Amazing what these cameras can do now....
I'm still using a gopro 3+, maybe time to upgrade?... Image stabilization would be nice...
You'll notice a huge difference!
Test the Old Town Castine 145. I was holding out for a Dagger Stratos but this yak might be the one.
Can't wait to test that one!
My pfd makes strapped chestmount hard. Gopro is cheaper as a refurb.
you can buy mount that attach to straps -- typically for a backpack, but it can work on some PFDs, depending on their configuration.
Does using an external mic then render your camera not water proof?
great question....
Amazing
Does the gopro stay wateproof when you add external mic? Rode wireless go mics are great for the money, especially with lavalier mics, but they are not waterproof, or are they?
Great question Sami! No, the GoPro doesn't stay waterproof with the media mod, nor is the Rode wireless go mic system waterproof. You don't want to mount those anywhere they'll get soaked.
Where do you get that paddle board of yours? At the 12:40 minutes
Thanks
That's Hobie's I Trek 9. I'm not sure 'where' you would get it, but if you go to the Hobie.com website, they should be able to answer that question.
Good video thanks for the info. Fun part is getting sd cards and keeping batteries charged lol!
So true. As a general rule, I bring 3 batteries per GoPro when filming.
From my understanding, the media mod is not waterproof. What are your solutions for an external mic but still staying water resistant?
Wow, PaddleTv is going to be better with another episodes! This video is really cool. Thanks Ken for tips. But... There always be "but", we watching you filmed by professional crew and, I think, equipment, and by fact, is super to watching. Audio is great, visuals as well.
Action cameras make movies not so bad, but not good as PaddleTv episodes.
Perhaps, changing AC(action cameras) to compact photocameras with filming feature is a great idea. I know but what about the price? Is surely a some difficulty, good photo camera is expensive, but it provide vast possibilities super photos and movies and sound (audio with ext. microphone).
Thanks PaddleTv crew for such a hobby delicious dinner! Best wishes! 🧡🛶💦
Thanks for the kind words! Best wishes to you too!
@@PaddleTV thanks Ken. May I as you something?
I'm searching for movies on yt with good quality picture and sound, without music, and dialogs (monologs too). Do you recommend someone?
I recommend a pair from Germany "wandershuh und faltboot", they filmed without any disturbing if its too much and no needed music, talking etc. I love nature sounds, but even they cant bring me a close satisfaction. Perhaps someone else is great to compare?
I hope you understand me.
@@tominnenPL You might want to check out Erik Normark. Here's a recent video of his that I really like, for all the reasons you mention: th-cam.com/video/n6F1YNKS2xo/w-d-xo.html
@@6yjjk thanks, yes this is it. Pure nature! Scandinavia is a God made landscape.
Thank you so much for this. In the past couple of months, I've started asking many of the questions you answered here.
Now if only the GoPro 9 didn't cost six or seven times what my kayak did...
Akaso Brave 7, Amazon. $140. Start there, and build up; that's what I'm doing. Buying 4 Akasos'.
Ha! The GoPro 8 is about $100 cheaper, and a super camera too. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. As Christopher mentions as well, the Akaso is a great budget option. It's amazing what it does for the price.
Maybe look at the Osmo Action. Similar with great imaging. Downfalls though are poorer audio, but Ken mentions the GoPro is mediocre too. And no Hindsight, which sounds like a great feature. But we love the Osmo Action and its smooth interface for around $200US.
Is it easy to fit the chest mount over your PFD?
Yup. It fits well over a PFD.
Hey Ken
Do you have an option to mount you GoPro on the Sailmount of your Virgo?
Good question! I don't know off hand. I usually use the sticky pads, and then use a safety leash in case the camera comes off.
Thanks Ken. 👍🙂🚣♂️
Any time!
Hey Ken, I’ve been following your videos for a while now and love your content. Have you found any good solutions for mounting a GoPro or 360 cam to your Trak Kayak?
I actually haven't found a great solution. I've used a helmet strap around the bow of the kayak, which has worked out alright. Personally... I think every kayak (portable or hardshell) should have an integrated and fixed action camera mount.
I thought my spray skirt while in the boat would be a great place to work like a table. I needed to change the battery on my GoPro. I never once had the battery door come off doing this. But it came off and with little height or momentum it took one bounce like a taught trampoline and in the water it went. So, now I pull back the skirt and change it in my lap.
I love filming my paddling adventures, my friends...not so much
For atmosphere, I preferred the sound captured from the go pro. It was more natural, as though you were along on the trip, which on many occasions you don’t hear your buddy paddler precisely. But it’s horses for courses. In an instructional video, you might not want any ambiguity of sound, so closer mic setups are better. Um, your lavalier mic was muffled and lost a huge amount of ‘top’ unfortunately, i.e. Crisp, high frequency sound. Excellent video though, as always. Big respect.
Audio was the part I was interested in. But while you spoke about waterproof and safety for camera, you did kind of skip it for the audio. The Rode is not waterproof as far as I know, and how about the lavalier mic? Kayaking with a lot of waves maybe even rain, or worse yet, you fall into the water. How to do quality audio, considering these issues? Gopro is not good, but even worse when it has been submersed, it is muffled.
All good points. The reality is that there isn't a good/affordable option for a waterproof mic set. The Rode isn not waterproof. If I'm in conditions where getting splashes or flipping is a real possibility, I'll put away the Rode. I'll then pull it out when things are calm again. During the rough stuff, the best bet for audio is direct from the GoPro. If you use a chest harness for the GoPro, this puts the camera in the best location to capture good audio. If it gets soaked, the sound will likely get muffled though.
the problem with the media mod is your gopro is no longer waterproof . I will just stick with the built in mic unless I can find a decent bluetooth waterproof mic
He’s the Mr. Rogers of Kayaking
Want to give two likes to this video but I can only give 1 :D
Subscribed and commented :) The only nit is I used 2x speed to watch, still wish it were faster :D
Thanks Jasmine!
I’ve been toying with the idea of getting an action camera. So glad I watched this before following through with a purchase. You brought up some points that I hadn’t considered, yet are sort of “duh” for action cameras. I was looking at the GoPro Hero 7 (a smidge more affordable), but it didn’t occur to me that it had no front facing camera. Thank you so much for this video.
You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!
A GoPro Hero 7 has no "front-facing" camera?
Dude, EVERY GoPro since the beginning of time has a front-facing camera. You point the camera at something and it records it.
It's quite simple, really.
I used to film on my motorcycle, so why not in my kayak!?
Bad audio is definitely the fastest way for me to move on to a different video
2:24
Noooo!
Ha! I think I might have said a few more choice words at that moment.... :)
Actually 5 and up are waterproof without a case
Another reason not to film with your phone: decent action cameras come with MUCH more secure mounting options than even the most secure phone mount setups. You're a lot less likely to lose a properly mounted action cam than you are a phone.
Plus, action cams will do things even the best phone won't. 360 filming so you can literally capture EVERYTHING all at once and choose what appears later? No problem - no need to adjust camera angles while trying to manage your boat. Best digital stabilization available? You bet. Waterproof and shockproof and dustproof? Yup.
haha.. u juz opened a can of worms.. 🤣🤣🤣