GoPro frame project with photos
OK, didn't know how to create a new post with photos in previous thread so starting new one....
My first go at the frame was very basic - just a square frame to completely contain the GoPro housing with heavy hand line mono attached to a single point on top and a heavy sinker attached to bottom via some mono. The theory was that I'd be able to feel the sinker hit the bottom at which point I stop feeding out line to keep the frame off bottom. In practice because the frame was quite heavy and bulky the weight and drag in water combined meant I could not feel the sinker hitting bottom and ended up with the frame bouncing along sand/reef. The other major issue was that a single attachment on top resulted in the frame spinning a lot and being dragged sideways resulting in crooked picture.
I re-started from scratch and ended up with this:
The key I've found is to make the frame buoyant, that's what the capped PVC pipe on top is for. The attachment on bottom is directly below the centre of PVC pipe, a heavy sinker is attached to it to make the whole thing sink. When the sinker hits bottom the frame naturally floats above the bottom and the GoPro is level (ie not tiled up or down). I control the depth of the GoPro off the bottom by varying the length of mono between the sinker and the frame. I attach the sinker with much lighter mono, something like 20lb, if the sinker snags the lighter mono snaps first and the frame complete with GoPro naturally floats to surface due to it's positive buoyancy. The double attachment of heavy mono on top has eliminated the spinning and also ensures the GoPro faces forward during a drift.
That's it, like I mentioned in other thread, very low tech!
My last test in the Swan worked very well, I posted a link to You Tube video in other thread. Now I just need to test it in deeper water. My only concern is the GoPro housing it's self is relatively unprotected so I'm thinking of rebuilding to better protect the GoPro.
I should mention I did not set out to mount the GoPro upside down, originally the frame was the other way round but when I added the capped PVC tube for buoyancy the whole thing ended up upside down. No big deal as the GoPro has the option to invert your footage.
Let me know what you guys think, always looking for improvement ideas.
FishingFrenzyLuke
Posts: 115
Date Joined: 03/06/12
Good effort,
Cheers for the post been looking to get all ideas working correctly together for a good result myself. Cheers
Geoff78
Posts: 324
Date Joined: 05/03/13
excellent work. I gave you
excellent work. I gave you your first youtube like btw :)
wrasse magnet
Posts: 126
Date Joined: 16/10/10
Cool! Now I just have to work
Cool! Now I just have to work out what a You Tube like is! :)
Jason P
Posts: 521
Date Joined: 16/02/13
Nice work
Couple of ideas that may help would be to use a heavier rope to maybe reduce unwanted rotating and certaintity that it wont get lost.
Another would be to streamline the rig so as it doesnt get fouled up and stuck on some reef etc.
Always fun making something youself and doing a bit of R&D.
DM306
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Get a cheap scuba kit then
Get a cheap scuba kit then you would be able to see first hand what s down there.
Active Gyp-Rok solutions ,Residential and commercial ceilings and walls
wrasse magnet
Posts: 126
Date Joined: 16/10/10
Not sure that will pass my
Not sure that will pass my risk assesment, I'll feel too much like shark bait ha ha!
In any case I see the GoPro having a leg up on diving in that I can go well beyond 30m water depth and dropping the GoPro down is a much quicker way of checking the ground - 15mins to do a couple of drifts with the GoPro and you're on your way to the next spot, diving is much more time intensive.
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Cool stuff, great innovation
Cool stuff, great innovation for stuff you can pickup at the local hardware store!
More expensive version that maybe you could copy some ideas from: https://www.tindie.com/products/GroupBinc/underwater-stabilizing-system-for-gopro-sony-and-other-pov-cameras/
If you want your camera to go 2740m super deep!(albeit VERY expensive):
https://www.tindie.com/products/GroupBinc/gopro-hero-3-extreme-depth-underwater-housing-9000ft-2750m/
Or to 300m deep:
http://www.golemgear.com/p-658-deep-golem-gopro2-camera-housing-rated-to-1000ft.aspx
wrasse magnet
Posts: 126
Date Joined: 16/10/10
Thanks for the links! That
Thanks for the links! That housing in that second link rated to 2750m is actually cheaper than the one rated to 300m, might have to look into that! I've never been beyond 150m water depth but since they hydro test each housing I'll never have to worry about it leaking. I like it!
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
By the time
you get to 300m your battery is all used up!!!
I like the simple model you created better. The deeper you go the more extras you need like lighting, making it "tooo" complex and expensive.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Mike17
Posts: 323
Date Joined: 30/06/13
Check this
Have a look at these cases.
We use one on a sprint car and it is completely indestructable. Trust me;)
www.hurtlegear.com.au/products/Ransom-GoPro-Race-Case.html
Use The Force
wrasse magnet
Posts: 126
Date Joined: 16/10/10
Indestructible doesn't
Indestructible doesn't necessarily mean water proof ;)
More importantly, got any GoPro footage from your "indestructibility" test? Would be interesting viewing!
axey45
Posts: 1758
Date Joined: 26/11/13
Well done, looks the goods
Well done, looks the goods m8.
D_d_001
Posts: 1522
Date Joined: 09/03/13
great idea and looking at
great idea and looking at making one up for myself but was looking at more for trolling capturing tuna footage etc.
put in b4 a teaser
one thing though, it may help to put a "fin" on it which would help orientate it and stop it from spinning.
Swompa
Posts: 3901
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Far better than my version
Far better than my version which was a dive weight strapped to the underside of a mount.
Lower it until i feel the thud but i was fishing on sand. I had a small wire tie with a seperate line with hook and bait attached so there was some action up at the camera. if anything was to take the hook the tie and line would part from the rope the camera was on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfHhIbDWxGs
Got the point across and explained what was stripping my hooks.
NORUN NOFUN
Posts: 1035
Date Joined: 15/08/11
Like it
eziliving
Posts: 876
Date Joined: 30/12/09
Looks good! Maybe put two
Looks good! Maybe put two sinkers on it on either side as this should stop most off the unwanted twisting.
Get busy living, or get busy dying!