The Dudes have added two GoPro cameras to mix. The addition of the GoPros will provide the viewer with a whole new perspective of the subject plane during flight. This will help us improve the over all supporting video of the planes being reviewed in the article and provide some interesting views.
The first thing we hear when sharing the video captured from the GoPro is "Amazing." It truly is amazing, the 1080p HD quality is first rate. We know when you're watching our videos on YouTube you are only getting the 720p version but trust us the raw source video is beautiful.
Due to the size and weight of this camera we do not suggest mounting it on anything smaller than a size .40 - .46. The GoPro has a boxy non-aerodynamic shape to it and will slow your plane down considerably. Checking the CG and balancing your plane is absolutely required. Caution must be exercised when flying with any modifications made to your plane.
If you choose to do your own flying video, the Dudes highly suggest mounting the GoPro to the belly of your plane. The dudes mounted the GoPro to the top side of the Hobby Lobby Funster, the added weight made the plane unstable in the turns (during slow flight) which ended up causing a tip stall during the landing. The GoPro had no damage, however, the Funster will spend a few days in the shop getting repaired.
Specs: Size & Weight
Dimensions (H x W x D): 1.6” x 2.4” x 1.2” (42mm x 60mm x 30mm)
Weight: 3.3oz (94g) incl. battery, 5.9oz (167g) incl. housing
Camera Optics
Lens Type: Fixed Focus (2ft/.6m – ?), glass
Aperture: f/2.8 (high performance in low-light situations)
Angle of View: 170? ultra wide angle in WVGA, 720p, or 960p mode
Angle of View: 127? wide angle in 1080p mode
Video
HD Video Resolution Modes: (subject to change, pending final firmware release)
1080p = 1920x1080 pixels (16:9), 30 fps, 15 Mbit/s data rate
960p = 1280x960 pixels (4:3), 30 fps, 12 Mbit/s data rate
720p = 1280x720 pixels (16:9), 60 fps, 15 Mbit/s data rate
720p = 1280x720 pixels (16:9), 30 fps, 8 Mbit/s data rate
WVGA = 848x480 pixels (16:9), 60 fps, 8 Mbit/s data rate
Sensor Type: 1/2.5" HD CMOS, 2.2µm-sized pixels
Light Sensitivity: Super low-light sensitivity (>1.4 V/lux-sec)
Video Format: H.264 compression, saved as Windows- & Mac-compatible MPEG4 (.mp4) file
Exposure Control: Auto with user selectable center weighted average and spot metering settings
White Balance: Auto
