How Far Compact Cameras Have Come…You may have seen predictions that mirrorless…

How Far Compact Cameras Have Come…
You may have seen predictions that mirrorless cameras are going to replace traditional DSLR cameras, because the lack viewfinders and are a little more compact in size and weigh less.  Certainly there's a market for compact size, and if you're not trying to shoot at night, no doubt some percentage of the camera-buying market does put some emphasis on size.  

But that's nothing new, and the drive towards powerful small cameras doesn't stop there.  Cellular phones have already been the dominant form of digital camera in people's hands for years now.  Their accessibility and convenience can't be beat, and their small sensors deliver extremely good depth of field.  You can get models with dozens of megapixels, possibly much more than you'll ever need.

I love shooting under starry skies at night, and I'll definitely keep my DLSRs for that.  I think there's a healthy market for cameras in between cell phones and DSLRs, and I see many of the newer models filling new niches, representing growth in the market, not an either-or choice.  The options are getting more diverse and more powerful every month.  For a lot of what people do, they want video.  They don't want to risk dunking their cell phone in the water.  If they want to record something active like your child's first bike ride, few will strap a DSLR (or mirrorless camera) on their child's head.  

For action video, and what video doesn't involve some sort of action, a light and compact video camera may be the ticket, preferably waterproof.  As a bonus, models like the new +GoPro HERO 3+ can take 12 megapixel still shots, and it can take them at intervals, so you have the option of using a single high resolution photo or putting them together in a time-lapse movie.  There's even a free GoPro app for editing the video.  Want to control your camera remotely?  Use the free GoPro app on your Apple or Android smartphone and control the camera using the wi-fi connection between the two.  Want to carefully frame and monitor your shot on an LCD screen?  No problem, you can add that.  There's a nearly endless collection of mounts, grips and poles which enable you to take your camera in the water, on the snow, on a bike, attached to your car windshield, dashboard or roof rack, just about wherever you might go.  And it can record it in super high resolution: 1920 x 1080 ("1080p") HD video at rates up to 60 frames per second slow motion, 2.7K video at up to 30 frames per second, and stunning "4K" video with 4X the resolution of 1080p HD at 15 frames per second.

I'm not sponsored by GoPro; I've never spoken to them or anyone affiliated with them.  But I have the original model, and I've taken it skiing, snorkeling, and on other adventures, and it it did the basic job of capturing what I was doing.  What's really changed in the generations since are the mounting options, the LCD for viewing, the wi-fi control (from a free smartphone app, not just via an additional accessory), and most importantly, added recording options and improved video quality.  I've been watching the models advance, and when I saw coverage of the company on 60 Minutes earlier this week, I couldn't resist updating my collection of GoPro gear.

Check out this demo video, it's pretty cool.  I'll write a detailed review on my setup, what to buy and what not to buy and suggestions on how to maximize the quality of your results, once I've had the opportunity to use the new gear for a little while.  I've already run into some configuration issues, so I'll have to work through those and buy some replacement parts before I can really put the products through their paces.  Stay tuned!
#gopro   #video   #demoreel   

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