How to get the best, sharpest footage possible off GoPro?

[noctiluca]

Hi everyone,

I just got my first GoPro and am going on a research expedition in two weeks so I don't have much time to learn how to use it well.

I've noticed a lot of footage is not sharp and a lot of footage has burn, even with filters on. How do you get beautiful imagery with this thing?

I'm familiar with the mounts for stabilizing and filters for color correcting, but what other tips and tricks do you have for getting high quality video?

Thank you so much!
:kiss2:

 

[TheTrickster]

If your target audience is 1080p - film in 2.7k. If your target is 720p - film in 1080p and downsample.

If you have the time, film in Protune and RAW WB - but you will then need to spend the time in Post, colour correcting and sharpening the image.

But these too things will help with sharpness (or perceived sharpness)

 

[EL Pistoffo]

Like Trickster said, Protune and Raw WB give you the most detailed, highest bitrate video but require some adjusting in post. Make sure your memory card is up to the task though.

 

[ScubaERDoc]

I have had the same problems even with Protune RAW. Never heard that downsampling helps. I guess I'm gonna have to try filming in 2.7K!

 

[TheTrickster]

Just to clarify.

Turning ON protune. Will provide a much Flatter, less constrasty, non sharpened, noisier image.

It does not provide a better picture straight out of the camera. In fact. It's worse. A lot worse.

But the whole point of ProTune is not the initial image out of the camera. It's the latitude that it provides you to extract a better final image in post production. The problem is that this takes up a lot more time on your part!

As to downsampling. It's quite a common thing in higher end productions to film in a higher resolution for delivery to a grade lower. You get much better Luma detail (less 'mud') crisper lines, less moire and as I stated earlier a much more 'perceived' sharpness. When your PC downsamples something it uses mathematical algorithms to smooth gradients, keeps details etc. But it's using all the detail to give you your final resolution.

When you change the resolution on your camera, it will normally 'Line Skip' to obtain the desired resolution wanted. So chucking away all that detail, add the fact it also compresses the final result. You can see how / why filming In a higher resolution is useful.

Hope that makes sense


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[EL Pistoffo]

I have had the same problems even with Protune RAW. Never heard that downsampling helps. I guess I'm gonna have to try filming in 2.7K!

Are you using a Hero3+? I'd heard much talk regarding many of the initial production Hero+ having a lens issue which reduced sharpness on all the distant objects. GoPro would correct the problem for any customers that complained.

---------- Post added April 10th, 2014 at 04:34 PM ----------

Just to clarify.

Turning ON protune. Will provide a much Flatter, less constrasty, non sharpened, noisier image.

It does not provide a better picture straight out of the camera. In fact. It's worse. A lot worse.

But the whole point of ProTune is not the initial image out of the camera. It's the latitude that it provides you to extract a better final image in post production. The problem is that this takes up a lot more time on your part!

As to downsampling. It's quite a common thing in higher end productions to film in a higher resolution for delivery to a grade lower. You get much better Luma detail (less 'mud') crisper lines, less moire and as I stated earlier a much more 'perceived' sharpness. When your PC downsamples something it uses mathematical algorithms to smooth gradients, keeps details etc. But it's using all the detail to give you your final resolution.

When you change the resolution on your camera, it will normally 'Line Skip' to obtain the desired resolution wanted. So chucking away all that detail, add the fact it also compresses the final result. You can see how / why filming In a higher resolution is useful.

Hope that makes sense


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My reasoning behind Protune being more detailed is much the same. For beginners a higher bitrate, 45mb/sec with the right memory card. Additionally, the washed out, overly bright image is intentional. Much of the detail in darker regions of the image such as shaded areas will be visible. Those areas would normally be less visible or not at all, therefore there is more data (detail) in the image than normally present under non-Protune. It does require more post adjusting but you start off with more "detail" than normal.

 

[ScubaERDoc]

Are you using a Hero3+? I'd heard much talk regarding many of the initial production Hero+ having a lens issue which reduced sharpness on all the distant objects. GoPro would correct the problem for any customers that complained.

Hey El Pistoffo!
Yeah I am using a Hero 3+ Black that I got within a week of release so I think this is one of the "old batch" cameras that they are talking about. Mine is "B081" so yes this is one of the first ones.

I wasn't sure if what I was getting was really the distance focus issue people have been talking about or whether it was simply the product of filming low light without the use of video lights. Honestly I don't think I have an eye for detail on this as I am pretty new to videography. If the focus is really off, I am gonna talk to GoPro about fixing it. Here are the videos I have filmed this this 3+. What do you think? Do I have a lens focus issue??

https://vimeo.com/91452616
https://vimeo.com/91363821
https://vimeo.com/91281504
https://vimeo.com/77362824

 

[EL Pistoffo]

Hey El Pistoffo!
Yeah I am using a Hero 3+ Black that I got within a week of release so I think this is one of the "old batch" cameras that they are talking about. Mine is "B081" so yes this is one of the first ones.

I wasn't sure if what I was getting was really the distance focus issue people have been talking about or whether it was simply the product of filming low light without the use of video lights. Honestly I don't think I have an eye for detail on this as I am pretty new to videography. If the focus is really off, I am gonna talk to GoPro about fixing it. Here are the videos I have filmed this this 3+. What do you think? Do I have a lens focus issue??

https://vimeo.com/91452616
https://vimeo.com/91363821
https://vimeo.com/91281504
https://vimeo.com/77362824

I can't really tell if there is a focus issue with your camera. Maybe some others who have the Hero 3+ could chime in, they may know what to look for in the image.

On some of your scenes such as the Devils Throat and Palancar Caves to a lesser extent, there is some grain/noise in the darker shots but that is to be expected. The camera increases the sensitivity of the sensor in low light and noise is always a result.

You should contact GoPro anyways and find out if your camera was included in the focus issue. If so have them correct. It should be free of charge. That way you don't go on wondering if your camera has a problem and insure that it's working to it's optimum ability.

 

[lamarpaulski]

I enjoyed your videos. Very creative. I was there with Aldora 3 weeks ago so it was a good reminder. Being real picky maybe there was some fuzziness on the caves...seemed clear above water...maybe some fogging..?? .also noticed a drop or something on lens for part of lionfish. Being very picky. Btw...I also really liked the Cabo Pulmo video too...makes me consider going down there again.

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[EL Pistoffo]

I enjoyed your videos. Very creative. I was there with Aldora 3 weeks ago so it was a good reminder. Being real picky maybe there was some fuzziness on the caves...seemed clear above water...maybe some fogging..?? .also noticed a drop or something on lens for part of lionfish. Being very picky. Btw...I also really liked the Cabo Pulmo video too...makes me consider going down there again.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

I did notice some fog too. Try using some anti-fog inserts. They always worked for me.