GoPro filming of lasers?

[steviobee]

I wondered if anyone has had any luck filming laser shows with a GoPro? If so what setting where used? I'm still trying it out.... Whilst it's probably not an ideal camera for laser projections, it would be nice to use it as it doesn't get used much - it was a gift.... Nice bit of kit but it seems to be very noisy and flickery in darker environments.

Unlike here -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPr32OYuEmo where they used bloomin' loads of them, all connected via wifi and various remote controls... Amazing, even if you're not into cars!

[polishedball]

Ill try this weekend with a Hero3

I wondered if anyone has had any luck filming laser shows with a GoPro? If so what setting where used? I'm still trying it out.... Whilst it's probably not an ideal camera for laser projections, it would be nice to use it as it doesn't get used much - it was a gift.... Nice bit of kit but it seems to be very noisy and flickery in darker environments.

Unlike here -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPr32OYuEmo where they used bloomin' loads of them, all connected via wifi and various remote controls... Amazing, even if you're not into cars!

[steviobee]

Ill try this weekend with a Hero3

I'd be interested to hear results, I've got the same camera, black edition. Am away in the morning for a week, but will be trying various settings myself on my return...

[White-Light]

I've done it on HD Hero 2.

Doesn't work well from close up. I can't comment about further away.

The issue close up is that the wide angle lens distorts the patterns, eg this fan:

[steviobee]

The issue close up is that the wide angle lens distorts the patterns, eg this fan:

I quite like the bending effect though!

[absolom7691]

Also remember, CCD cameras can be damaged by anything that is 500mW+. Pixels can and will get burned beyond repair. I normally use an old camera for capturing beams as it has already been "branded" by my projector.

[White-Light]

Yeah my pictures were taken with the effects paused for that very reason.

Could BAM the camera but GoPro's are very expensive if you get things wrong.

BTW I can't remember exactly but I do seem to remember trying to capture video of some effects from an area outside of the beams, but finding it hopeless due to the brightness.

[absolom7691]

It's a wonder if it would be better to lower the brightness by a lot for capturing. When I took video of projections on my fogscreen, it was way too bright and washed out. I have been trying to carve out time to get some more video but I may lower the brightness a lot. But yes, just to reiterate to the new guys, I have damaged a CCD camera and rendered it useless for anything else other than lasers. Laser safety extends to cameras too because, as you said, GoPros ain't cheap!

[hakzaw1]

Greg (ILDA) tell us that even lower than 500mW can damage the 'chip' inside phone cameras- digital still and video cameras AND projectors- AND this can happen EVEN when the camera or projector is not turned on.
He says at one (not USA) event 12 projectors worth 1.2milllion $ were damaged when someone lowered the truss they were mounted to. (OUCH$$)

he also suggests at show entrance signage they reads:"WARNING LASERS IN USE. Use cameras and projectors at your OWN risk as there is a potential for damage." (or something like that)

[absolom7691]

Greg (ILDA) tell us that even lower than 500mW can damage the 'chip' inside phone cameras....

Probably true considering that 500mW can melt plastic and even light a match. A CCD chip wouldn't stand a chance after the beam is focused down through the camera lens.