Night time lapse with GoPro Hero3+ possible? at DVinfo.net

Dan Hart · December 26th, 2013, 02:04 PM

I am increasingly interested in night time lapse. In FEB 2014, I might get opportunity to catch aurora borealis in northern US. I will be camping with Boy Scouts and want to make it a learning experience. Can a GoPro Hero 3+ Black be used in video or stills to capture AB? I tried David Newman's video technique for sunrise, but I'm too far south (and city bound) to try to catch AB? Thoughts?

Paul R Johnson · December 26th, 2013, 03:34 PM

I've had very poor results with Gopros for anything in other than good lighting - the exposure system also isn't designed to cope with night stuff at all.

David Newman · December 26th, 2013, 08:25 PM

Night time-lapse is best using video, Protune at 24p (longer exposure), then blend the frames. Blog post on the how to: CineForm Insider: Rethinking Time-lapse

Night timelapse with HERO3:

(seconds 41-58)

(from 58s onward.)

Gabe Strong · December 26th, 2013, 11:15 PM

It's hard to get video of the northern lights. Most time lapses of the northern lights are a series of still pictures, taken with a DSLR, a large sensor to pull in light, coupled with a 'fast' lens and a slow shutter speed. I just don't think a GoPro is going to cut it. Here is a video timelapse shot with a Sony FS700
and a 1.8 lens shooting 1fps with a shutter speed of 1 second. Not nearly as good as a DSLR timelapse, but I'm not a DSLR shooter and only own video cameras.

Dan Hart · January 25th, 2014, 10:32 PM

Here's my first attempt using GoPro Hero3+ using 4k 15fps sped up and blurred.

December 26th, 2013, 02:04 PM	#1
Dan Hart Tourist Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Centerville Posts: 4	Night time lapse with GoPro Hero3+ possible? I am increasingly interested in night time lapse. In FEB 2014, I might get opportunity to catch aurora borealis in northern US. I will be camping with Boy Scouts and want to make it a learning experience. Can a GoPro Hero 3+ Black be used in video or stills to capture AB? I tried David Newman's video technique for sunrise, but I'm too far south (and city bound) to try to catch AB? Thoughts?

December 26th, 2013, 03:34 PM	#2
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,045	Re: Night time lapse with GoPro Hero3+ possible? I've had very poor results with Gopros for anything in other than good lighting - the exposure system also isn't designed to cope with night stuff at all.

December 26th, 2013, 08:25 PM	#3
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	Re: Night time lapse with GoPro Hero3+ possible? Night time-lapse is best using video, Protune at 24p (longer exposure), then blend the frames. Blog post on the how to: CineForm Insider: Rethinking Time-lapse Night timelapse with HERO3: 24 Hours of Lemons at Chuckwalla Dec 2012. on Vimeo (seconds 41-58) HERO3 Launch Party in Time-lapse on Vimeo (from 58s onward.) __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

December 26th, 2013, 11:15 PM	#4
Gabe Strong Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Juneau, AK Posts: 814	Re: Night time lapse with GoPro Hero3+ possible? It's hard to get video of the northern lights. Most time lapses of the northern lights are a series of still pictures, taken with a DSLR, a large sensor to pull in light, coupled with a 'fast' lens and a slow shutter speed. I just don't think a GoPro is going to cut it. Here is a video timelapse shot with a Sony FS700 and a 1.8 lens shooting 1fps with a shutter speed of 1 second. Not nearly as good as a DSLR timelapse, but I'm not a DSLR shooter and only own video cameras. Northern lights on Vimeo

January 25th, 2014, 10:32 PM	#5
Dan Hart Tourist Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Centerville Posts: 4	Re: Night time lapse with GoPro Hero3+ possible? Here's my first attempt using GoPro Hero3+ using 4k 15fps sped up and blurred. Night Driving