Go pro as go to camera

[Ralph Bowman]

Is anyone doing serious documentary work with go pro only? How are you handling audio interviews? Very small mics? Cell phones with Zoom audio app? Lavs ? Radio mics? Two camera shoots? Tripods or gimbals?
Are you finding subjects less intimidated by small camera ( not in casing) ? Lighting suggestions again keeping away from paraphernalia and “ I am here to make a big shot movie!”

Thanks for suggestions

Ralph Bowman

[David Barnett]

Sounds like a niche, or (don't take this the wrong way) gimmick. There was a wedding videography company a few years ago who shot pretty serious weddings on Iphones. They had lenses hooked up via USB so it was pretty legit, not just some knuckleheads.

Having said that, if there's a reason for it, like a snowboarding or surfing doc. It might be worthwhile, if it's just because they're cheap I'd say you can probably get more functionality out of a similarly priced camera from Best Buy. For starters possibly an audio input, but moreso a zoom lens. GoPro's tend to be fisheye plus you can't always control how close to the subject you can be based on location & surrounding. Secondly it's good to add diversity to the shots & not always big talking face.

For audio though, if using a Gopro I'd recommend a small audio recorder like a zoom H1. You could plug a mig into it or record direct to it like a pocket recorder. Depending on budget & expected outcome (Youtube or Netflix, in a way). Anyway I suppose it can be done, but depending on subject matter people probably may not take you seriously at all if you show up recording with a tiny GoPro.

[Rainer Listing]

Originally Posted by Ralph Bowman

Is anyone doing serious documentary work with go pro only?

Ralph, although there's some room for interpretation about what you mean by "serious", the simple answer is "no". If you do deliver a documentary made solely with a GoPro, in the current sense of a documentary being more than just non-fiction, such would fall into the novelty rather than the serious category. A GoPro can be a valuable adjunct, but if you're serious, use the right tool for the job. Follow on from David's suggestion, if you haven't looked at "Best Buy" type cameras recently, suggest do so - at the bottom end they're cheaper and not much bigger than a GoPro, have optional full manual control of focus, shutter, iris and of course a massive zoom range. BTW, there are many filmmakers older than you.