Just bought a Hero 4 Silver - WHat are the "must have" accessories? at DVinfo.net

Dan Brockett · May 4th, 2016, 08:01 AM

Hi all:

I have been renting a friends Hero 3+ Black Go Pros for the past few years, finally decided to buy my own. I typically use Go Pros as an alternate angle camera or for time-lapses, car footage, occasionally mounted to my main camera video tripod, sometimes I put them on an arm and clamp them to the main dolly on television show shoots to get the camera ops and dolly grips doing their thing. I use the Go Pro app and overall, it works pretty well. Along with the Hero 4 Silver, I bought:

1. Frame Mount. I find the frame housing lets the Go Pro record much cleaner, clearer audio (only used for ambient, obviously)
2. Softcase - Bought one of those that have room for two Go Pros, lots of accessories with pick and pluck foam
3. Three of the Smatree blue aluminum tie down knobs
4. Go Pro tie down knob tool
5. Three extra batteries and a three bay battery charger
6. Anti-fog inserts
7. Go Pro clamp arm
8. Go Pro suction cup mount
9. Go Pro Hot Shoe mount (will allow me to mount the Go Pro on top of my main camera for an alternate W/A view)
10. Clip on glass ND filter
11. Switronix USB battery eliminator cable (I use the Anker lithium ion packs to power the Go Pros in stationary setups and car shoots - one will power a Go Pro for a whole day, basically, I love NOT using the tiny, quick to deplete Go Pro batteries)
12. Three Go Pro approved 64GB Micro SD cards
13. Go Pro tripod mount
14. Go Pro Protective lens and cover kit

What else am I missing? I am going to be on a TV show shoot in Africa for a few weeks and will be using the camera for all kinds of POV, BTS shots as the TV show is filmed. We have some logistically challenging scenes with big explosions, chaos and people running all over the place. I wish I could use the chest mount to put on one of the extras but that won't be possible. I want to make sure that I have all of the toys necessary to make my Go Pro ready to capture anything. We are in the desert, so I don't think any underwater footage will be shot.

Mark Watson · May 4th, 2016, 09:04 AM

LCD touch-screen. Any adapters you might need to download off the storage cards.

Mark

Mike Watson · May 4th, 2016, 10:37 AM

Amazon sells grab-bags of off-brand mounts, I keep a sack of them in the van for when I need an obscure mount or I run out of the atomic strength 3M sticky tape that holds the mounts to whatever you've put them on.

Outside of that, it sounds like your GoPro strategy is way more thought out than mine.

Don't forget something to safety your GoPro when it's hanging precariously. I use whatever I have on hand, the GoPro doesn't weigh much.

Dan Brockett · May 4th, 2016, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Watson

LCD touch-screen. Any adapters you might need to download off the storage cards.

Mark

Hi Mark:

The Hero 4 Silver has a built in LCD screen. That said, it is an energy hog so I usually use the Go Pro app with my phone. I will be bringing my MBP and some drives, the MBP has a built SD card slot.

Thanks,

Dan

Mark Watson · May 4th, 2016, 08:50 PM

I didn't realize it was built-in. I have the Hero 4 Black, and yes, the LCD eats battery life. If it's going to be an issue, I try to mount the camera with the LCD on, to get proper framing, then after tightening down the support fixtures, I will pop off the LCD and put on an extra battery pack.

I think you've got your kit pretty well outfitted then.

Mark

Mike Watson · May 4th, 2016, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Brockett

Hi Mark:The Hero 4 Silver has a built in LCD screen. That said, it is an energy hog so I usually use the Go Pro app with my phone.

I find the WiFi to be a pretty solid memory hog as well. Give and get, I guess.

Dan Brockett · May 5th, 2016, 12:41 PM

That's why I like shooting with the Anker Lithium Ion packs, I can leave the WiFi on and record all day with no battery changes or concerns. it's the only way to fly. I did just order a slip on glass ND filter as I will be in the African desert and there will undoubtedly be ridiculous amounts of sunlight.

Dan Brockett · May 6th, 2016, 07:49 AM

For those of you in the same position, I thought you might want to check out two more accessories I bought.

1. Movo Photo Panoramic 360 degree tripod head http://www.amazon.com/Movo-MTP2000-P...ilpage_o01_s00 You wind this up like an egg timer and it will rotate your Go Pro 360 degrees in an hour. It's mechanical, cheap and reliable.

2. The Movo only rotates counterclock-wise so what do you do if you want your timelapse to rotate clock-wise? Why of course, you buy an upside down frame that will let you mount your Go Pro to the Movo upside down, reversing the rotational direction. Moonshuttle Upsidedown frame mount http://www.amazon.com/Moonshuttle-OC...ilpage_o02_s00

This setup will be perfect for shooting 360 degree timelapses while on the set of the TV show I will be shooting, epic panoramics of the African desert, etc. I don't have one, but pairing this with a motorized slider would be epic.

May 4th, 2016, 08:01 AM	#1
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Just bought a Hero 4 Silver - WHat are the "must have" accessories? Hi all: I have been renting a friends Hero 3+ Black Go Pros for the past few years, finally decided to buy my own. I typically use Go Pros as an alternate angle camera or for time-lapses, car footage, occasionally mounted to my main camera video tripod, sometimes I put them on an arm and clamp them to the main dolly on television show shoots to get the camera ops and dolly grips doing their thing. I use the Go Pro app and overall, it works pretty well. Along with the Hero 4 Silver, I bought: 1. Frame Mount. I find the frame housing lets the Go Pro record much cleaner, clearer audio (only used for ambient, obviously) 2. Softcase - Bought one of those that have room for two Go Pros, lots of accessories with pick and pluck foam 3. Three of the Smatree blue aluminum tie down knobs 4. Go Pro tie down knob tool 5. Three extra batteries and a three bay battery charger 6. Anti-fog inserts 7. Go Pro clamp arm 8. Go Pro suction cup mount 9. Go Pro Hot Shoe mount (will allow me to mount the Go Pro on top of my main camera for an alternate W/A view) 10. Clip on glass ND filter 11. Switronix USB battery eliminator cable (I use the Anker lithium ion packs to power the Go Pros in stationary setups and car shoots - one will power a Go Pro for a whole day, basically, I love NOT using the tiny, quick to deplete Go Pro batteries) 12. Three Go Pro approved 64GB Micro SD cards 13. Go Pro tripod mount 14. Go Pro Protective lens and cover kit What else am I missing? I am going to be on a TV show shoot in Africa for a few weeks and will be using the camera for all kinds of POV, BTS shots as the TV show is filmed. We have some logistically challenging scenes with big explosions, chaos and people running all over the place. I wish I could use the chest mount to put on one of the extras but that won't be possible. I want to make sure that I have all of the toys necessary to make my Go Pro ready to capture anything. We are in the desert, so I don't think any underwater footage will be shot.

May 4th, 2016, 09:04 AM	#2
Mark Watson Major Player Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Whidbey Island Posts: 873	Re: Just bought a Hero 4 Silver - WHat are the "must have" accessories? LCD touch-screen. Any adapters you might need to download off the storage cards. Mark

May 4th, 2016, 10:37 AM	#3
Mike Watson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,082	Re: Just bought a Hero 4 Silver - WHat are the "must have" accessories? Amazon sells grab-bags of off-brand mounts, I keep a sack of them in the van for when I need an obscure mount or I run out of the atomic strength 3M sticky tape that holds the mounts to whatever you've put them on. Outside of that, it sounds like your GoPro strategy is way more thought out than mine. Don't forget something to safety your GoPro when it's hanging precariously. I use whatever I have on hand, the GoPro doesn't weigh much.

May 4th, 2016, 08:50 PM	#5
Mark Watson Major Player Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Whidbey Island Posts: 873	Re: Just bought a Hero 4 Silver - WHat are the "must have" accessories? I didn't realize it was built-in. I have the Hero 4 Black, and yes, the LCD eats battery life. If it's going to be an issue, I try to mount the camera with the LCD on, to get proper framing, then after tightening down the support fixtures, I will pop off the LCD and put on an extra battery pack. I think you've got your kit pretty well outfitted then. Mark

May 5th, 2016, 12:41 PM	#7
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Re: Just bought a Hero 4 Silver - What are the "must have" accessories? That's why I like shooting with the Anker Lithium Ion packs, I can leave the WiFi on and record all day with no battery changes or concerns. it's the only way to fly. I did just order a slip on glass ND filter as I will be in the African desert and there will undoubtedly be ridiculous amounts of sunlight.

May 6th, 2016, 07:49 AM	#8
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Re: Just bought a Hero 4 Silver - WHat are the "must have" accessories? For those of you in the same position, I thought you might want to check out two more accessories I bought. 1. Movo Photo Panoramic 360 degree tripod head http://www.amazon.com/Movo-MTP2000-P...ilpage_o01_s00 You wind this up like an egg timer and it will rotate your Go Pro 360 degrees in an hour. It's mechanical, cheap and reliable. 2. The Movo only rotates counterclock-wise so what do you do if you want your timelapse to rotate clock-wise? Why of course, you buy an upside down frame that will let you mount your Go Pro to the Movo upside down, reversing the rotational direction. Moonshuttle Upsidedown frame mount http://www.amazon.com/Moonshuttle-OC...ilpage_o02_s00 This setup will be perfect for shooting 360 degree timelapses while on the set of the TV show I will be shooting, epic panoramics of the African desert, etc. I don't have one, but pairing this with a motorized slider would be epic.