Kickstarter Campaign: MicroJib For GoPro Cameras

I get inundated with Kickstarter campaigns these days, and for the most part I can't post all of the ones that are sent my way. But I wanted to share one particular campaign that is going on right now that might be of interest to many readers.

The MicroJib is an extension pole for a GoPro camera that allows budding filmmakers to capture shots of themselves and the landscapes they are traveling through. But unlike other GoPro extension poles, the MicroJib also allows them to pan and tilt the camera, opening up the possibilities for creative filmmaking even further. To better understand what it can do, take a look at the YouTube video posted below.

The Kickstarter campaign for the MicroJib has just two days left before it is done, and as of this writing it is closing in on its goal of raising $24,000 but it hasn't quite achieved that just yet. The designers of the product are looking to use the cash to put the MicroJib into production and begin shipping later this year. As is typical with a Kickstarter project, backers can also receive the MicroJib at a great price depending on the level that they contribute at.

If this looks like a tool that you could use, then show some support for the team behind the project. It looks like they've put a lot of thought into the design, and are hoping to create a tool that will make adventure filmmaking even more approachable.

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Adventure Tech: New Action Cameras Give Adventurers Alternatives to GoPro

As mentioned yesterday, the Consumer Electronics Show is set to begin in Las Vegas, with hundreds of new gadgets and high tech devices being shown off to the public for the first time. In addition to wearable technology taking center stage, there are also a number of new action cameras on display, giving adventurous filmmakers some true alternatives to the GoPro cameras that seem to have become ubiquitous over the past few years.

Yesterday, Sony unveiled the X100v, the next generation version of their popular Action Cam. This updated model is capable of shooting in 4K at 30 fps, as well as 1080p at 120 fps and 720p at an amazing 240 fps. That puts this camera on par with the new Hero 4 Black from GoPro. But Sony also claims their camera has improved image stabilization, a wider field of view, and improved noise reduction to cut back on the sound of the wind blowing through the microphone. The X100v will also have more manual controls over exposure and white balance as well, and the ability to automatically loop its recordings over the remaining free space on the microSD card in case you start to run low on storage. A new mobile app will also give users the ability to control multiple Sony Action Cams from their smartphone too.

The X100v will run $500 and will become available in February.

If you're looking for something a bit more affordable to record your outdoor adventures, than perhaps the new MHD 2.0 Action Camera from Monoprice will be more to your liking. It's specs are a bit more modest – capturing 1080p HD footage at 30 fps – but then again so is its price. This camera is just $89.99, and features a 170º ultra-wide field of view, a 2.5 hour battery life, and a 5 megapixel sensor. It is also waterproof down to 10 meters (33 feet) without the need for a separate enclosure, and is shock, dust, and freeze proof as well. It even ships with a handlebar mount for your bike so you can start capturing the action immediately.

The MHD 2.0 is available now.

Finally, check out the new Giroptic 360º Camera that promise to do something that neither GoPro nor Sony can match at the moment. This tiny device is capable of filming in a complete 360º circle – in HD resolutions no less – at the same time, ensuring that you never miss a shot. The camera is waterproof down to 10 meters as well and weighs just 6.3 ounces. It comes equipped with GPS for geotagging photos and video, a 185º fisheye lens, built-in Wi-Fi for streaming video and remote control, three microphones, image stabilization via a gyroscope, and a universal camera mount.

This device is capable of a number of very unique things, such as streaming realtime video via Wi-Fi, as well as capturing preset timelapse photos and shooting still shots in HDR. The camera can upload videos directly to YouTube and even Google StreetView. Its ability to shoot in 360º of rotation, as well a 300º up and down, makes it a great option for creating virtual reality films, and mobile apps are available for iOS and Android, with desktop software available for Mac and PC. There is even software that supports the Oculus Rift.

This camera will run $499 and will be available by spring.

As you can see, there are some interesting new options for budding filmmakers, with some powerful tools available at prices that would have seemed unattainable just a few years ago.

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Video: An Outdoor Adventure Through the U.S. and Canada

When Andy Best, a rising star in the outdoor photography world, set out on a road trip earlier this year, he had no idea the places his adventure would take him. Andy spent three weeks traveling through Albert, Canada, and five U.S. states, shooting this video as he went. Along the way, he covered nearly 10,000 miles (16,000 km), while living out of a rooftop tent from Treeline Outdoors that was affected to the roof of his Jeep. As you'll see, it was an incredible journey, filled with breathtaking scenery and unforgettable landscapes. Nothing quite compares to a good road trip that allows you to discover all kinds of adventures along the way.

 Andy Best + Treeline Outdoors = Adventure from Andy Best on Vimeo.

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Video: Heart of Alaska

Filmmaker Bjorn Olson has launched a Kickstarter campaign to make a documentary about an adventurous family that walked and packrafted for three months in the Alaskan wilderness, covering 800 miles (1287 km) in the process. That in and of itself is pretty amazing, but the fact that they did it with two pre-school kids in two is simply incredible.

Below you'll find a trailer for the documentary that Bjorn hopes to make. It gives you a bit of insight into the subjects of his film, and why he is so interested in telling their story. With about nine days to go on the fund raising campaign, he still has a few dollars to bring in so that he can wrap up the project. If this looks like something you'd like to see made, throw a few bucks his way to help him reach his goals.

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Video: New Documentary to Take Viewers on Epic Traverse of Remote Canadian Mountain Range

This video is a teaser trailer for a new documentary entitled Colours of Edziza. The film follows a diverse team of friends and adventurers as they trek through a remote mountain range in the Tahitian First Nation region of British Columbia in Canada. This part of the world remains largely untouched by outside influences, and the team discovered a land that is as rugged, as it is beautiful. Along the way, they also discovered how to work together to overcome the challenges they faced on their traverse of two different mountain ranges.

The filmmakers for this amazing looking documentary are hoping to complete their project, and have launched an Indegogo campaign to raise the funds they need to finish the film. As I write this, they have raised about $10,000 CAD for the project, and are looking to get to $25,000 CAD. I think after watching the trailer, you'll see that this is an interesting adventure doc that deserves to be seen. If you agree, perhaps you can help out a bit with their goal.

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Video: Guilin and Yangshuo in China Captured by Drone

This video is brought to us by filmmaker Patrice Gaucher, who took his DJI Phantom drone with him to Guilin and Yangshuo, two UNESCO World Heritage sites located in China. As usual, the ariel photography captured by the drone is pretty spectacular, offering an amazing view of these beautiful landscapes.

DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ in Guilin and Yangshuo (UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China) from Patrice Gaucher on Vimeo.

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Video: Adrenaline Filmmaking

A few days back, I posted a great little video that shared the secrets of how photographers capture those fantastic climbing photos that we often see. Today, I have another cool video that focuses on "adrenaline filmmaking," or the art of making adventure films in remote places. It is nearly a half-hour in length, and follows National Geographic filmmaker Bryan Smith as he offers insight into his craft. If you've ever wanted to make your own adventure films, there will be something interesting to discover in this video.

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Adventure Tech: GoPro Hero 4 is Official

Last week I posted a story about the rumors of a new GoPro camera that was said to be launching soon. The leaked information indicated that new model would be able to capture video in 4K resolutions, and include a touchscreen for navigation of the device's settings. At the time, we didn't know much more about the product, including price or release date, but today GoPro made the new Hero 4 official, announcing two versions, as well as a new inexpensive entry model as well.

As it turns out, the rumors we were hearing last week have proven to be true. The new GoPro Hero 4 Black edition will indeed capture 4K video at 30fps, and 1080p video at up to 120fps, making it an ideal option for the professional filmmaker. The Silver edition is the model that comes with a touchscreen, and is capable of shooting 1080p resolutions at 60fps. Both models include both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity now, making it easier to connect a smartphone or tablet to monitor what is being shot, and to manage the device itself. The camera are priced at $499.99 and $399.99 respectively, and will begin shipping to stores on October 5.

The new entry-level model is now simply called the Hero. It carries much of the same specs as the previous models, including 1080p video at 30fps, a 5MP sensor, and is waterproof down to 40 meters. The best enhancement on this model is that it now costs just $129.99, a real bargain for those who want to dabble in filmmaking without spending a lot of money.

All of new models feature a few cosmetic changes, but for the most part they resemble previous generation GoPro cameras. That meanest hey'll also fit in the hundreds of accessories and cases that already exist. That is a wise move on the part of the Hero 4 designers, as consumers don't have to start over with all of their gear.

The video below will introduce you further to the new cameras, and give you a sense of what they are capable of. Judging from the early footage, GoPro's competitors are going to have to play catch-up once again, and I can't wait to see what filmmakers do with these new tools.

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Video: Filmmaking in the Himalaya with a Drone (Part 2)

A few weeks back I posted a video from my friend Jon Miller of The Rest of Everest fame. In that video, we got a behind the scenes look at a recent trip Jon made to the Himalaya, during which he took a couple of drones along with him to capture some amazing footage from across the region. Today, we have a second video from that trip, which once again not only includes fantastic images from the mountains, but also gives would-be Himalayan trekkers an opportunity to see what it is like to hike through that part of the world. This video will be of interest to other filmmakers of course, but there is a lot to like for the rest of us too. I hope you enjoy.

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Adventure Tech: Next Gen GoPro to Include Touchscreen, Capture in 4K?

Aspring adventure filmmakers are no doubt wondering what GoPro has up their sleeve for their next generation camera. After all, the Hero 3 line has been out for several years, and the competition is starting to get a bit stiffer in what has become a very crowded action cam market. Yesterday, gadget website Gizmodo posted a round-up of the latest rumors circulating around the as-yet unannounced Hero 4, as well as a photo that may actually show off the product for the first time.

Amongst the new features expected to be coming to the new camera are a touchscreen LCD that will make it much easier to access, and adjust, the settings, as well as monitor and review any footage that is being shot. Previous models of GoPro cameras only had a small screen on the front which provided information on battery life and memory card capacity. A color LCD would be a significant upgrade in terms of what filmmakers could do in the field without needing to connect to another device.

The bigger news is that the Hero 4 is expected to be able to capture video in 4K resolutions at 30fps, which will greatly improve the quality of the films created using the camera. As Gizmodo points out, the Hero 3+ Black edition had the ability to shoot 4K as well, but at 15fps no one ever really bothered to use that mode. A true 4K capable GoPro will be extremely popular for sure.


The report also indicates that the overall size of the camera will remain about the same as current models. That means that all the current accessories, such as housings and mounts, will continue to work with the device. That's good news for anyone who has already invested in the GoPro line, as it will make the transition a smooth one.

There is no indication when the camera could arrive in stores, but GoPro generally likes to update products in the fall, ahead of the busy holiday shopping season. That means we could see the Hero 4 soon, but for now we'll have to wait to see if these rumors are true.

Upate: More info from Gizmodo today says that the LCD touchscreen may only be available on the Hero 4 Silver edition, which will shoot 4K video at 15fps. The top of the line Black Edition will not have the touchscreen, but will probably be able to shoot 4K at 30fps. Interesting trade off if true.

Gizmodo also says that the photo above is an actual shot of the camera, which will also take photos with its 12-megapixel sensor, and will be waterproof down to 131 feet. Pricing remains a mystery at this time, but hopefully more will be revealed soon.

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Video: Powering the Reel Rock Tour with Goal Zero

Keeping your electronic gear powered up while you're in the field is always a challenge, especially if you're shooting some of the fantastic adventure films that we've seen in recent years. Fortunately, solar power has come a long way, and is now a viable option for any expedition. Goal Zero is one of the companies that has led the way in this category, and the video below gives you an idea of what their products are capable of. While this is a promo video of sorts, it also features some amazing shots of some of our favorite outdoor athletes in the field as they are being filmed for the upcoming Reel Rock Tour. It also gives us a glimpse of how these filmmakers work in the field. Very interesting stuff all around.

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Video: Filmmaking in the Himalaya with a Drone

Last spring, my friend Jon Miller, from the The Rest of Everest video podcast, took a drone with him when he traveled through Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet, capturing some spectacular footage from the Himalaya along the way. Last week, he posted another video from the trip, this time giving us a behind the scene's look at how he put his TurboAce Matrix E quadcopter drone through its paces. If you've wondered how these drones are used, or how you could possibly use them on your next project, this is a good video to watch. It also features some fantastic footage of the trek through the Khumbu Valley on the way to Everest Base Camp.

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