GoPro mounts...(I'm sure it's been asked thousands of times...)

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loopy

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Okay - so...I'm sure it's been asked thousands of times, but I'm not seeing what I'm looking for in the search results. I recently happened into a GoPro Hero 3, and I'm wondering if anyone has any cool or unique ways to mount this to a rocket for onboard video? Or if GoPro is pretty much just being used for shots at the pad. Just curious what people are doing and how they are doing it. Thanks!
 
Could you put it inside the rocket and somehow mount a small mirror (dental mirror?) at 45 degrees on the outside? Things will be reversed but you can flip them in software afterwards if it bothers you.
That's what I'm trying to figure out...how are people mounting these?
 
That's what I'm trying to figure out...how are people mounting these?
You're not seeing much in search results because folks simply aren't using GoPro form factor cameras. They're large, expensive (unless you buy a cheap Chinese knock off), and cannot be easily mounted in smaller rockets. IF/when folks are using them, they're usually mounting them inside an ebay that has them facing outward, not up/down. The only commercial mounting that I've seen for GoPro form factors is here: https://www.fusionrocket.biz/store-2/?model_number=CAM3

808/mobius keychain type cameras have been the defacto standard for quite some time because of their small size, minimal impact on aerodynamics, and adaptability with some tape to just about any size rocket, to include mach/mile flights (with the right tape or proper shroud). Essentially anything that has a shroud listed here: https://www.additiveaerospace.com/collections/video-camera-shrouds is what most folks are using. Personally, I use a RunCam2 4K with flawless results.
 
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Agree with Banzai88's comments. Below images are of a Go-Pro Hero3 that I mounted inside a mid-power rocket with a BT-80 airframe. The Go-Pro operates stand-alone and the view is horizontal. FYI, this payload also contains a small board camera (black circle just below the Go-Pro is the board camera's lens). The board camera's video output is coupled to a 5.8 GHz video transmitter for live viewing.

Removable video payload section.
Go-Pro payload.jpg

Both cameras looking out a curved plexiglass window epoxied to the BT-80 airframe.
Go-Pro inside Skunk.jpg

Below (if I posted it correctly) is a video from the Go-Pro at a launch last year. I rotated the Go-Pro video (via video editing) during boost to compensate for the orientation inside the rocket. During recovery, the video returns to normal (unrotated) since the rocket is designed such that the payload section descends in a horizontal orientation and the camera orientation no longer matters.




Depending on what you're trying to accomplish, both horizontal and vertical video camera orientations are useful and interesting.
 
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You're not seeing much in search results because folks simply aren't using GoPro form factor cameras. They're large, expensive (unless you buy a cheap Chinese knock off), and cannot be easily mounted in smaller rockets. IF/when folks are using them, they're usually mounting them inside an ebay that has them facing outward, not up/down. The only commercial mounting that I've seen for GoPro form factors is here: https://www.fusionrocket.biz/store-2/?model_number=CAM3

808/mobius keychain type cameras have been the defacto standard for quite some time because of their small size, minimal impact on aerodynamics, and adaptability with some tape to just about any size rocket, to include mach/mile flights (with the right tape or proper shroud). Essentially anything that has a shroud listed here: https://www.additiveaerospace.com/collections/video-camera-shrouds is what most folks are using. Personally, I use a RunCam2 4K with flawless results.
Thank you sir - much appreciated. That's pretty much what I figured, but wanted to see. I was looking at putting this in a 5.5" diameter rocket that's 7.5' tall, so I wasn't concerned about the weight/size so much. Thanks again!
 
Thank you sir - much appreciated. That's pretty much what I figured, but wanted to see. I was looking at putting this in a 5.5" diameter rocket that's 7.5' tall, so I wasn't concerned about the weight/size so much. Thanks again!
SBR also has a 5.5” mount for a GoPro and altimeter. I’ve never used it, and haven’t seen any reviews of it, but here’s the link:

https://www.fusionrocket.biz/store-2/?model_number=CAM5
 
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