Yes, hyper smooth is worth it! I've read that you've already decided to get a Hero7 Black - good move! Trust me, you or anyone else won't watch a movie that makes makes you feel sick. You'll just end up deleting them. I've made that mistake!
Here are some tips:
- Battery management is key - turn off GPS and as many auto functions as possible... so that the camera is just taking footage and not doing all manner of other tasks that tax the camera's CPU and drain your battery prematurely. My set-ups are on my YouTube video notes.
- Memory management is key - get a 64GB microSD card if you're intending to use just one battery. For longer epic shoots, get a 128GB microSD card but you need to carry a spare battery with you. Make sure the SD card is "high speed memory" and compatible to the Hero7 Black. I use Sandisk Extreme. Using a sub par SD card can cause the camera to overheat.
- Record in 2.7K - to get more footage from your battery and memory card. You can 'up' your output resolution to 4K quality (up-rez) on post edit. 1080p is too low by todays standards - especially if you want to playback your movies through your large 4K TV at home.
- Frames per Second (FPS) selection is key - choose 24fps cinematic standard, or 60fps which is GoPro's recommended for cycling related videos. 24fps will be make smaller files - but surprisingly recording in 60fps is much less than double the file sizes. (see comparative video on this subject below)
- Learn to post edit - this will give your movies variation, so they won't all look the same. You can shorten it, add music, add titles and transitions to make your movies interesting. You need a decent computer if you want to do this. There are also video editing software that are either free or inexpensive. I just use the most basic FILMORA 9 and that's probably all you need... but there could be a learning curve though. If you discover that you're into this sort of stuff, you can do more serious and complex grading work with Da Vinci Resolve - they have a free version which is what I use.
- Upload your movies to YouTube - trust me you're not gonna watch your movies if you have to start-up a computer each time. If it's on Youtube, then it's already archived - and it's so easy to access and watch it on your TV, phone, or other devices... where ever you are. Upload and store them there even if they are "unlisted" or "private." Keep your movies short! We all have short attention spans these days. I try to keep mine around the 5 minute mark or shorter. A 10 minute video needs to have some sort of evolving theme or progressive story line otherwise it's just too long.
I've upload my videos mainly for my brother who lives overseas - so that he and my nephews (who are all into MTBiking) can see what I've been up to. I'm not doing it as a proper channel as such, so I'm not pushing for subscribers or likes. It's just up there as my movie player and I have no intentions or illusions about monetisation. I am however using the channel to learn how to think through a story-board, record footage that fits it accordingly, then grade and post edit my videos to appear as high end as possible. I only have 3 finished videos... plus I have so many other raw footage on the editing queue, but I just can't be bothered at the moment.
Be prepared to spend hours and hours and hours to produce just a short 3-5 minute video. You'll either love it or hate it.
Below is my "
new bike day +3" - the first time I took my Trance E+ for a proper run. Excuse the heavy laboured breathing... I have a heart condition.
