Gear

September 29, 2016 By Claes Leave a Comment

How does the GoPro Drone Karma match the Dji Phantom 4 and the Dji Mavic?

The all new portable drone from GoPro called Karma is soon to be released and is pretty different to the class leader Dji Phantom 4. Rumors are saying that Dji is working on a similar foldable drone concept called Dji Mavic.

GoPro Karma Drone – Game changing design

GoPro Karma and the Dji Mavic consept – Probably the new market standard

Since GoPro announced the Karma, we have learned that Dji is planning to release a similar koncept called Dji Mavic. The release date is set to mid October 2016. Its pretty much the same concept with a more compact and foldable drone. This is probably the new market standard for drones although Dji does their best to separate the different drone concepts. Dji also have to give some thoughts about their pretty expensive hand held stabilizer Osmo since GoPro includes this in their GoPro Karma and Dji doesn’t seem to have the same feature on their Dji Mavic.

GoPro Karma vs Dji Mavic vs Dji Phantom 4

Top speed – The Phantom 4 is the fastest one of the pack with its 72 km/h compared to Dji Mavic (62 km/h) and the GoPro Karma (56 km/h)
Image Sensor – The Dji Phantom 4 and the Dji Mavic has the same image sensor but different linses. The GoPro Karma you will be able to uppgrade when their new GoPro Heros hit the market.
Flight time – The Dji drones have better flight time than the GoPro drone. The Dji Mavic – 27 min, the Phantom 4 – 28 min and the GoPro Karma – 20 min. We all know that the conditions has an segnificant impact on the flight tim i.e. wind, tempratures etc. So flight time could be a bit of a problem with the GoPro Karma.
Follow me function – despite the rumors GoPro didn’t manage to squeeze in the Follow me function. Dji have had the follow me function as a pretty important selling point on the Phantoms.
The display – The GoPro Karma has an built in pressure sensitive display while the Dji Phantoms are dependant on your mobile phone/iPad or similar.
Obstacle avoidance system – The GoPro Karma doesn’t have a obstacle avoidance system. However many Phantom 4 drone pilots has learned the hard way that the OAS does not work in all directions/conditions.
Handling on ground – The GoPro Karma is extremely portable and ready to use right out of the back pack, i.e. you will end up bringing the drone with you instead leaving it home. The Phantom 4 pilots has to add another USD 200 on their budget to get the pretty bulky Dji back pack.
The Gimbal – One of the most important selling points for the GoPro Karma is that the Gimble/stabilizer can be used separated from the drone, very smart and consumer friendly. The Dji gimbal/stabilizer is not portable You have to buy a additional stabilizer from Dji at a cost of USD 650 including camera.
Price – If you already have an GoPro Hero 3 or 4 the Karma is a pretty cheap way to get into the drone world. If you buy the Karma with the all new GoPro Hero 5 the price compared to the Dji Phantom 4 is pretty much the same.
Dji Mavic PRO – Game changer of the drone market

Dji Mavic and the GoPro Karma – A game changer on the dronemarket

The GoPro Karmas portable stabilizer system is one of the selling points that Dji has to take seriously. We are looking forward to an head to head battle between the GoPro Karma and the Dji Mavic and it will be extremely interesting to follow the drone market since we consider the portable drone concept to be a real game changer.

April 18, 2016 By Claes Leave a Comment

Flymount Generation 4 – Boom and mast mount for windsurfing tested

During the years we have used a number of different GoPro camera windsurfing mounts. This winter we switched from Flymount Generation 3 to Flymount Generation 4. In this test we are using a GoPro action camera but you can off course use the Flymount with all the most common action cams on the market and the mount was even strong enough for our SLR.

Flymount – The durability

You might would expect that the old generation of the Flymount would be worn ut since we have tested the mount under the hardest possible conditions. The Flymount has proven it self on the water with salt, sand and sun as opponents. Winter time the mounts has been briused and battered on the ice with temperatures down to 15 degrees below celsius. However we have always ended up giving the old mounts to our friends and the old Flymounts are still going strong.

Flymount - Windsurfing GoPro camera mount

Flymount – Very easy to adjust the position on the mast

Flymount – Generation 3 vs 4

A very strong reliable GoPro mount has been even stronger, more resistant against sand and still the Flymount Generation 4 is 31 gram lighter than it´s predecessor. The mounts are made of 316-marine grade stainless steel, CZ112 naval brass and Nylon-66 reinforced with 30% glass.

Rubber pads inside the jaws are protecting your boom and sails

Flymount – Secure and safe mounting

Since we are using a wide variety of sails ranging from strong and versatile freeride sails to high performance and sensitive light weight race sails, the finetuning ability is criusial. There are rubber pads inside the jaws are protecting your boom and sails from damage and the rubber pads are also making sure to hold the mount in position. The Flymount is delivered with a safety line, however after a while you learn to trust the build quality and most of our sessions we only use the GoPro floaty backdoor, i.e no safety line.

Flymount GoPro windsurfing boom and mast mount

Flymount Generation 4 – Well built and super easy to move around

Flymount – The best action camera mount on the market?

It’s no coincidence that several of the windsurfing top riders are using the Flymount. The mount feels very secure and well built and is super easy to move around your windsurfing equipement. All though the Flymount feels very secure we haven’t had any issues with worn sail canvas, not even on our NeilPryde EVO slalom race sail. Flymount is most probably the best action camera boom and mast mount on the market today.

September 21, 2014 By Claes Leave a Comment

Wizmount GoPro mount test

On this section we previously have tested the K4 harness mount and the Flymount – boom and mast mount. Now its time for the Wizmount GoPro mount – backpack solution.

Rider: Claes Nilsson Kvick – Wismount and GoPro 3+

Wizmount – GoPro mount with telescope/zoom function

The Wizmount is a versetile mount thanks to the smart backpack solution and since it has a telescope system thats really stabile and flexible. The telescope/zoom function gives you the opportunity to adjust the poles so that you can film from several different angles. The Wizmount backpack solution is really stable and the detail work is great. However we wouldn’t use it without the safety leash (not included), not on water anyway.

Wizmount – Hardcore testing

Wizmount GoPro mount

We have during this summer done some hardcore tests of the Wizmount GoPro mount and despite a few really hard crashes the Wizmount is still in (almost) mint condition. To be able to test the Wizmount as thoroughly as we wanted we decided to use it not only on our windsurfing sessions but also while wakeboarding and on our jet ski sessions. Testing the Wizmount riding the jet ski in high speed, jumping on ferry-waves with maintained performance and functionality was very impressive. We are looking forward to use the Wizmount while ice boarding, skiing and snowboarding this winter.

Jet skiing with the Wizmount GoPro mount

June 17, 2014 By Claes 1 Comment

K4 GoPro harness-mount test

The K4 harness mount kit includes a base plate that should be mounted on your harness and a 85 cm carbon rod (the standard mount). The extended harness mount will include an additional 40 cm carbon rod. The K4 harness mount is quite easy to use and pretty light weight.

K4 harness mount – Great performance but a challenge to handle without the remote

K4 GoPro harness mount the extended version

We have tested the K4 harness-mount together with our GoPro Hero 3+. When the harness mount and camera is in place we haven’t experienced any disturbance or issues during our freeride and freerace sessions. To handle the camera on the water without the remote control could be a challenge though. We would definitely recommend you to buy a wrist mount for your remote control. Note; the WiFi will shorten the battery length.

K4 harness mount – Smooth and stable footage

K4 GoPro harness mount – Not just for Windsurfing

Even though that we have tested the K4 harness mount and GoPro combo in choppy and demanding conditions the combo always have delivered smooth and stable footage. With that said the video below is shot in Sweden in the worst possible conditions for stable footage, small to medium chop. We have used the extended version, 85 cm + 40 cm carbon rods which will give you some extra distance to the GoPro, well worth the extra bucks.

K4 GoPro harness mount – 28 knots in choppy conditions

February 10, 2014 By Claes 1 Comment

Flymount – Bomb proof windsurfing GoPro mount tested

We have been using the Flymount for quite a while now in combination with our GoPro Hero 3+. We have had the opportunity to test the windsurfing gopro mount with focus on flexibility, versatility and durability.

Update: Read the test of the Flymount Generation 4.

The Flexibility

At this stage we have tested the Flymount during our Ice Board sessions, moving it from the windsurfing boom to the mast and we have also used it to shoot some hand held footage.

When finetuning is crucial

Compared to the Windsurfing GoPro mount DIY that we have used before, the Flymount is really great when it comes to finetuning the pressure on the equipment. This isnt that important when you attach your GoPro on the boom, if you would like to attach your GoPro on the mast however, its a whole different story. With the Flymount we have been able to attach our GoPro half way down from the mast-top without the risk of damaging the sail.

The durability – A bomb proof windsurfing GoPro mount

When testing the durability of products like windsurfing mounts a sport like Ice Boarding is perfect. We have crashed the Flymount several times on to the ICE without any visible damage or loss of performance, that goes for the GoPro aswell.