GoPro cameras?

I recently got a GoPro Hero2 camera, and I have noticed that there are chest and wrist straps available for this camera. Does anyone know if the parks are allowing these cameras on-ride, does it vary by park, or is it still completely illegal? I noticed some people in Verbolten videos wearing them, but I have no idea if they got special permissions or if these cameras are going mainstream for acceptable on ride recording. Thoughts?

According to a friend of mine who apparently looked into it, they aren't allowing them at CP. I assume most parks will treat them like any other loose article, as there's no way for them to really know if patrons are securing them properly.

I have a serious question on this matter: Why bother going through the trouble and the hassle of recording rides, worrying about your equipment, someone ruining your shot, bad lighting, etc. When there are already professionally-shot and park sponsored POV's available for almost any ride imaginable these days?

Raven, I'm sure that has been debated multiple times on multiple discussions. My answer for MYSELF is just that: for myself. I want my ride experience that I personally had with my friends or family and be able to show my friends and/or family. I want it for special occasions that I otherwise would only have someone else's footage. For example, my husband and I are going to Universal Orlando this year. It was a big long struggle to get to be able to do that, and I would love to get footage of us riding the rides, not watch a generic POV. I am fine with buying on ride videos, but not every ride does that. Plus, my 100th coaster is next. If I could get my own ride on a good coaster rather than a stranger's pov, it would be ideal.

I still just don't see it. I'd rather be enjoying the ride, than worrying about my expensive equipment. I've been there/done that, and I will take my still cameras on Disney rides, because they allow it, but if I'm going to watch a POV, I'd much rather it be taken on a mounted camera.

There are some really great videos taken while on rides, and even though it was against the rules, I rather enjoy them. The video of the little boy on Steel Force at Dorney is one of my favorites. It has even been shown on a TV commercial.

I'm not saying it's right. I'm saying that what it produces can be very special.

Raven, I'd rather not worry about a camera either, and I really don't wanna worry about it hurting someone if it would get taken off of the harness and flung, but I just wanted to do it for a few special things down in Orlando...I had wanted it for my 100th coaster as well, but I'm not gonna be able to get to SFNE, so Rip Ride Rockit will be my 100th (boo). They have full video on that one, so at least that is good.

LostKause, yes, I don't agree with breaking park rules to get footage, but sometimes, the resultant video is fantastic. It could end up being something I'd absolutely love. That's why I'm trying to determine if it is gonna be something feasible at least on some of the rides.

And that video is adorable.

I think the more rides you've been on, the less you care about POV, pro, personal or otherwise.

That too. I like to watch videos of rides I'll never ride, or people's No Limits creations, though.

I dunno, Jeff - I like watching POV of rides that I really enjoyed as a way of reminding me of fun times. A fine example is the video of Eagle Fortress; that coaster is gone now, but the POV reminds me of what an insane experience it was.

Raven and Richard, yes, I like watching POV's for those reasons too. Jeff, I can see where once you ride something a million times or once you've been on hundreds of coasters, the POV thing is kind of lame, but I'm definitely not at that point yet. I look at each new ride with a giddy excitement and love watching the POVs. I will say that I think some POVs can never do a ride justice, and therefore are pretty lame, but for the most part, I'm not hardened yet to the thrill of watching (or recording) my time on these wonderful creations we call coasters.

Maybe that's part of my problem. I'm kind of "over" coasters, too. I prefer to relax and enjoy myself over hardcore riding, so that part doesn't matter to me so much anymore, either.

Could be, could be. I find things less thrilling since I've hit most of my coaster park goals than I did when I still hadn't been to half the places I'd always wanted to go. I absolutely LOVED Universal the last time I went though, and with my husband actually going with me for once, I'm just like a little kid again, wanting to ride everything and catch it all on film.

Josh would only like POV video ironically. He's a coaster hipster.

Back in the 1970s and 1980s I used to take a Movie Camera with me on every coaster I rode to do a POV Shot of the ride. (My pride and joy is a POV Movie of the late, great Idora Wildcat). then in the late 1980s the parks began forbidding the taking of cameras on their rides. ACE refuses to publish POV Shots in their Magazines and Newsletter. Every now and then I will get permission to use my Camera on a ride. At the 2004 ACE Preservation Conference Libertyland allowed me to shoot a POV Video on the Zippin Pippin (Now in Wisconsin). I have also been able to shoot a POV Video on Dutch Wonderland's Sky Princess, Boomer's Dania Beach Hurricane (Now SBNO) :( and Canobie Lake's Yankee Cannonball.

Jeff said:
Josh would only like POV video ironically. He's a coaster hipster.

I only like obscure coaster POV, stuff you've probably never heard of.

It sounds like some of the smaller parks are sometimes more receptive to cameras. I was reading that Cedar Fair parks are still completely anti-camera, which kinda doesn't surprise me. I am betting that at least until the cameras become more popular and well-known, most parks will not allow it for safety reasons. However, can't hurt to ask, right?

Given the design of the GoPro, it's kind of hard to argue that it is a safety issue, at least in terms of the security of the camera. I saw a guy wearing one at Kennywood on the Thunderbolt, and it was essentially just a big wristwatch. With some of the camera equipment available today, it's going to become virtually impossible to prevent cameras from getting onto the rides. When you see the equipment, and you see what the parks *do* allow aboard the rides, it makes you wonder what the real motives might be...

Anyway, there is another issue in favor of doing your own POVs as opposed to using the ones provided by the park: it is technically illegal for you to use the official POV footage in your own productions without written clearance from the rights holder. There may be some issues with using your own POV footage because of private property issues, but that's not as likely to get your video yanked off of a video site as using the official POV footage.

(personally, my old rules still apply: 1) Get permission from *somebody* who would logically have the immediate authority to do so (ride-op is OK). 2) Be sure not to hurt anybody else. 3) Don't get hurt. 4) Don't damage the gear. 5) Try to get a decent shot.)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

And the master has spoken. :)

Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld Orlando will generally allow the chest mounted / 3 point harness versions ONLY (wrist strap version is NOT ok). They can NOT be attached via velcro or be able to be pulled or snapped off in any way, they must be physically screwed onto the harness.

I say "generally" because I am told that not all of the individual operating procedures have been updated or include this information, but some have. Adding to the confusion was that supposedly an addendum proposal was going around and even posted around the rides for operators to read that allowed the harness cameras, but supposedly it was only a proposal and not an official change. Also, some operators may interpret "no video or photography" as not allowing any camera, even if it is secured to a harness. Always ask, and if an operator tells you no, have them double check with their supervisor. Don't raise hell if they tell you no.

This is going on the word of someone who works at Busch Gardens, so your mileage may vary.