GoPro HD Hero vs HD Hero2 - Seymour

 thanks for sharing this with us. But i think this just shows that there is not a whole lot of differences between the two (for video) which is what the most of us will use it for. but i think the stills quality and whole interface would definitely be a good enough reason to buy the HD 2

 I think the ability to actually use 1080p with the HD2 is a nice option. On the HD2 you can select a Field of View angle of 90, 127, or 170 degrees when using 1080p or 720p. With the HD1, 1080p is only available in 127 degrees and 720p is only available in 170 degrees. Unfortunately, this makes the 1080p mode virtually unusable for helmet or chest use because the Field of View is not wide enough. I always mount on my helmet, and I like to be able to see just a little bit of my visor in the video. With my HD1 in 1080p mode, it always looks like it's pointed down too far. The frame is just not wide enough. With the HD2, you can run 1080p with a 170 degree field of view (same field of view as 720p on the HD1). Also, the HD2 is much better in brighter light, which is much more noticeable when filming snowmobiling and snowboarding due to the brighter nature of a snow covered world. I have found that shooting in 720p at 60fps is the only quality option on the HD1 for winter sports. On the flipside, my buddy just bought an HD2, and his snowmobiling video's at 1080p 30fps look much better than my HD1 video's at 720p 60fps. His HD2 video's look incredible actually. This post got a little more technical than I was intending. Hopefully it makes sense! My point is that I do think it's worth upgrading to the HD2 for the ability to shoot in 1080p. Anyone want to buy an HD1 in mint condition for $150?

 Man, I hate when I put a bunch of thought into a response that I think will really help other people out, and then it seems like no one reads it! Leelau; I know you saw my response right? Do you agree? After seeing HD2 1080p footage compared to HD1 720p footage, I feel like my HD1 is worthless to me. I will have to upgrade. I am a huge High Def snob though, and notice lack of quality more than the average viewer. By the way, I did make it up to Whistler last fall. I got hooked up with a Montebello Townhome comped through the property management company I work for in Jackson, WY. It rained all but one day while we were there, but the riding was still amazing, and it got most of the gapers off the trails. You are a lucky man to live near that bike park!

 Really! Incredible that the park is going to open on time with the amount of snow you have had this year. I'm actually going to ride for the first time of the year tomorrow. The trail I'm riding is completely dry as of 2 days ago. Last year, we couldn't ride this same trail until June.

By upping the quality of the footage, do you mean keeping the camera more steady. That's the one issue I have with using the gopro for biking; you really have to concentrate on keeping your head steady, and pointed in the right direction. Every little bump in the trail is amplified. For snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding it's not as much of an issue because there is not as much vibration. Maybe that's why my buddy's HD2 snowmobile footage was so good. I abandoned using 1080 shortly after I tried it out a few times when I initially bought the camera last summer and didn't like the FOV angle of that mode. I never thought to compare if it was shakier than 720p footage.

Thanks for the offer Lee, but September is definitely the only time I can make my pilgrimage to Whistler. I manage the front desk at a hotel that's busy as hell from mid May to late September. Luckily the company I work for also owns Whistler Premier property management up there, so I get to stay for next to nothing in a nice townhome. I'm planning on coming up September 15th, hopefully for 2 full weeks. Man, I'd really like to ride that premium stuff though!