Shooting the Eclipse with a GoPro Hero5
Back-Bone
, , , , , , , , , , H5PRO, Ribcage
Shooting the Eclipse with a GoPro Hero5

At Back-Bone we’re always looking for creative ways to use our modified cameras. In this case we decided to use one of our C-Mount modified GoPro Hero5 Black cameras to shoot a timelapse of the 2017 eclipse from our location in Ontario, Canada.

We mounted our camera on a heavy duty tripod and fitted it with a Kendrick 6007-SF Solar Filter. The camera was fitted with a 25-135mm 1/2″ C-Mount lens with a 52mm variable ND filter. We also added a 0.9 OD neutral density filter inside the camera along with the IR-Cut filter. A USB power bank was used to keep everything running for the full duration. A Paralinx Arrow+ was also connected to beam the live video inside to one of our TV’s.

We recorded the entire eclipse at 1080/30. We could have done a timelapse with stills obviously, but we where hoping we might catch something interesting like a plane or birds flying in front of the sun, but unfortunately no luck ! Because our tripod wasn’t capable of tracking the sun, we had to manually adjust the position every 10 minutes or so to keep it in frame.

Next we spit out a subset of frames from Adobe Premiere and stabilized the sun’s position using After Effects. We adjusted the image and added a little color to make the shot more interesting. And there you have it!

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Back-Bone and Nat Geo Lions 360
Back-Bone
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , 360 vr, Ribcage, Ribcage AIR
Back-Bone and Nat Geo Lions 360

Don’t you hate it when lions eat all your cameras? We provided our Ribcage modified GoPro cameras and lenses to film National Geographic’s Lions 360 video, plus we were able to help in other ways. During filming several of the production’s stock GoPro cameras were actually destroyed by the curious lions. Rather than write them off, we had the production send them to us. What many people don’t realize about our camera mod kits is that if you install one on a broken GoPro camera it can actually fix many problems, particularly if the lens is damaged. If it still turns on you can likely salvage it!

One of the cameras actually did require a spare part as the lions had chewed through the LCD readout on the front, though that component isn’t required for the camera to function. We disassembled the cameras, installed our Ribcage AIR Mod Kit for Hero4 and… good as new, Only now you can add your choice of lens! Ribcage Mod Kits are available for GoPro Hero3/3+, Hero4 & Yi 4K/4K+.

Please enjoy the Lions 360 video embedded below. Click and drag with your mouse cursor in order to look around.

 

 

 

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Use A Ribcage Modified GoPro on a Microscope or Telescope
Back-Bone
, , , , , , , , , , , , H5PRO, Ribcage, Ribcage AIR, YI 4K
Use A Ribcage Modified GoPro on a Microscope or Telescope

USING THE RIBCAGE MOD’S NATIVE C-MOUNT

Our Ribcage Modified Cameras are small, portable and have powerful shooting options at a reasonable price. That makes them a perfect option for microscopes, telescopes and many other scientific applications. C-Mount is commonly used in scientific and medical imaging equipment so the camera can be directly connected to all kinds of different devices! The image sensor makes it ideal for beam splitters that are designed for ½” C-Mount cameras and can also be attached in place of the eyepiece with a simple adapter. The camera is also capable of seeing infra-red for your custom applications. Filters are easily added or removed to the inside of the camera so you can image exactly the areas of the spectrum that you need.

There are many benefits when using your Ribcage modified camera on a microscope:

Theses benefits include:

  • 4K recording
  • High resolution 12MP stills (RAW with H5PRO or YI 4K)
  • Manual exposure / shutter speed control (Hero4, Hero5)
  • Connection to high-res displays
  • Clean 4K (UHD) HDMI out (H5PRO)
  • Smartphone and tablet connectivity
  • Custom wavelength imaging
  • Compact size / portable / self-contained
  • Remote control
  • Up to 240 fps (720p)
Aquarium water drop 1
Still frame taken from a recording of water mites by Ciencias ULisboa
Aquarium water drop 2
Still frame taken from a recording of water mites by Ciencias ULisboa

What you will need:

1. C-Mount Ribcage modified camera
2. Microscope
3. C-Mount eyepiece adapter / C-Mount beam splitter
4. Filters (Optional)
5. Micro HDMI cable (or YI 4K A/V cable)

microscope
Ribcage close up on a microscope
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C-Mount adapter for microscopy
ribcage-filters
Custom Ribcage filters
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Ribcage with microscope C-Mount to the side

A Cost Effective Alternative

Other C-Mount imaging systems are often quite costly with substantially fewer options, weaker specifications and require an external power supply and controller. Our solution is available at a small fraction of the cost, is simple to operate, compact and portable. With our native C-Mount you can easily transfer the camera to other equipment as needed or pack it up and use it in the field. The camera can be permanently powered if required so shooting long segments or time-lapse sequences is a breeze.

Getting started:

1. Add the C-Mount adapter to your Ribcage.
2. With your microscope, you will get a C-Mount support which you will need to screw on the Ribcage.
3. Insert the camera on the top of the microscope.
4. Make sure everything is turned on (camera and microscope).
5. You are now ready to start taking amazing shots!

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Ribcage with C-Mount adapter for microscope

Post-production:

With GoPro’s Protune camera settings you can get much higher quality throughout your post-production and get more dynamic images from your camera. You can edit your pictures with Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. GoPro’s Quik™ is also a great choice for post-processing your clips into a short video as is Adobe Premiere or any other video editing package.

A short video taken by Ciencias ULisboa of water mites trough a microscope equipped with a Ribcage modified GoPro.

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Mounting Your Ribcage For Outdoor Fun
Back-Bone
, , , , , , , , , , , , H5PRO, Ribcage, Ribcage AIR, YI 4K
Mounting Your Ribcage For Outdoor Fun

We’ve designed our Ribcage Modified GoPro cameras to be as versatile as possible, with native support for M12, CS and C-Mount lenses as well as features like interchangeable filters, flange adjustment and more. There are some differences in the dimensions from the original camera however, so let’s take a look at how we can use some of the various GoPro mounting accessories.

The easiest way to use GoPro’s mounting system with the Ribcage is to use ‘The Frame’ mount available in our shop or anywhere that sells GoPro cameras. GoPro mounts will support the camera along with small lenses up to about 100 grams. The Frame mount is provided with our H5M12 and H5PRO modified Hero5 cameras. For large lenses we recommend using a tripod or other sturdy mounts with standard 1/4”-20 threads. To do so you will need the GoPro tripod mount accessory.

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Karma
Ribcage H5M12 and H5PRO modifed Hero5 cameras are Karma ready so you can mount them on the drone or the Karma Grip handheld stabilizer when lightweight M12 lenses are used.

Waterpoofing
The best Ribcage option for underwater use is the H5M12 modified Hero5 Black. Its dimensions are identical to the original so it will easily fit in the waterproof ‘Super Suit’ with a wide variety of lenses. For the Hero3 and Hero4 we recommend using our 7.5mm Low Profile M12 lens which will allow the camera to fit in the Hero3/4 waterproof case! If you have an extended backdoor for your case the Ribcage and lens will fit inside so you can shoot underwater. The LCD Bacpac will not fit due to the 3.5mm added thickness of the Ribcage, so the empty space can be filled with foam or the protective plastic cap from your Ribcage kit.

7-5mm2

Gun / Rod / Bow Mount
Mount your GoPro to guns, fishing rods and bows. This versatile mount has a non-reflective matte black finish that eliminates glare so you can stay out of sight. It’s compatible with most shotguns,1 rifles, revolvers, airsoft, paintball and pellet guns, and fits fishing rod grips and bow components with diameters ranging from 0.4 to 0.9in (10 to 23mm). Mount up to two cameras to capture immersive front-facing and rear-facing perspectives.

Compatible with most shotguns,1 rifles, revolvers, airsoft, paintball and pellet guns, as well as fishing rods and bows
Mount up to two cameras to capture footage looking forward, backwards, or both directions at once
Camera(s) can be mounted below or to the side of a gun barrel or fishing rod
Specially designed backdoor mounts help stabilize the camera during recoil
Non-reflective matte black finish eliminates glare, making it easy to stay out of sight

1 Not compatible with most double-barreled shotguns.

Handlebar / Seatpost / Pole Mount
Mount your GoPro to handlebars, seatposts, ski poles and more. The hinged, non-slip design easily clamps to different mounting locations or secures to a pole or pipe to create a handheld boom. The mounting buckle lets you move your GoPro between mounts on the fly, and the base features 360° rotation to help achieve the perfect angle for every shot. Fits 0.35 to 1.4in (9 to 35mm) diameter tubes.

Hinged, non-slip design sets up in seconds and clamps to any 0.35 to 1.4in
(9 to 35mm) diameter tube
Rotating base features 360° rotation with 16 secure positions, ensuring the perfect angle and allowing rapid changes in perspective for more dynamic footage
The mounting buckle lets users move their camera between mounts on the fly, enabling fast and easy changes in perspective
Durable construction prevents slipping and breaking and minimizes vibration and camera shake
No loose parts to drop or lose

exomini-mount

EXO mini Mounting bracket
Add this precision machined aluminum bracket to a Ribcage modified Hero3 or Hero4 camera for even more flexibility. Your Ribcage will have a total of 9 standard 1/4” 20 mounting points! Mount external accessories such as microphones and field monitors. Mount your Hero4 mod upside down for quick battery changes. Combine it with our Power Arms for infinite possibilities!

Tripod Mount (HERO3/4)
This precision machined aluminum mount easily connects to any Hero3 or Hero4 Ribcage Mod. It gives you three standard 1/4-20 sockets for mounting your camera on professional supports and equipment. One of the mounting points is centered directly under the image sensor.

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The frame with Ribcage modified Gopro Hero4 balck

The Frame is the smallest, lightest way to mount your GoPro, and enables ultra compact, low-profile mounting. The open design delivers optimal audio capture during low-speed activities, plus access to the camera’s microSD, Micro HDMI and USB ports for easy data offload, live-feed video and charging. An extendable support arm allows you to conveniently attach an LCD Touch BacPac™ or Battery BacPac™ (sold separately), and holds the BacPac™ securely in place while shooting.1 The integrated latch makes removing your GoPro from The Frame quick and easy. Includes a glass Protective Lens to help guard the camera lens from scratches, dirt and debris.

  • Smallest, lightest way to mount your GoPro
  • Minimalist design for compact, low-profile mounting
  • Enables optimal audio capture during low-speed activities
  • Allows full-time access to all camera ports for convenient data offload, live-feed video and charging
  • Integrated latch makes removing the camera quick and easy
  • Extendable support arm allows you to easily attach an LCD Touch BacPac™ or Battery BacPac™1
  • Includes a glass Protective Lens to help guard the camera lens from dirt, dust and scratches

Note: The Frame is not waterproof and not intended for use in extreme conditions where dirt and sharp objects can damage the camera lens.

This video was captured entirely with our Ribcage modification for Hero4 Black. The conversion allows users to convert their own cameras into one that will take M12, C-Mount, CS-Mount or any other popular lens type.

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BACK-BONE CAMERAS USED FOR ‘INVISIBLE’
Back-Bone
, , , , , , , , Ribcage, Ribcage AIR
BACK-BONE CAMERAS USED FOR ‘INVISIBLE’

Shot in part with Ribcage Modified GoPro cameras and gear, ‘Invisible’ is an innovative new 360-degree VR series from Doug Liman (Director of the Bourne Identity) and Simon Crane (2nd Unit Director, Star Wars Rogue One). It tells the supernatural tale of a powerful family with the ability to turn themselves invisible.

For more information please visit: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/doug-liman-s-virtual-reality-940073

Series Trailer: https://samsungvr.com/view/CD_zxGQlQ_1

 

 

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RIBCAGE AIR: 3D DATA & FLIGHTPATH RECONSTRUCTION
Back-Bone
, , , , , , , , , , , , Ribcage, Ribcage AIR
RIBCAGE AIR: 3D DATA & FLIGHTPATH RECONSTRUCTION

With this fun project we used XYZ RGB’s Scannerkiller technology to extract and reconstruct an accurate flight-path and virtual camera from some of our drone footage. We used a Ribcage Modified Hero4 Black mounted on a 3DR Solo. Using only the video frames we are able to extract 3D models and camera positions. A virtual camera can then be created in 3DS MAX from the data. Accurate measurements, flight-path information, model reconstruction and visual effects are all possible using this method. No GPS data was used.

 

Equipment Used:

  • Ribcage Modified Hero4 Black
  • 5.4mm 10MP M12 lens
  • 0.6 OD Neutral Density Filter
  • 3DR Solo + Gimbal

Software:

  • Scannerkiller
  • 3DS MAX
  • After Effects

For more info:
xyzrgb.com

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