In the last 2 years I find myself using GoPro footage, whether it be only a shot or two, in roughly 10-25% of of my projects. Vitaliy, have you ever looked into hacking that firmware? Almost everyone I know in the film industry owns one. I bet you'd get a lot of donations.
Plus, the general IQ, Dynamic Range, ect... of GoPro's is not that great. I don't see much point in getting a higher bit-rate out of footage that is always going to look like b-roll video...
If anything would be worth hacking it's the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3. It's an excellent little waterproof (12m) compact that would benefit from higher bit rates.
I still think with the amount of people that own a GoPro, the donations would be huge. Also if the firmware is anything like the GoPro menu system it probably wouldn't take too long to hack. As for the Lumix DMC-FT3, I would also donate for that hack. I'd just donate more for the GoPro hack :)
Also, although the Lumix DMC-FT3 would be cool, the GoPro offers 3D which a lot of people want. Personally I could take it or leave it, but the 3D junkies would donate for sure.
Mr. V, I could most certainly go for the FT3! I don't even have one, but if you hacked it, I'd donate and buy one in a jiffy. I can already imagine great underwater sequences, or on a car in a downpour! Go for it, I say :-)
What's nice about the GoPro is all the different mounts that have already been proven to work. For the FT3, one would have to start all over and make their own mounts.
It is lighter than a GoPro however and that CCD ..........
B3Guy - you're absolutely right! Don't know why I hadn't thought of that :) Just use a piece of 1/4 x 20 threaded stock and the GoPro tripod adapter and that would do it
"What's nice about the GoPro is all the different mounts that have already been proven to work. For the FT3, one would have to start all over and make their own mounts."
EyeOfMine.com used to have reversing adapters for sale that allowed you to mount any lightweight camera with a 1/4 20 thread to any GoPro accessory. I got one before they stopped selling them.