Since I'm a DP/DoP (Director of Photography) on an independent film now, cameras are even more so my life than ever. I had NO IDEA that I would end up in this position, and I'm always still learning as a filmmaker.
So, I really wanted a GoPro "Action Camera", because my father also wants to take my daughter & I to Ft. Lauderdale FL in March. But, those are easily $400 a pop. Luckily, I know how to hold out and shop for deals on Amazon in Jan-Feb, and 3-day weekend national holidays (USA). That's how I buy nearly EVERYTHING I've ever invested in for camera equipment since 2010.
Action cameras are tiny camcorders, that also shoot stills. You can take them underwater, wear them, commit espionage (tee-hee), etc... So, I found a really comparable that in some ways was a bit better than an actual GoPro on Amazon: The AKASO EK7000 which shoots in 4K, but also can shoot 1080 at high speed up to 120 FPS! It has various exposures and ranges as well.
Inside my LANTERN:
I recommend most people DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME.
The timing on this was CRUCIAL!!!
A flaming candle is VERY HOT, and the camera is made of PLASTIC which can melt.
I literally only had less than 2 min to shoot this, and if it weren't a deep freeze WINTER, I would NEVER had attempted this.
First I tested to see if I could set the camera inside,
I set up the wireless configuration to my iPhone,
Took a test shot,
Lit the candle,
shot the video of myself closing the lantern door,
stopped recording, quickly switched to photo mode,
shot the stills,
abruptly opend & blew out the candles,
Then removed the battery to allow camera to cool down....
There's a SLIGHT mark where the flame JUST started to become a full sized candle flame, and began to melt it....
Action cameras DO CLAIM to handle extreme weather... but NOT FIRE.
Candles take a little while for the flame to become full sized and are usually small at first.
Again, I it were summer I would have NEVER DONE THIS.
NO WAY.
Actually, I don't think I will EVER do this again... but, I did get the shots...
