Hey all. As the situation in Portland and around the state continues to remain in constant flux, one of the newest tactics we're seeing the State Patrol employ is to completely cut the main body of streamers/press off from the main body of protesters, so they can then attack the protesters without any camera coverage. What I'm looking for is a small camera with low-light capability (I can pair it with a nice flashlight for added light, if need be), that can be securely fashioned to one's helmet or shoulder pads, and record high-quality video. If I can connect it to a half-way decent burner phone and use that to stream out, even better.
Now, you may say, but @Gared, that's exactly what a GoPro was made for - in which case, they suck at their main purpose. But I don't really think they were intended for low-light usage. All of the streamers using GoPro cameras hate them. What I'm looking for is something more along the lines of a trail camera that can spot individual ticks on a deer at night at 10 paces. I'm not so terribly concerned about wide-angle filming, either. It's actually better for me if the viewpoint is a little concentrated - so I don't have to worry about broadcasting anyone's faces. Audio pickup, however, is important. Need to be able to hear the LRAD instructions (or the people near me screaming to cover them up, at least). It would also be great if it were low profile, so the cops couldn't necessarily see it in the dark, because I don't fancy getting shot in the shoulder with a tear gas canister as they try to disable my cam. And yeah, they've been doing that to streamers and the press. Targeting their cameras with grenades, even when they're attached to the person's body. And two nights ago they shot a member of the press in the hand with impact munitions because he was taking photos of a spent grenade. It was the same member of the press that they'd told the day before that it was illegal for press members to view the munitions they were shooting, and they would be shot if they tried, but then they couldn't cite which law made it illegal because "it's illegal for police to cite laws to people."
Now, you may say, but @Gared, that's exactly what a GoPro was made for - in which case, they suck at their main purpose. But I don't really think they were intended for low-light usage. All of the streamers using GoPro cameras hate them. What I'm looking for is something more along the lines of a trail camera that can spot individual ticks on a deer at night at 10 paces. I'm not so terribly concerned about wide-angle filming, either. It's actually better for me if the viewpoint is a little concentrated - so I don't have to worry about broadcasting anyone's faces. Audio pickup, however, is important. Need to be able to hear the LRAD instructions (or the people near me screaming to cover them up, at least). It would also be great if it were low profile, so the cops couldn't necessarily see it in the dark, because I don't fancy getting shot in the shoulder with a tear gas canister as they try to disable my cam. And yeah, they've been doing that to streamers and the press. Targeting their cameras with grenades, even when they're attached to the person's body. And two nights ago they shot a member of the press in the hand with impact munitions because he was taking photos of a spent grenade. It was the same member of the press that they'd told the day before that it was illegal for press members to view the munitions they were shooting, and they would be shot if they tried, but then they couldn't cite which law made it illegal because "it's illegal for police to cite laws to people."
