Table of contents for Go Pro - The Complete Guide in Go Pro - The Complete Guide

If you love the great outdoors, sports or adventure, chances are good that you’ve heard of the GoPro range of action cameras. What exactly is an action camera? Well, as the name implies, it is a device that is designed to be taken into the thick of the action and is tough enough, small enough and light enough to withstand everything that you can throw at it. Fancy a spot of mountain climbing and need to take some stills or video of the event? Then the GoPro range covers this for you. Are you going scuba diving on holiday and wish you could capture the amazing underwater vistas with a rugged, water proof camera? Again, GoPro has what you need. The GoPro range is as versatile as it is rugged.…

GoPro HERO6 Black The HERO6 Black is now the most powerful GoPro in the range with twice the performance. It shoots 4K video at 60FPS, 12MP photos, voice control and Raw format, producing quality stills and amazing video. It also has GoPro’s most advanced image stabilisation to date. It can deliver smooth video without the need for a 3-axis gimbal. ▪ 12MP / 30 FPS Burst ▪ 4K 60FPS / 2.7K 120FPS / 1080P 240FPS ▪ Waterproof 33FT (10M) ▪ Simple One Button Control ▪ Touch Zoom ▪ 5GHz Wi-Fi + Bluetooth ▪ New GP1 processor ▪ Improved dynamic range ▪ Improved Voice Control ▪ Advanced Video Stabilisation ▪ Touch Display ▪ GPS location Capture ▪ Raw + HDR Photo Capture GoPro HERO5 Black This is one of the more…

01 When you switch on your camera for the first time, you will be presented with the GoPro logo and then the welcome screen. 02 You will then be prompted to choose your language from the list of supported languages. Simply tap the correct one for you. 03 Next, you’ll need to set the date. All you do is slide the numbers up or down until you have the date set in MM/DD/ YY format. Press the tick in the top right. 04 You can then set the correct time by sliding the numbers up or down as you did with the date. You can also choose a 24hr format. Press the tick to proceed. 05 Your camera will ask you if you want to turn the GPS function on…

The GoPro’s ability to shoot great quality video has always been one of its strengths and although 4K video capture was possible on the HERO3 Black, it was only at 15 frames per second (fps), which made for quite choppy video if there was anything moving quickly in the frame. The HERO4 Black was the first action camera from GoPro to give us the ability to shoot up to 4K resolution at a much more acceptable 30fps. The HERO5 Black continued the trend and now the HERO6 Black with its new GP1 image processing chip, allows the capture of 4K video at a frame rate of 60fps. All the cameras in the GoPro range allow you the choice of using multiple resolutions. We list some of the common uses for…

“The video files created by your GoPro are saved in MP4 format and these can be used in any number of video editing programs...” If you fancy yourself as the next Stephen Spielberg or just want to have a go at assembling your video footage into a more concise and cohesive story, then you have a few options to enable you to turn your assortment of video clips into something altogether more interesting for the end viewer. The video files created by your GoPro are saved in MP4 format and these can be used in any number of video editing programs such as Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, Corel VideoStudio and Cyberlink PowerDirector to name a few. Whilst the more top end programs like Final Cut and Premiere offer…

GoPro Studio is a more traditional video editor in that it relies on more of your input to choose, trim, edit and colour grade the sequences you want to use as part of your final clip. There is little that is automated and it does require some skill to learn. The editing process is broken down into three stages. Stage 1 is where you pick your images and convert them ready for final editing. Stage 2 is where the main editing is done on a simple audio and video timeline. You can add effects and alter video, framing and image parameters. Stage 3 is where you export the final assembled video sequence. 01 Add Media button 02 Generate Title button 03 Selected Media list 04 Remove Clip or Clear All…

Photo modes is broken down into three capture options: Photo, Night and Burst modes. The three modes each have their own settings which can be altered. On older models of camera, the various modes and field of view settings often meant a drop in maximum resolution from 12MP to 7MP or even 5MP. The HERO5 Black and HERO6 Black shoot everything in its maximum resolution of 12MP (4000x3000 pixels). “The three modes each have their own settings which can be altered. On older models of camera, the various modes and field of view settings often meant a drop in maximum resolution from 12MP to 7MP or even 5MP.” Photo Mode This mode allows you to capture stills as a single shot or continuous capture. Press the shutter button once to…

If you are a beginner, enthusiast photographer or videographer, the question about whether you could possibly choose to go out and shoot with an action camera like a GoPro rather than a DSLR is not cut and dried. If you are going to be shooting in the great outdoors, are you better off leaving your bigger, traditional digital camera at home and just gear up with a GoPro? There is no denying that GoPros and their action camera siblings have a lot going for them. For one thing, they are small enough to fit in your pocket, for another they are certainly robust; and the latest versions of the GoPro, the HERO5 and HERO 6, are waterproof without the need for a protective case. They aren’t that difficult to use…

What can you do with a GoPro? Perhaps the question should be: what can’t you do? The action camera for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities is tough enough to go anywhere with you and record those moments as stills or video. As we’ve pointed out before, it can go where DSLRs fear to tread and because it is so versatile, we thought we should compile a little list of some of the many ways you can use your GoPro outdoors. We’ll show you some great ideas on how to use it on land, in water and in the air. One thing the GoPro has going for it, is that it can take the visually ordinary things we take for granted in our everyday life and elevate them into something more…

For many years, if you wanted to indulge in aerial photography, you had no choice but hire an aircraft of some description to get you, and your expensive camera gear, aloft. Helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft are hideously expensive to hire. There are also all the complex and time-consuming issues of permissions, flight plans, regulations, safety, weather and certification. Only the most highly-trained, well-paid professionals with a big budget client were able to explore this unique area of photography. Essentially, aerial photography was strictly off-limits to your average casual photographer. This was a shame, as aerial work provides such a rare view of the landscape. With the advent of very small, lightweight cameras like the GoPro range, getting you own camera airborne has become a much easier prospect. There are a…

“It was the brainchild of Nick Woodman, who on a surfing trip to Australia in 2002, was frustrated that he couldn’t get quality up-close photos of the surfing action.” All the major manufactures produce action cameras of one sort or another. Canon has the PowerShot D30, Nikon the Coolpix W100 and Olympus the Tough. They can all take stills that range from around 8MP up to 16MP and can shoot HD and Ultra HD video. Even SatNav company TomTom have an action camera called the Bandit capable of 4K video and 16MP stills. There is however, one brand that has become synonymous with recording outdoor action and sports. GoPro, with its action camera range. It would seem that it has become the daddy of them all, beloved by anyone who…

“As an example, we have a new GoPro HERO5 Black which we’ll use to walk you through the unboxing process.” If you’ve never used a GoPro before, the set up procedure is pretty straightforward. As an example, we have a new GoPro HERO5 Black which we’ll use to walk you through the unboxing process. We’ll show you what’s in the box and how to get the camera set up and ready for the big switch on. Then we’ll give you a quick overview of the main set up procedure, app installation on your mobile device and how to connect it to your camera. There’s also a quick guide to making sure your firmware is up to date. Most recent versions of the GoPro range can all be updated wirelessly using…

Karma Grip Compatibility: Versions for HERO5 + 6 Black, HERO4 (using optional harness) ■ Handheld or wearable stabiliser ■ Use it to capture incredibly smooth video ■ Battery life of 1 hour 45 minutes ■ Comes with Grip handle, Stabiliser and mounting ring Filters Compatibility: Versions for HERO5 + 6 Black, HERO4, HERO3+ ■ ND8, ND16, ND32, ND8/PL, ND16/PL ■ Only 4.7-6.7 grams for gimbal use ■ HD glass ensures image clarity ■ Secure slide-on design Dive Filters Compatibility: Versions for HERO5 + 6 Black, HERO4, HERO3+ ■ Provides colour correction in blue water ■ Scratch-resistant, optical-grade glass ■ Quick, tool-free installation ■ Includes a tether and a microfibre bag ■ For use with Dive Housings Macro Lens Compatibility: Versions for HERO5 + 6 Black, HERO4, HERO3+ ■ Glass lens…

HERO4 Black main layout 01 Camera Status Lights 02 Shutter/Select Button 03 Wireless Status 04 Camera Status Screen 05 Power/Mode Button 06 Micro HDMI Port 07 MicroSD Card Slot 08 Mini-USB Port 09 Audio Alert 10 Microphone 11 HERO Port 12 Settings/Tag Button 13 Battery Door 14 Battery HERO4 Black status screen To access the various modes available to the HERO4, press the Mode button to cycle through each mode. Once in the required capture mode, you can press the Settings button to open the settings for that particular mode. Press the Mode button to cycle through the settings and then press the Shutter button to alter the values for the currently highlighted settings. To exit hold the Shutter button for two seconds or cycle through to the Exit option…

The GoPro range has come a long way in its lifetime. This popular action camera is now in its 6th generation. The HERO6 Black, the HERO5 Black and it’s compact sibling, the HERO5 Session still share a lot of DNA with their older counterparts; chief among which is the option for capturing video or stills, or indeed both at the same time. The HERO3 Black could shoot 4K ultra HD video but it could only manage 15 frames per second (FPS) which meant footage was not as smooth as that available to the HERO4 Black and the HERO5 Black which can capture 4K at 30FPS, with the HERO6 Black able to shoot at 60FPS. On the stills capture front, the HERO3, 4 could capture photos at a maximum resolution of…

The application has been designed to be as intuitive and as simple to use as possible. It can import your files from your GoPro camera automatically as soon as you plug in the memory card and it can scan your hard drive for any GoPro media from a GoPro device and list it all as a series of thumbnails. You can then move to the Create window where you can mark a number of your clips with a blue highlight dot that tells Quik to use the marked spots as part of its automatically edited video sequence. The Media view 01 Add new media tab 02 Media, Recent and Edits windows 03 Connected device 04 Media listings 05 Media view indicator 06 Create Mode button options 07 Share media button…

01 In the Quik Media view, select the video and other media you want to consider to use as part of your final clip. Highlight all the elements you’re going to need and then right-click their thumbnail and choose Open In Studio from the menu that appears. 02 Your selected files will be loaded into GoPro Studio and they will all be displayed in the media import panel on the left of the screen. 03 At the top of the screen, you will see that currently, the app is in its Step 1 View & Trim mode. This section allows you to sort through your clips and pick out the ones you want to put into your final edited sequence. 04 Click on any of your clips and it will…

The cons First and foremost is the quality of the image you are able to shoot. Compare a shot taken with a GoPro and a mid-level DSLR and there is not really any argument. The DSLR should win with its larger sensor and lenses. Action cameras are fixed lens devices with a very wide field of view. The GoPro does offer modes that give you a narrower field of view but this is done digitally, not optically. Essentially, the image is just cropped. The HERO3 and HERO4 cannot shoot in Raw format and you will lose additional quality when you try to process your images taken with these two models. Video files A lot of new DSLR cameras have been able to shoot HD video for some time now and…

From snowy slopes, vertiginous cliff faces and muddy woodland bike trails to just taking the dog for a walk on the beach, the GoPro is at home in any of these environments. For day to day outdoor capture of video and stills, the GoPro range is unparalleled. Their portability, weight and the range of accessories that you can use to put your camera in places and achieve compositions, means that you can get the most visual impact from almost any land-based activity you can think of. It’s certain that if you wanted a riders point of view on a mountain bike caroming down a hill, you’re going to want something light and tough but with good enough quality to get great shots for sharing later. Moreover, if you want stunning…

With its ability to capture stills at up to 30 frames per second, shooting an action sequence and firing off a burst means you are more likely to get that one frame where the action is perfect for your needs. Before you decide to throw the rest of the sequence away, why not combine all the shots in that sequence into one image. It is a great way to show action and movement over time. We have a sequence of a horse riding by. It was shot in burst mode at a rate of 30 frames over 6 seconds. The camera was mounted on a tripod to keep it stationary during the capture. Back on the computer, we then picked out the best shots and were ready to make our…

“The release of the HERO4 and now the HERO5 and HERO6 has given us some great advances in image quality and features.” The GoPro range has come quite a way since those first prototypes back in 2002 and the first commercial model in 2004. The range really hit its stride with the release of the HERO3 and HERO3+. Full HD video and 12MP stills were now possible in a package that measured only 41 x 59 x 30mm. The release of the HERO4 and now the HERO5 and HERO6 has given us some great advances in image quality and features. Over the next few pages, we’ll take a look through the range. Although the HERO5, 6 and Session models alone are currently available on the GoPro website, the HERO3 and…

01 The box for the HERO5 Black can be opened at the bottom and the entire package with the camera on its mount can be slid out of the outer display box. 02 Inside the main compartment of the box you’ll find the battery, USB-C cable and two adhesive mounts for the camera. 03 Set these to one side for the moment. You’ll need the battery in a short while. 04 On the other side of the packaging is a smaller compartment that contains a quick start manual, safety instructions and some GoPro stickers. 05 Let’s take a look at the camera itself. The camera can be removed from the display box mount by lifting the rubber stop. 06 You can then squeeze the two mounting clips together and then…

As the GoPro range of cameras became more popular and established themselves as the main device for action and sports capture, the market for different mounting options and accessories exploded. Apart from those manufactured and sold by GoPro themselves, there is also a huge third party market for accessories and mounts. You can get everything from a good old selfie stick, to a dog-mounted camera harness. A good action camera system is defined by how good its accessories are. In the case of the GoPro range, the possibilities afforded by its range of accessories and mounting options are endless. Also, just like any DSLR, the GoPro can also make use of accessories, filters and additional lenses, to extend the range of its capabilities. From colour correction filters for shooting underwater…

You’ve unboxed your new GoPro camera, set it all up and you’re ready to get started. Before you dive in, it’s a good idea to make sure you are familiar with all the main parts of your camera. The main form factor of the camera has not really changed over the years. The lens is placed in the top right corner of the front of the camera body and the status screen sits on the left. With each new version of the camera, the placement of things such as the battery compartment has altered and with the advent of the latest HERO5 Black and HERO6 Black, the back panel now sports a built-in LCD touchscreen. We’re going to take you through the design of the HERO models and tell you…

HERO3 Black main layout 01 Status Light (Red) 02 Shutter/Select Button 03 LCD Status Screen 04 Wi-Fi Status (Blue) 05 Power/Mode Button 06 Micro HDMI Port 07 Mini-USB Port 08 MicroSD Card Slot 09 HERO Port 10 Battery Door 11 Microphone 12 Audio Alert 13 Wi-Fi On/Off Button HERO3 Black status screen To access the modes available to the HERO3, press the Mode button until it displays the Setting icon (Spanner). Then press the Shutter button to enter the Settings menu. You can then use the Mode button to cycle through all the various Settings options available. Press the Shutter button when you reach the setting you want to change. Use the Mode button to scroll through the settings options in that menu and the Shutter button to alter/select a…

When you start using your GoPro to shoot video or take stills, you will become aware that there are a lot of references to either ‘megapixels’ (MP) or things like ‘4K’ or ‘720p’. These are various units of measurement that describe how large a frame of video or a photo is in lines of pixels. As an example, a frame of 720p video measures 1280 pixels wide by 720 lines deep. This equates to a total of 921,600 pixels or 0.9 megapixels. The latest GoPro HERO5 Black and HERO6 Black can shoot in a number of video resolutions as well as capturing 12MP still photos. If you’ve never encountered certain video and stills terminology before, you might wonder what it’s all about. To help you sort out your megapixels from…

01 The selfie stick The selfie has become something of an online phenomenon and the advent of the selfie stick has taken them to new heights. Love it or hate it, the arrival of the selfie stick does offer some useful filming opportunities over and above a simple shot of you and your grinning buddies. When used in conjunction with your camera it allows you to get great perspectives of yourself; or can be flipped around to get shots of others whilst you ski down a slope or just walk along a favourite clifftop path. The length of the selfie stick also acts as a damper to smooth out your video, because you are holding the stick, your own muscles actually work a little bit like a Steadicam. 02 Spare…

01 Insert your memory card into a card reader on your computer. The installed Quik app will open when it detects GoPro media. A screen will appear where you can import your files to a directory on your computer. We have a number of scenes to choose. 02 You can specify a new directory if you wish as the destination for your media. You can simply click on the Camera Import Location tab and specify a new location and folder name. Click Import Files to begin transferring files to your preferred destination. 03 The files on your GoPro’s memory card will begin to transfer. Depending on the quantity and size of files, this can take some time. The process of the import will be displayed on the screen. It will…

It can be argued that the GoPro range of cameras are video capture devices first and stills photography devices second. That could certainly be seen as the case with the range up to, and including, the HERO4 Black. The quality of stills images were considered on a par with cameraphones. It was a useful feature but for many it was never going to match DSLR quality. In fact many were happy to only shoot video and grab stills off the video footage instead, since they were only likely to be shared on social media where resolution and quality were not so important. Now though, with the advent of the GoPro HERO5 Black and the new HERO6 Black, the quality of stills capture has taken an important step forward with its…

01 Near or far? As we’ve mentioned, the lens on a GoPro camera behaves a lot like a fisheye lens with a lot of distortion making horizons curve and straight verticals appear to bend outwards. It also means that its wide field of view makes objects appear small in the frame. If you are shooting a large landscape and want to get as much detail in as possible, this is not such a concern; but if you have a subject that is your point of interest in the shot, then unless you get in close, they will appear very small and insignificant in the final composition. That’s when you need to get in closer to your subject. Even from a short distance, you’ll be surprised just how much background you…

01 Turn on your camera that has a number of media items currently stored on its memory card. Then start the GoPro app and connect it to your camera. Make sure the camera Wi-Fi connection is enabled. 02 Once connected, the app will scan your camera’s memory card and begin transferring copies of any media it finds to your mobile device. Obviously depending on the number of files, and any large video sequences, this might take a while. 03 As each new item appears on the app during the copying process, it will display a series of thumbnails indicating what it has uploaded so far with a progress meter showing how many items are left. Media is split between stills and video. 04 Once copied over, you can click on…

The pros So your average pro shooter is not necessarily going to use a GoPro but the action camera does have its strengths. If you gear your shooting experiences to that, then you will be very happy with the results. However, as we mentioned earlier, the HERO3 and HERO4 models are not able to shoot in a Raw format; that has all changed now with the latest HERO5 Black. It is the first GoPro model to support a Raw format and it also features WDR, which is a Wide Dynamic Range feature; two functions that are a very welcome addition to its various features. Photos captured in GoPro Raw format will have a .GPR extension, which is based on the DNG format. Manual Control It is not the kind of…

Whether you are having fun at the water’s edge, at a swimming pool, mucking around in a stream or doing some serious sport on or below the water’s surface, then you know you have a camera that can follow you every step of the way. Older HERO3 and HERO4 models are not waterproof but they did come with a protective housing that meant they could be taken to depths of 196ft (60m). The new HERO5 and HERO6 don’t need a housing. They are waterproof right out of the box to a depth of 33ft (10m). If you are feeling adventurous and want to go deeper with it, there is the HERO5 and 6 compatible Super Suit dive Housing to get your camera safely down to 196ft (60m). If you trace…