23rd February 2010: I export my first “GoPro Edit”, shot on GoPro Hero. The exposition, white balance and color rendering were horrible, no stability, no protune, 4/3 ratio… Damn, it was only 9 years ago. After a GoPro Hero 2, an Hero 3 Black, two Hero 4 Black (one is at the bottom of the Baudreix lake if you want), and now a beutiful Hero 7 Black, the time has come to step back and write some feedbacks about this useful shooting tool.

Freeski

Back in 2010, the Full HD was almost new on web purposes (yes, 720p was displaying “HD” on Facebook !) and having a 1080p camera which can fit inside a pocket or put over an helmet was like a revolution. The trend was the “GoPro Edit” with only action camera footage and step by step GoPro “stars” like Abe Kislevitz shows that even limited by this sensor and this fixed lens, the render can be awesome if the scene is awesome.

Don’t judge, this is my first complete GoPro Edit…

Underwater

I’ve never had an opportunity to shot underwater in a professional context, but some experiences I’ve had in personnal edit were very interesting: no water housing, possibility to swim with, big buttons to manage the settings. Unfortunatelly, as any kind of edit, it’s preferable not to abuse to this field of view so during a real underwater shooting, a water housing and a camera would be preferable !

Inside

I think that I can remember the first time I used a GoPro shot on professional purpose: in 2013, while shooting a “via ferrata” tour, the size and weight of a GoPro was essential to capture the group of friends experience, from inside. Adding some drone shots and close-up and wide shots, all the angles were covered to describe this activity.

Another good example I’ve got was on last september during an event cover: the purpose was also to capture young people sport experiences in outdoor between climbing, kayak, bike races… We take randomly some students to attach the GoPro 4 on their helmets, and it allows us to have completely immersive images, without any kind of anxiety about big camera or unknows cameramans: they were part of the action and or the shooting. This is not a perfect shot, this is badly framed and unstable, but by cutting it and editing in a right part, it’s obviously useful.

Cars

This is maybe the most useful way to use a GoPro: it’s not easy to get a moving car original angles without using an huge setup. Back in 2012, I had the chance to win a full kit of GoPro mounts including magnetic compact tripod, which turned out to be very useful during car shootings: very close-up shots on wheels, logos and other details while moving are now quickly accessible.

Hypersmooth

Received in last november, I’ve to complete my tests on GoPro Hero 7 Black, but for the moment I’ve note some good points that I’ll have some difficulties to do without. For sure, in movement and using daylight, the Hypersmooth stability feature is awesome. It can have some issues on quick lateral movements, but it clearly saves some footage. And the “maximum” mode shooting 4K at 60 fps using this feature is unavoidable. But ! After some tries, I’ve to advice some very useful modes not always using H265 and so that can be easier to edit, depending on your machine:

• 2,7K 4:3 ratio, 60fps with Hypersmooth: this ratio can be suprising, but can be flexible as in 16:9, as in a vertical crop. Yes, We’re in 2019 and social networks allows us to think the video in vertical. Sorry.
• 4K 4:3 ratio 24fps, with standard stabilisation: same as previous ratio shot with full sensor used (4000 x 3000px !), Useful on POV where the target field of view is not easy to reach, this height can be a security net for the final edit.
• 1080p 16:9 120fps, with standard stabililsation. Yes the GoPro is able to shoot 240fps at this resolution. But be careful on the compression involved… This is a Micro SD card ! Use 240fps only if necesary, and if 120fps is not necesary too, the 60fps will allows to have Hypersmooth. Think about this before shooting !
• 4K 16:9 60fps with Hypersmooth. To shoot anything else !

More information about all stabilisation modes on GoPro Hero 7 Black here: https://fr.gopro.com/help/articles/block/what-is-hypersmooth

About the settings, I’ll wait to have a more complete experience before talking about this: the motorcycle, car and freeski contexts I’ve tried are not revelant to all situations ! Just one thing: use Protune mode.

Usefulness

In conclusion, GoPro is a very small, light and quick way to get B-roll immersive images. All shots would be possible with a Red and a very heavy setup (cars, helmets…) but depending on the shooting budget, a GoPro shot with correct settings is not a pain in the arse anymore, in my own opinion. Just don’t abuse of it ! GoPro Edits were interesting 5 years ago…

There’s only two defaults: the sensor size and the fixed lens. But it comes with all the size and weight advantages an action camera can provide !