intelligent battery: It only uses power when you're recording; otherwise it shuts off the camera. You can capture continuously for two hours or more on a full charge. On the downside, you cannot swap out the battery, so if it dies, you must fully charge the camera before using it again.
❯❯ One-touch recording: A single button powers on the camera and starts recording video or time-lapse photos automatically.
❯❯ Few buttons: The camera must be controlled through the Capture app to change settings.
❯❯ Always captures right side up: Even if the camera is upside down, it will automatically capture the scene right side up.
❯❯ Protune: When capturing video, it provides more control for camera settings, including white balance, exposure, ISO, and color. In addition, it captures with less compression than the non-Protune setting.
Previous GoPro Models
Don’t worry if you’re not using the latest model. The last few generations capture HD video, and even 4K.
Every bit as relevant as its HERO5 Black successor, you can do everything with this model with minimal quality issues. Just like the new line, it captures 4K video at 30 fps as well as 2.7K at 50 fps for ultra high-resolution capture. It doesn’t have the built-in waterproof case, nor does it have a touch screen. But since it’s waterproof to deeper depths in its housing and you can always add an optional LCD Touch Screen Back, this model remains highly relevant.
Here are some of its features:
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❯❯ More powerful processor: Twice as fast as its predecessor, so you can capture video at increased frame rates with more detailed image quality, increased sharpness, and better color.
❯❯ Auto Low Light: Automatically adjusts exposure by changing frame rates to compensate when you move between dense shadow areas and bright spots.
❯❯ Protune for photos: Apply the same control over images as you have for video. Change the ISO setting, use exposure compensation, or adjust white balance on still images and time-lapse sequences.
❯❯ Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Allows you to control the camera remotely, using the Wi-Fi remote with the GoPro App. For this model, the remote is sold separately.
❯❯
Other features include:
❯❯ Auto Low Light: Automatically adjusts exposure by changing frame rates to compensate when you move between dense shadow areas and bright spots.
❯❯ Protune for photos: Apply the same control over images as you have for video. Change the ISO setting, use exposure compensation, or adjust white balance on your still images, as seen in Figure 1-9, and time-lapse sequences.
❯❯ Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Allows you to control the camera remotely, using the Wi-Fi remote with the GoPro App. For this model, the remote is sold separately.
❯❯ Set tags on your video: The HiLight tag makes it easy to find the best part of your clip by setting markers while capturing footage.
FIGURE 1-9: Protune provides the most control for video and photos.
The most no-frills model of the HERO lineup provides excellent image quality but not much else. It has a built-in waterproof housing with a built-in battery. There’s not an accessory port, so you can’t add a monitor, extra battery pack or Wi-Fi, so there’s a little more guessing with this one since you can’t see what you’re shooting.
CHALLENGES IN USING A GOPRO
GoPro does so many things well, such as capturing HD video at a high frame rate and shooting high-quality time-lapse sequences, that it’s easy to forget that using it involves some challenges:
● Steep learning curve
● Lower quality in low light
● Short battery life
● Fixed focal length
● Few controls on camera.
● Lack of a viewfinder on most models, making it harder to compose the scene
● A lag of 2 to 3 seconds when you monitor a scene on a mobile device
Setting Up Your GoPro
At first glance, the GoPro resembles a miniature version of an early 20th-century box camera or maybe the Instamatic still camera of the 1970s. Its design is simple: nothing more than a small box with a protruding lens, a few buttons, and a small LCD screen up front on most models.
One very important piece doesn’t come with the camera: the microSD card. Guess what? The camera won’t work without it. Ideally, you purchased one when you bought your GoPro. If not, get one before you set up your camera (see the next section).
Setting up your GoPro takes a few minutes (not counting battery-charging time) but is easy. Follow these steps:
1. Take off the GoPro’s protective waterproof housing.
(Skip to the next step if you’re using a HERO5 Black or Session.)
Like a turtle uses it shell for protection, so does the GoPro. But you need to take the GoPro out of its case to set it up. Pull the black latch on the top front of the camera. You’ll need to pull it back hard because it locks in place. Lift the latch and pull out the camera.
2. Put the battery in the camera.
(Skip to next step if you’re using a Session.)
Slide off the battery door, place the battery inside the camera, and put the door back on. The battery comes partially charged and can be used right out of the box, but it’s a good idea to charge it fully (see Step 4).
3. Load the microSD memory card.
Insert SD card on bottom door where battery is located. Push the tiny card into the card slot until it locks in place. If you’re using an older model, the door on the side of the camera slides off. Then slide the door back on.
4. Charge the camera.
Plug one end of the charger cable (the one with the mini USB plug) into the camera and the other end into your computer or USB power supply. While the camera is charging, the LED lights turn on; when the camera is fully charged, they go off. You can also use the optional GoPro Super Charger, which charges your HERO5 up to 70 % faster with the USB-C cable. And you can charge your phone or other device at the same time.
5. Power up the camera.
Press the Power/Mode button. The LED indicators blink, and the camera beeps three times.
6.