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GoPro based setup for recording walks - What to buy?

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I love watching 4K walking tours on YouTube, and would like to get some equipment to let me record my own walks and hikes with similar quality. I don't have a nearby camera shop (not that any would be open in lockdown) so I'm hoping there's someone on this forum who can help direct me as to what to get. 1) First up is the camera . GoPro Hero 9 and 8 seem to be the ones to consider. I've seen beautiful 4K videos created with the Hero 8, so I know it's more than capable. So either will do. In general, later is better, right? 2) Next is the gimbal . Here's where I'm getting lost. The Hero 9 doesn't seem compatible with as many gimbals. I've read that the Crane M2 works with it, but on Amazon the M2's specs do not mention Hero 8 or 9. And GoPro's own Karma gimbal doesn't work with the Hero 9. Yikes! So, does this mean I'm better off getting a Hero 8? 3) Then there's the selfie stick , which screws into the bottom of the gimbal. I've never used a selfie stick, so I don't know what to look for in them. It needs to be sturdy (holding the gimbal securely) and comfortable to grip. Anything else I need to consider? Are the mount points/screws pretty much universal? 4) For microphones I see some people using in-ear stereo mics. Would those plug directly into the GoPro, or would I need some sort of mic amp? Or do they record audio separately, so that I need to combine it with the video in Vegas or some other video editor? I don't mind doing that sort of editing, but it would be nice if the audio could be automatically synced with the video. And what if I want to record something besides ambient sounds, like my kids talking or something else that happens on a hike? Would I need a separate mic for that? Or would the in-ear mics and the GoPro's own mic pick up sound well enough? 5) Do I need a special lens for capturing walks? Or is the GoPro's lens fine for that? I think that's it for the basics. I can figure out accessories batteries, microsd cards, wind filters, cases, etc. later, unless you think they have an influence on which camera or gimbal to pick. Anyway, thanks for any suggestions!  

If you watched a person's video, suggest asking them what Gear they used. a good start. you may find some saying just a smartphone, some may say a gimbal added, and some may say a pocket 2 by DJI. For me I simply go out with the camera if it is my gopro hero 8, or DJI Osmo Action and film as is, with a selfie stick. I started off with a Hero 4, a Feiyu G4 gimbal, and then when the Hero 7 and hero 8 came out, there went my gimbal. I rather have some movement than none, taking away all the movement in a video, might as well stare at a painting nailed to a wall, Just me but I also do not want to get seasick: to answer your questions and others chiming in you'll find that, you must stick around to the site and participate in topics, like you, want the answer and last we hear from you. so lets see what we all can share here: to Q1 Camera: according to Rumors of People, the hero 10 will be released, the hero 9 has what is called Horizon level so if you are tilted the camera will self-correct, hero 8 and 7 do not have it, but the Mobile app of gopro offers that app feature Hero 9 if the funds can afford. q2 gimbal: gimbals are out there just did an amazon search https://amzn.to/3kArfAr suggest searching q3 Ulanzi mt-09 https://amzn.to/3kyF5DD I paid less does not screw on to the gimbal, unless the gimbal you are looking at you can get attachments q4 Hero 9 must use a media Module, that then needs to be now looked into the gimbal if it can accept that and that the actual mics do not interfere wit the gimbal rf signal interference you pick up noise, or can get the promic adapter and attach that dongle along side. do some research on it, no USB type c mic will work, why? gopro write protected their products 5 the gopro 9 has the special lens, your option to buy or not, No a smartphone doesn't require, so the gopro will not require hope my opinion helped out a little like said participation is needed to the site then get teh answer and go (SMILES)  

with Hero 8 upwards you dont need gimballs, video is almost perfectly stable in most circumstances. Wait for the 10 if yor budget allows. wait even if it doesnt, people upgrading to 10 will be selling their 9s at a reasonable prices  

I've been reading and watching videos about the GoPro Hero 9 and have learned some things, but also have some more questions. 1) In the videos I watched, the Hero 9's digital stabilisation looks very effective, even when compared to Hero 8 + gimbal. However, I'm also aware that some of those videos might be influenced by marketing or affiliate motivations. In general, can I trust those videos which demonstrate the Hero 9's stabilisation? Or do they exaggerate its effectiveness vs gimbals? 2) The Hero 9's digital stabilisation noticeably reduces the field of view when it's turned on. If you turn off stablisation, is the field of view larger, similar to the Hero 8? And are there different levels of stabilisation, each with its own field of view? 3) The Hero 9's Max Lens Mod looks like it makes stabilisation even more effective (and increases the field of view), but at the expense of resolution. For slow walking videos, do you think the Max Lens Mod's increase in field of view and stability is worth the drop from 4K to 2.7K? Or is it best to skip for now? 4) Is there anything else a gimbal gives us that is useful for filming walking videos? Or is it mostly useful for other types of action shots (and self-tracking)? 5) If I'm not using a gimbal, what's the best stick/mount for the Hero 9? 6) For those of you who originally skipped a gimbal for the Hero 9, did you end up getting one? If so, why? 7) Does the Hero 10 look like it will dramatically improve slow walking videos? Or it is likely to be overkill? Thanks!  

Here's a quick update. I now have a Hero 9 and 10, the media mod, a Crane M2 gimbal, and lots of accessories. I also have Premiere Pro. So in terms of hardware and software I think I'm set. Now I just need to learn how to use all this stuff! Since I'm new to GoPro and Premiere, there's quite a learning curve. I've taken the Hero 9 on 2 long hikes (testing various settings), and the Hero 10 on one 30 minute jog (one long cut). Some bits of the footage are pretty nice, but as a whole it's nowhere close to being as pleasant and polished as the "professional" 4K walking tours I've seen on YouTube (which are filmed with similar or older equipment). My tests suffer from what I'm guessing are common problems: dull colors, crooked horizon, stutter, compression artifacts, etc. I know I my tests were probably more demanding than the slow city walks, since I was moving quickly through hilly, forested terrain (with lots of shade and bright sunlight in the same clips)... but I'm sure I can improve things for both types of filming (slow tours vs fast jogs) if I can figure out how to best tweak my settings and workflow. So, I have TONS of questions, about GoPro settings, filming techniques (like how to deal with shadows and slopes), editing in Premiere Pro, and encoding for YouTube. Where's the best place for me to ask questions about all of those topics? This forum might be able to help with specific questions about the GoPro(s), but what about general walk-filming techniques and Premiere Pro? I'd love to be able to find people who have all 3 in common. Is this the best place to do that, or is there another forum which is a better match?  

Hi, I've been wondering the same... for more than 2 years! It's been very difficult trying to find settings that work well for a long walk (or jog or bike ride) through different light conditions. Things I've learned: 1) The video quality will never be perfect. Even the "best" walks on YouTube (some with millions of views) have technical flaws: oversaturated (or undersaturated) colors, blotchy shadows, uneven horizons, choppy pans (especially indoors), abrupt cuts... you name it. However, what those video have is an awesome "feeling". When you watch them, you start to "feel" like you're there; you get immersed and want to see what happens next. It's the combination of cool scenery, interesting audio, relaxing camera movements, and a feeling of "progressing" through the tour. The video quality is an important part of it, but it is only one part of it. Video quality doesn't matter if the scenery, audio, or camera technique are messed up, and if the video is a little messed up, then excellent scenery, audio, and technique can make up for it. 2) GoPros suck in low light. I've come to the conclusion that this is unavoidable. Walking tours are all about moving through scenery. It's a continual set of tracking and panning shots. And we know from watching movies on a big TV than when they pan, they tend to get choppy. Even really expensive movies like Lord of the Rings get choppy during panning shots, but we don't get bothered too much, because those shots tend to be relatively short; pretty soon we're back to motionless sets with only foreground characters moving. The choppy pans are due to the low frame rates. Whether it's a movie in 24fps or a YouTube video on 30fps, if you watch a pan on your big TV, it's going to be choppy. Motion blur can only help so much. So what can we do about choppiness? We record in high frame rates. 60fps is pretty much the standard for 4K walks on YouTube; it gets rid of the choppiness and greatly aids in that feeling of immersion. I always record in 60fps. But recording in a high frame rate means less light is reaching the sensor per frame, and since the GoPro has a tiny sensor, when you're in low-light conditions, it gets very little "information" per pixel, and the quality gets really bad. If you keep Max ISO low (400 is commonly recommended), then the picture is really dark; if you brighten the shadows in post, you will see they they are very blotchy, lacking any sort of detail, so usually it feels better to just leave things dark. If you allow higher Max ISO (1600+), then the picture gets brighter, but it's very noisy, really gross looking. So you basically have to choose between too dark or too noisy. And meanwhile, the GoPro's digital stabilisation just loses it. It gets jumpy and blurry and ghosty and generally really crappy looking. For me, the messed up stablilisation the most distracting and immersion-breaking aspect of filming in low-light. Using a gimbal helps the stablisation, especially in low-light. It's still not perfect (at least with the $100-ish gimbals I've tried), but most of the jumpy ghosting goes away. (Since I'm usually jogging instead of walking, I find carrying a gimbal a bit of a pain, but I'm starting to accept that if I want to record a nice walk or jog in dark areas, I will need a gimbal. Period.) However, even with a gimbal helping with stablisation, we're still stuck with the issue of the picture either being too dark (at low Max ISO) or too noisy (at high Max ISO). To improve the picture quality, one "fix" is to temporarily reduce the frame rate to around 30fps when entering a low-light area. So for example, most of Prowalk Tour's Florence walk is filmed in 60fps (on a GoPro), but when he enters a church, he drops down to 30fps, which you can see here: . The lower frame rate helps retain picture quality when inside dark areas like churches. 30fps is choppy, so he has to move very slowly when inside, but at least the stablisation and details are decent, probably much better than he'd get if he left it at 60fps. And when he filmed evening walks, he used to film the entire walk in 30fps; those walks tended to be choppy, especially on a big TV. He eventually "solved" the problem by upgrading from the GoPro to a much bigger (and more expensive) camera which is much better in low-light; nowadays he doesn't have to worry about dropping the frame rate when entering low-light areas. So for those of us "stuck" with GoPros, if we want to record walks/jogs in low-light areas, I think we need to use a gimbal and choose whether to : a) accept the darkness (60fps Max ISO 400) b) accept the noise (60fps Max ISO 1600+) c) accept the choppiness (drop to 30fps) Since I jog on trails which go in and out of shaded areas, I don't want to be stopping to adjust the frame rate all the time. So for me Option C is not acceptible. Therefore I have to choose between either dark or noisy. At this point, I'm favoring just leaving things dark. That's how it "feels" to be in those shady areas anyway; my eyes don't adjust to low light as fast as a camera can, so the shady parts "feel" dark to me as a jogger, and leaving them dark seems to keep things "natural". Digital noise is never natural looking, so I want to avoid it if possible. Therefore, for me and my use case (jogging on trails), Option A seems the best. 3) Use external power. Batteries running out? Camera overheating? The solution to both is external power. You can run a GoPro off the Volta or a power bank and leave the battery compartment empty. This drastically reduces the heat buildup, and lets me record multi-hour walks in the hot summer. I could never do that with a battery. If you use a gimbal, you might be able to power the GoPro off of it (via "reverse charging"); otherwise, you can use a power bank as long as you're careful not to let the usb cable interfere with the operation of the gimbal. I've done this lots. It's easier to do this in winter, when you can snake the cable through your long-sleeve shirt. In the summer, the wires can look kinda dorky. At some point I'll try to create a "rig" which lets me mount the gimbal and the power bank to a selfie stick, with a short cable to power the GoPro. Prowalk Tours uses rigs like that. Otherwise, we're having to deal with wires all over the place. With the Volta it's much easier. Just plug it into the GoPro and there's no need for a battery. I love the Volta, and plan to use it whenever I don't use a gimbal, which means I need to stick to areas with lots of light. 4) I test too much. In the past 2 years, I've recorded several dozen walks, jogs, and bike rides. I consider all of them "tests", none of which are "good enough" to make public. Terrabytes of disk space. Hundreds of hours spent filming, editing, rendering, watching, updating, and of course watching YouTube videos about "best settings" and "how to make 4k walks" and stuff like that. I started with the Hero 9 and when the Hero 10 came out I got that, and then the 11, and then the 12. I have tons of accessories, lenses, filters, microphones (most of which I've never used), and 3 different gimbals for the GoPro. Blaa blaa blaa. All for a bunch of tests. I need to at some point stop testing and just get out there and film some "proper" walks. Either that, or go through my existing footage, pick my favorite walks/jogs/rides, try to fix their colors better than my first attempts, add some captions and intro, and then actually publish them. Someday I'll do that. Someday. I've been saying this for 2 years. Seriously, though. We need to find a way to stop testing the technology and start trying to work on the "direction" and "storytelling" or whatever you call it for walking tours. We need to get to the point where we're planning where to film, what time of day to start (since the sun is the primary source of lighting), which routes to take, how fast to go, where to stop and pan, what bulidings to enter (or side trails to explore), how long to linger at each interesting viewpoint... We need to be thinking of what we'll say in the captions, how we can ensure that our written words can act as a "tour guide", adding value to the video/audio experience and not just distracting from it through irrelevant babbling. We need to be thinking about how to organise the videos within our channel into logical playlists or series, and how to use other forms of social media to steer people toward our videos. We need to be thinking about monetisation. And merch. Yeah, yeah, yeah... Okay, I'll get to all that just as a soon as I figure out these %*&^@# GoPro settings!!! You get my point. Try to avoid my mistake of getting stuck in Test Mode. (As an aside, I've been making music since the 1980s and have recorded thousands of songs, all of which are basically tests/demos. Still haven't recorded a "real" song yet. Sigh. I hope you don't have this problem!)  

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15 GoPro Hiking Tips for Epic Footage: Best Camera, Mounts, Settings

By: Author Bryan Haines

Posted on Last updated: February 17, 2023

Categories GoPro Tutorials

Going hiking is all about seeking amazing views, getting unbeatable exercise, and creating lasting memories. But true adventurers know one other secret: documenting the experience is key to remembering and sharing every detail. This is why you should bring a GoPro hiking !

It’s not enough to bring your GoPro hiking. To get the most out of it, you need to bring the right accessories, use the best settings, and understand what it takes to create awe-inspiring videos and photos. 

Table of Contents

15 Tips for Awesome GoPro Hiking Footage

In this post, we’ll go over everything you need to know to bring your GoPro for hiking. When you’re ready to hit the trail, you can be sure to capture the memory perfectly to share and relive every moment in the future. 

1. The Best GoPro for Hiking

The Starting Point: GoPro Hero11 The first step is figuring out which GoPro for hiking is best for you. While you can’t go wrong with any GoPro in their incredible lineup, we recommend the GoPro Hero11. It features stunning resolution, stabilization, and low-light capabilities.

Its 5.3K video will capture every detail, while the HyperSmooth 5.0 technology turns shaky video into professional-level smooth shots.

The built-in mount and intuitive menu make it easy to use, so you don’t have to be tech-savvy to get the most out of the GoPro experience.

Get your GoPro Hero11 Black on Amazon , B&H Photo , or Best Buy .

2. Make a Shots List: 9 Key Shots

Here are some hiking shots to consider shooting with your GoPro.

• Packing your bag and lacing up your shoes
• Timelapse of the drive to the trail. Here’s how to make a driving timelapse .
• Arriving at the trail
• Signage along the way
• The small details: a frog on the trail, a butterfly on a flower, refilling your water bottle, etc.
• Head or chest mount
• Overview of the trail – easily done with a long selfie stick
• Place the camera on the ground level and hike past, capturing the audio
• Underwater footage – lakes, streams, waterfalls

Next, let’s see some tips and shots for shooting cinematic footage.

3. GoPro Cinematic Tips for Backpacking

Here are some great tips for shooting cinematic footage with your GoPro on your next hike. Video by AdventureMuse.

4. Extra GoPro Batteries

Once you have your GoPro, you will quickly realize that battery power matters the most. Since GoPros are incredibly lightweight and small, the batteries are also relatively compact.

That means they aren’t designed to last all day . Instead, they are made to swap out in a few seconds.

I recommend at least one backup battery for day trips. But if you like to take longer trips, multiple batteries won’t hurt. Be ready for an adventure with your extra batteries before you hit the hiking trail with your GoPro.

I like to leave the house with 3-5 charged batteries. There’s nothing more frustrating than running out of juice while the adventure is still happening.

5. Charge on the Go

Getting a separate external charger can be a worthwhile investment too. If you don’t have one, the battery has to be inside the GoPro to charge, making filming a challenge.

The best part about most external chargers is that they can charge two batteries simultaneously. 

If you want to charge batteries while filming, consider getting a power bank / external charger setup for your GoPro.

Here’s more about how to charge your GoPro battery .

6. Play With Perspective

No one likes to see a boring video, even if it’s a precious memory you want to preserve. One way to give your videos a fresh spark is to play with perspective when you bring your GoPro hiking. 

By getting video clips from different perspectives, you can fuse them after your hike and create thrilling videos. 

Play with different camera directions and heights. Get some photos or videos of the ground below and the sky above.

Capture your feet moving over the varied surfaces, or take a moment to stop and slowly rotate in place. 

7. Move the Camera: Shoot Sequences

Along with getting different perspectives, don’t forget to move the camera and its filming locations. Try hiking up a bit and placing the GoPro in a secure spot. Let it record from the stable location while you or your group walk past. 

Another option is to move the camera in unique ways. Panning from side to side or up and down are two surefire ways to add a range to your shots. But you can attach your GoPro to almost anything, so don’t stop there! 

8. Speed It Up With TimeWarp

GoPros are made to be versatile. After all, they come with a comprehensive arrangement of settings to choose from and use. TimeWarp is one that you should get familiar with right away.

TimeWarp will turn a long video into a shorter high-speed video . It’s a great way to pack a beautiful long hike into a shorter clip.

The 10x speed is a good setting to use for your GoPro for hiking. It will turn a five-minute video into just 30 seconds of footage. 

Using a backpack mount is a great way to shoot a timewarp clip.

9. And Slow It Down

Balance is key. That’s why capturing some slow-motion footage should be part of your day too. Start by carefully selecting the right subject for slow-motion footage.

To get the best slow-motion shots from your GoPro while hiking, turn up the frame rate.

At most times, you can get away with 30 frames per second to make a high-quality video, but when you’re shooting for slow motion, crank the frames per second up to 240 fps.

The results can be spectacular.

10. Shoot 360-degrees with a GoPro Max 

For some people, especially those who want to use their GoPro for hiking, the GoPro Max is worth checking out.

It has many of the same features as the Hero models, but it can also capture 360-degree video footage . Through a seamless blend of front and rear cameras, the GoPro Max collects spherical videos to capture the entire landscape.

So, you could turn it on, go for a hike, and select the best angle after the fact. No more worrying about where you point the camera!

You can also share the 360-degree video to provide a fully immersive experience to friends and family.

11. Get a 3-Way Grip

One of the must-have accessories to bring your GoPro hiking is a 3-way grip . This incredible device combines three devices into one.

It features a solid grip handle that is comfortable to use for extended periods. The multi-point arm extends out, acting like a handheld boom and selfie stick. As if that’s not enough, it also turns into an instant tripod and can capture everything from a fixed point.

12. Chesty and Head GoPro Mount for Hiking

Holding a GoPro for an entire hike isn’t so fun. Free up your hands and use a hands-free mount. There are a wide variety of mounts to choose from.

One of our favorites for hiking with a GoPro is the Chesty mount . Using a strap that goes around your chest and mounts the camera to an area near your sternum, keeps the camera stable and can capture a constant shot of whatever is directly ahead. 

Head Strap GoPro Mount: If you’d like something to follow your eyes instead, the Head Strap is your solution. 

By wrapping securely around your forehead, it turns your GoPro for hiking into a second set of eyes. The footage will look almost exactly as it does from your point of view. 

13. Capture the Story

One way to take your GoPro hiking videos up to the next level is to focus on storytelling. It’s what the best directors do to immerse an audience in their work.

Capturing your hiking story doesn’t start at the summit. It starts while you’re getting ready. It begins to build as you park the car and hit the trail. The anticipation and turmoil happen along the hike up. 

As you hit the incredible summit view, the video hits its own peak and brings forth the adrenaline in full force. On your way down, you cool off along with your viewers.

By capturing many moments throughout the day, instead of just the best one, you’ll be able to bring your friends and family along for the ride.

14. Don’t Forget the People

Sometimes, it may be tempting to focus only on the incredible landscape. But people connect with other people. 

With that in mind, try to include yourself and other people in your shots when possible. It offers a personal touch amidst otherwise unreal views.

15. Don’t Forget to Use HyperSmooth

If there’s one tip that professional videographers give, it’s that a shaky video rarely works. It can be jarring and might even ruin an otherwise engaging video.

Thankfully, GoPros have this problem automatically taken care of through their incredible stabilization technology.

It’s called HyperSmooth , and if you want to get high-quality video, you need to make sure it is enabled before you take your GoPro hiking. 

Keep reading: 13 GoPro Running Tips

GoPro Hiking Wrap Up

Do you have a favorite tip or accessory for your GoPro? Have any advice to share from your own experiences? Leave a comment below, as we’d be thrilled to hear from you!

Make sure you stock up on the right accessories to get through the shots and don’t forget to think like a true filmmaker by getting stable shots from multiple perspectives.

Most of all, use your GoPro for hiking to tell the story. We can’t wait for you to start your next adventure, all captured on a GoPro!

• About the Author
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Hey, I’m Bryan ! I’m a content creator and co-founder of Storyteller Tech .

Experienced GoPro Videographer: I’ve been shooting with GoPro cameras for over 11 years. My first GoPro was the Hero3 Silver, bought for a Galapagos work trip in 2012. Today I own 20+ action cameras, including GoPro, DJI, and Insta360 cameras.

Professional Creator: Dena and I have developed video and content marketing plans for numerous international travel brands. And we also run several content businesses.

Bryan also creates at  Storyteller.Travel  and is co-founder of  Storyteller Media , a Canadian-based publishing company.

• GoPro Operating Temperature: Max/Min Temp Tolerances
• GoPro Keeps Powering Off? 8 Reasons and How to Fix
• GoPro Volta Review (4-in-1) Battery/Remote/Grip: 7 Things to Know

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Dave Spates

Hiking. Adventure. Photography.

Using the GoPro Hero 10 for hiking/travel footage

October 4, 2021 by davespates Leave a Comment

Is the GoPro Hero 10 a viable option to make hiking videos? Absolutely. I’ve been using GoPro’s to make short hiking films since the GoPro Hero 7. Although it’s not my primary camera for film making anymore, it’s definitely a good option in certain situations.

Hiking Distance

My main camera body, lens and tripod weigh around 8 pounds. On long hikes up tall mountains in Colorado this can get tiresome. This is where GoPros can come in handy. Saves weight and still produces nice 4k footage for short films.

GoPro Hero 10 Reviewed

What better place to take the new GoPro for a test drive than the Mount Massive Wilderness. This was a 8 hour hike covering 16 miles and 4,700 ft of total elevation gain.

Battery Life

One of the main new improvements on the GoPro Hero 10 is that it can shoot 120fps at 4k resolution. This is going to drain your battery life significantly faster than shooting at 24fps or even 60fps. For this hike I brought along 4 batteries and drained them all. Shooting stats.

• 120fps at 4k (55 clips)
• 60fps at 4k (12 clips)
• 24fps at 4k (60 clips)
• 30fps at 5.3k (14 clips)
• 60fps at 5.3k (3 clips)
• 240fps at 2.7k (4 clips)
• 5second timewarp (8 clips)
• 30 photos jpeg

There were some instances where I had the front facing screen on. I also used the GoPro Quik app a lot. Both which will significantly impact battery life. Just keep in mind if you are going to be shooting at high frame rates you are going to drain your batteries extremely fast.

Video Quality

I’ve always been pleased with the 4k video quality produced by GoPros since the Hero 7. They have always struggled in low light situations though. With the new processor in the Hero 10 low light performance has improved. Doing a side by side video comparison with the Hero 9 you can also see the Hero 10 has more contrast. While the video quality is a clear upgrade over the Hero 9, it may not be significant enough to make it worth upgrading.

Favorite Features

My favorite new feature on the GoPro Hero 10 is the 120fps at 4k resolution. Sure the 5.3k at 60fps is awesome but I don’t think its a game changer for my filming style. I don’t have a lot of experience shooting and editing 120fps but after I get a few hikes in this is going to change. I’ve been leaving my GoPro’s at home a lot when hiking and just bringing my main mirrorless full frame camera. With the 120fps at 4k though, this will be my go to B-roll camera when hiking.

Every GoPro is going to have it’s problems and there’s already a big one with the Hero 10. Overheating. But for me I don’t think I experienced this as the temperature outside was in the low 30’s. Every time the battery level was less than 50% and I was filming at 120fps 4k, it would record for 6 seconds and shut off. It did the same thing with all 4 batteries. I’m using a 128gig v/30 memory card so I don’t think that’s the issue. If this continues after the next firmware update I’ll probably contact GoPro about it and see if I can get another camera.

Worth Upgrading from the Hero 9 to Hero 10?

Lot’s of youtubers are saying no. I’m saying YES. The 120fps at 4k is a game changer for my filming style when out hiking. Improved video quality, pictures and touchscreen are also bonuses. I can sell the previous camera versions and now use the Hero 9 as a back up. I always keep a few older GoPros with me as backups and to do crazy stuff with.

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This Is the One Item You Shouldn’t Forget to Pack for Alaska, According to a Travel Writer

My GoPro captured the northern lights like a dream.

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Travel + Leisure / Tyler Roeland

As a frequent traveler who rarely checks a bag, I'm very selective about what makes its way into my suitcase. On a recent trip to Alaska, only the most useful gear made the cut: waterproof hiking pants, comfortable shoes, and a trusty bag, to start. But looking back, the M.V.P. of my entire trip — the one thing I'd never go back without — was my GoPro Hero11 Black . I've known how valuable GoPro's action cameras are since 2008, back when I purchased my very first GoPro (the Hero5 Black) for a snorkeling trip. I recall blindly recording myself during the underwater escapades, crossing my fingers that at least half of my face was in frame. While GoPro remains the leader in the action camera space (and was even ranked the best action camera of 2023 by Travel + Leisure editors ,) there have been tons of improvements over the past 15 years, including the roll out of the front screen that makes it a versatile, user-friendly camera.

To buy: amazon.com , $449 (originally $500)

So when the GoPro Hero11 Black launched last fall, you could say I was excited to try it out for a few reasons. For starters, the latest iteration boasts a taller sensor that gives it an 8:7 aspect ratio, making it easier than ever to crop a conventional 16:9 video as well as vertically for, say, Instagram and TikTok. As someone who enjoys sharing my travels on social media, being able to do the latter was a huge draw. I could also now pull 24.7-megapixel stills from my videos, meaning that I can just focus on recording and extract a high-res photo using GoPro’s Quik app later on. And to top it all off, the Hero11 has a 10-bit color depth, up from the Hero10’s 8-bit. With the ability to capture more than a billion shades of color, the average user will notice more vivid details and less banding, but this significant improvement is huge for professionals, providing more freedom for color correcting.

I quickly decided my Alaska trip was the perfect time to take the GoPro Hero11 Black for a spin. While it was the start of spring, it was still frigid and I knew the battery would drain quickly as a result. Thankfully, the Hero11 now comes with the company’s longer-lasting Enduro battery, which was previously sold separately. But to make sure I remained charged throughout the day, I also brought along a Volta , a handheld mount that also serves as a battery pack, tripod (albeit a very short one), and remote. If there’s one accessory you’re going to splurge on, I’d highly recommend the Volta given its versatility.

To buy: amazon.com , $130

My first adventure kicked off with Alaska Helicopter Tours , where I set out for Knik Glacier just northeast of Anchorage. I started to get back into the groove of using a GoPro after a long hiatus, taking videos from the chopper and recording myself sliding around in an ice cave. But it was here that Anchorage-based painter, filmmaker, and creator Max Romey taught me the ultimate GoPro hack. With a collapsible, near-nine-foot pole in hand, the talented multihyphenate demonstrated how to capture drone-like footage with a GoPro. And thanks to the GoPro’s HyperSmooth 5.0 stabilization, the video turned out nice and smooth despite light wind and walking on the mountain’s craggy surface.

Travel + Leisure / Max Romey

 The drone-esque glacier moment was a nice preliminary assessment of the camera’s stabilization, but it was my time in Fairbanks where I really put it to the test. At Chena Outdoor Collective , I grasped onto my Volta as Alaskan huskies pulled me around in a sled. Upon arriving at Midnight Sun ATV and Snowmobile Tours , I switched my GoPro over to a clamp mount and attached it to one of the snowmachine’s — as they call it in Alaska — handlebars. No matter how bumpy the ride in either situation, videos and TimeWarps (essentially a timelapse with movement) were both unbelievably smooth.

Travel + Leisure / Christina Liao

 But if there was one goal I had for my great Alaskan adventure, it was to see, and capture, the northern lights . I spent one evening at Aurora Pointe in Fairbanks to learn more about the natural phenomenon. As I waited for my guide to announce an aurora sighting, I decided to try the Star Trails feature, one of the Hero11’s new night effects. Eliminating hours of post-production editing, this new mode allowed me to shoot a star trail video with the push of a button. The only caveat is that you do need to have a basic understanding of ISO, shutter speed, and white balance when filming after the sun sets, but once you grasp these concepts it really is just as easy as hitting record. (And while I didn’t get a chance to try this out during my time in Alaska, there’s also the new Light Painting and Vehicle Lights Trails modes, too.)

 My night at Aurora Pointe didn’t pan out the way I had hoped, but I lucked out on my last day while on Northern Alaska Tour Company’s “Aurora Fly Drive Adventure.” Following jaw-dropping aerial views of the Last Frontier, the drive from Coldfoot back down to Fairbanks began. Along the way we stopped at the Arctic Circle sign and the Yukon River Camp. Whenever there was a glimpse of the northern lights, the driver would pull over for everyone to snap their photos. But the real fun ensued once we reached the Arctic Circle Trading Post. Immediately upon arrival, the northern lights began to dance. For the first time, I was able to see them with my bare eyes without having to wonder whether they were just clouds. And once I set up my GoPro, toggling between night photo and night lapse mode, the camera revealed how the vibrant green hues were painting the sky. 

By the end of the tour, I was running purely on a northern lights–fueled adrenaline rush. As I made my way to the airport on zero sleep, scrolling through the footage I had captured the last several days, I realized just how attached to my GoPro I had become. I’ll continue to use the camera in ways that I have in the past — snorkeling, snowboarding, scenic road trips, sunset timelapses — but I look forward to incorporating it in situations that I had never thought of before, like light painting with friends or recording my niece’s dance competitions while simultaneously getting great photos of her in action. And no matter where I’m headed to next, I’m making space in my backpack for the GoPro Hero11 Black .

At the time of publishing, the price started at $449. 

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Best Camera For Walking Videos (Guide On The 7 Cameras)

Walking travel videos are becoming very popular on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. People are watching these videos exclusively, and it has become a separate genre for content creators.

What makes these videos appealing to people is the quality visuals on them. Recording such high-quality videos always comes down to choosing the right camera and building the correct setup.

Finding the best camera for walking videos is the first hurdle to overcome to record such videos. Whether you want it for content or a hobby, the videos’ quality is crucial. That’s why we bring the top 8 cameras for recording these videos to help you get the best quality.

How To Get Started With Walking Tour Videos?

If you are clueless about where to start with these walking tour videos, this short guide may help. Creating such content involves several steps to reach a point where you can pursue this whole thing professionally. Here are the steps you should follow to make quality walking tour videos.

Step 1: Get The Perfect Camera For Recording

The first step towards making walking tour videos is to get the right camera for recording. If you don’t have a mesmerizing video quality, it won’t captivate people to watch your videos. To get that kind of quality, you have to have a high-quality camera.

That doesn’t mean you need a dedicated camera for that purpose. Even an iPhone can be the perfect camera for recording such videos, considering their quality. Other than an iPhone, you can use mirrorless cameras, pocket cameras, action cameras, and so forth. 

Step 2: Assemble The Complete Recording Setup

Just having a camera can get you the desired quality from these walking videos. You will need additional gear like a gimbal or a mount, a quality microphone, recording software, and the perfect settings. Without these things, you can’t achieve the perfect quality.

Among these items, you must emphasize the mount or gimbal to ensure your video has exceptional stabilization. 

Even if your camera comes with stabilization, getting a gimbal alongside can always provide the best quality footage for these videos. 

Step 3: Plan Out Your Content To Ensure Engagement

Honestly, no one wants to watch a video where someone is simply walking. The video needs to be engaging; the best way to do it is through telling a story. Your videos need to have that appeal to the audience where you tell a story or have a conversation with them.

For instance, you can record these walking videos and explain the history or tell a story regarding the place you are exploring. This can add much value to your video and make it more engaging for the viewers. 

Step 4: Execute The Videos Properly

When you are recording such videos, you must ensure that you are not shying away from making content. You can’t be uncomfortable while making these videos.

Also, when recording these videos, you must keep the walking speed in control. Don’t walk too fast, as it may miss out on some spots in the city, and don’t walk too slow to make the video boring and lengthy.

While recording videos, you have to make sure you are capturing the interesting parts of a place. Avoid places that don’t excite the viewers, otherwise, you may not create the engagement you desire in your videos. 

Step 5: Editing The Videos

Once you are done recording, you must get to these videos’ post-processing phase. Here, you make the video more appealing through color correction, exposure settings, and, most importantly, blurring people’s faces.

Plenty of software exists for this purpose, such as Final Cut Pro X, Da Vinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, and so on.

What Are The Best Youtube Channels For Walking Tour Videos?

The easiest way to learn and improve on making walking tour videos is to watch similar videos. Below is a table of some top walking tour video channels on YouTube with their subscriber numbers. 

7 Best Cameras For Walking Videos

Plenty of cameras can provide high-end quality videos; that’s not a big issue. However, a combination of stabilization, portability, and quality makes up a perfect walking tour video camera for YouTube.

Based on these three factors, we found the following 7 cameras to come out with flying colors. Go through them individually and see which one captures your interest the most.

#1 DJI Osmo Action 3 Standard Combo

Starting the list with an amazing camera from DJI, renowned for making video equipment. It’s an action camera with features to record videos while you are on the move.

Right off the bat, the camera features 4K HDR video capabilities with 1 billion colors delivering vivid images. You can get all the natural details in the footage, and everything appears with the right color contrast in every scenario.

In the OSMO Action 3, HorizonSteady technology keeps all your shots steady and smooth. It’s a signature stabilization technology of the camera, which makes it great for recording videos while walking. In fact, you can even record while biking, skydiving, or skiing with this one.

The camera can perform well even in the rainiest conditions due to its waterproofing capabilities. The camera is meant to go under 16 meters of water without extra accessories. This means you have nothing to worry about while shooting walking videos on a rainy day.

Feature the maximum footage of a city with its 150 minutes of battery life and continuous shooting. Carrying the camera with you will never be an issue since it’s very compact and lightweight. You can simply pack it up in your pocket if you want.

• Record excellent high-resolution videos
• Great image stabilizing capabilities
• Very easy to mount the camera
• Excellent protection for all outdoor activities
• Portability is truly exceptional
• Doesn’t come with any storage features
• Lacks a bit in terms of aesthetics

#2 DJI Osmo Pocket – Handheld 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer with Integrated Camera

DJI knows how to rule the game of travel and portable cameras. The Osmo Pocket is another example of that statement. It even has the word pocket, so you know you are getting portability on this camera. And it has a lot more to offer alongside.

Starting, you get stunning details in your clips using the camera’s 1 /2.3-inch CMOS sensor. It’s paired with an 80-degree FOV and an aperture of F/2.0 for excellent video clarity. On top of that, the camera can deliver 4K resolution videos at 60 FPS for smoothness.

What makes the camera suitable for walking or moving videos even more, is its 3-axis gimbal attached to it. Stability will never be an issue in your video clips. And, of course, you won’t have to worry about getting a gimbal or amount separately.

Its single-handed design makes it much more convenient to carry it around even on the busiest of streets. The handle is sweat-proof and features a very comfortable grip, so you don’t get a hand ache after a day of shooting.

Things get even better with plenty of video features available in the camera. From panorama shots to night shots to story modes, you get everything on this one. It also features great tracking abilities with ActiveTrack and FaceTrack. Motion lapse and timelapse are just a plus.

• Excellent portability
• Packed with functions and features
• Offers direct streaming using smartphones
• Compatible with plenty of devices
• Produces high-quality, stable videos
• It doesn’t have zooming abilities
• App could be a bit better

#3 Dji Pocket 2 Exclusive Combo – Best Overall Pick

Here is another excellent choice from DJI that turns out to be the best option for vlogging, walking videos, hiking, and so much more. It’s the perfect package for any content creator who is willing to make IRL videos on their trips all over the place.

First, the 8x zoom with a 64MP camera makes this one an upgraded choice over the Osmo pocket. You can capture the tiniest of details while zooming in with this camera. This feature comes in handy for recording videos and clicking photos.

This camera is perfect if you want to focus on a certain subject while recording walking videos. ActiveTrack 3.0 can track any subject you focus on effortlessly, even when they are moving.

Coming to the quality of the videos, you get 4K resolution on the clips with a 60FPS. Videos will always remain stable thanks to its 3-axis stabilization in the attached gimbal. With such stability, you can get that soothing walk-through-the-town vibe in every video.

While you may think the handle is only there to hold the camera, it does a lot more than that. There is Wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity to connect your devices. Also, you get an audio jack, a tripod mount, external speakers, and a mic receiver.

• Great versatility with various functions
• Top notch video quality
• Effective zooming for details
• Works well in low light conditions
•  It can get hot after use
• Questionable battery backup

#4 Insta360 One X2 360 Degree – Best For Convenience

Insta360 One X2 has to be one of the most convenient pocket cameras available. Its features can easily satisfy the users with performance, comfortability, portability, usability, functionality, and many more. It’s a perfect camera for hiking videos .

The most incredible fact about this camera is it can record videos at a complete 360-degree angle. There are two cameras here, one in the front and one in the back, with CMOS sensors. When you record videos, both cameras start recording, and you can choose which angle to keep later on.

The feature that makes the camera perfect for walking videos is its stabilization capabilities. Its FlowState Stabilization technology offers great stability through horizon leveling algorithms. As a result, the shots come out quite smooth without even using a gimbal.

Speaking of smoothness, the video quality is also impeccable from both the lenses on the camera. It can produce videos in 5.7k resolution and capture every detail you want in your footage. It works great for walking videos in a crowded city.

Topping things off comes the camera’s advanced features, making it a very smart choice for content creation. It offers live streaming options, webcam ability, an AI editing feature, a voice control option, and an invisible selfie stick.

• Compact and lightweight to carry
• Excellent picture quality
• Impressive image stabilization
• Offers lots of advanced features
• Very easy to use with the app
• Needs a lot of editing
• The app needs some improvements

#5 Sony Zv-1 Digital Camera For Content Creators – Best Dslr For Walking Videos

If portability is not your first criterion and you want versatility, then Sony ZV-1 can be perfect for your walking videos. It’s a DSLR camera, so you can’t carry it in your pocket, but you can surely use it for many different purposes.

In this camera, you get a 20.1MP 1″ Exmor RS CMOS sensor that can provide great quality images on the fly. And the 24-70mm Zeiss T-lens with its F1.8 – 2.8 aperture brings out the best details in everything you shoot with this camera.

With the help of the Bionz X image processor on the camera, you get excellent tracking and fast autofocus ability. It works out great when you have to shoot those walking videos in a busy city with many people and traffic moving around.

Shooting walking videos is all about stability; with this camera, you won’t have any problems. The camera itself has great image stabilization with automatic exposure tracking faces. This means every single face appearing in your video will always be well-lit.

What makes the camera unique is its versatility in functionality. While you can use it for walking videos, it also works great as a regular camera. It’s suitable to work as a vlogging or streaming camera. You can use it for photography purposes as well.

• Perfect for versatile usage
• Excellent video and image quality
• Offers top-notch tracking abilities
• Pretty lightweight and compact for vlogging
• Easy to share content in different mediums
• Requires a gimbal for perfect stabilization
• The battery life isn’t that good

#6 Gopro Hero11 Black – Waterproof Action Camera

Whenever you think of capturing videos on the move, GoPro is a name to pop up frequently. And their Hero11 had to make this list because it’s surely one of the best cameras you will ever get for creating walking videos.

The feature that makes it your perfect walking companion is its stabilization capability. With the HyperSmooth 5.0 video stabilization feature, it can capture steady videos and make them look smoother than butter. And the AutoBoost feature amps up the game even more. 

Packed with a CMOS sensor, the camera can record videos with an amazing video resolution of 5.3k to give you excellent details, colors, and sharpness. Whether walking in a rural area or an urban area, the view will always mesmerize with this camera.

Capture the most to your capabilities with its 1/1.9″ sensor allowing the camera a significant field of view. It has an 8:7 ratio view to capture a much wider scenery while making those walking videos in a city.

Apart from walking videos, you can use the camera for vlogging, streaming, and many other sports activities. It’s a completely waterproof camera with many protective abilities to make it usable in various outdoor activities and conditions.

• Great for portability
• Impressive video quality
• Impeccable stability in videos
• Wider FOV for more space
• Suitable for recording every outdoor activity
• Indoor videos can turn out grainy
• Doesn’t work great for long recordings

#7 Ricoh Theta Z1 51gb Black 360° Camera

Regarding portability, here is another pocket camera to carry everywhere you go. While small, the features are truly surprising, and the quality is top-notch for recording your walking videos.

First of all, this camera is capable of providing a smooth 360-degree video experience with high-precision stitching. You can get these videos in a 7K resolution and 23MP sensor to capture every little detail in a single view.

There are also enhanced HDR capabilities to capture scenes with great clarity and contrast. It can maintain a balance in different scenes with varying brightness levels. This works great for walking videos as it won’t be awkward in visuals.

With its iconic image processing algorithm, it can achieve excellent low noise in the footage and high-end resolution. The dynamic range correction on the camera helps it achieve the perfect level of exposure in all the images and videos.

Something that keeps the camera ahead is its high-quality illuminated CMOS sensor. The sensor can suppress typical ghosting, flaring, and fringing issues to bring out the best possible image quality you can expect from this one.

• Super compact and lightweight
• High-quality video footage
• Works great for varying brightness in the outdoors
• Features 360-degree video recording
• It comes with many advanced functions
• Quite expensive
• The Wi-fi connection is pretty weak.

Things To Consider When Buying A Camera For Walking Videos

As soon as you think about buying a camera to record walking videos, you have to consider several considerations for the best result. Considering such factors always lead you toward the most suitable option based on your requirements. Let’s check those out quickly.

Video Quality And Resolution

The most important factor you have to consider in the camera is video quality. The video quality has to be top-notch and bring out the best possible details it can. Of course, nowadays, the standard is to have a camera with at least 4k resolution. So, aim for that resolution in your camera.

The frame rates should be at least 60fps to give you that fluid motion in your videos. While you can get by with 30fps videos, they don’t look as soothing as 60fps or 120fps videos.

Stabilization

Stabilization is another key feature to look for in a camera for creating walking videos. Since you will be walking with the camera, any kind of shakiness will disrupt the quality of the videos. That’s why you get a camera that provides excellent image stabilization features.

Portability

When capturing walking videos, you must get a lightweight and compact camera. You need something easy to carry without aching your hand or filling up your backpack. Also, the camera needs to have a mount or gimbal attachment.

Unique Features

This is where you can differentiate a lot of cameras and find which one is perfect for your purposes. Some cameras come with wireless connectivity to connect your smartphone and start streaming. Then there are some cameras that have microphones and speakers attached to them.

You also get advanced features like AI editing in some cameras. Then there are plenty of handy features like exposure correction, fast tracking, easily replaceable mounts, etc. Get the one that impresses you the most.

Battery Life

The last thing to consider is battery life. You should get a camera with long battery life to capture the most possible footage. A battery backup of around 110 to 160 minutes is great for such a camera, as you won’t be walking through a city more than that.

Final Thoughts

By now, you have a clear idea of what the best camera for walking videos works like. The features you should be prioritizing are image stabilization, video quality, and portability. Anything after that comes down to your preferences.

Considering everything, we would suggest the DJI Pocket 2 Exclusive Combo as the best overall pick. It has excellent video quality while providing good portability and top-notch image stabilization.

But if it doesn’t fancy you, you can always check out the other ones offering various kinds of features. No matter which one you pick, they all deliver on the basic factors for such cameras.

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GoPro: the best setting to make a travel video

When talking about action cams, it is impossible not to mention the GoPro, the first action cam on the market and undisputed leader in this category. I often come across people who claim to have bought a GoPro when they’ve actually purchased a simple action cam.

The GoPro plays a pivotal role in two main sectors: travel and sport .

So, we all know that many people own a GoPro, but how many of them can actually use it to its full potential ? How many can set it up properly and benefit from all the functions it offers? I guess not that many.

Don’t get me wrong, by writing this post I do not want to sound like a GoPro expert because, I myself, still have a lot to learn about how to use this amazing video-camera. Having said that, I’d like to give you a few useful tips I’ve learnt on how to use your GoPro when travelling . My suggestions may also be interesting for people who actually own a similar action-camera, even though of a different brand.

In this post, I want to purely focus on how to make videos. If you’d like more information on how to use your GoPro for taking photos, I will translate soon this article from my italian blog version: “ Taking photos with a GoPro: timelapse, burst and continuous mode ”.

Indice dell'Articolo

What GoPro should I buy for travelling?

Travelling requires much less looking at the rear display compared to shooting action sports. However, in order to check if you got the perfect framing for the photos and videos you’ll then edit, a GoPro with an LCD screen (a GoPro 4 or 5) becomes essential. A black or silver GoPro? It doesn’t matter. Go for the colour you like the most as the action cam is perfectly identical for this terms of features.

If you just want to buy an action camera to take simple photos and videos when travelling, I’d recommend buying the GoPro 4. If, on the contrary, you are looking at something a bit more professional for elaborated video editing, consider buying the GoPro 5 which comes with an integrated video stabilization mode.

Obviously, as the two GoPros come at a different price, your choice ultimately depends on your budget . I guess that if you’re thinking about buying a GoPro, then you already know you’ll have to spend quite a bit of money.

Why should I use a GoPro when travelling?

One of the most important features of this video-camera is being very tiny. With only a few centimeters in length and height, you’ll be holding a small piece of technology able to take spectacular photos and videos where any other device would not. What’s more, the GoPro is not cumbersome at all and therefore, it is very handy and easy to be carried around.

With its integrated external case which protects it from sand and water, the GoPro is the perfect camera to take with you to the beach , the sea, the swimming-pool as well as on the ski slopes. And, let me tell you, with its great handle floaty backdoor , the GoPro becomes the ideal companion to snap some photos whilst doing snorkeling.

As you can notice, the GoPro has an incredible number of accessories which can be used in many different situations, above all when practicing a sport activity rather than simply travelling.

For both photos and videos, the GoPro has a 170° wide angle lens that enables you to take amazing panoramic shots and breathtaking selfies with gorgeous landscapes behind your shoulders when mounted on a selfie stick.

Last but not least, the WiFi connection offers the possibility of remotely controlling the camera as well as download the photos and videos you’ve taken directly on your smartphone. You can then immediately share the snap you like the most on the social networks or send it to a friend.

Video with GoPro: how to do it and to set the camera

I personally use my GoPro to take videos which I then edit with Adobe Premiere. I personally aim at making short quality emotional videos containing the best memories of my travels, rather than video blogs or excessively long videos which bore people easily.

If you are looking for a professional stabilizer to shoot even better videos, I’d then recommend buying the  Feiyu FY-G4 Ultra 3-Axis or the Neewer® G4 QD 3-Axes with Handheld extrension .

If you want more information on how to stabilize your GoPro or any other action cam with a 3-Axis Gimbal, I’ll give you them soon on this blog.

When taking a video there are some basic concepts you should know about:

• Video resolution and frame rate
• Video width

Video resolution and frame rates on the GoPro

The term “resolution” refers to the dimension of the photogram, basically the image itself. Let me explain myself better: a video is practically a series of photograms that are put together in a sequence to render the movements. The resolution is therefore the dimension (both in length and height) of the photograms in pixels. You can find more information about image resolution on Wikipedia (click here ).

The available resolution settings for the GoPro 4 Silver are: 720 (HD), 720 super view, 960, 1080 (FULL HD), 1080 superview 1440, 2,7k and 4k.

The higher the resolution, the higher the dimension of the format and file that gets recorded on the memory card. For this reason, you must figure out what you will most likely shoot and the use you intend to make of your video-camera. If you want to record your videos in 4k , for example, you should purchase a memory card with a bigger capacity and transfer speed.

As for what regards my personal memory card, I use a   Micro SDXC Lexar (128GB )  with a transfer speed up to 95 MB/s. At the beginning I was using a  32 GB Sandisk Extreme  but I soon realized that it wasn’t enough for the huge quantity of datas I was recording on my GoPro.

When talking about image resolution, it is impossible not to mention the frame rate , meaning, the frequency at which the image frames are displayed in an animated display.

You might have heard people asking you “at how many FPS do you record your videos?” more than once.

FPS is the acronym for “Frame per Second” that is basically the frequency, or rate at which your camera will shoot a series of consecutive images (frames) which are displayed in your video.

Depending on the PAL or NTSC setting, you can record at 25/50 fps or 30/60/120 fps.

Obviously talking about fps might get a bit too technical eventually. So before it gets too complicated, just remember:

• High frame rate (high FPS) = smoother image quality and possibility of creating slow-motion videos. On the other hand, the faster the frame rate, the less time the camera has to capture each frame. As a consequence, the images are going to be much less brighter.
• Low frame rate (low FPS) = the videos cannot be slowed down excessively, as the mind of the viewer will no longer be convinced that the images are continuous. On the contrary, the video will seem to “jump” as each frame will be easily recognizable by the eyes of the viewer. Plus side, the images are brighter than videos taken in high frame rate.

As a consequence, before recording your video, check the brightness of what you’re going to film and the environment surrounding you, if the scene is bright enough, then opt for the high frame rate. If, on the contrary, you’re in poor lighting conditions, I’d recommend recording with low frame rates.

Now that you’ve understood the concepts of FPS and high/low frame rate, let’s try to talk about image resolution and frames .

It is not possible to record with the same FPS for all the resolutions. For example, with 4K on the GoPro Silver you can get up to 15 FPS, 1080 up to 24/30/48/60 FPS and 720 up to 120 FPS. You can easily get why recording in 4K with this amount of FPS is pretty much useless, unless you then what to get a photo out of the video you made.

Be careful when choosing what resolution and FPS to use -> This is because you need to set a minimum resolution: indeed, if you decide to record a few minutes in slow motion at 720 and 120FPS, and then switch to 1080 at 60FPS, you’ll later have some problems when editing your video. This is because the image at 720 is smaller than 1080, so you’d have to zoom in the video at 720, inevitably loosing image quality.

Go Pro Field of View (FOV): narrow, medium and wide

Apart from being a very versatile action-cam, the GoPro has detached itself from other similar products because it offers the possibility of setting it up on a Wide FOV . This view is perfect when you want to shoot with a larger field of view and the fisheye effect surely enhances the image quality.

The narrow and medium FOV (measuring 90 and 120 degrees respectively), “zoom-in” your photos and videos, but in both of these settings, there is no lens distortion and no loss of image quality.

The choice of the FOV depends all on the type of video you’re shooting. In this video you can better appreciate the difference I’ve just tried to explain to you using words.

Go Pro Low Light Footage

This low light setting can be used only when recording at 30 fps or more. This mode can be easily turned on or off from the GoPro menu, where you can also set at what resolution and fps to shoot. The GoPro Low Light Footage is perfect when you are in poor light conditions : indeed, it maintains an ideal brightness in the images you record by working on the fps. That’s why it must be used at over 30 fps. Some of the best moments where to benefit from the Low Light Footage offered by the GoPro are at night or in close and dark environments.

Have a look at this video to better understand how the Low Light Footage works and when it is best to use it.

The spot meter

The spot meter on the GoPro basically works to find the automatic exposure of the image. If the spot meter is turned off, the GoPro calculate the exposure in function of the brightness of the entire scene hitting the sensors of the camera. On the contrary, with the spot meter turned on, the GoPro makes use of a very small area in the centre of the frame to get the right exposure.

To put it simply, if you’re driving and you point at the road with the GoPro with spot meter turned on, the camera will get the correct exposure for the road and a under-exposure for the inside of the car. If the spot meter is turned off, the GoPro calculates the exposure (opening the shutter) in function of the inside of the car as well. The image will result in a brighter inside of the car, but overexposed road.

The Protune on GoPro

Anybody, when handling a GoPro for the first time, has probably asked themselves: what is Protune on GoPro? How does it work and when to use it? Well, these are just some of the questions I asked myself when I bought my GoPro, but after a few days of usage, I can definitely say it wasn’t hard to get the idea across. The Protune is basically the “raw” of a photo , a set of features that enhance the quality of the footage (both video quality an colour) taken with your GoPro.

When you turn the Protune on, the GoPro produces larger files than what you’d record on normal settings and they take up much space on your SD card.

If you turn on the Protune Flat, you’ll get more details in both shadows and highlights of the images recorded. Not only will the images and videos look better, but they will also be easier to edit, as you’ll be able to balance out darker and brighter areas without affecting the image colours.

If you wish to understand better how Protune works, have a look at this video — the guy who recorded it explains clearly its multiple usages so you can make the best out of your GoPro.

Careful : when using the Protune, the files recorded are much larger than what is shot with normal settings. One of the major downside of the protune is the fact that it takes up a lot of juice — therefore the battery of your camera won’t last long.

Which GoPro accessories to use when travelling?

To be perfectly honest, I believe expensive kits including 500 different tools for your GoPro to be excessive for travelling. Indeed, you’ll never find yourself using all those tools and you’ll probably never use each one of them to its full potential.

The GoPro is an extremely customizable camera, you can also buy polarize filters to reduce glare and improve colour saturation. As for what concerns taking photos or filming with a GoPro whilst doing a sport activity, I do believe the many different accessories to be fundamental in this context. But when I’m travelling, I always try to do so as light as possible, so I tend to bring what I’m sure I’ll use.

All the accessories mentioned below can be bought on Amazon.

My GoPro Accessories Kit:

• GoPro Newer or Feiyu Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer : without a tool as such, the video you take with your GoPro would inevitably be very blurry. The GoPro 5 has a built-in video stabilization, so buying a Feiyu handheld stabilizer would be useless. If, instead, you own an older GoPro, a stabilizer would be a good solution to improve the video quality. The Feiyu stabilizer works on 3 Axis and provides excellent stability for your GoPro footage. The battery life is very good, but you may need to balance the stabilizer quite often as it easily goes out of balance. On the market there are stabilizer to suit everybody’s tastes, so you could even decide to buy a cheaper one which will do a great job anyway — it all depends from your budget and needs. If you opt for a 3-Axis stabilizer, I’d definitely recommend having a look at the GoPro Newer or Feiyu stabilizer. Before purchasing it though, make sure it is compatible with your GoPro.

• 128 GB Lexar microSDXC Memory Card: that’s the memory card I mentioned a few lines above. I’m not used to record in 4K because it’s not the ideal option at 15fps, but with the new GoPro when you record at 60fps, you do so in 4k as well. If you wish to record 4k videos, you’ll then need a professional Memory Card with high capacity, just like the one I use.
• GoPro Standard Housing (included with your camera) : it’s fundamental! It helps guarding the camera from dirt, dust and scratches, but above all it’s waterproof! With this case you’ll be able to take gorgeous photos and record fun videos under water.
• GoPro Border Frame Mount Protective Housing Skin + Tripod Adapter : whenever I take photos or record videos without the standard housing included in the camera when you purchase it, I always tend to use a frame mount to protect my GoPro. This is the only way you’ll get the best quality images without the protective housing shell getting in your way. What’s more, you can even use the touchscreen to set the camera.The Frame linked here, comes with a tripod adapter so you can mount your camera on a monopod suction cup, or any other holder with 1/4 screws (compatible with the Hero 3, 3+ and 4).

• GoPro rechargeable battery (non-original) : I believe one of the worst aspects of the GoPro is its battery life. The original battery lasts for about 1h and 50 minutes when recording at 30fps in 1080p? The non-original ones I purchased last about 1h and 40 minutes, maybe even less than that. A good option is to carry some extra batteries with you at all times. You could even buy a battery pack, which is much less handy. You can find the original GoPro batteries at this link.

• Floating Handle Grip : this is a simple piece of plastic which will actually become your best friend when you’re in the water and using the GoPro at the same time. It basically prevents your GoPro from ending up on the seabed to keep the fishes some company. It comes with a high quality wrist strap which is really handy.

• 3-Way Grip Arm Tripod : there is a wide variety of tripods from which to choose from, but the one linked here is the one I personally believe to be the best as it’s very versatile. You could either go for an original tripod or buy one of a different brand. It depends on how much you want to spend, the choice is yours!

• GoPro camera and accessory carrying case : basically, just a small and handy case where to fit all the accessories of your Go Pro. Be careful if you’re buying it on the Internet — most of the times the case is actually much smaller than what it looks, so make sure you’ve got room enough for all the accessories you want to carry around with you.

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garyt77562 asked a question.

I want to make videos for YouTube. I am usually just walking around or riding on my bike. What should I be using 5.3K/60 5.3K/30. 4K/60 or 4K/30?

• HERO10 Black

demonviewllc

So when you export the video to your desktop, you're seeing a small quality drop as your software compresses the video. When you upload to YouTube, YouTube also compresses the video and this can make it look quite bad. YouTube will also try to determine the best quality and resolution for playback on your PC when watching it. So when you upload a 1080P video to YouTube, it may only play back a 480P or 720P video depending on your connection speed (you would have to manually select 1080P at that point).

So the best thing to do is when you export video from your editor, choose the highest quality settings for export and also make sure you have a high bit rate too. Try to avoid any "presets" when exporting as these are usually designed for speed of export rather than actual quality of export.

It's going to depend on many things. Like how you're editing your video's, how long they are going to be, who's your target audience, what are your audience retention figures like when looking at the analytics?

If for instance you record in 5.3K 60FPS, do you have the hardware capable of editing such a huge amount of video data afterwards? What about battery life? Are you planning on zooming in, cropping etc?

And while recording a half hour or hours walk may seem great, are you just recording these videos for your own purpose? Are you expecting other people to watch them? Don't forget, the average audience viewing time for video's is around 30 seconds. Some people will watch for up to 2 minutes before tuning out.

So there's a lot of information you need to supply in order to give you an answer.

If these video's are just for you? I would go with 4K 30FPS, especially if you're not planning on doing much in the way of post processing afterwards.

it’s a bit old but still works fine and I am using DaVinici Resolve 17 to edit. I was thinking around 30 minutes. Audience people interested in Japan. Zooming and cropping probably I have not had any experience with video before I have used DSLR cameras for many years. One main problem I am having is after I export the video onto the desktop it looks good but when I upload it to YouTube it looks like crap it just not sharp doesn’t even look like 1080p more like 720p.

Thanks for your help. I was using the preset it was not exporting it as Quicktime as well.

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