How To Use a GoPro Like An Expert: 7 Tips To Make Better Use of The GoPro

Do you struggle to capture captivating videos and fantastic images on your GoPro camera?

Are you tired of capturing photos that don’t portray enough detail that you want?

That’s the irony of today’s cameras. They’re incredibly powerful but often come with a set of functions that can be daunting for a beginner.

Because of this, you won’t always be able to use them properly out of the box.

It happens, and that’s why I’m writing this article today. I will give you information on how to use a GoPro camera like an expert, even if you suck at technology.

Let’s face it — this camera is amazingly powerful. It’s not used by capable filmmakers and top outdoor YouTubers for nothing!

The GoPro picture and video quality are impressive. On top of that, the camera is water-resistant. You can capture exciting video while you’re underwater — maybe doing scuba diving or swimming.

That’s just a glimpse of what GoPro can do.

If you are ready to start exploiting these benefits, then you should use this unrivaled camera brand.

In this article, you will get straightforward information on how to use the GoPro camera.

Using Your GoPro

GoPro is in a nutshell, a bite-sized camera loved by adventurers, athletes, and vloggers around the world.

Since 2002, when the company was founded by Nick Woodman, an extreme sports enthusiast, it has been shaping the outdoor community.

The GoPro takes the best parts of camcorders and DSLR cameras and compresses them into a smaller, waterproof, and most importantly, indestructible box.

Within the minimalistic design rests a processor, lens, and microphone.

In new versions, there is a touchscreen featured, but mostly just one to two buttons is everything a GoPro presents.

This is all that makes the camera tick, and almost exclusively, its minimalism is why everyone is so crazy about it.

So far this gadget has been the favorite tool many athletes and outdoor sports folks use in their recordings out in the open.

Why Choose The GoPro

Of course, it’s not just the exterior that makes the camera such an improvement, but also the wide perspective in which it films. And the amazing quality of the video and picture format with up to 12 MP.

This is why GoPro user ‘From1girlto1world’ believes that GoPro is a wonderful choice to take adventure videography and photography with.

So far the GoPro has substituted the DSLR camera in outdoor activities for almost a decade since it is not so bulky, it’s easy to use, and has a durable battery.

Another pro of the GoPro is how lightweight it is, for producing the best quality videos in amazing fish-eye angles with virtually no weight to burden the user.

The GoPro Basic Setup and Features

This first part of this article focuses on the GoPro Hero 7. It’s a simple camera which is light in weight — at about 116 grams.

Its length is 62.3 mm and the width is 44.9 mm. With that in mind, you know it’s quite small and easier to handle.

Below, I will give you features that make GoPro unique:

12MP photo

The picture quality of this camera is 12 megapixels. If you are a photographer or tech-savvy, I’m sure you are aware that this quality is a big deal.

The picture that this camera produces is high quality — HD type.

1080p240/4k60

This is another superb feature that the GoPro camera has. With it, you can produce videos that have a 1080p HD quality.

That’s awesome, your videos will be clear and as a result, they will stand out.

Face, Smile + Scene detection

You won’t have to bother pressing the capture button when taking a selfie. That’s because the GoPro camera can detect your face or smile and will automatically take a photo.

Waterproof

This is a feature that has been recently added to the camera.

To be honest, it’s awesome. You can use the camera while you are underwater.

And despite that fact, the picture quality won’t be sacrificed. It will remain the same HD quality.

Super Photo

Here is the thing, the Super Photo feature is the most advanced aspect of a GoPro to date.

If you enable it, the camera can analyze the scene that is being taken a picture of.

After that, it chooses the best enhancement process to make your pictures look remarkable.

Sounds good, right?

If you have no idea about photo enhancement or editing…or you are lazy…then this feature can be a great deal to you.

Hyper Smooth Video Stabilization

When you take photos with other cameras, have you ever noticed how the pictures look when you move around during the capture?

The final photo will look blurry and low quality. It’s not good.

But when it comes to GoPro, that’s not the case.

With this camera, the picture will always be high-quality regardless of whether you move during the capture or not.

Wifi+ Bluetooth

You can connect your smartphone with your camera through wifi or Bluetooth connection.

With this feature, you can do basic functions on your phone without even touching the camera.

You will, however, need the GoPro app for this. And just so you know, setting it is quite difficult.

You would have to follow the instructions on GoPro’s official website or any trusted source.

Live Streaming

You can do a live stream with this camera. For you to do that, you will need the GoPro app.

Only subscribers can use this function; they can live stream to their audience via a private link.

You can do it on multiple platforms like Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, and many others.

Voice Control

With a simple voice command, you can tell your camera what to do.

When you buy this camera, you will be given a set of commands that work on it.

If you use them, the GoPro camera will detect the commands and automatically act on them.

These are some of the key features of the GoPro camera. There are many others, but these are important — they make the GoPro brand stand out.

Different Versions Of The GoPro

If you are thinking about which camera to buy for your next trip, you surely need to know that there have so far been twenty versions of the GoPro.

But which one has the features you need? Which one is the best?

So far, every year the company releases a minimum of two and a maximum of four camera models.

There are three lines of the GoPro currently in use:

GoPro Session

The lightweight, low-cost, and easy-to-use version used by rookies and newbies, is a basic model with two buttons and no screen.

GoPro Fusion

This model is used in filming videos in 360 degrees and requires some skill for using it since it is the heaviest and most costly of all the models.

GoPro Hero

Last but definitely not least comes the Hero version, which combines the pros of both of the later models.

It’s mid-range in cost and weight, comes with a touchscreen, and is surely the most popular of all the GoPro versions.

What Is New?

Some of the latest GoPro models include Hero 9 Black, Hero8 Black, GoPro Max, Hero7 Black, Hero6 Black, GoPro Fusion, Hero5 Black.

With varying specifications, the users themselves must choose which one is right for them.

Characteristics like video quality, battery life, waterproofness, and image stabilization might be some of the most important components any user might take into consideration.

This means if the user is a scuba diver, the depth on which your camera’s case remains waterproof is definitely an important factor.

The Hero9 Black, according to Digital Camera World, has some amazing specifications, like:

• 3 microphones, voice control, GPS, and super slow-motion video in HD.
• Shoots 5K video with 30 frames per second.
• Battery life 1 – 3 hours.
• Super-smooth image stabilization.
• Waterproof to 10m.
• Resolution of up to 12 MP.

Using The GoPro

After reviewing all the specifications and choosing which GoPro is right for you, comes everyone’s favorite activity or actually using the new toy.

First, come the physical characteristics of the camera.

Most of the models have a red and blue light used for indication. The button on the front of the camera or right next to the lens is the power on and off button.

The Physical Characteristic Of The GoPro

On the top side is the shutter button with which you start, stop and pause recording or for taking pictures.

Some models of the GoPro have a screen, with variable size. This component, just like all the other specifications is very easy to use.

That is why the GoPro is so popular, the components are very logical and everyone can use one of these cameras, no matter their age or background.

One of the most important things when it comes to cameras, in general, is media storage. Logically, a quality memory card is definitely a must when it comes to storage.

A Class 10 memory card is mandatory equipment for any GoPro owner, and the size for newer models should be around 32GB. Depending on the video quality, around three hours of video can fit on this memory card.

How To Personalize Your GoPro

It is also recommended to link Wi-Fi and a smartphone app with your camera.

Most users, just like the ones at REI recommend closely following instructions for setting up the Wi-Fi connection with the camera, since some say it’s a tricky adventure.

When it comes to the smartphone app, which is optimized for both iOS and Android phones, this gadget offers users maximum personalization of their device.

Even a password and sleep mode can be used for the optimization of their GoPro.

Charging the GoPro

Charging your camera is one thing every user needs to master. The user needs to first fully charge and discharge the camera battery, to accustom it to maximize the battery life.

When it comes to prolonging battery life, users recommend turning off WiFi mode while in the outdoors.

All models of the GoPro come with a wall charger. Depending on the camera, it is either a USB-C, Micro, or Mini USB port.

After powering the camera off, plug the charger in the wall and let it charge. When the camera is charging, the red indicator light should be on.

How To Make Better Videos With Your GoPro

Depending on the model of the camera, different tips are used in upgrading the video quality. But most of the users, like the ones at Spivo, say:

• Plan your photo composition.
• Create movement in the video.
• Use the right settings.
• Keep your scenes short.
• Try out different angles.

How To Use The Modes Of The GoPro

Extra modes and settings are available on every GoPro camera.

Even though the standard 1080p and 30 fps work almost everywhere, professionals and enthusiasts alike love to personalize and prepare for every scene.

Modes of the camera and settings are all accessible over the GoPro app, but also through the screen and buttons.

Modes like time-lapse, slow motion, burst, and continuous shot are all basic features every camera has.

When it comes to the aspect ratio, most users get confused. The 4:3 ratio on any GoPro is a narrow shot, just like any smartphone can take.

Then there is a 16:9 ratio that is the signature fisheye perspective of the GoPro.

Of course, the ISO settings or light settings can be altered, depending on the conditions of filming.

The GoPro also offers to arrange the frame rate settings, allowing users to go up and down depending on whether they are filming slow or fast activities.

Different activities ask for different fields of view and stabilization settings.

This means when surfing, any user will need a wide field of view, but when they are filming a vlog a linear field will suffice.

How To Mount Your GoPro

After learning about the physical, mechanical, and program settings of the camera, one is almost ready for their first filmed adventure with their new toy.

Before setting out, make sure you know how to attach and hold your camera in place for better safety.

Accessories like a mini tripod, selfie stick, or handle grip are a must for any user.

If you plan on using your camera for filming outdoor activities like skating or skiing, make sure you have specialized mounts like a helmet mount, chest strap, or suction cup mount.

How To Take Spectacular Video With The GoPro

Taking videos is also simple. To start, do the first 2 steps I mentioned on taking the photos. Thereafter, you can follow the next steps I will mention below:

 1. Take the video

Like taking a picture, you must also use the power mode button to take a video. Use it to start and stop recording one.

 2. Shorten Your Videos.

Have you ever seen a movie or professional video where the camera spends a long time on one angle? I bet you haven’t — it’s rare.

That’s because spending a long time on 1 angle looks amateurish.

Switch things around now and then. If you are taking a video on 1 angle only, take shot videos and integrate them at the end.

So, how will that help you?

Let’s face it—shorter videos are always better. They make you get straight to the point and cut out useless information. As a result, they will do good for your audience, as well as for you.

 3. Stabilize Your Clips

The truth is, nobody wants to see videos that look blurry or shaky. They are bad—and on top of that dizzying.

That’s where video stabilization and hyper-smooth come into play. With these functions, your videos will be clear and stable. That would be ideal as they will be easy to watch.

For extra stability, use a GoPro tripod or selfie stick. These will help you add manual steadiness to your videos.

 4. Edit Your Video (if need be)

The steps I mentioned before are the most important ones for taking a video. If you follow them, you can use the GoPro camera with ease.

If you, however, want to take things further, then consider using video editing software.

There are lots of them out there but choose the one that you like — that’s also decent. Download a video editing app on your phone or computer — there are many out there that suit GoPro well.

Editing videos takes time, but even so, the results will be worth it. The process can be intimidating if you are an amateur, but with constant practice, you can become an expert.

How To Take Photos With The GoPro Camera

Now you have seen the benefits of the GoPro camera.

You have got a glimpse of the key features of the camera and are ready to start using it.

But you are probably wondering, “how exactly do I use the camera”.

Well, I have got you covered. That’s what I’m going to break down for you now.

Below, I will give you the steps you need to take to use the GoPro camera with ease:

 1. Click The Power Mode Button

This button turns on the GoPro camera.

Once you click it, the camera will be up and running, and you will be ready to capture photos.

 2. Customize The Settings Using The Shutter/Select Button

This step is an important one.

Once your camera is on, select the settings that resonate with what you want to film or photograph.

If you aren’t comfortable adjusting your settings, you can use the auto mode.

It will select the settings for you depending on the particular scene you are at.

Auto mode is good, but keep this in mind, it is generic.

Because of that, adjusting the settings on your own will bring about the best results.

If you master the settings, you will be able to use the camera to its fullest potential.

 3. Capture The Photo

After you have selected your settings, the only thing left will be to take a photo. It’s simple; to take one you must choose your angle.

After you have found the angle that suits you, click the power button to take a picture.

And boom…you are done. You have captured a photo.

It’s that simple, there aren’t many tech skills needed to execute the action.

The Next Steps

Now that you have got the steps you need to use the GoPro camera, it’s time to put them to use. I

t’s simple, you don’t need to be tech-savvy to use GoPro.

With these steps right at your fingertips, you can take a photo or video anytime with ease.

So go ahead and execute these steps.

It will feel awkward at first, but with regular use, you will get a grasp of the process.

How To Use Your GoPro – Wrapup

The GoPro perspective is a necessity for every outdoor video production.

When any athlete or photographer thinks of a video of mountain climbing, they imagine it being filmed with a GoPro. This shows us just how important this camera is to us today.

A final set of advice we can give is to just play with your new GoPro. Make sure you try out any setting and point of view, nothing is better than experimenting.
 

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