Essential Camera Settings for GoPro Photography
- 30 photos that span 1, 2, 3, or 6 seconds
- 10 photos that span 1, 2, or 3 seconds
- 5 photos in 1 second
- 3 photos in 1 second
- Auto burst mode
- Photographing a moving vehicle (or from a moving vehicle) - Continuous photo mode, wide FOV
- Photographing a moving bicyclist (or from a moving bicycle) - Continuous photo mode, wide FOV
- Photographing while hiking - Time-lapse mode, 5-second interval, wide FOV
- Skiing or snowboarding - Time-lapse mode, 0.5-second interval, wide FOV
- Surfing - Time-lapse mode, 5-second interval, wide FOV
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So, you have a GoPro. Now all you need to do is learn how to use it!
Though the settings you use will be different for each situation and the look you're going for, there are some essential camera settings that you need to learn no matter the situation.
In this guide, we explore some of the features on the GoPro HERO6 Black and outline the best settings for a few photography scenarios.
Let's get started!
GoPro HERO Features
Whether you're after still photos or 4K video, the GoPro HERO6 Black is an ideal camera to use.
It's loaded with features that make taking photos and videos a much easier task, something that you'll appreciate when you're out adventuring with your camera.
GoPro Settings: JPEG vs RAW
The GoPro HERO6 has both JPEG and RAW still image functionality. So what's the difference?
JPEG files are compressed, so they take up less room on a memory card. They're also immediately shareable and viewable.
The problem with compressed files is that some of the data collected by the camera's sensor is lost. That makes it more difficult to edit photos in post-processing.
That's the strength of RAW files, though.
RAW files retain all of the sensor's data, so robust post-processing opportunities await.
What's more, when edits are made to RAW files, a separate file is created, so the original remains unchanged.
RAW files are huge, though, so extra memory cards will be needed!
If space is at a premium, go with JPEG, but if you want more flexibility in editing, RAW is the way to go.
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HDR Photo
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HDR - high dynamic range - photos are a perfect solution when the scene you're photographing has a wide range of highlights and shadows.
If you find that the highlights in your photos are blown out and completely white with no detail, or, conversely, if you find that the shadows are too dark with no detail, the GoPro HERO6's HDR mode can help.
HDR combines several different exposures together to create a final composite image in which everything from bright highlights to dark shadows are properly exposed.
Each exposure is taken in rapid fashion and combined by the camera, so you literally just have to engage HDR mode and better photos await!
Protune
Image Credit: GoPro
Like its predecessor, the GoPro HERO6 Black offers Protune options that allow you to fine-tune the exposure and other settings of the camera.
For example, you can adjust the exposure compensation by +/- 2 stops, which allows you to brighten or darken the image as needed.
You can also adjust the color mode and the white balance settings to tailor how the images look, the minimum and maximum ISO values which helps determine how bright or dark the images are, and even the level of sharpness that's applied to the images.
Learn More:
Burst Mode
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Burst mode is exactly what it sounds like - depending on the setting you use, the GoPro will rapid-fire a burst of photos.
The HERO6 Black offers five different burst modes:
The auto burst setting shoots up to 30 photos in one second, but only engages when the shutter speed is below 1/30 seconds.
In other words, auto burst mode prioritizes getting a good exposure over a specific number of frames, so depending on the light, you might get 30 photos in one second, 5 photos in one second, or somewhere in between.
Field of View
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The GoPro HERO6 Black has two field of view (FOV) options - wide, which is the default, and linear.
The wide field of view captures the classic GoPro fisheye look.
Linear mode, however, limits that distortion and helps create a more normal-looking image.
Of course, this and the other settings outlined above just scratch the surface of the GoPro HERO6's capabilities.
You can zoom by using the touchscreen, lock the exposure, control the shutter speed, and various other things to customize how the camera performs.
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GoPro HERO6 Settings for Photos
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With our quick overview of some of the GoPro HERO6's features out of the way, here's a few tips for camera settings for common shooting situations.
Remember, the precise settings you use for things like exposure and shutter speed will depend on the specific situation, but the general camera settings from GoPro outlined below will get you going in the right direction.
Granted, this isn't a complete list of GoPro HERO settings, but at least understanding what photo mode to use, the FOV to select, and the time-lapse interval to select (as applicable) will help you capture better photos as you experiment with your new GoPro.
Something else that might help you in your photography and videography adventures is a little inspiration.
For that, check out the video above by GoPro.
