by Tips For Using GoPro Video Quality Camera
Using your GoPro Video Quality camera comes with a lot of options like traveling for an adventuring moment, or covering a special and a once-in-a-lifetime event.
GoPro video quality is excellent compared to its size and price. It is lightweight and relatively small to handle. It is very easy to use and rugged with a remarkably good quality image.
Whether you are heading to mountain hiking, snowing, or handling water on the beach, GoPro can be taken to any destination of your choice. GoPro also has accessory varieties making it so rugged to handle any condition it finds itself in.
Nevertheless, as the GoPro has some great features that make it awesome to use, there are still some downsides to it.
Creating quality photos or videos for your clients or agencies has some high quality and technicality that GoPro can’t handle. These and many other technical requirements make up for the downsides of GoPro. There is still more to these.
READ ALSO: The Best Camera That Makes Videos
GoPro’s Models as Travelling And Events Capturing Cameras:
GoPro HERO9 Black is the latest model of GoPro with great functions.
GoPro HERO8 Black is the previous model of GoPro which still has some great uses
The GoPro HERO8 and HERO models both have functions that work with the same varieties of accessories.
The Good Side of Using a GoPro Camera
Size
The GoPro camera can fit easily in your pocket because of its tiny size which makes it easy to be taken anywhere you want to go.
Ultra Wide Angle
The wide angle feature in GoPro lets it shoot stunning captures that make a shot so close even if it is far away. This also creates an immersive stunning look that fits that special shot you desire.
GoPro wide angel captures the immense scale of underneath any large object or location. In getting great shots, you will have to be very close to the object you intend to capture to avoid being relatively small within the frame. During the post-processing, you can still remove the effect of the fisheye.
Rugged
The GoPro camera is built to withstand any condition it is taken to. If you need to go for a moment at the beach, GoPro will handle the water and sand without any issues.
Ready-Made Shooting
GoPro has a fixed focus and its exposure is automatically calculated with nothing to attach or detach. Even if GoPro settings are wrongly set, your shots still won’t be messed up.
Its automatic settings relatively work well across a remarkably broad spectrum of shooting. Also, its new night mode is suitable for night-time and low-light situations and capable to capture stunning shots.
The Downsides of Using a GoPro Camera
Accessing Controls
Accessing the GoPro control options such as exposure meter type, shutter speed, ISO setting, and exposure compensation is so difficult and takes so much time to figure out compared to several other cameras.
GoPro HERO8 and HERO9 models are using shooting presets that are quicker to access within the settings you frequently use. And unless you are handling it as an automatic camera, it is difficult to handle the quick exposure controls within an instant.
Low-Light Performance Mode
The GoPro low-light performance mode is not very effective yet because of its tiny sensor. This leaves the GoPro high-ISO performance to be opened for greater improvement.
Low Battery Life
The low battery life of GoPro is one of its biggest downsides because it requires you to manage the battery life for effective usage. In some circumstances, you might have very few hours of use. Sometimes, you might run out of time before covering some important shootings.
To overcome this challenge, you need to have a plan in place before going for shooting by taking a fully-charged spare battery with you which you can later swap out. So some planning like adding a long-life external battery will help you to go a long way in shooting for a long period.
Low Color Balance
GoPro’s image quality color balance is great with the shots done outdoors. But the color balance in other scenes is not too bright.
Since the color balance of the camera doesn’t suit every scene, you can change it through lightroom or photos. And when shooting photos, you can choose the raw .gpr file format mode which gives you the flexibility to adjust the white balance during post-processing.
Lack of Zoom
GoPro has no optical zoom because it is a fixed lens. Even though some of the most recent models have a digital zoom, they can’t be regarded as an optical zoom but just cropping the image.
Non-Responsive
GoPro controls are not as responsive as they should be because of some reasons like the shutter which is spongy mechanically for the purpose to stop shots accidentally. But the GoPro shutter is not as accurate as other cameras because when you try to press it, it pushes back.
Its non-responsiveness is also attributed to its software which is not as fast as it should be.
When shooting videos, the non-responsiveness might not matter much, but if you are trying to capture photos of something moving, you might just miss the shot because of its non-responsive sluggishness.
Benefits of Using GoPro Over a Smartphone
Smartphones have embedded cameras that have good functions ranging from low light performance, lenses, camera time-lapse, HD video, and manual exposure control.
Besides, smartphone connectivity options have the capacity of sharing photos with friends on social media networks like Instagram or Facebook.
With all these functions, having a stunning shot with a smartphone camera can be a great choice but having a GoPro has more benefits as listed below.
Mounting Capacity
GoPro is built with an impressive array of mounting options which has massively grown as other manufacturers also play a role in this. Its mounting accessory can let you attach the GoPro camera anywhere with ease.
GoPro mounting accessory comes in various types such as Clamp mounts, Magnetic mounts, floating mounts, suction mounts, and even mounts that can be held in your mouth if you are going hiking or surfing.
The mounting can be done on different objects like car hoods, drones, bikes, chests, surfboards, helmets, and so much more.
GoPro is Rugged
With its protective housings and water-proof capacity relatively compared to several other cameras and smartphones, the GoPro camera is an all-around ruggedness.
And when you go to tour as you travel, GoPro will provide you with protective cover as you are most likely going to bump into the wet moment like rainy season, diving, swimming, surfing, boating, or several other water factors.
There are still some limitations for smartphones to being fully waterproof even though they are still being water resistant. This is where GoPro relatively beats smartphones.
Besides being waterproof, GoPro protective housings can protect it against breaks when it is being dropped without any staggering break effects.
Privacy Issue
Unforeseen circumstances or things can happen sometimes in life like stuff disappearing when traveling. You might lose your camera in the process of leaving it on a sidewalk or getting stolen by passersby. If that happens, you have only lost a camera and probably some photos with it which you can still endure for a short period.
If your phone gets missing that would be a big problem because you not only lose a phone but a lot more like your means of communication, your confidential and sensitive data, by giving room for a total stranger to access your contacts, web logins, e-mails, and a lot more of your personal information.
Advantages of Using a Smartphones Over a GoPro
In as much as GoPro has great functionalities, there are still some things that smartphone does better.
Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, smartphones beat GoPro comparatively because GoPro’s battery life is not even close to the most basic phone.
Editing Option
With the wide range of photo and video editing apps available on smartphones, you can edit GoPro footage. Even the GoPro footage can be edited using the GoPro Quik app that can be installed on your phone.
Sharing Contents
A smartphone is far better than GoPro when it comes to sharing photos with ease.
Despite the several GoPro apps available, it still needs a smartphone as its intermediary to share photos. This is not even as seamless as sharing videos or photos directly from a smartphone to any device or social media network.
How to Use a GoPro Effectively When You Are Going For a Tour
Use a Protective Case
Despite being rugged, the GoPro lenses of both the camera and the housings can still be scratched when moving them around. So you need to get some protection in your camera bag to prevent such scratches that are bad for sharp photos.
Make Plans For a Good Battery Life
If you want your GoPro to always be ready to capture that great moment, you will need to plan a good battery life like taking spare batteries and taking an external battery pack to charge your GoPro camera on the go.
Make Plans to Back Up Your Photos
The memory card in your GoPro camera can store as many photos as it can but the memory card can easily fill up quickly if you are shooting a high-resolution video.
So to cushion against the effect of running out of space, you will need to take spare memory cards. You can even back up your photos or videos to a hard drive or the cloud on the go. The cloud backup service that GoPro offers comes with a paid subscription option.
Go Along With a Tripod Stand and a Selfie Stick
These handy, lightweight, mobile, and collapsible components should be packed as part of your traveling camera option.
They come in different varieties and should either come with a GoPro mount attached, or the tripod mount adapter that can be converted to any standard tripod that can work with your GoPro.
The Default Settings Should Be Set to Single Photos or Burst Photos
The default mode setting can be set to specify the desired default function that will be retained whenever you turn the camera on.
This makes the QuickCapture option to be available whenever you want to start shooting your video, quickly.
For instance, you can set the camera to a single photo or burst photos mode as the default mode, so that when you turn the camera on, it will start in that mode without you scrolling through the options again.
Quality Photo Mode Should Be Set to the Highest
Using the highest quality photo mode will take up space, but it is worth skimping on the resolution especially when you want to blow the shot up for a print-out you want to hang on your wall for a lifetime and unforgettable memory.
Get in Close to Your Subject
Standing back from your subject will make the wide-angle perspective end up a speck in the frame. So to make the most of the immersive perspective that wide-angle provides, you need to get in close.
Also, getting too close will make the immersive focus to be super-deep with the field combination of a fisheye lens and fixed aperture.
Go Along With Anti-Fog Inserts
GoPro housings can fog up in some conditions especially if the waterproof dive housing you are using is a separate one. So, you will need to get anti-fog inserts which you can take anywhere that is full of damp or humid.
Also, to prevent foggy and blurry photos, an anti-fog insert can help to soak up the humidity that is caught inside the housing protection. They are even lightweight and easy to pack.
GoPro Settings and Accessories
GoPro can be taken out of the box and a shot can be taken with it just as it is. There are still some preferences on the settings that you can settle on.
External battery
You need to keep a small, lightweight external battery that you can connect to shoot when the internal battery is dead or charge GoPro with while on the go.
Fabric Soft-Case
You can use a small non-padding fabric pouch to help protect against scratches on the lens.
Aluminum cage
The aluminum cage is very strong that protects with easy access to the memory card slot, ports, buttons, and microphones.
Besides, you can still choose to either use the regular tripod screw or the GoPro mounting system. And to preserve the maximum image quality, you can decide to leave the lens exposed.
Gekkopod
The Gekkopod is a bendable, light tripod that can wrap around a bar or pole. It can also stand up on a table which can be used as a handle for handheld shooting. They are so flexible and incredibly versatile to use.
Exposure settings
The exposure settings to use for your shot depend largely on what is best fit for your preferences. So the settings specified below are not necessarily a recommendation but a suggestion.
Auto Power Off: 7 mins
The GoPro battery can easily run out when you forget to turn it off. So having its power setting automatically turn off after 7 minutes of inactivity or not being used will help preserve the battery on long enough, for long shooting. This helps to keep your battery from dead for completing your video shoot.
Wifi: Off
When the wifi is not in use it is recommended to turn it off so that it doesn’t drain the battery.
Default Shooting Mode: Single Photo
Instead of scrolling through the options, the single photo default shooting mode sets the camera to remain in that mode whenever you turn your GoPro on which saves lots of time. The QuickCapture mode is also available for some models which is ideal for time-lapse and video shots.
By using them in conjunction with each other, you get both options by setting the default mode to photos and QuickCapture for video.
Sharpness Settings: Low
If you plan to add sharpening in post-processing, the medium or high setting is a great option. Also, it is recommended to always apply sharpening in post-processing because it is much easier to add sharpening than remove its effects at the end.
Image Format Settings: RAW (.gpr)
GoPro’s newer Black models provide raw image format with an extension of .gpr for still photos. It also captures a JPG at the same time giving you the option of using the JPG if you want. Notwithstanding, the raw format in post-processing gives you a better option for getting better quality out of the images.
Protune Setting: On
The protune setting option is not available on all models. When you turn Protune on, it gives you a suite of options like flexibility when your post-processing is in something like the GoPro app or Lightroom.
Protune Option / Color: GoPro
This option has both the flat and GoPro. Setting it to the flat option will offer you the maximum control in post-processing which also makes the GoPro setting looks better right out of the camera.
Protune Option / Exposure Compensation: 0
To bring out rich colors when shooting with a DSLR or mirrorless, it is often recommended to slightly underexpose. Applying no exposure compensation works very well in situations that have difficult lighting.
The exposure control or spot meter that lets you fine-tune the frame part to use for the automatic exposure calculations can be found in some GoPro models.
Protune Option / ISO Limit: 800
The higher the ISO limit, the brighter image will be in low light which also produces more image noise. Also, lower numbers which seem better have less image noise, but in low light conditions, the image will be darker.
This setting is specifically setting a limit for the auto-ISO which still lets the camera choose the lowest setting it can go with.
Despite some models now offering a wider range, if you set it to a very high ISO and shoot on a sunny beach, it is still going to shoot at a low ISO. And it will try to use the best available option up to the ISO limit you set if you’re shooting in lower light.
GoPro Compatibility Chargers
GoPro’s chargers come in the standard USB mode. And most of the recently available USB AC adapters are now 110-220 switchable which makes them compatible with the socket in any country you find yourself in. Though, you still need to cross-check such adapters with your device for compatibility purposes before using them.
Using a compatible quick charger like the GoPro’s Supercharger charges newer models that use a USB-C cable, quickly.
GoPro can be charged with spare batteries that use a dedicated battery charger with USB standard. It can also be charged using the DC-USB charger in a car.
Various GoPro Models and Their Features
GoPro HERO4 Silver has a built-in LCD screen which lets you see what you are shooting and gives you the possibility to frame your shot.
While most of the newer models give you through the lens live view using the GoPro mobile app, it is much quicker to have that view with the camera’s built-in LCD screen.
GoPro newer models have two styles such as the common GoPro shape or the cube-like models which are smaller in size. Also, the larger-shaped newer models like the HERO6 Black, HERO5 Black, and HERO (2018) have built-in LCD screen features.
The Features That Make GoPro Camera Standout
RAW Image Format
During post-processing, the Black models let you shoot still photos both in RAW and JPG formats simultaneously. Also, the GoPro RAW image format gives the highest image quality.
GPS Feature
The Black models have a built-in GPS feature.
GoPro Cloud Service
The newer models that are compatible with GoPro’s cloud service, let you back up your photos and videos on the go, even when you are not with your computer.
All of the GoPros will work well for taking your shoot. And most of the recommended models include the HERO6 Black, HERO5 Black, and HERO (2018).
Though the HERO (2018) is an entry-level GoPro camera and doesn’t have many of the features mentioned in other GoPro models, some of its features are good enough to make a good camera.
Built-in Electronic Stabilization
Several of GoPro’s newer camera models have built-in electronic stabilization that lets you create smoother footage in post-processing.
Important Highlights For GoPro Video Quality
- With the overall set of GoPro camera features, you can get some cool photos and footage out of it which most cameras don’t offer.
- GoPro has an improved sensor that works great in low light.
- GoPro has high controls that are so fast to turn it on or off, and even take photos.
- GoPro uses an internal buffer for still photos making it so fast to store your photos.
- GoPro has the option available to add an external battery for better battery life to avoid having a quick dead battery that would bring your shooting to a halt.
So you can still use GoPro as you would with its limitations and strengths to some extent to have some great shots of adventures. Though, some you wouldn’t have been able to get with some other type of cameras.
GoPro camera is so amazing and ideally suited for traveling, hiking, beach holidays, and that special moment of your life.
So share with us what your opinions are regarding using a GoPro camera as a GoPro Video Quality.
How to Enhance the Bad Quality of GoPro Video Quality?
Enhancing or improving poor-quality GoPro videos that are noisy, pixelated, and jittery to turn them bright, super vibrant, and crispy is an objective every GoPro camera owner wants to achieve.
Sometimes, GoPro videos look awful because the video looks bad in quality when uploaded online or playback on screen. However, more light will be thrown in this write-up on how to enhance the bad-quality video captured by GoPro.
You can fix GoPro playback errors with the settings of its playback software or uploading quality reduction platform. It is also recommended to update your camera with enhanced shooting performance to the latest version.
If Your GoPro Footage Has Blurry and Bad Quality, You Can Use GoPro Editor VideoProc:
- To manually correct and adjust color.
- To clear up the blurry or pixelated GoPro video.
- Compatible with recent versions of Mac Os or Windows.
- Adjust video bitrate, resolution, or frame rate.
- To Add filter effects, trim, crop, or cut video.
- Adjust the related parameters to deshake GoPro jerky, shaky video.
- To minimize noise between low and high passes in a defined range.
Using VideoProc to Enhance the Bad Quality of GoPro Videos
The following guides outlined below, explain how to use GoPro VideoProc as a video quality enhancer to improve or enhance poor GoPro videos. But first, you need to download and install the free software on your computer which is available for both Mac and Windows.
Using VideoProc to Clear Blurry or Correct or Adjust Color of GoPro Video
- Launch the VideoProc application, open up the “Video” panel, and click the +Video icon to load the source GoPro video from the computer.
- Next is to choose the format for the output from the “Target Format” list or at the bottom Popular/Video/Device menus. Also, ensure that the quality is at a high level by double-clicking the output tab.
- To access the “Edit Video” section, click the “Effect” button with the magic wand icon. The “Edit Video” can also be accessed by clicking the “Option (codec)” sawtooth icon -> “Edit Video”.
- Here, you can also adjust Hue, Brightness, Saturation, and Gamma video settings for better-quality video. Next is to preview and apply the necessary filter effects to the video.
- Saturation –the color intensity of a video or image. The higher the saturation value the more the colors will show up.
- Brightness – lightens the appearance of your video. Increasing the brightness value will brighten up the video.
- Contrast – is the separation between the darkest and brightest portions. Increasing its value darkens the shadow areas and brightens the highlights.
- Hue – is the reflection of visible light.
- Gamma – describes the values between pixel and luminance.Finally, you can check both “Use High-Quality Engine” or “Deinterlacing” or just an option. Now click “RUN” to get the video quality enhancement processing started.
Using VideoProc to Stabilize GoPro Shaky Video
In most cases, the GoPro camera shoots shaking videos within some extremely rough outdoor shooting moments. With GoPro VideoProc, video quality enhancer software, with a standalone GoPro Deshake feature, you can reduce the shakiness in videos in a matter of clicks. Here are the steps to follow in reducing shakiness in the video:
- After launching VideoProc, click the “+Video” icon at the Video control to input the original GoPro video.
- To show the video stabilization control, navigate to the Toolbox section and double-click the first icon of “Deshake”. NB: You don’t need to define the output profile here.
- Now specify the shakiness, step size, accuracy, and lower contrast values to correct GoPro’s bad shaky video.
- Next is to check “Deinterlacing” or “Use High-Quality Engine”. At the main UI, click on “RUN” to get GoPro’s shaky video quality improved.
Reducing Background Noise with VideoProc
The de-noising feature of GoPro VideoProc can help you remove or reduce background noise with ease. Here are the steps to follow:
- First thing is to drag and import the noisy GoPro video into the VideoProc’s video boards.
- At the bottom section of the Toolbox, double-click GoPro Denoise to open up the Denoise box.
- To improve the video quality better, customize the low pass and high pass values. You can as well leave them at the default values if you don’t know how to specify them.
- You can check “Use High-Quality Engine” and “Deinterlacing” to export high-quality videos. Now, tap on “Done” and then “RUN” to get reducing the background noise started.
Optionally, to reduce background noise, you lower the audio volume or disable the audio track and add background music.
Further Steps to Follow to Get High-Quality GoPro Video
Factors that contribute to poor quality GoPro video are wrong camera settings and rough shooting scenes. So before getting your GoPro into the shooting process, ensure to choose a suitable mode, and keep a good balance in a nice environment, with Protune on or off.
Since light is the most important part of the shooting, ensure to move your lense sources of light and video should be shot at 24fps which is better than at a higher frame rate.
Also, ensure to follow all the processes outlined above to reduce shakiness and background noise in GoPro videos.
ALSO READ: The Best Camera That Makes Videos
Frequently Asked Questions on GoPro Video Quality
How do you make a GoPro video clear?
GoPro footages tend to be pixelated and soft if you set them to 1080p. So to make a GoPro video clear, you can set it to 2k or even as high as 4k mode.
How do you render GoPro videos?
You can render GoPro videos as follows: After launching the GoPro player > Click on file > Next click on the batch exporter. Right here, drag or choose into the space.
How do I export my GoPro 4k?
Exporting GoPro 4k is to first ensure that the little switch is there. Next is to go in and change the values. The width and height dimensions should be 3840 x 2160. You can then edit it in 1080 and you can still export in 4k.
How do I export from GoPro to premiere?
You can export from GoPro to premiere after you have edited your video to how you want it to be. Next is to ensure your timeline is selected. Now click on the File menu and click on Export. These settings can be used to export GoPro videos in Premiere Pro.
How do I edit GoPro 360 in Premiere?
You can edit GoPro 360 in Premiere by clicking the reset button on the scale of the 360 clip. This makes the clip 100%. The next step is to type in reframe.
Do I need to convert GoPro footage before editing?
You will need to convert GoPro footage before editing because the H. 264 file format used in the camera is not built for editing. So before editing GoPro footage, you will need to convert your files into the GoPro/CineForm file format.
How do I change my GoPro from 4K to 1080p?
Here is how to change your GoPro from 4k to 1080p:
Launch WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe > click on the “+ Video” button to add 4K video files, or drag & drop to import your GoPro 4k video files to the program > Select output format > Set Video Resolution to 1080p > Next to start downscaling GoPro 4k to 1080p
What format is GoPro 4K video?
GoPro 4k video formation is 4k for all GoPro HERO cameras that use the H.264 codec wrapped by MP4 except HERO6 Black.
How do I convert my GoPro videos to MP4?
Here is how to convert GoPro videos to MP4: First, add GoPro video to the interface > start the UniConverter of Wondershare > Select the target format for GoPro video > When the video is added, you can expand the output format option tab > Now convert GoPro videos to MP4.
Can you edit GoPro Max footage in Premiere Pro?
You can edit GoPro Max footage in Premiere Pro by using the GoPro FX Reframe plugin to edit your GoPro HERO footage. You can also use the MAX and Fusion footage in Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects respectively.
Can I make YouTube videos with a GoPro?
You can make YouTube videos with a GoPro especially GoPro HERO Black which is specifically designed as a studio camera because of its capacity to record videos on the go. Also, GoPro HERO9 Black models are great for Vlogging.
How do you edit GoPro footage?
You can edit GoPro footage by using GoPro’s free software, GoPro Quik, designed for Desktops.
So, here is where we wrap it off on GoPro Video Quality. You can leave a comment or share your thought on GoPro video quality in the comment section below.
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