GoProGoPro is to action cameras what Kleenex is to tissues. That is, the GoPro brand has become so synonymous with compact action cameras that even cameras from other brands are called GoPro, often incorrectly.
But there’s only one GoPro, and while the California-based company wasn’t the first to make a compact camera capable of shooting stills and video in extreme conditions, it was the first to make it mainstream, and to this day its cameras remain some of the best .
But what is a GoPro? Read on to learn more about the little miracle that gave birth to a new industry.
So what makes a GoPro?
The GoPro camera was originally designed by current CEO Nick Woodman as a compact means of taking photos and videos while surfing. Although the devices are often still used for this purpose, the company has come a long way in the 15 years since its initial founding, and GoPro cameras are now used by a variety of extreme athletes and adventurers, in addition to more casual users.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
At its core, the GoPro is a small camera that takes the best qualities of a point-and-shoot and camcorder and packs them into a rugged frame that’s smaller, waterproof, and nearly indestructible. Inside the cuboid design is an image sensor, a processor, an ultra-wide-angle lens and up to three microphones for recording sound in different conditions. The user interface consists of just two or three buttons, and the Hero5 Black and Hero6 Black models have touchscreens for more control.
Painting possibilities
While not necessarily the most important component, a key element of a GoPro is its lens. Instead of a standard lens, the GoPro – like many other action cameras – uses an ultra-wide lens. What this does is increase the amount of scenery you capture, making it easier to frame your photo. Attach it to your handlebars or the side of your helmet and you can be sure that it can see almost everything that’s going on in front of you.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
But it’s not just the lens that’s responsible for GoPro’s impressive video recording. The new GoPro Hero6 Black records 4K video at 60 frames per second (fps) and Full HD 1080 at up to 240 fps. This isn’t just impressive for such a small camera — several interchangeable-lens models have achieved 4K/60, the first being the $2,000 Panasonic Lumix GH5. As for stills, the Hero6 takes 12-megapixel images with features like WDR (Wide Dynamic Range, GoPro’s jargon for high dynamic range, or HDR) and RAW file capture. And a new image processor — a first for GoPro cameras — helps improve performance and image stabilization. GoPro has managed to fit all of this into a camera that’s not much bigger than most DSLR batteries.
GoPros can be used as standalone cameras, but thanks to a great mobile app, they also pair perfectly with Android and iOS devices, allowing you to add more functionality and versatility. Using built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, users gain full control of their GoPro camera and can even display a live feed of what was captured directly on their mobile device.
In fact, the software is what really makes GoPro stand out from the competition. Sure, you’ll find cheaper cameras with similar specs, but what they lack is GoPro’s unification of hardware and software. Its Quik app, for example, takes your footage and automatically stitches it together into short, shareable, social-media-ready videos.
Endless mounting possibilities
Another component of the GoPro that has made it so ubiquitous is its versatility when it comes to editing. Even the first-generation model was small enough to fit into tight, obscure places. In fact, the GoPro mounting system has become so ubiquitous that many other manufacturers produce cameras that are compatible with it.
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From standard bike mounts to vacuum mounts to aerial drone mounts, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an object that a GoPro can’t be attached to in some way (often you’ll even get a pair of zip ties to get the job done, for a DIY approach). Add the waterproofing and ruggedness of GoPro’s latest action cameras, and you’ve got a nearly indestructible camera that can be placed anywhere you can imagine. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite GoPro accessories.
Limitations
GoPro cameras are great for hands-free shooting, from a point of view — but that doesn’t mean they can replace a camcorder or a larger DSLR or mirrorless camera. For advanced users, the lack of full manual control on the GoPro can be problematic (you can set exposure compensation using the Protune feature, but you don’t have direct control over aperture and shutter speed). The lack of buttons and dials also means you’ll have to rely on the touchscreen or your smartphone to make changes, which is fine for shooting a set-it-and-forget adventure, but not great if you need to make adjustments on the fly.
Image quality, while good for a small action camera, is another area where a camcorder or interchangeable lens camera will come out ahead. Mirrorless cameras and DSLRs use significantly larger image sensors, which capture more light and thus lead to superior image quality, especially when you have to shoot in low light conditions. But even small-sensor camcorders benefit from built-in zoom lenses, which offer different perspectives without cropping the image, as the GoPro does when choosing narrower fields of view.
Daven Mathies/Digital Trends
However, it is not GoPro’s job to compete with such cameras. If you’re looking for a sweet and simple solution to capture your adrenaline-pumping adventures, or just a compact means of capturing family vacations, it’s hard to resist picking one up.
For a more in-depth look at which GoPro model is best for your needs, check out our detailed guide. We’ve also got some tips and tricks to get you started, along with a roundup of the best plugins.
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Source: newstars.edu.vn