Get the Most Out of Your GoPro

GoPros are little great adventurers and Now that the weather is starting to get warmer, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to talk about them and share with you five ways in which you can exploit their usability.

As you may know, GoPros are designed to be the perfect travel companions. They are light and comfortable and with them you can photograph or record your best moments, whether it is practicing water or winter sports, hiking, parachuting, cycling, driving, etc.

Obviously, these cameras have their own limitations, but here are some tips on how to maximize the potential of a GoPro camera.

IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A SELFIE, PUT SOME DISTANCE

The lens of GoPro cameras is very angular, something that causes barrel distortion. The closer you get to the camera, the more elongated your face will look. Therefore, it is not advisable to record yourself from too close, the best way to take selfies or record yourself is by placing the camera on a mini tripod or using the selfie stick.

(Image: © GoPro)

VIDEO OVER PHOTO

Have you ever hesitated between taking a video or a photo? If so, let us solve your doubt: when using a GoPro do the first thing. There are programs, such as GoPro Quick or VLC, that allow you to extract frames from videos. You will be able to choose which image or images to keep from the entire video.

NIGHT TIME IS NOT ITS AREA OF EXPERTISE, BUT...

Although it has a night mode, GoPro is not a camera designed for night photography: too much grain and poor definition.

However, if you decide to use it at night, we recommend recording or photographing near light sources. If you are in the middle of nature you can use a flashlight or any other light to shine on you. If you are in the city, take advantage of the streetlights, shop windows, car lights, etc. Continuous lights that you can attach to your camera or even a GoPro flash can also be very useful.

DIVE IN

GoPro is great for taking photos underwater. The most important thing to keep in mind is that, once again, light conditions, especially if you want to photograph a subject that is not close to the camera. We recommend recording videos in shallower water for better color effects. And if it is in the central hours of the day, even better. Taking pictures during sunrise or sunset will be effective if you are out of the water, if you are going to dive with the GoPro, do it when the sun hits hard to get better visibility.

TURN IT INTO A WEBCAM

Did you know that a GoPro camera can be used as a webcam? It may come in handy for anyone who needs to telework. The company itself offers software that allows you to use these action cameras as a webcam on both Windows and macOS. The steps to follow are quite simple, but it varies depending on the model. With GoPro HERO9 Black and GoPro HERO8 Black, for example, you will only need a USB Type-C cable like the one that comes in the box (this will allow you to send the image while charging the device). Next, you will need to download the GoPro tool. Once you do this, connect the camera to the computer, and it will show up as a webcam, under the name of GoPro Camera.

(Image: © Future)