GoPro cameras were invented to be waterproof & capture the joy of water sports well.
GoPro Cameras have so many models & specializations that are valuable to know
All models of GoPro cameras are covered here. Information on specializations of use for specific models is very interesting… maybe you did not know these possibilities for them. Did you know that there is one model that, with the proper combination of 3 base pieces of equipment, films in stereoscopic 3D?
There are lots of handy accessories that can add to the convenience and enjoyment of using them. This is all valuable to evaluating whether you want them and envisioning the possibilities for yourself. They are probably a lot more affordable then you realize.
GoPro cameras go where you go
Invented by a surfer who wanted to be able to capture the beauty of this sport in action… They are light, make quality recordings and pictures, are capable of being underwater in the proper housing to a significant depth. Capable of being setup on your car dash, your helmet, or carried along in a little bag on the go. These are cameras that go where you go.
The first and original camera – Hero
If you want to get an old original GoPro Hero, these are the things that are handy for you to know. Yes, they are a more easily affordable GoPro camera, but are they suitable to what you want? There were 2 versions of the first model. The dark gray one is the Hero (or Hero1), and the HD Hero 960 is silver and has a removable housing.
The Hero is the only GoPro that is restricted to a smaller 32 GB microSD card (both versions). It has a status screen, but it does not have an LCD display screen. An LCD display screen can be added to the HD Hero 960 model [ALCDB-001 LCD Display BacPac].
Hero 960
This model is not compatible with any premium accessories because of the absence of the bus port. The premium accessories: LCD BacPac, Battery BacPac, Wi-Fi BacPac + Wi-Fi Remote Combo Kit.
Battery
The original Hero comes with a built-in, rechargeable battery, but the battery can be removed and changed anyway with patience and the proper tool. [see ifixit.com for help with GoPro camera designs and their construction]. It will not have loop recording to make it a handy dash camera, but it does come with remote control. There is no micro HDMI port, so you cannot add an extra battery or Wi-Fi there.
Wi-Fi
You can add a Wi-Fi BacPac to the gray Hero model to give it Wi-Fi. I have been reading a lot of reviews about battery problems with this Wi-Fi bacpac that is now discontinued. Also, this bacpac is much easier to use when the remote is used with it. It is possible to control many cameras with the remote as well.
Sound quality
You can improve the sound quality when not underwater for the HD Hero 960 model by using the skeleton back door that is not waterproof. The mini USB connect does not support an external microphone (mic). There are 2 back doors for the housing that you can get to make it possible to have the water tight housing for the much larger size created by the addition of the Wi-Fi Bacpac.
Sound Issues
With the older GoPro cameras and the effective waterproof case to them, you may have sound issues. For any GoPro that you cannot get good enough sound quality, you can either add a mic adapter and external mic, or you can use a separate external audio recorder.
A less expensive competitor mic adapter will probably not work for you because GoPro uses all 10 pins in the device, where competitors usually only use 5 pins. If you use a separate external audio recorder, you will need to synchronize that recording with your video later. The mic adapter is compatible with the Hero3, Hero3+ and Hero4 (except Session) models.
Hero, Hero+, and Hero+ LCD models
In general, the video quality for the Hero, Hero+, and Hero+ LCD models look best on a mobile screen. The Hero is capable of 5 megapixels per inch (5 Mp) stills and the Hero+ models are capable of 8 megapixels per inch stills (8 Mp). All of these have built-in batteries, which can be changed with the proper information.
Unlike the Hero, the Hero+ can connect to an external battery via a micro USB port. It has Wi-Fi. All of these models are waterproof to more than 130 feet with the housing. Also, these cameras are mountable.
GoPro Hero2 and the models that follow
The Hero2 is the start of better quality cameras that make videos that look good on a computer screen. An LCD display screen can be added to the Hero2 [ALCDB-001 LCD Display BacPac] and there is a Wi-Fi BacPac that can also be added. The Removable touch display LCD Touch BacPac [ALCDB-401] can be added to the Hero3, Hero3+, and Hero4 Black models. Removable Touch Display LCD Touch BackPac [ALCDB-401] is waterproof down to 9 feet too!
These models all have removable, rechargeable batteries. The Hero2 has remote control, all the models after it have long range remote control. This is also the beginning of wind noise reduction for this and all the cameras that follow. All the GoPro cameras after the original Hero model have Wi-Fi (except Hero2), loop recording, and use 64 GB microSD cards. In addition, they all can be attached to mounts.
The newest models
Each generation of GoPro camera becomes a little smaller and the recording quality improves. New models are the best video quality of all the GoPro cameras to be sure. They are calling these ultra HD cameras. The Ultra HD cameras include the Hero4 Silver, Hero4 Black, Hero5 Session, and Hero5 Black cameras. All record in 4k with fantastic quality and have night photo feature and night lapse modes, auto image rotation, and long range smart remote.
The Hero4 and Hero5 models especially, can use as large as a 128 GB microSD card. And just to save you from any confusion, the Hero4 Session is also called just Hero Session.
The new Hero5 models have voice control, advanced wind noise reduction, advanced video stabilization, and the capability to automatically upload to the cloud.
Here are key categories that may help you decide which GoPro camera is the right one for you
Excellent 4K recording performance
Night filming and Studio quality mic
First choice: GoPro Hero5 Black
Second choice: GoPro Hero4 Black
Smallest and lightest GoPro cameras – both are about 2.6 oz.
Best quality 4k recording (need a fast memory microSD card): GoPro Hero5 Session
Second choice: GoPro Hero4 Session
There are 2 ways to get 3D videos with GoPro cameras
There are 2 choices in getting 3D videos using GoPro cameras, one is the special dual hero system housing and the other is with a Vitrima lense. Now, from my research on this, the Vitrima lense has a lot of complaints. It was also not available for sale. If things improve with this choice, I will add it to this list… So now we can discuss the GoPro housing that makes this magic possible…
Stereoscopic 3D recording – requires 2 cameras and dual hero system housing
GoPro Hero3+ Black or any GoPro HD camera
Described as the smallest 1080p 3D system, you use the free editing software and 3D glasses for creating your video. This will also work for the standard HD 1080p Hero cameras and the GoPro Hero3+ Black cameras. You must have 2 of the same kind of camera and their special housing for 3D.
The heart of this system is the sync cable that synchronizes the cameras and makes the 3D filming possible. The software and 3D glasses are free with this system. You need to have both cameras set exactly the same and a stable mounting. This is probably the most affordable way to make 3D videos too…
Great stereo sound
Stereo mic system, Advanced audio processing, Advanced wind noise reduction: GoPro Hero5 Black
Stereo mic system
First choice: Hero5 Session
Second choice: Hero4 Session
Advanced video stabilization
GoPro Hero5 black or GoPro Hero5 Session
Automatic uploading to the cloud
GoPro Hero5 Black or GoPro Hero5 Session
Voice Control
GoPro Hero5 Black or GoPro Hero5 Session
Cheap dash cam (all the models after these are increasing in quality and price and also are a good choice)
GoPro Hero+, or GoPro Hero2
In the following camera products, if the price is not shown, it is because there are multiple sellers and prices
GoPro Cameras
Unlike the standard GoPro… the Session version is a more cube shaped tiny camera around the lens.
Hero
Hero+ – Both versions
Hero2
2 Times Sharper Professional Glass Lens than the GoPro HD Hero Camera. Wi-Fi BacPacTM + Wi-Fi RemoteTM Compatible: Long range remote control of multiple cameras, Wi-Fi Video Preview + Playback on Smartphone /and Medium 127o FOVVIDEO. Includes: camera housing, battery pack, suction cup mount, waterproof case, charger, USB plug, RCA connectors, Video connectors, flat mounts.
Hero3 models
Hero3+ models
Surf edition comes with camera housing, QR buckle, J-hook buckle, three-way pivot, surfboard mount, three-point chest belt, adjustable head strap, monopod with adapter, mini adapter, quick release buckle, two flat mounts with adhesive, two curved mounts with adhesive, screw, and cap
Renewed – Product works and looks like new. Backed by the 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee.
Renewed – Product works and looks like new. Backed by the 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee.
Hero4 models
Session
Batteries included
Includes Standard Housing 131′(40m) Skeleton + Touch Backdoors, 2 Rechargeable Batteries, Curved Adhesive Mount, Flat Adhesive Mount, Quick Release Buckles, 3-Way Pivot Arm, USB Cable, Dual Battery Charger.
Hero5 models
Display BacPacs
GoPro Display BacPac for Hero and Hero2
Diving Housing Accessories for Hero5, Hero6, Hero7
GoPro Diving Housing BacPac for GoPro Hero5, Hero6, and Hero7 models
Hero5, Hero6, Hero7
4.6 out of 5 stars for over 7,100 reviews
Hero5, Hero6 Dive housing plus lens filters & more
Housing comes with 1 Gopro adapter, 1 Red and purple Gopro filters, 1 Touch Screen Backdoor. When diving you can use the touch screen for full control of the camera’s touch display. This seems like such a great combination of GoPro items for Diving.
4.3 out of 5 stars for over 400 reviews
Hero5, Hero6, Hero7 Double Lock Dive housing
4.6 out of 5 stars with over 2,400 reviews
Diving Housing attached to a mounting on a diving mask
Hero5 mount for diving mask for scuba diving and snorkeling
THIS WORKS WITH ALL GOPRO MODELS including the new GoPro Hero 5 and GoPro Session, in addition to all other previous models. 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE.
The best way to have attached for underwater adventures.
3 out of 5 stars for over 180 reviews
Wi-Fi BacPac
GoPro Wi-Fi BacPac for Hero and Hero2
I am reading a lot about problems with the batteries for this item. It sounds like there are many layers to this combination with batteries in them that are in need of recharging. Many reviews are saying that the wifi bacpac and the camera must be updated on software from online on a GoPro account.
The best and easiest results are when the remote is also included with the camera and the Wi-Fi bacpac. This is a discontinued item and I am not seeing any support for it. Sometimes the Bacpac battery is bad and will not charge.
Accessories for GoPro cameras
Multi piece kits
This is a best seller kit good for Gopro Hero 6, fusion, 5, Session, 4, 3, 2, HD, HERO+ (Wi-Fi Enabled) Silver Cameras, SJ4000, 5000, 6000, AKASO, APEMAN, DBPOWER, And Sony Sports DV and More.
4.2 out of 5 stars for over 1.100 reviews
A popular kit is for GoPro Hero 6, GoPro Fusion, HERO 5,Session5, 4, 3+, 3, 2, 1, SJ4000, 5000, 6000, AKASO, APEMAN, DBPOWER, Sony Sports DV, and More.
4.3 out of 5 stars for over 1,500 reviews
Lens filters
CamKix Diving Lens Filter Kit Compatible with GoPro Hero 4, Hero+, Hero and 3+ – fits Standard Waterproof Housing – Enhances Colors for Underwater Video and Photography – Includes 5 Filters
4.3 out of 5 stars for over 900 reviews
Underwater Camera Dive Filters for GoPro Hero 5, 6 and 7 Black Super Suit Waterproof Housing Lens Cover in Red, Light Red, and Magenta, Professional Color Correcting Photography Accessory
4.3 out of 5 stars for over 120 reviews
3M sticky mount for holding your camera in place
These make sure the camera stays stuck on kayaks, helmets, cars, rafts, bikes, windows and front bumpers. They are reliable and stay mounted, no matter what kind of activity.
4.5 out of 5 stars for over 2,100 reviews
Tripod mount adapters
The adapters are for GoPro Hero 6, 5, 4, Session, 3+, 3, 2, 1 Cameras (4 Packs)
4.6 out of 5 stars for over 1,700 reviews
GoPro Jaws: Flex Clamp
Clamp your GoPro to objects ranging in size from 0.25” to 2” (0.6cm to 5cm) in diameter. It has an optional neck adjusts to enable a variety of shooting angles. Camera can be attached directly to clamp for low-profile mounting
Quick release bases make it easy to move camera between different mounts and locations.
4.7 out of 5 stars for over 2,100 reviews
This is the accessory you want for timelapse video
This GorillaPod is easy to use and level up. The legs are flexible and you can configure this however you need for the work you are doing.
4.6 out of 5 stars for over 3,900 reviews
GoPro Adjustabe Extension Selfie Stick
Vicdozia 19” Waterproof Hand Grip Adjustable Extension Selfie Stick Handheld Monopod for GeekPro/GoPro HD Hero 6 5 4 3+ 3 2 1, AKASO, SJCAM SJ4000 SJ5000 Xiaomi Yi(with Wrist Strap and Screw)
4.5 out of 5 stars for over 2,000 reviews
Gimbal stabilizer
The stabilizer will help you to get smooth video that is free of shakiness. Built-in camera controls give you the ability to power on and off, change modes, start and stop recording, and add HiLight Tags on the fly.
4.3 out of 5 stars for over 200 reviews
Camera stabilizer
The camera stabilizer for GoPro, Smartphone, Canon, Nikon – or any camera up to 2.1 lbs. This is a popular and highly rated accessory.
3.9 out of 5 stars for over 3,200 reviews
Hero3+ dual housing for stereoscopic 3D
4.4 out of 5 stars for over 25 reviews
Twin Mount Adapter – an alternative to the dual camera housing
Twin mount adapter – a fixture to hold the cameras in the correct position for 3D video recording.
For 3D, your cameras must be mounted side-by-side and your subject can’t be closer than 30 inches for every inch the cameras are apart. They must be same speed.
There is software to calculate the distances necessary for your camera chip sizes, closest or farthest object, and the distance your cameras will need to be apart to accurately shape your subjects stereoscopically.
This will fit gopro 8 and gopro 3 both with underwater housing.
For GoPro Hero 10/9/8/7/(2018)/6/5 Black,4 Session,YI,Campark,AKASO,SJCAM,DJI Osmo Action Cameras
Didn’t find what you were looking for? Contact me at the email listed here or try going the camera department…
