GoPro HERO3+ HERO4 Best Practices
By GoPro Ambassador Professional Surfer Reno Makani
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Filming Action Sports like Surfing, Snowboarding, Skateboarding, Moto, Drifting, MTB or
any high speed action I use 960p @ 120 fps or or 1080p @ 120 fps. For ultra wide clean crisp shots use 1440p @ 48-80 fps and HERO4 Silver & HERO3+ Black users try 1080p 60 fps or 960p @ 100 fps. For professional settings turn ON Protune - I like to use these configured settings for during the day - Spot Meter Off - Unless I'm in a tight dark area pointing the camera into a brighter setting. Protune On, White Balance AUTO, Color GoPro, ISO Limit 400, Sharpness LOW and EV Comp N/A. Protune On makes Neutral Color for more flexibility during post production. Able to now Record video in cinema quality 24 fps.
any high speed action I use 960p @ 120 fps or or 1080p @ 120 fps. For ultra wide clean crisp shots use 1440p @ 48-80 fps and HERO4 Silver & HERO3+ Black users try 1080p 60 fps or 960p @ 100 fps. For professional settings turn ON Protune - I like to use these configured settings for during the day - Spot Meter Off - Unless I'm in a tight dark area pointing the camera into a brighter setting. Protune On, White Balance AUTO, Color GoPro, ISO Limit 400, Sharpness LOW and EV Comp N/A. Protune On makes Neutral Color for more flexibility during post production. Able to now Record video in cinema quality 24 fps.
(Note) HERO3 Silver users I recommend 720p @ 60 fps for high speed action.
To sum it up it depends on what your doing in post production. If seamless slow motion is what you want, I recommend filming in higher fps resulting in smoother slow motion.
(Note) HERO4 Black users if you really want to get the best quality try 4K @ 30 fps it will blow your mind :) but remember you need a fast processor and 4K TV/Monitor.
(Note) Learn to use GoPro Studio 2.5.3 to convert/transcode clips (720p, 960p & 1440p) to 1080p. If your just wanting to film B-roll use 1080p @ 60fps or 1080p @ 30 fps. HERO3+ Black users try 1080p 48 fps SuperView On if your feeling a little lazy haha)
I recommend using New GoPro Studio 2.5.3 software to convert/transcode 720p, 960p & 1440p to 1080p HD video. You can also use GoPro Studio 2.5.3 for amazing photography time-lapse's.
Better yet GoPro Studio is FREE. Download your copy > http://bit.ly/GoPro_Studio_2
(Note) Functions include • Frame-rate adjust for slow motion • Exposure • Contrast • Saturation • Color Temperature • Image flip rotation • Slow Motion • Video Templates • Frame Re-size (Up-res/Down-res)
(Note) Your gonna have to play with the Framing Controls like Zoom, Horizontal Position, Vert Pos, Rotation, H.Zoom, H.Dynamic, Cropping and zoom etc in order to get the ratio perfect.
Time-Lapse of a sunrise or sunset I will usually capture one photo every 2 seconds (30 photos per 1 minute)
(Note) When shooting faster moving abjects you will want to speed up the Time-Lapse to 1 photo every sec (60 photos in 1 minute)
Action Shots with Time-Lapse. If I don't have access to my hands or remote I use Time-Lapse 1 photo every 0.5 seconds. (120 photos in 1 minute)
(Note) From time to time I use Burst Mode (HERO4) at 30 fps 12 MP photos at 1-3 second intervals for ultimate detail and a streamline sequence.
Burst Mode 30 photos in 2 seconds (Remote on my wrist) > Photo GoPro
San Diego Freeway 8 looking east (Night Lapse Mode) Photo GoPro HERO4 Black
Night Photo - Long Exposure
Shutter - 2 Seconds
Spot Meter - Off
Protune - On
White Balance - 3000K
Color - GoPro Color
ISO Limit - 100 or 200
Sharpness - Low, Medium or High depending how bright the shot is.
Exposure time on Night Photo is set to auto by default. In auto you can expose from 1/4096th of a second up to 2 seconds. This means you can use this mode to shoot regular photos as well! More customized photos, manually set the exposure to 2 sec, 5, 10, 20 or even 30 sec. Use with the App remote or WiFi remote. This mode can be great for long exposure video creation, stop-motion and mental low light shots from just about all scenes imagined.
Post Production - (Video)
I use Final Cut Pro X ($299) but you can use iMovie (FREE with MAC)
and new GoPro Studio 2.5.3 use iOS Apps like iMovie, Splice, iMotionHD and SquaredyV.
(Note) Watch my last FCP production (GoPro Surfing China) with Teammate Jamie Sterling (Video Below) This video was my second GoPro video of the day to be featured.
Here's another photo that was shared on GoPro social media of Jamie Starling and I.
Post Production MAC - (Photography)
I recommend Photo Shop CC and Adobe Light Room (FREE Trials Available for PS & LR) iPhoto (FREE) works decent and is great for beginners.
(Note) iOS iPhone Apps I like to use are GoProApp, Light Room Mobile (Great way to sync photos from your MAC to your iPhone) DropBox Snapseed, Camera+, Squaready Pro, Squaready V, JusGram, Repost, PS Express, PicPlayPost, Lensflair, iMovie, iMotionHD, ColorSplash, LetterFX, PhotoCube, VersaGram, PhotoWizard, TextMask, Phonto and iWaterMark to name a few.
Battery life
One of the weakest areas of the GoPro HERO3. It’s due to the intense processing power required to run all those high resolutions and frame rates. The GoPro HERO3 is very small so there’s no more room for larger battery power. Decreasing the power supply we now have WiFi built in. Here is a diagram that will help you understand how long you will be able to capture media with your GoPro HERO3. Have not tested battery life for the new HERO4
One of the weakest areas of the GoPro HERO3. It’s due to the intense processing power required to run all those high resolutions and frame rates. The GoPro HERO3 is very small so there’s no more room for larger battery power. Decreasing the power supply we now have WiFi built in. Here is a diagram that will help you understand how long you will be able to capture media with your GoPro HERO3. Have not tested battery life for the new HERO4
Stand-By Mode
Kicks in after the camera has been idle in any state (except recording) after 5 minutes. Once it’s in stand-by mode you won’t see anything different on the screen. If you press a button to record you’ll notice there’s a 1 second delay between pressing the button and the camera responding. (Note) if you’re in photo mode and you’re waiting more than 5 minutes to capture a moment!). If you’ve ever wondered why there’s been a delay – that’s why! Stand-by mode is amazing for when the camera is accidentally turns on. GoPro did some recording tests and the camera ran on stand-by mode (waiting to film) for 6 hours before draining the battery supply. I always recommend setting your GoPro to turn off in 120 seconds. Have not tested Stand-ByMode battery life for the new HERO4.
Kicks in after the camera has been idle in any state (except recording) after 5 minutes. Once it’s in stand-by mode you won’t see anything different on the screen. If you press a button to record you’ll notice there’s a 1 second delay between pressing the button and the camera responding. (Note) if you’re in photo mode and you’re waiting more than 5 minutes to capture a moment!). If you’ve ever wondered why there’s been a delay – that’s why! Stand-by mode is amazing for when the camera is accidentally turns on. GoPro did some recording tests and the camera ran on stand-by mode (waiting to film) for 6 hours before draining the battery supply. I always recommend setting your GoPro to turn off in 120 seconds. Have not tested Stand-ByMode battery life for the new HERO4.
Professional Techniques -
Learn to use the Wifi Remote. This will result in saving time and capturing shots remotely.
Learn to use the GoPro App. I use this religiously to change settings and calibrate my view of whats in frame. I also transfer media back to my iPad or iPhone.
(Note) Last thing you want to do is go out and capture amazing content then later find out that you or your object was not within frame.
(Note) Be sure you turn off WiFi function when your done unless your using remote or App as it will drain your battery quite fast.
Night Photo - Long Exposure
Shutter - 2 Seconds
Spot Meter - Off
Protune - On
White Balance - 3000K
Color - GoPro Color
ISO Limit - 100 or 200
Sharpness - Low, Medium or High depending how bright the shot is.
Night Photo - Long Exposure
Shutter - 2 Seconds
Spot Meter - Off
Protune - On
White Balance - 3000K
Color - GoPro Color
ISO Limit - 100 or 200
Sharpness - Low, Medium or High depending how bright the shot is.
Thanks for tuning into my network. I'm happy to add value and share my GoPro knowledge as 2014 will mark 9 years since I first experimented Nicholas Woodmans original GoPro Hero 35mm wrist camera and going on 7 years since religiously working with GoPro on a professional level adding value and putting cameras in places that have yet to be seen.
Take a moment next time your on your PC or MAC and link up with my Facebook Page. If you want to help support my work even farther on the right side you will see a box that says "Invite Your Friends to Like this Page" Feel free to down the list and invite your peers and the people by checking the box that have similar passions and interest such as GoPro, photography and cinematography. This will help me reach people who share similar passions and like minded interests.
I would also like to thank Nicholas, Justin, Pilar, Andie and the entire GoProOG crew for all their continued support. Looking forward to the future.
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Aloha Reno Makani
"Surfing Is The Key To My Life" | Reno Makani | Official Website www.renomakani.com
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