GoPro cameras are best known for shooting video. But they can also be interesting and useful options for taking still photos, too.
They don’t work quite the same as most other cameras out there, but if you’re willing to work with their quirks rather than against them, they can also be a great tool for taking photos.
Pros & cons of shooting photos with the GoPro HER10 Black
Many people who use GoPros stick to shooting video. But that’s missing the opportunities to create some really fun and interesting photos that make use of the camera’s unique mix of features and quirks. Here’s a rundown of what I see as some of the pros and cons of the HERo10 Black for shooting photos.
Pros
- On the plus side, the HERO10 Black, like the models before it, is tiny, rugged, and waterproof right out of the box. The benefit of that is that you can shoot photos in places that most cameras can’t. And this, to me, is by far the most interesting aspect here. And, for me, at least, it often trumps any of the negatives that come with shooting with the camera.
- They’re tiny. That means highly portable, but it also means you’re unlikely to get hassled in places where “professional cameras” aren’t welcome.
- There are options for controlling them remotely, whether using a dedicated remote control or the GoPro Quik mobile app. This again greatly expands the options for putting your GoPro in places that most other cameras can’t go.
- And with auto-everything as at least an option, they’re quite close to foolproof. You’re likely to get decent-quality images without messing with exposure settings.
Cons of shooting photos with the GoPro HERO10 Black
- On the negative side, you’re mostly stuck with the lens that comes with it.1 The ultra-wide fisheye look works wonderfully for some scenes, but it doesn’t work well for other more traditional shots.
- Battery life is always an issue with GoPros. And they can be sluggish to use, at least compared to other more traditional cameras.2
- Low-light performance isn’t great. Their sensors have just never been very good at shooting in low-lighting conditions.
- Image quality is good–even great for some uses–but if you’re aiming for large prints, you’ll notice the image quality flaws.
GoPro HERO10 Black photo samples
I’ve covered the GoPro HERO10 Black photo modes in detail separately.
To go along with that, here’s a selection of photos I’ve taken with the HERO10 to give a sense of how it can be used as a general travel camera.
I realize these aren’t the kinds of photos that you see in GoPro marketing materials, but that’s rather the point — I want to focus on how GoPros can be used for a wider range of uses than just extreme action shots and to provide something different to the marketing shots.
This is a growing collection, and I hope to add to it from time to time.
GoPro HERO10 Black sample photos
Price & availability of the GoPro HERO10 Black
There have been several newer models of GoPro released since I originally posted this, but you can still find new copies of the HERO10 Black. And you can sometimes find it priced as a relative bargain.
Check the current price and availability at:
GoPro HERO10 Black photo FAQs
Can you take photos with the GoPro HERO10 Black?
Yes. In addition to video (and timelapse and hyperlapse), the GoPro HERO10 Black has a photo mode. It takes 23MP still images and saves them in JPG or RAW (.GPR) formats. There are burst photo modes, enhanced HDR and SuperPhoto modes, a limited choice of fields of view, and burst mode shooting for fast-action sequences.
Have Camera Will Travel Newsletter
Practical field notes, hands-on gear tests, and the fun of exploring the world with a camera in hand.
Does the GoPro HERO10 Black have zoom?
The GoPro HERO10 Black has a digital zoom (not an optical zoom).
Notes & References:
- The HERO10 Black does offer a few different FOV options as well as a digital zoom, but none of those work as well or as flexibly as an interchangeable lens system or an optical zoom. [↩︎]
- The HERO10 makes some improvements in responsiveness over earlier models, although it’s still slow to use if you’re looking to tweak the exposure settings. [↩︎]
Hi,
Great photographs.
I just got my GoPro 10 Black. I took photo’s in Maui while snorkeling. I would love to know what is the best way to zoom underwater (or can you)? and what are the best settings for underwater. My pictures are a little grainy and even though the water was very clear , the pictures have a sort of over lay as if it wasn’t.
Thank you,
Mary
No, there’s no way to zoom underwater, unfortunately. Zooming requires using the back touchscreen, and touchscreens don’t work underwater.
As for the image quality issues you’ve run into, a few possibilities come to mind. GoPros don’t work well in low light–the images get quite grainy. Depending on how deep you were or the lighting conditions, it could be that if the camera was bumping up the ISO in the automatic exposure (often happens if you’re pointing the camera down at the bottom when underwater.
Were you using the default settings for photos? If you’d changed some Protune settings like ISO, that could also produce graininess.
And was the front lens clear? It’s very easy to accidentally smear sunscreen on the glass–I’ve done that myself.
As for settings, most of the time I find the default settings to work quite well. Probably the single biggest improvement is by adding an accessory: a red (or orange) underwater filter. It does cut down the light a bit, but it restores a more natural color balance so not everything is blue. I have one example here, but there are others (including some that are cheaper and simpler).