GoPros are best known for video, but they can also work well with still images, whether it’s an individual image, a fast sequence using burst mode, or a longer sequence of time lapse shots.
Here’s a rundown of the specifications and options of the GoPro HERO (2018)‘s photo mode.
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Photo Size on the GoPro HERO (2018)
Some GoPros let you choose an image size, but with the HERO (2018) you don’t get any choice–it’s a fixed 10MP image size. That produces images that are 3648 by 2736 pixels with an aspect ratio of 4:3.
While the HERO (2018) probably isn’t necessarily a first choice of camera if you’re looking to take photos to print and hang on your wall, that 10MP resolution is comfortably large enough to make 8 by 10 inch prints at full resolution (and much of the time significantly larger than that will also look good). It’s certainly more than enough for sharing images online while still allowing plenty of room to crop.
The file size of the JPGs varies because of the way that JPG (or JPEG) image compression works. Images with few tones and little detail can be compressed better than images with lots of smooth tones and heavy on details. That means that the file size can vary shot to shot. I’ve gotten images anywhere from 3MB to 10MB, with most falling around 4-6MB.
Photo Format on the GoPro HERO (2018)
All photos on the HERO (2018) are saved as JPGs. There is no option to save as RAW files (GoPro’s .gpr file).1
Fields of View
Fields of View, or FOV, refer to the perspective of the lens. The ultra-wide angle perspective that we’re most used to with GoPros produces that distorted, bulging fisheye look. It creates an immersive feel, but it doesn’t look “normal” to us, and it’s not ideal for all shooting situations. But there are other fields of view available when shooting photos on the HERO (2018).
The other FOVs available are Medium and Narrow. Those are essentially crops rather than corrections. Or, put another way, the result is like a digital zoom (not an optical zoom). Nothing changes with the lens—it just crops in on the center part of the image. But the resulting file dimensions remain constant across all the fields of view (ie. they’re always 3648 by 2736 pixels).
Wide FOV
This is the default fisheye view. In capturing a super-wide perspective, it also distorts the view beyond what we’d consider normal. The center of the frame seems to bulge, while lines that should be straight, such as the horizon or vertical walls, end up curved. The effect, or barrel distortion, is more exaggerated closer to the edges of the frame. The EXIF metadata registers this FOV as a 15mm focal length when converted to 35mm (or full-frame) equivalent.
GoPro HERO (2018) Wide FOV
Medium FOV
Here’s an example using the Medium FOV. It was taken from the same camera and same spot. The EXIF metadata registers this FOV as a 23mm focal length when converted to 35mm (or full-frame) equivalent.
GoPro HERO (2018) Medium FOV
Narrow FOV
And here’s an example the Narrow FOV, again from the same camera and position. The EXIF metadata registers this FOV as a 35mm focal length when converted to 35mm (or full-frame) equivalent.
GoPro HERO (2018) Narrow FOV
Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) on the GoPro HERO (2018)
Wide dynamic range, or WDR, is a special mode that tries to capture more detail in the shadows and highlights.
So it’s the same sort of idea as what is usually referred to as high dynamic range (or HDR) images. (The HERO6 Black has an HDR mode instead.) But WDR is less aggressive (and also less effective than the HDR mode on the HERO6).
Here’s a side-by-side example of a standard non-WDR image and a WDR image, both taken with a HERO (2018).
Standard photo without WDR.
Standard photo with WDR.
Burst Mode
Burst mode is a special photo mode that takes a high-speed sequence of photos. It’s especially useful for fast action shots.
The HERO (2018)’s burst mode is limited to 10 photos in 1 second.
The HERO also has a variation of burst mode known as continuous shooting. Rather than shooting a preset number of photos in the sequence and then stopping, continuous mode keeps shooting rapidly while you hold the shutter down. It can capture up to 4 frames per second for a maximum of 30 shots.
Protune
The HERO (2018) doesn’t offer any Protune settings in either photo or video modes.
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Debbie says
HI – I have a hero go pro 7 black and am new to this. I am disappointed when I video or take pictures in that my subject is shrunk to a tiny size – even with the zoom at max. It’s smaller than any other video size – including why iPhone. IS it supposed to be that way? If so, I can’t use it because it makes whatever I am filming too small to really see at playback. Thanks PS I called support and they want samples via youtube but I am hoping for a simple answer. – fast! Thanks
David says
It sounds like what you’re running into is the ultra-wide angle lens. It’s much wider than most cameras and iPhones. It can be a mixed blessing, and unfortunately, there’s a limit to what you can do about it. It works well if you’re in very close to your subject, but that’s not always practical. You can find more on it here—not so much solutions, as such, but examples and workarounds.
Buffy says
I have a GoPro Hero 2018 and the FOV always shows Wide and I cannot change it. Can you help me find where I can change this to medium?
Thank you,
David says
I assume you’re shooting video rather than the photo mode? If so, the other FOVs are available when using the 1080 setting. With the 1440 resolution, it’s locked at Wide. If you’re in the photo mode, you should have the option for Wide, Medium, and Narrow by tapping on the FOV info at the bottom right of the main viewing screen.