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GoPro HERO5 Black vs HERO (2018)

Here's a detailed comparison of the GoPro HERO (2018) and the HERO5 Black.

GoPro HERO vs HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black

From left to right: GoPro HERO (2018), HERO6 Black, HERO5 Black.

By David Coleman | @havecamerawilltraveldc
Last updated about 3 months ago // Categories: Comparison Reviews
Tags: GoPro HERO (2018), GoPro HERO5 Black

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GoPro has now released a new camera called the HERO, bringing the current lineup to five cameras and continuing a confusing naming system. Because this isn’t the first time there’s been a GoPro HERO. There was an earlier one released in 2014. And well before that, there was the HD HERO and another HERO that’s now usually referred to as the Standard Def. HERO. And let’s not forget the HERO+ and the HERO+ LCD. With all of those HEROs, you’ll often see the newest version called the HERO (2018) to make it clear which version is being referred to, and that’s the model I’m focusing on here.

The HERO (2018) is the latest addition to GoPro’s current lineup, which also includes the HERO Session, HERO5 Session, HERO6 Black, and Fusion. I’ve previously posted a detailed side-by-side comparison between the HERO (2018) and the HERO6 Black.

But there’s also another model that’s remarkably similar and some key respects. It’s the older HERO5 Black. The HERO5 Black has been superseded by the newer HERO6 Black, but since it’s readily available and you can find some good deals on it that brings it into the same ballpark as the HERO, I thought it might be useful to provide a detailed side-by-side comparison in case anyone is trying to choose between them.

The HERO and the HERO5 Black look identical on the outside. And they share quite a lot of similarities under the hood too. But there are also key differences. In broad strokes, the HERO5 Black can do everything the HERO can do, and quite a lot more besides.

The HERO (2018) is designed as the simplified, entry-level camera. The HERO5 Black was, before the HERO6 Black came along, GoPro’s flagship camera, and it’s packed with the kinds of bells and whistles that comes with that territory. But there’s quite a lot about the HERO to suggest that it’s fundamentally a repurposed and rebadged HERO5 Black with a feature set that’s artificially limited by the firmware.

After I originally posted this, some users figured out ways to hack the firmware of their HERO (2018) camera to turn it into a fully functional HERO5 Black. Which confirms my original suspicion that the only difference is in the camera’s firmware, which on the HERO (2018) provides a more limited set of features. It’s something GoPro disapproves of, and it’s not something I’m going to explain how to do here, but you can find instructions elsewhere on the web.

Design and Build

They use the same case, so from the outside, they look identical. You have to look very closely to see the subtle model name printed on the side. They’re the same size and weight. They have the same buttons and screens and controls.

GoPro HERO vs HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black

From left to right: GoPro HERO, HERO6 Black, HERO5 Black.

GoPro HERO vs HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black

From left to right: GoPro HERO, HERO6 Black, HERO5 Black.

Waterproof. They’re both waterproof without the need for a separate housing, rated down to 33 feet (10 meters). If you need to go deeper than that, both are compatible with the same Super Suit dive housing.

Back Screen. They both have an LCD screen on the back that gives you touch control as well as being used for playback and live view.

HERO5 Black vs HERO (2018): Video

Shooting video is the area where there are the biggest differences between these models. The HERO5 Black has an extensive range of video resolutions and framerates available, all the way up to high-end video modes like 4K30 and 1080p120.

The HERO (2018)’s video options are much slimmer. You can shoot in either 1080p or 1440p up to a maximum of 60 fps. The HERO doesn’t shoot 4K or 2.7K video.

Here’s the full chart comparing the available video modes.

ResolutionFPSFOVDimensionsGoPro HERO5 BlackGoPro HERO (2018)
4K30Wide3840x2160✓
25Wide3840x2160✓
24Wide3840x2160✓
SuperView3840x2160✓
2.7K60Wide2704x1520✓
Medium2704x1520✓
Linear2704x1520✓
50Wide2704x1520✓
Medium2704x1520✓
Linear2704x1520✓
48Wide2704x1520✓
Medium2704x1520✓
Linear2704x1520✓
30SuperView2704x1520✓
Wide2704x1520✓
Medium2704x1520✓
Linear2704x1520✓
25SuperView2704x1520✓
Wide2704x1520✓
Medium2704x1520✓
Linear2704x1520✓
24Wide2704x1520✓
Medium2704x1520✓
Linear2704x1520✓
2.7K 4:330Wide2704x2028✓
25Wide2704x2028✓
1440p80Wide1920x1440✓
60Wide1920x1440✓✓
50Wide1920x1440✓✓
48Wide1920x1440✓
30Wide1920x1440✓✓
25Wide1920x1440✓✓
24Wide1920x1440✓
1080p120Wide1920x1080✓
Narrow1920x1080✓
90Wide1920x1080✓
80SuperView1920x1080✓
60SuperView1920x1080✓
Wide1920x1080✓✓
Medium1920x1080✓✓
Linear1920x1080✓
Narrow1920x1080✓✓
50SuperView1920x1080✓
Wide1920x1080✓✓
Medium1920x1080✓✓
Linear1920x1080✓
Narrow1920x1080✓✓
48SuperView1920x1080✓
Wide1920x1080✓
Medium1920x1080✓
Linear1920x1080✓
Narrow1920x1080✓
30SuperView1920x1080✓
Wide1920x1080✓✓
Medium1920x1080✓✓
Linear1920x1080✓
Narrow1920x1080✓✓
25SuperView1920x1080✓
Wide1920x1080✓✓
Medium1920x1080✓✓
Linear1920x1080✓
Narrow1920x1080✓✓
24SuperView1920x1080✓
Wide1920x1080✓
Medium1920x1080✓
Linear1920x1080✓
Narrow1920x1080✓
960p120Wide1280x960✓
60Wide1280x960✓
50Wide1280x960✓
720p240Narrow*1280x720✓
120SuperView1280x720✓
Wide1280x720✓
Medium1280x720✓
Narrow1280x720✓
100SuperView1280x720✓
60SuperView1280x720✓
Wide1280x720✓
Medium1280x720✓
Narrow1280x720✓
50SuperView1280x720✓
Wide1280x720✓
Medium1280x720✓
Narrow1280x720✓
30Wide1280x720✓
Medium1280x720✓
Narrow1280x720✓
25Wide1280x720✓
Medium1280x720✓
Narrow1280x720✓
480p240Wide848x480✓

Stabilization. Both cameras have the option to enable the built-in software stabilization to get smoother footage. Also known as EIS, you can see some practical examples of it in action here.

Stabilization isn’t available in all the video modes of the HERO5 Black. You can see which modes it’s available in here. On the HERO, the stabilization is available in all of its video modes.

When using the stabilization option, you do get a very slight cropping of the available view.

Fields of Vision / FOV. The HERO offers three fields of vision, or FOV, when shooting video, although they’re not all available in all shooting modes. The default is the distinctive Wide look with fisheye distortion that provides that immersive look we’re used to. When shooting in 1080p, you can also choose a Medium or Narrow FOV. Depending on how you look at it, these are crops of digital zooms (not optical zooms). You can see some examples here

The FOVs available on the HERO5 Black overlap, but there are also some extra options. It also has Wide, Medium, and Narrow FOVs, but there’s also a SuperView mode (even wider) and a Linear FOV, which mostly corrects for the fisheye distortion to convert it to a more natural perspective (particularly useful when filming from drones). The Linear FOV is different to the Medium and Narrow FOVs in that it’s a calculated correction applied by the camera’s software rather than a simple crop.

Bitrates. The maximum bitrate used (currently) on the HERO (2018) is 45 Mbps.1 The maximum bitrate on the HERO5 Black is 60 Mbps. Both are high enough to warrant some care in choosing an SD card that’s fast enough.

Video Formats. Both cameras produce MP4 video files encoded with the widely used H.264 codec.

Looping. The HERO5 Black has a looping feature that records for an interval and lets you select which section to keep. The HERO doesn’t have looping.

Video+Photo. The HERO5 Black has the ability to capture still images while simultaneously recording video. The HERO (2018) doesn’t.

HERO (2018) vs. HERO5 Black: Photos

The photo modes of the two models are quite similar. I have a more in-depth post on the photo modes on the GoPro HERO5 Black here.


[caption id="attachment_21386" align="aligncenter" width="678"]GoPro HERO (2018) GoPro HERO (2018).[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_21385" align="aligncenter" width="678"]GoPro HERO5 Black GoPro HERO5 Black.[/caption]

Resolution. At 10MP (megapixels), the photos taken with the HERO are a little smaller than the 12MP images from the HERO5 Black. In pixel dimensions, that comes to:

HERO (2018): 3648 x 2736 pixels
HERO5 Black: 4000 x 3000 pixels

Here’s a visual representation of how those resolutions compare. You can click on the image to see it full-size.

GoPro HERO5 Black vs HERO (2018)

Image Formats. Both models capture images in the standard JPG format. The HERO5 Black also lets you capture still images in GoPro’s RAW format that have the file extension of .gpr. By making available much more of the information captured by the sensor, the RAW format allows for potentially higher image quality, but the files aren’t easily shareable directly and need to be processed through an image editing app first.

Fields of View. By default, the images are captured in that distinctive fisheye look. On both cameras, that’s known as the Wide FOV. You can also choose to mitigate that fisheye look with different FOVs that look less distorted. It’s important to note, though, that these corrections are applied in camera by software algorithms; they’re not applied optically through the lens.

The FOV options are a bit different on each camera. On the HERO, you can choose from Wide, Medium, and Narrow FOVs. Those are essentially crops rather than corrections. Or, put another way, the result is like a digital zoom (not an optical zoom).

On the HERO5 Black, you also have Wide, Medium, and Narrow FOVs, but there’s also an extra one: Linear. The Linear FOV uses software to correct the distortion that you can see when straight lines get that strong curve. You can see some practical examples here. This mode can be especially useful when using the camera mounted on a drone, but it’s also useful if you just don’t want that bulging fisheye look.

Night Photo. The HERO5 Black has a special photo mode that’s designed for low-light shooting such as at night. It leaves the shutter open longer to allow more light in. The HERO doesn’t have this night mode.

Wide Dynamic Range. Both models have a mode that is designed to bring out details in the highlights and shadows.

GoPro calls it WDR, for wide dynamic range. I’m a bit ambivalent on the results it gives, and it doesn’t work as well as the better HDR mode in the HERO6 models, but it does recover some detail in shadows and highlights. You can find some side-by-side comparisons here.

Protune. Protune is GoPro’s name for extra settings that amount to an expert mode that lets you override or fine-tune parameters for various settings.

The HERO doesn’t have any Protune options. You mostly have to stick to fully automatic mode.

The HERO5 Black has several Protune settings for still images. They include options for exerting some manual control over the shutter, exposure compensation, setting maximum and minimum ISO, and adjusting white balance, sharpness, and color mode.

Timelapse. Both cameras have timelapse modes, and on both, you can choose timelapse photo mode (which shoots a series of still images that you can compile into a video later using software) or time-lapse video mode (where the compiling is done in the camera itself).

But the HERO’s time-lapse options are much more limited. There’s no control over one of the crucial elements of a timelapse, the interval–it’s a standard 0.5-second interval. And in the time-lapse video mode, you’re limited to 1080p output.

With the HERO5 Black, you have much more granular control over the timelapse settings. You can choose from 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, and 60 second intervals. You can also specify the field of view, image format (in time-lapse photo mode), and Protune options.

The HERO5 Black also has a special variation on the time-lapse photo mode that’s known as night lapse mode. It leaves the shutter open longer to let more light in when shooting in low-light situations. The HERO doesn’t have night lapse mode.

Burst Mode. Burst mode is a special still images mode that captures a high-speed sequence of images. It can be especially useful for capturing fast action and gives you more chances to get the shot you want when the timing is critical.

Both cameras have burst mode, but the HERO’s options are limited to 10 photos in 1 second. With the HERO5 Black, you get more options, including, faster, slower, and longer sequences (30/1 (30 photos in 1 second), 30/2, 30/3, 30/6, 10/1, 10/2, 10/3, 5/1, and 3/1).

Continuous Photo. The HERO5 Black has a continuous photo mode; the HERO doesn’t. This is similar to burst mode in that it takes a quick series of shots, but it functions a little differently. In burst mode, you first switch to that shooting mode and then hit the shutter once. It will then shoot the full sequence that you’ve designated. Continuous photo mode works in the regular photo mode. You hold down the shutter, and it will keep shooting until you release the shutter. In continuous photo mode, the HERO5 Black takes four photos per second up to a maximum of 30 photos.

HERO (2018) vs. HERO5 Black: Other Key Features

Wireless. Both cameras have built-in wireless features, so you can control the camera remotely (with the smartphone app or a remote) as well as download photos and videos to use in Smartphone apps like GoPro’s Quik app. When set up with a GoPro Plus Subscription, both cameras can automatically upload to the cloud.

Voice Control. Both of these cameras offer voice control. When it’s enabled, you can speak some basic command to do things like start and stop recording or change the shooting mode.

Audio. Both cameras have three built-in microphones. You can also plug in an external microphone (or another audio accessory) into the HERO5 Black (using a mic adapter), but you can’t do that with the HERO.

The HERO5 Black can also record a higher quality WAV audio file separately from the video file. The HERO’s audio is standard compressed audio embedded in the video file.

GPS. The HERO5 Black has GPS and other metadata that can be used for telemetry. The HERO doesn’t.

HERO (2018) vs. HERO5 Black: Batteries & Battery Life

Both take the same batteries. It’s also the same type of battery used by the HERO6 Black.

When you’re using the same settings, the battery life is much the same between them, give or take. But the HERO doesn’t have the high-end video modes that drain the battery more quickly, so in day-to-day shooting, you’re more likely to get slightly better battery life out of the HERO simply because you’re limited to video modes that don’t use quite so much juice. But the battery life on both of them is likely to leave you underwhelmed, which is why I always make sure to have spare batteries on hand.

Both have a USB-C connection, so they’re compatible with the SuperCharger for fast charging.

Accessories

For the most part, they’re compatible with the same accessories. They use the same standard GoPro mounting system, are the same size and shape so can use the same housings and frames, and they have the same ports.

There are some important exceptions, however.

  • External mics.The HERO5 Black will take external microphones, while the HERO won’t.
  • Karma Drone and Karma Grip. The HERO is not compatible with the controls on the Karma drone or grip.
  • GoPro Remotes. The HERO is not compatible with any of GoPro’s remotes, including the REMO or the Smart Remote.

HERO (2018) vs HERO5 Black: Which Is Better?

The HERO5 Black is a better camera. It can do everything the HERO can do and quite a lot more. So if you can find a good deal on the HERO5 Black that brings it within striking distance price-wise of the HERO, it’s hard to think of a good reason not to go with that.

The HERO can’t do anything the HERO5 Black doesn’t also do, but it does have the virtue of simplicity. If you just want to keep things simple and don’t need 4K video or any of the other higher-end features of the Black range, then the HERO can be appealing.

Where to Find Them

I buy most of my gear at Amazon and B&H Photo.

GoPro HERO (2018): Amazon | B&H Photo

GoPro HERO5 Black: Amazon | B&H Photo

Since these are both now technically discontinued models, they’ll become harder to find new. But there’s a good chance of picking up used copies–I buy most of my used gear from KEH; you can check their current GoPro inventory here.


  1. GoPro’s own comparison chart says that the maximum bitrate on the HERO (2018) is 60 Mbps, but in my tests, I’ve not seen anything higher than 45 Mbps come out of it. It’s possible they might increase it later with a firmware update. ↩

More GoPro Tips & Tricks:

  • Video Resolutions, Framerates, and Modes on the HERO (2018)
    Video Resolutions, Framerates, and Modes on the HERO (2018)
  • GoPro HERO6 Black Video Modes
    GoPro HERO6 Black Video Modes
  • GoPro HERO5 Black vs HERO5 Session
    Video Modes Available on the GoPro HERO5 Session
  • Video Modes of the GoPro HERO Session
    Video Modes of the GoPro HERO Session
  • GoPro HERO (2018) vs HERO5 Session
    GoPro HERO5 Session vs HERO (2018)
  • GoPro 128GB SD Cards
    Can I Use 128GB, 256GB, 400GB, or 512GB Cards in GoPro Cameras?
  • GoPro HERO5 Session vs HERO Session
    GoPro HERO5 Session vs HERO Session
  • GoPro HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black
    GoPro HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black
  • Svalbard with a GoPro HERO5 Black
    JPG vs RAW on the GoPro HERO9, HERO8, HERO7, HERO6, & HERO5 Black
By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on January 19, 2021

Categories: Comparison Reviews
Tags: GoPro HERO (2018), GoPro HERO5 Black

I may earn a commission for purchases using links on this page. Learn more.

GoPro News & Deals

New Smart Remote GoPro will be announcing the new Smart Remote for the HERO9 Black on December 17, 2020. The HERO9 Black isn’t compatible with the previous version of the Smart Remote.

HERO8 Black firmware v2.0 now available. Enables webcam mode; enables Display Mod compatibility; expands HyperSmooth 2.0 High and Boost availability to more video settings; general bug fixes. Update through the mobile app or manually.

GoPro Launches New Live Streaming Service for GoPro PLUS. GoPro has launched their own live-streaming platform for PLUS subscribers. It’s a pretty bare-bones offering for now, with livestreams shared with a dedicated URL. This is alongside their efforts to make the HERO8 Black useful as a webcam when connected to a computer (via USB plug-in-play, not requiring the Media Mod accessory with HDMI out). New firmware adds that functionality for Mac users, and the Windows version is in Beta.

New GoPro Zeus Mini Video Light. GoPro has released released a new video LED light designed to complement their GoPro cameras. It’s tiny, waterproof, and has a built-in magnetic swiveling clip. It’s waterproof down to 33 feet (10 meters), has four levels of brightness, and includes a diffuser to cool the color temperature to 5000K. GoPro claims that the built-in battery lasts up to 6 hours (presumably at the lowest brightness setting, although they don’t specify). It’s available now and priced at $69.99.

DJI Osmo Action firmware update adds live streaming. DJI has released a firmware update for the Osmo Action (v. 01.08.00.10) that adds live streaming support, so you can upload directly to platforms like Facebook and YouTube (it goes through the DJI Mimo mobile app). They’ve also improved the in-camera video stabilization. You can find the new firmware here.

New Underwater Housing for GoPro HERO8 Black from Isotta. Isotta, an Italian brand specializing in underwater housings, has announced a new high-quality underwater housing for the HERO8 Black. It’s an aluminum housing depth-rated to 650 feet (200 meters), has a one-handed open/close switch, double o-rings, and can be used with filters. There’s also a dual-handled tray to go along with it. And like all their housings, it’s in their distinctive red. Priced at $450, it’s only for those who need a highly specialized piece of underwater kit. It’s available for preorder from underwater specialists Backscatter.

Light Mod Now Shipping The Light Mod, one of the three new GoPro accessories, is now shipping. It’s a standalone light that is waterproof, rechargeable and compatible with all GoPro mounts. It was originally announced along with the HERO8 Black, but it hasn’t been available until now. It’s priced at $49.99, and you can find them at GoPro.com.

GoPro MAX Now Shipping. The new 360° camera, the MAX, is now shipping.

GoPro HERO8 Black and Max Unveiled. The new GoPro cameras and accessories have been unveiled. I have a rundown of the highlights of the HERO8 Black here.

DJI Osmo Action vs GoPro HERO7 Black. I’ve posted my detailed hands-on comparison of the Osmo Action and the HERO7 Black. There’s a lot similar between the models, but once you start digging down into the details there are differences that can help in choosing between them. And each has strengths the other doesn’t have. You can find my review here.

GoPro HyperSmooth vs DJI RockSteady. The new DJI Osmo Action also has built-in electronic stabilization to smooth out video. They’re calling it RockSteady (GoPro has HyperSmooth). I’ve been out testing them side-by-side. You can see the results here.

GoPro Deals page. I’ve put together a dedicated page on GoPro deals. So if you’re looking for cheap GoPro deals, check it out.

DJI Osmo action 4K Camera. Best known for their camera drones, DJI has released a new 4K action cam that’s taking direct aim at the GoPro HERO7 Black. It shoots up to 4K60 video and 12MP stills, includes electronic stabilization, has high-dynamic range video at 4K30, voice commands, a touchscreen on the back and another smaller live view screen on the front, and is waterproof down to 36 feet (11 meters). It’s priced at $349, and they’re now available at B&H Photo.

Comments

  1. Steph says

    July 6, 2020 at 3:09 pm

    I was wondering if hypothetically speaking the hack was performed to firmware 2.6, what batteries would be compatible with the GoPro?

    Reply
    • David says

      July 14, 2020 at 11:19 am

      Good question, and I don’t know the answer. It’s not something I’ve tried, sorry.

      Reply
  2. Alex says

    February 8, 2019 at 4:52 am

    I bought, and unlocked two Hero 2018 into 5 Black, had no issues whatsoever. GPS works fine, 4k works fine its like Hero 5 Black ;)

    Reply
    • David says

      February 8, 2019 at 8:00 am

      That’s great! Enjoy shooting with them!

      Reply
  3. Dave says

    January 28, 2019 at 12:26 pm

    Would love to have you review the 2018 model with the firmware hack, and see if it’s still worth getting the GoPro 5 model. Even though you unlock the features from the 5 within the 2018 model.. But, reading some features are still locked.

    Thanks You.

    Reply
    • David says

      January 28, 2019 at 12:37 pm

      Good idea. Will look into doing it. I hadn’t got around hacking the 2018 because I already have a couple of HERO5 Blacks. But it would be interesting to see if there’s any difference in features available. Will look into it.

      Reply
  4. Bo says

    January 25, 2019 at 2:40 am

    So I bought a Hero 2018. Made a mistake and broke it, and got it replaced.
    Got the Hero 5 black as replacement.
    So I guess even GoPro don’t make any differences between them

    Reply
    • David says

      January 25, 2019 at 12:12 pm

      Interesting! Well, it saves you the trouble of hacking the firmware now. :)

      Reply
  5. Ryan jay says

    September 15, 2018 at 12:26 am

    What about the internal parts of hero 2018 and hero 5?are they the same?the processor and the lense?other say that they are both the same.only the firmware is the difference.so other do is flashing their hero2018 to hero 5’s firmware.(v02.60) and it functions like a real hero 5

    Reply
    • David says

      September 16, 2018 at 3:05 pm

      As far as I can tell, they’re identical, but I can’t say with absolute certainty. I’ve seen reports that when flashed with the hacked firmware, the HERO (2018) still has GPS and 4K30. But I haven’t tried any of the firmware hacks and can’t recommend trying them, in part because you can brick your camera if something goes wrong and in part because GoPro’s lawyers are pouncing on firmware hack posts with takedown notices.

      Reply
      • David says

        September 16, 2018 at 3:06 pm

        And it obviously voids your warranty…

        Reply
  6. David says

    September 13, 2018 at 11:14 am

    Thanks–I was wondering when someone was going to come up with a firmware hack for it. There’s something I’ve been curious about–it’s pretty clear that the main guts are the same, but does the hacked version include GPS functionality? I’m assuming that chip was omitted to save costs, but maybe it was more expensive to remove it.

    If anyone’s tempted to try the firmware hack at that link, please be very, very careful. I haven’t personally tried the method outlined there, and messing up firmware updates can turn your camera into an unresponsive and unrepairable paperweight.

    Reply
  7. Michael says

    September 13, 2018 at 1:19 am

    A GoPro HERO (2018) is a HERO 5 BLACK, worked for me, details on firmware hack below :-)https://sites.google.com/view/gopro-hero-2018-hack/home

    Reply
  8. Mike Wilson says

    July 16, 2018 at 2:43 am

    Surprisingly enough, the Hero (2018) WILL work with the GoPro external microphone adapter despite not being officially supported by GoPro. Like the Hero 5 Black, the external mic will not function in quick capture mode. Basically, you’ll have to turn your camera on prior to recording in order to utilize the external microphone.

    This lends credence to the theory that the Hero (2018) is simply a Hero 5 black with crippled firmware.

    I would love to see someone force a Hero 5 black firmware onto a Hero (2018)

    Reply
    • David says

      July 16, 2018 at 11:02 am

      Interesting–I hadn’t tried that. Thanks for the tip!

      Reply

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About Me

I’m a professional travel & location photographer based in Washington DC and traveling all over. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between.

I’ve owned and used every GoPro since the HD HERO and particularly like finding new and different ways to use them to capture photos, video, and time-lapse.

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