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Photos Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black

GoPros are best known for shooting video, but cameras like the HERO5 Black can produce some fun and unique stills photos too. Here are some real-world examples.

GoPro HERO5 Black Sample Photos

By David Coleman | @havecamerawilltraveldc
Last updated about 6 months ago // Categories: Photo
Tags: GoPro HERO5 Black

Get $150 OFF GoPro HERO9 Black ($349.98)

GoPro is running a deal on the HERO9 Black. You get the HERO9 Black and a 1-year subscription to GoPro (which gets you unlimited cloud storage, up to 50% off accessories, and discounted camera replacement). They're also throwing in a free 32GB SD card, and the HERO9 Black comes with a case. It's all for $349.98.

GoPros are best known for shooting video. But they can be surprisingly good at stills photos, too. They don’t do everything the same way that more traditional cameras do, but GoPros offer opportunities for some fun and interesting shots.

Some features of the HERO5 Black really stand out when it comes to taking still photos: the ultra-wide-angle fisheye perspective; auto-everything exposure1 and fixed-focus; fast burst mode shooting; and, most importantly, they’re small size and rugged build that lets you take them pretty much anywhere.

Some of those features can be viewed as limitations or opportunities, depending on which way you approach it. The fixed ultra wide-angle lens isn’t a good choice if you’re trying to shoot traditional portraits, but it’s great for a close, immersive view or dramatic perspectives.2 The limited manual control over exposure does definitely impose limits on what you can shoot, but the automatic settings also mean that there’s a good chance that you’ll get usable photos even from the most action-packed moments.

There are certainly some limitations you have to work with or around. Even with flagship models like the HERO5 Black, the low-light performance isn’t great. And the camera’s short battery life is a constant struggle.

Despite those negatives, cameras like the HERO5 Black can fun cameras to shoot photos with. They’re particularly well suited to action shots, obviously–after all, that’s why they were invented in the first place–but they can also be a fun option for general travel photography or capturing family photos with a difference. So I thought it worth putting together a collection of photos I’ve taken with the GoPro HERO5 Black to give a sense of what it’s like for everyday shooting.

The HERO5 Black has a 12MP sensor which produces images in a 4:3 aspect ratio measuring 4000 by 3000 pixels. While 12MP is on the smaller size compared to many other cameras, it’s plenty big enough for sharing photos online and even making enlargement prints. You can shoot RAW with it using GoPro’s proprietary .gpr format (actually, it shoots RAW+JPG), which is what I usually shoot with. The RAW files need processing, but the camera does quite a good job with its in-camera processing to produce good-looking JPGs. I have a separate post that goes into more details on the photo features and specs of the HERO5 Black.

Sample Images Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black

All of these were shot with a HERO5 Black. Most of them were shot in GoPro’s RAW format, .gpr, and processed in Lightroom. Many of them had some boosting of local contrast.

Others were shot in JPG, particularly any that used burst mode (which only works with JPG).

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₁₆₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

GoPro HERO5 Black

GoPro HERO5 Black / Washington DC

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₆₉₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

Photos Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

Photos Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₆₇₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

Photos Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black

GoPro HERO5 Black

Svalbard with a GoPro HERO5 Black

HERO5 Black / Svalbard, Norway

GoPro HERO5 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₂₄₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

Photos Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₁₁₅₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

GoPro HERO5 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

GoPro HERO5 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 101 and ¹⁄₁₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 1150 and ¹⁄₆₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₁₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₂₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

Svalbard with a GoPro HERO5 Black

Lightroom GoPro HERO5 Profile Correction Before

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₂₂₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

Svalbard with a GoPro HERO5 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₁₀₅₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

Photos Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₄₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

GoPro Dome Port

Above and below of a small iceberg in the Arctic off the coast of Svalbard. Shot with a GoPro HERO5 Black in a dome port.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO5 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₄₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

GoPro Dome Port

This is a good example of two issues. The first is that the water droplets in the top part of the frame are actually on the inside of the dome, the result of a leak. The other is that with the dark water at the bottom, the reflection of the frame around the camera’s lens is clearly visible.

Svalbard with a GoPro HERO5 Black

HERO5 Black / Svalbard, Norway

Svalbard with a GoPro HERO5 Black

HERO5 Black with a Dome Port / Kayaking in the Arctic


  1. Some GoPro models, like the HERO5 Black, give you some control over exposure using features such as exposure compensation and some manual controls through Protune. ↩
  2. The HERO5 Black does have digital zoom, but it’s not a feature that I regard as particularly useful. Here’s an explanation of why. ↩

More GoPro Tips & Tricks:

  • GoPro HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black
    GoPro HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black: Photo Modes
  • Photos Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black
    Photos Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black
  • How to Format SD Cards in a GoPro
    How to Format SD Cards in a GoPro
  • Svalbard with a GoPro HERO5 Black
    JPG vs RAW on the GoPro HERO9, HERO8, HERO7, HERO6, & HERO5 Black
  • GoPro Protune Photo Color: GoPro Color vs Flat
    GoPro Protune Photo Color: GoPro Color vs Flat
  • GoPro HERO5 Batteries and Chargers
    Batteries and Chargers for the HERO7 Black, HERO6 Black, HERO5 Black, and HERO (2018)
By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on October 9, 2020

Categories: Photo
Tags: 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.

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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.

You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com.

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