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Photos Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

The GoPro HERO7 Black can be a fun camera to shoot photos with. Here's a collection of photos I've taken with the GoPro HERO7 to give a sense of what it's like for everyday shooting.

Photos Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black Header Image

By David Coleman | @havecamerawilltraveldc
Last updated about 6 months ago // Categories: Photos
Tags: GoPro HERO7 Black

Save $220 on GoPro HERO9 Black Bundle ($349.98)

Get ready for summer fun with GoPro's deal on the HERO9 Black. The HERO9 is their newest and best camera. It's a bundle that includes the HERO9 Black, a 1-year subscription to GoPro, a free extra battery (these come in very handy), a floating hand grip, Magnetic Swivel Clip, and a free 632GB SD card. It's all for $399.98

GoPros are best known for video. But they also have some useful and interesting features and characteristics for taking still photos. They don’t work quite the same way that more traditional cameras work, but they offer opportunities for some fun and interesting shots.

Some features of the HERO7 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.

Depending on how you want to look at it, some of those features can be regarded as limitations or opportunities. The fixed ultra-wide-angle lens isn’t good for traditional portraits, for example, but it’s great for a close, immersive view or dramatic perspectives.2 The limited manual control over exposure does definitely limit what you can do, but the automatic settings also mean that there’s a good chance that you’ll get usable photos even from run-and-gun shooting.

There are definitely some limitations you have to work with or around. Even with flagship models like the HERO7 Black, the low-light performance is mediocre compared to many other cameras on the market today. And you’ll probably find yourself constantly fighting against the poor battery life.

But despite those negatives, I find the HERO7 Black to be a fun stills camera to shoot 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. Here’s a collection of photos I’ve taken with the GoPro HERO7 to give a sense of what it’s like for everyday shooting.

The HERO7 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). It does technically have a zoom, but it’s a digital zoom rather than an optical zoom, and I don’t find it particularly useful. I have a separate post that goes into more details on the photo features and specs of the HERO7 Black.

Sample Images Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

All of these were shot with a HERO7 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).

GoPro also has a SuperPhoto feature, that combines in-camera enhancements such as HDR. I have found it to help with better-looking photos in some situations, but I also find that I can get better results in post-processing in Lightroom, so I rarely use SuperPhoto. None of the photos on this page use SuperPhoto, but I have some other examples here.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₂₇₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 115 and ¹⁄₉₅₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. This was taken underwater using the burst mode.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₂₃₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Isle of Palms, SC.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 2143 and ¹⁄₂₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Washington, DC. The super wide-angle fisheye look isn’t a traditional look for architecture because it makes lines curve in rather dramatic ways, but with the right composition you can get some interesting results. The low-light performance isn’t great for interiors, though.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₁₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Washington, DC.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 2137 and ¹⁄₁₂₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Germantown, MD.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₁₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. New Caledonia.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 1715 and ¹⁄₁₂₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Washington, DC.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 3161 and ¹⁄₁₂₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Chantilly, VA.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₂₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. New Caledonia.

Photos Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 264 and ¹⁄₂₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

GoPro HERO7 Black

GoPro HERO7 Black / New Caledonia

GoPro HERO7 Black Photo Example

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₃₅₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

GoPro HERO7 Black Photos Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

GoPro HERO7 Black Sample Image

GoPro HERO7 Black / Washington, DC

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₁₄₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Germantown, MD.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 1039 and ¹⁄₁₂₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Washington, DC.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₂₂₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Isle of Palms, SC.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 1084 and ¹⁄₉₅₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Washington, DC.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₂₉₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Washington, DC.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 2793 and ¹⁄₁₂₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Washington, DC.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 1301 and ¹⁄₁₂₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Washington, DC.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₁₁₅₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Wynnum, Australia.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₁₈₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 151 and ¹⁄₂₄₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Washington, DC.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Washington, DC.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 2092 and ¹⁄₂₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Washington, DC.

GoPro HERO7 Black Sample Image

GoPro HERO7 Black / New Caledonia

GoPro HERO7 Black Sample Image

GoPro HERO7 Black / South Carolina

GoPro HERO7 Black Sample Image

GoPro HERO7 Black / Isle of Palms, SC

GoPro HERO7 Black Photo Example

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 760 and ¹⁄₁₂₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

GoPro HERO7 Black Photo Example

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₂₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 1722 and ¹⁄₁₂₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Chantilly, VA. And advantage of the ultra wide-angle view is that you can fit a lot in the frame.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 145 and ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Washington, DC. The sensor doesn’t have a very wide dynamic range, so it can struggle in scenes with a combination of highlights and shadows. The HDR mode is designed to compensate for that, although there are some limitations to using it. This particular shot is not using HDR–just a regular image shot in RAW, but I’ve reclaimed some of the highlights using Lightroom’s processing tools.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Washington, DC.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 104 and ¹⁄₉₅₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Baltimore, MD.

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₁₆₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Potomac, MD.

GoPro HERO7 Black Sample Image

GoPro HERO7 Black / Washington, DC

GoPro HERO7 Black

GoPro HERO7 Black / New Caledonia

Photo taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black

Taken with a GoPro HERO7 Black at ISO 100 and ¹⁄₁₄₀₀ sec at ƒ/2.8. Washington, DC.


  1. Models like the HERO7 Black give you some control over exposure using features such as exposure compensation and some manual controls through Protune. ↩
  2. The HERO7 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 Zoom
    Can You Zoom In On a GoPro?
  • GoPro HERO9 Black vs HERO8 Black
    GoPro Deals
  • GoPro SuperPhoto header
    What is GoPro SuperPhoto?
  • GoPro HERO5 Black vs HERO4 Black Right Side
    How to Turn On a GoPro that Won't Turn On
  • What is GoPro SuperView?
    What is GoPro SuperView?
  • GoPro HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black
    GoPro HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black: Photo Modes
By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on October 9, 2020

Categories: Photos
Tags: GoPro HERO7 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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