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GoPro HERO6 Black FAQs

This is an ongoing and growing list of common questions on GoPro's HERO6 Black.

By David Coleman | @havecamerawilltraveldc
Last updated about 1 year ago // Categories: Tips
Tags: GoPro HERO6 Black

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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

This is an ongoing and growing list of common questions on GoPro’s HERO6 Black.

If you have a question not answered here, please ask in the comments below and I’ll do my best to provide an answer.

Video Features of the HERO6 Black

What is the highest resolution video on the GoPro HERO6 Black?

The HERO6 Black can record 4K video at 60 frames per second (4K60) and 1080 video at 240 frames per second (1080p240). There are a number of video modes below those, of course. You can find a complete list of the various video modes on the HERO6 Black here.

Photo Features of the HERO6 Black

Like all GoPros, the HERO6 Black can take photos as well as shoot video. Here are some common questions relating to its photo modes.

What size photos does the HERO6 Black take?

The HERO6 Black shoots 12MP photos that measure 4000 x 3000 pixels.

What photo formats does the HERO6 Black shoot?

With the HERO6 Black you have the option for shooting in JPG or RAW. GoPro’s RAW photo format has the file extension .gpr. If you choose the RAW option, it actually saves both (that is, it’s really a RAW+JPG mode).

Something to note is that the RAW format that GoPro uses a proprietary format (derived from Adobe’s DNG format) that has only limited support in other apps. Aside from GoPro’s own apps, the only other one that really uses it is Lightroom. If you’re not using Lightroom, I have a workaround here.

Memory Cards

Does the GoPro HERO6 Black Come with a Memory Card?

The standard HERO6 Black doesn’t include a memory card by default, so you’d need to buy one separately. But retailers will sometimes bundle the camera with some accessories, such as memory cards.

Since not every memory card will be fast enough to work well in the HERO6 Black, especially if you use it’s higher-end video features, I’ve put together some GoPro HERO6 Black SD card recommendations.

What is the best SD card for the GoPro HERO6 Black?

I’ve tested a number of different microSD cards in the HERO6 Black and found that the SanDisk Extreme V30 and Lexar 1000x cards to be good combinations of compatibility, speed, reliability, and value for money.

I have more detailed recommendations here.

What is the largest SD card for the GoPro HERO6 Black?

The largest size microSD cards that are currently available that are fast enough for the HERO6 Black are at least 500GB. Cards that are 400GB, 256, 128GB, 64GB, and 32GB, so long as they’re fast enough, also work. Technically, you could use even smaller capacities, such as 16GB or 8GB, but you’ll fill those up so quickly that they’re not really good options for this camera.

Accessories for the HERO6 Black

Do HERO5 Black accessories work on the HERO6 Black?

Yes. The cameras are the same size and shape and use the same external ports. They also share the same kind of battery and use the same standard GoPro mounting system. With the exception of a handful of memory cards, I’ve yet to find an accessory that works with the HERO5 Black that doesn’t also work with the HERO6 Black.

Are the batteries for the HERO6 Black the same as the ones for the HERO5 Black?

Yes. Same size and shape. Same power ratings. I’ve been using them interchangeably without any issues.

Do aftermarket batteries work?

At the time of writing, they’ve been working fine for me. However, as GoPro demonstrated with the HERO5 Black, they have the capability to revise the firmware in such a way that third-party batteries will no longer work. Whether they’ll choose to do that again is unknown. Last time, there was no warning or even official notice of the change in the firmware changelog.

So if you’re looking to get some spare batteries for your GoPro, it seems that after-market ones are working for now. The safest option remains to get the official GoPro-branded ones.

Can you run a GoPro HERO6 Black with external power without an internal battery?

Yes. If you’re powering the camera from an external source via the USB-C cable, you can remove the internal battery.

An advantage of leaving the internal battery in place is as a safety net in case the external power stops flowing.

Shooting with the GoPro HERO6 Black

Is the HERO6 Black waterproof?

Yes. It’s rated to be waterproof down to 33 feet (10 meters) without a separate housing.

For greater depths, you can put it in a dive housing that GoPro calls the SuperSuit which is rated down to 196 feet (60 meters). (Note that this is different to the newer Protective Housing for the HERO8 Black–they’re a different shape and are not interchangeable.

Can you use wifi underwater on a GoPro?

No. Wifi signals can’t penetrate through any significant amount of water, so you can’t control the camera wireless underwater. There is a way to use a cable to control the camera remote underwater–you can find more details on that here.

Does the HERO6 Black have a spot meter?

Yes and no. While it doesn’t have the same spot meter function of most previous GoPro models, it does have something better: a localized metering option called Exposure Control. The key difference–and improvement–is that you can select which area of the frame to use to calculate the automatic exposure.

Why are my GoPro videos getting split up?

This is a built-in feature called video chaptering. Long, high-resolution video is saved in smaller individual segments. It accomplishes two things. Firstly, it keeps the individual file sizes under 4GB so as to be broadly compatible with the file systems used on memory cards and computer. Secondly, it acts as a safety mechanism in case something goes wrong while recording.

Troubleshooting

Is it normal for my GoPro to get hot?

GoPros can get quite hot in normal use. You’ll notice it especially when shooting video in the high-end modes. The rim around the HERO6 black’s lens port gets especially hot, but the memory card and battery can also get quite hot to the touch.

I have more details on GoPros getting hot here.

GoPro HERO6 Black — Waterproof Digital Action Camera for Travel with...
GoPro HERO6 Black — Waterproof Digital Action Camera for Travel with...
  • HERO6 black automatically sends your footage to your phone where the app turns it into a quik story an...
  • With 4k60 and 1080p240 video, HERO6 black delivers 2x the performance compared to HERO5 black with an all...
Check Price on Amazon

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2021-04-12 at 02:23. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

More GoPro Tips & Tricks:

  • GoPro HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black Stabilization Compared
    GoPro HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black Stabilization Compared
  • GoPro HERO6 Black Video Modes
    GoPro HERO6 Black Video Modes
  • How to Format SD Cards in a GoPro
    How to Format SD Cards in a GoPro
  • GoPro HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black
    GoPro HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black: Photo Modes
  • FOV Options Available on the GoPro HERO6 Black
    FOV Options Available on the GoPro HERO6 Black
  • How Well Does the GoPro HERO6 Black's Stabilization Work?
    How Well Does the GoPro HERO6 Black's Stabilization Work?
By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on November 9, 2019

Categories: Tips
Tags: GoPro HERO6 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. Marcin says

    April 30, 2018 at 12:18 pm

    Have Hero 6 same level of waterproof with and without included protective frame?

    Reply
    • David says

      April 30, 2018 at 1:01 pm

      The frame doesn’t add any waterproof protection, so yes, same with our without. To get more waterproof protection you’d need to put it in one of the dive housings like GoPro’s Super Suit.

      Reply
  2. Kevin says

    January 18, 2018 at 10:32 am

    Should I buy a protective housing for my Hero 6 Black for use when kitesurfing? It will be attached in a line mount.

    Reply
    • David says

      January 18, 2018 at 3:44 pm

      It’s not required for waterproofness, obviously, but it will provide extra protection against knocks and scratches. It’s not something that’s required, but there are a lot of people who prefer the old HERO4 style precisely because the housing added an easily replaced layer of protection–that is, it’s much easier and cheaper to replace a $40 housing than a $400 camera. It all depends on your level of comfort with the risk of the camera getting damaged. If you plan to do a lot, it’s probably not a bad idea–it’s just not required.

      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.

You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com.

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