The GoPro HERO6 Black has built-in video stabilization (as do the HERO5 Black and HERO5 Session). It helps smooth out shaky footage.
I've found it to work quite well. The version in the HERO6 Black is also a significant improvement over the HERO5 versions. It's a software implementation, which means that the computer chip in the camera analyzes the content of the video and tries to compensate for the moment. That's typically not as a good as something that actually stabilizes the camera mechanically using something like the Karma grip or some other kind of gimbal or gyro system like Steadicams.
But it has several advantages. For on thing, it's built-in, so there's no need to buy extra accessories. For another, it's simple and versatile--gimbals and gyros aren't good fits for many of the kinds of places you might want to mount a GoPro. And it's also waterproof--many external stabilizers aren't, including the Karma grip.
But I was curious to see how the HERO6 Black's in-camera stabilization performed compared with other readily available software stabilizers like the ones that are included in Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere Pro CC.
There are two things I'm looking for here. One is overall smoothness--that gliding look. The other is whether the stabilization is added a jelly-like look as part of the correction. For what I mean by that, look at the area around the tractor's main engine in the examples below.
Stabilization Tests
To test it, I shot with two HERO6 Blacks side-by-side in a dual frame mount. One camera had the stabilization turned on. The other had it turned off. All the other settings were identical. I then used that non-stabilized footage as the version run through Final Cut Pro X and Premiere Pro's Warp Stabilizer.
I should add here that I'm using the automatic settings for all of these. There's no way to adjust the camera's stabilization, but both the FCPX and Premiere Pro stabilization features offer settings where you can tweak the results. But they also both examine the clips to calculate the optimal settings, and that's what I'm using here. There are also third-party plugins that you can buy--I'm not testing those here.
GoPro HERO6 Black Stabilization: ON vs OFF
First, as points of reference, here's some non-stabilized footage side-by-side with the version using the HERO6 Black's internal stabilization option.
And here's another:
I have some more examples showing the effectiveness of the HERO6 Black's internal stabilization vs not using it here.
HERO6 Black Stabilization vs Final Cut Pro X Stabilization
Final Cut Pro X has a couple of different approaches to stabilizing. The Auto setting examines the footage and calculates what it believes to be the best option. That's what I've used here.
Here are the same clips from above after being run through Final Cut Pro X.
Here's the first one:
And the second one:
HERO6 Black Stabilization vs Adobe Premiere Pro CC Warp Stabilizer
Again, this was using the automatic settings in Warp Stabilizer.
and:
Drawbacks of In-Camera Stabilization
Applying the stabilization in-camera is very convenient. It means that the footage comes out stabilized from the get go and there's no more messing with it in post. That can save a lot of time and effort. But there are nevertheless some drawbacks worth considering.
One drawback of using a software approach to stabilization is that it cannibalizes some of the image data. They're all designed to keep the original dimensions and aspect ratio, so it's not like your 1080p footage is no longer 1080p, but as you can see from the on/off examples at the top, it's effectively zoomed in slightly, with some of the edges of the frame being cut off. That inevitably results in at least some degradation in the image quality. In practice, that can be negligible. But there are also circumstances where it can become quite noticeable.
Another downside of doing it in-camera is that there's no undo. The stabilized version is the one that's saved onto the memory card, and there's no way to recover the raw non-stabilized version. So if you're getting some unwanted jumpiness from the camera's calculations being thrown off, there's no easy way to fix it.
Conclusion
The HERO5's in-camera stabilization works pretty well, but I still thought the stabilization in Final Cut Pro X and Premiere Pro worked better, so with that camera I've tended to shoot without the feature on (or used something like the Karma grip when appropriate).
But the HERO6's stabilization is a significant improvement, and I prefer it to both the FCPX and Premiere Pro options. It's not perfect, and it's still not as a good as mechanically keeping the camera still with a gyro or gimbal, but in general I've been very impressed with the results. I've found GoPro's stabilization to be less prone to the jelly-like effects that both FCPX and Premiere Pro's built-in stabilization.
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Common GoPro Questions
Here are some common questions I get from GoPro users.
Is it normal for GoPro cameras to get hot?
Yes. Depending on the model and the shooting mode you're using, it's normal for GoPros to get quite warm while shooting. They can get hot enough to be uncomfortable to touch. It's especially noticeable when shooting high-resolution and high-framerate video. Some newer models have an overheating protection mechanism that will shut the camera down if it gets too hot. I have more details on GoPros getting hot, here.
How can I control a GoPro remotely?
GoPro makes a range of wireless remote controls. They don't all work with all GoPros--for example, the HERO (2018) isn't compatible with this type of remote control. Many of the newer models also work with the GoPro mobile app. Not every model can be controlled remotely, but most of the newer models have wireless compatibility that can be used for at least some methods of remote control.
Can you take pictures with a GoPro?
If you've been using a GoPro for a while, this might seem pretty obvious, but if you've never used one, it's not quite so self-evident. GoPros are best known for dramatic action videos, but they can most certainly take still photos too. In fact, they can be a very interesting alternative to a traditional camera so long as you work within its limitations. I have more more details here.
Do GoPro wireless controls work underwater?
No. You can't use the mobile app or a wireless remote control if the camera is fully submerged in water. They will normally work just fine in rain and spray--just not submerged. I have a more detailed explanation here.
Do GoPro touchscreens work underwater?
No. If they're just wet above water, they can work to some extent, although often less reliably. But the touchscreens won't work underwater.
mark says
Can you apply software stabilization to already stabilized footage?
Thanks.
David says
You can technically, but it rarely works well. The problem is that the stabilization algorithms are designed to look for certain types of movement, and footage that's already been stabilized with software tends to have movement in different ways that throws it off. But it's not a hard and fast rule and is different for every bit of footage. It's definitely worth a try if you already have the apps on hand.
Chris Tompkins says
As for FCP X, iMovie can't support HEVC yet. For transcoding GoPro Hero6 HEVC files, Brorsoft video converter or its Mac version can be a good choice.
David says
HEVC support is built into the new Mac OSX High Sierra, so if you've updated to that you can use it in Mac apps like FCPX and iMovie. If you haven't upgraded to that, Handbrake is an excellent option--free, open source, and cross platform. The folks at GoPro have put together this guide on converting HEVC/H.265 back to H.264.