How To Use GoPro on FPV Drones – Finest Settings, Equipment, Ideas and Methods

Whether or not you’re a newbie or an skilled FPV pilot, capturing gorgeous and clean footage is essential to showcasing your abilities and sharing your adventures. This information will stroll you thru GoPro digicam settings, and I’ll supply ideas and finest practices that will help you get probably the most out of your GoPro when filming your FPV flights. We’ll cowl one of the best GoPro settings from body fee, shutter velocity, FOV, stabilization, to paint grading, making certain you could have all of the data wanted to create cinematic movies that really seize the essence of FPV flying.

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To study extra about HD Motion Cameras for FPV, try this submit.

GoPro Choices for FPV

GoPro Hero 13

Product Web page:

Earlier than 2020, GoPro was the clear chief in motion cameras for FPV drones. Nevertheless, in recent times, DJI has considerably closed the hole, making it tougher to advocate one over the opposite.

For those who prioritize one of the best log profile and probably the most flexibility in post-production and coloration grading, the GoPro Hero 13 stays your finest guess. Its flat coloration profile presents loads of room for tweaking colours to your liking.

Nevertheless, for the whole lot else, the DJI Osmo Motion 5 Professional is very aggressive. It’s lighter than the GoPro, has a extra trendy design, boasts considerably longer battery life, and delivers spectacular outcomes straight out of the field with minimal effort. Its built-in stabilization is top-tier, the audio high quality is clearer, and it handles dynamic vary and low-light conditions barely higher than the GoPro. Plus, it’s even barely cheaper. See my purchaser’s information right here: https://oscarliang.com/gopro-13-dji-action-5/.

GoPro Hero 12

Product Web page: https://amzn.to/3Erf2bR

GoPro Hero 11

Product Web page: https://amzn.to/3RZnEL7

The GoPro Hero 11 presents two thrilling new options for FPV pilots: 10-bit movies and a 8:7 side ratio picture sensor. This sensor permits for 16:9 and 9:16 cropping, making it perfect for social media use. The digicam movies in 5.3K and 4K at 60fps and a pair of.7K at 240fps, and options Hypersmooth V5 stabilization and horizon locking. Equipment and ND filters from earlier fashions are suitable.

GoPro Hero 11 Mini

Product Web page: https://amzn.to/3XqMQNu

The Hero 11 Mini is a smaller, lighter model of the Hero 11. It’s barely higher for FPV drones resulting from its decreased weight (about 20g lighter) and $100 cheaper price tag, whereas retaining the identical capabilities and efficiency.

GoPro Bones

Discover the GoPro Bones right here: https://amzn.to/3LpHsaW

The GoPro Bones is basically a stripped down GoPro Hero 10 – it’s lighter and extra compact which makes it extra suited to FPV drones. It presents the identical picture high quality and efficiency because the GoPro 10. It has built-in warmth sinks, and will be powered direct connection from the drone eliminating the necessity for a separate battery. Take a look at my evaluate for extra particulars: https://oscarliang.com/gopro-10-bones/

360 Cameras

GoPro additionally presents 360 cameras, try this comparability information for extra element.

Finest GoPro Settings

These tables under present my finest settings for the most recent GoPro Hero 11 and 12, however also needs to work effectively on older fashions. Video stabilization is crucial for a cinematic look in your movies, you could have three choices: Hypersmooth, Reelsteady and Gyroflow. Hypersmooth is built-in, thus extra handy however presents much less management, whereas Reelsteady and Gyroflow requires additional rendering however permits for personalisation. Between Reelsteady and Gyroflow, the previous is paid whereas the latter is free. Personally I favor Reelsteady, I feel it offers higher end in most conditions. Be taught extra about picture stabilization right here right here: https://oscarliang.com/stabilize-fpv-videos/. However Gyroflow additionally produces first rate outcome, study extra right here: https://oscarliang.com/gyroflow/

For Reelsteady & Gyroflow

* Solely use Auto in case you are NOT utilizing ND filter; In any other case, set a set shutter velocity for cinematic look.

** The Extensive lens setting beneath 8:7 side ratio (or 4:3 in older fashions) are full sensor picture that gives a wider subject of view than Hyperview/Superview in 16:9. Reelsteady in GoPro Participant will robotically stretch it to 16:9 Hyperview/Superview after rendering.

*** In particular conditions, set ISO Max greater for additional flexibility (e.g., 400 or 1600 in low mild).

For Hypersmooth

* Solely use Auto in case you are NOT utilizing ND filter; In any other case, set a set shutter velocity for cinematic look.

**  In particular conditions, you would possibly need to enhance ISO Max for additional flexibility (e.g., 800 and even 1600 in low mild). 100 to 200 usually works effectively throughout day time.

For Lowlight/Evening Flying

Settings are principally just like these above, with a number of variations. ND filters aren’t wanted/advisable for lowlight and evening capturing. These settings assume you might be utilizing a GoPro Hero 11 with Reelsteady for stabilization.

* Improve/lower ISO MAX on your explicit surroundings.

Decision

Go along with 4K for the very best picture high quality and bitrate. You might use a decrease decision if you need greater body fee akin to 120fps or 240fps as a result of 4K or 5.6K usually solely permits 60fps. Needless to say greater resolutions end in bigger file sizes and require extra processing energy for modifying and rendering.

FPS

FPS (frames per second) is the body fee, it may considerably influences your video’s feel and look.

Many pilots favor 60FPS for smoother playback on social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube, whereas others might favor 30FPS. Though 24FPS is in style in filmmaking, it may not look nearly as good for FPV movies resulting from speedy drone actions. For slow-motion footage, take into account greater FPS choices like 120FPS or 240FPS, which can require decreasing the decision in older cameras.

Facet Ratio

The native side ratio for the most recent GoPro picture sensor is 8:7, whereas older fashions have a 4:3 sensor. Selecting the native side ratio makes use of the total sensor info. It lets you export the video vertically or horizontally in a while for various social media platform. Utilizing a non-native ratio ends in cropping on the prime and backside of the sensor so it ends in a smaller FOV in case you have export it in a distinct side ratio in a while. When utilizing Hyperview and Superview, the picture is dynamically stretched from 8:7 or 4:3 to 16:9.

For those who plan to make use of Reelsteady, it’s finest to pick out 8:7 or 4:3, because the software program will export a 16:9 clip for platforms like YouTube. When utilizing the built-in Hypersmooth stabilization, select 16:9.

Lens

Lens settings decide the sector of view (FOV) of the picture. The obtainable lens choices will depend on the digicam and chosen decision/FPS/stabilization settings, which embrace Linear, Extensive, Superview, and Hyperview (from the narrowest to the widest FOV).

FPV movies usually use the widest FOV attainable, as a wider vertical subject of view offers picture stablization extra picture to work with. A wider FOV additionally appears to be like higher for FPV movies. Until you’re utilizing Reelsteady for video stabilization (through which case, select Extensive), it’s advisable to pick out Hyperview (or Superview if Hyperview isn’t obtainable).

Hypersmooth

As mentioned on this article, there are two methods to stabilize GoPro movies: Hypersmooth and Reelsteady. Hypersmooth is constructed into Hero 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 fashions and works effectively for many purposes. Nevertheless, FPV pilots typically favor Reelsteady, because it tends to provide higher outcomes for FPV movies and is extra versatile.

For those who plan to make use of Reelsteady or Gyroflow, ensure that to TURN OFF Hypersmooth within the digicam; in any other case, go away it ON. The Enhance or Auto settings might not be perfect for FPV, as they will crop the picture a bit an excessive amount of and trigger extreme zooming out and in. These settings, nonetheless, are well-suited for sports activities movies.

10-Bit

At the moment, solely the GoPro Hero 11 Black can shoot in HEVC 10-bit, capturing 64 instances extra colours than its predecessor which is in 8-bit. Whereas the distinction might not be vital on an ordinary pc display screen, 10-bit recording brings motion cameras nearer to skilled filming high quality. You may nonetheless choose to make use of 8-bit if desired.

Bit Fee

Bitrate is crucial to attain high-quality footage. The next bitrate information extra info from the picture sensor.

The latest GoPro supplies two choices: low (both 45 or 60Mbps) and excessive (100Mbps). I at all times advocate setting the bitrate to excessive. Though this implies larger file sizes, it’s a small sacrifice for preserving picture high quality.

Shutter Velocity

Shutter velocity impacts the publicity of your picture by controlling how a lot mild enters the sensor. It additionally influences the looks of your picture, with quicker shutter speeds producing sharper photos and slower speeds introducing extra movement blur. A reasonable quantity of movement blur is fascinating in FPV movies for a “cinematic” look.

For those who’re not utilizing an ND filter, you’ll be able to simply set the Shutter Velocity to Auto, the digicam will deal with it so that you can get a perfect publicity. You might set Shutter Velocity to a set worth which offers you a extra constant look, however it is best to use ND filters to get a accurately uncovered picture. This submit explains in additional element why it is best to use ND filter and find out how to choose the proper ND.

The final rule of thumb is to set the shutter velocity to 1/60 for 30fps, 1/120 for 60fps, 1/240 for 120fps, or 1/480 for 240fps. Utilizing a decrease shutter velocity than the recommended worth might end in overexposure and extreme movement blur.

When utilizing a set shutter velocity, make sure you equip your GoPro with the suitable ND filter for correct publicity. I like to recommend an ND16 filter for sunny days, ND8 for cloudy days, ND4 for early mornings and sunsets, and ND32 for snowy days.

You may get ND filters primarily based on the digicam mannequin right here:

For those who’re uncertain which ND filter to make use of for correct publicity, it’s typically higher to underexpose than overexpose, because it’s simpler to get well element in shadows than in overexposed areas.

EV Comp

EV Comp stands for Publicity Compensation. Usually, you’ll be able to go away EV Comp on the default setting (zero).

When the digicam adjusts publicity, it appears to be like on the complete picture and calculates a mean worth for the present publicity, bringing it up or right down to a center gray worth.

Adjusting the EV Comp worth tells the digicam to both brighten or darken the picture from the optimum publicity it perceives.

For those who’re filming a topic that’s darker or brighter than the background and go away EV Comp on the default setting (0), your picture might seem overexposed or underexposed. On this case, you’ll need to alter EV Comp. Nevertheless, for FPV, we usually movie your complete surroundings, so there’s often no must make vital changes.

White Stability

White stability determines the colour temperature of your footage, it’s essential for capturing correct colours.

Until you’re filming indoors the place mild sources (e.g., halogen mild bulbs) would possibly alter the surroundings’s coloration unnaturally, one of the best vary for it could be round 4500K to 5500K in out of doors surroundings.

Auto white stability can work successfully more often than not, however skilled customers often set it manually to match the scene, as a result of there could be situations the place the Auto settings is simply off which compromises the general look of your footage. Setting it to a set worth ensures constant white stability, and lets you effective tune it later in post-production. For instance, it’s possible you’ll use 4500K when capturing on a sunny day or 5500K on a cloudy day. For those who’re unfamiliar with adjusting white stability in submit, be at liberty to only set it to auto and let the digicam to deal with it for you and save your self some headache.

Some advocate utilizing the ‘Native’ white stability and correcting it in submit. Nevertheless, in my expertise, utilizing ‘Native’ can generally end in a uninteresting coloration that’s difficult to right in a while.

So, right here’s how I usually do it to attaining good trying colours: First, verify what the ‘Auto’ setting appears to be like like. Then, choose a white stability stage that emulates the identical look. This fashion, the white stability stays locked, versus randomly altering all through the video because it does in ‘Auto’ mode.

ISO

Really helpful Setting: All the time set ISO Min to 100, and alter ISO Max primarily based on lighting situations (100, 200, 400, and even 1600 are acceptable values; I often go together with 400)

ISO is the digital enhancement of sunshine sensitivity in your digicam’s picture sensor. It helps alter the publicity of the picture by amplifying the sign. The next ISO will increase mild sensitivity, which improves visibility in low-light environments, but it surely additionally introduces and amplifies digital noise, leading to a grainier picture.

For one of the best outcomes, maintain your ISO settings as little as attainable to attenuate noise and keep picture high quality.

When setting ISO Min and Max, you’re establishing a spread of ISO values the digicam can use, fairly than fixing the ISO worth. For instance, if the minimal ISO is 100 and the utmost is 1600, the digicam can use ISO values from 100 as much as 1600, relying on lighting situations.

A excessive ISO Max supplies flexibility, particularly when utilizing a set shutter velocity, as ISO turns into the first means the digicam adjusts publicity. Nevertheless, if you need probably the most constant and clear picture attainable, it’s finest to maintain your ISO Max as little as attainable given the lighting situations.

When capturing outdoor through the day with out flying beneath timber or in shadows, set ISO Max to 100 for probably the most constant picture. For those who do fly in shadowed areas, you’ll be able to set the ISO Max greater, akin to 400, for added flexibility. For those who’re flying out and in of a home, for instance, you’ll be able to even set the ISO Max to 1600 to account for the altering lighting situations.

Sharpness

The excessive sharpness setting in GoPro cameras will be overly intense and unappealing. By setting sharpness to low or medium, you could have the pliability to regulate sharpness in post-production utilizing a video editor to attain the specified stage.

Colour/Profile

In older GoPro cameras, this selection is known as “Colour”, within the new Hero 12 it’s known as “Profile”.

GoPro presents two coloration choices: Regular (aka Customary) and Flat (aka Log). Select Flat/Log coloration when you plan to paint grade in post-production, in any other case select Regular/Customary.

• Flat/Log – Retains extra picture element and adaptability, permit higher freedom for coloration correction and coloration grading in video modifying software program
• Regular/Customary – Produces vivid colours and excessive distinction

Flat/Log Colour is right for individuals who plan to paint grade their footage in post-production. It retains extra picture element, offering extra flexibility when adjusting colours and distinction. Nevertheless, Flat Colour footage isn’t designed for direct consumption. For those who’re new to creating FPV movies and unfamiliar with coloration grading, it’s possible you’ll need to keep on with Regular/Customary coloration for now.

Studying coloration grading can considerably improve your movies when performed accurately. To get began, think about using an expert video editor, akin to DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere, or Remaining Lower Professional X. I’ve a tutorial that will help you get began with Davinci Resolve: https://oscarliang.com/how-to-use-davinci-resolve/

In case you are new to paint grading, try my newbie’s tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/color-grade-fpv-videos/

Spot metering

Spot metering is a helpful setting that permits the digicam to make use of a particular portion of the display screen to determine the publicity stage. This may be helpful in difficult lighting eventualities. As an illustration, with a backlit sky, the digicam would possibly underexpose the bottom, making it look too darkish. Through the use of spot metering, you’ll be able to power the digicam to show primarily based on the sunshine stage of the world that issues most to you.

High Ideas

Getting SD Playing cards

Make certain to get SD card that has first rate write velocity. With a gradual card your GoPro recording would possibly cease randomly and even gained’t file in any respect. It’s essential to grasp the velocity class of SD playing cards, and the velocity requriement for the actual decision you intend to make use of with the GoPro.

You may find out about this in my SD card tutorial, the place I will even counsel some nice playing cards on your GoPro: https://oscarliang.com/sd-cards-fpv/#GoPro-and-Different-HD-Cameras-4K-Movies

Importing to Youtube

YouTube compression can negatively have an effect on your video high quality, inflicting quick movement and detailed components like grass and leaves to look pixelated. To make sure one of the best outcomes, comply with YouTube’s pointers for exporting and importing your movies.

Importing movies with excessively excessive bitrates gained’t enhance high quality, as YouTube compresses them anyway. It’s finest to let your video editor deal with the compression to keep away from points.

One helpful tip is to “upscale” your video when exporting it in your video editor. Since YouTube retains greater bitrates for greater decision movies, exporting a 1080p or 2.7K video in 4K can enhance playback high quality. For instance, YouTube limits 1080p movies to a 12 Mbps bitrate, whereas 4K movies can have as much as 68 Mbps. 60fps movies additionally retains greater bitrate than 30fps movies.

Utilizing a GoPro Dummy

Whereas working towards or tuning your drone, you may not be recording each flight. Utilizing a GoPro dummy can shield your precise GoPro from injury throughout non-recording flights.

3D-print a GoPro dummy in TPU and fill it with cash, steel weights or rice to match the load of your GoPro. This ensures constant weight distribution, which impacts your drone’s efficiency and management really feel.

Utilizing a GoPro dummy lets you keep consistency in your coaching with out risking injury to your precise digicam throughout crashes.

To weight your dummy, think about using “wheel stability weights,” obtainable in 5g and 10g items: https://amzn.to/3GDHCYd. Alternatively, you should use cash, chains, rice, or different weights that match contained in the dummy.

Frequent Points

GoPro Battery Not Absolutely Charging

In case your GoPro battery stops charging at round 80%-90% (and even 70-80%), the difficulty could be associated to the charger. When utilizing a robust third-party charger (e.g., an Apple charger or one with Energy Supply capabilities), and the battery by no means reaches 100%, attempt utilizing a much less highly effective, non-Energy Supply or Fast Cost suitable charger, akin to one with a 5V 2A output. Alternatively, you’ll be able to attempt charging your GoPro battery utilizing your pc’s USB port, which also needs to work successfully.

Conclusion

In conclusion, establishing your GoPro for FPV flying is crucial to seize gorgeous and clean footage. By following the suggestions and ideas on this information, you’ll be able to optimize your digicam settings and make sure the finest outcomes on your FPV movies. Keep in mind, follow makes good, so experiment with totally different settings and use the best instruments to boost your FPV flying expertise.

Edit Historical past

• Mar 2017 – Article created.
• Mar 2018 – Added sections “Shutter Velocity” and “Importing to Youtube”.
• Jan 2020 – Up to date GoPro record, added settings for Hero 7.
• Might 2020 – Added settings for Hero 8 and included separate settings for Reelsteady.
• Oct 2022 – Up to date product hyperlinks and settings.
• Jan 2023 – Added “High Ideas” and “Frequent Points”.
• Apr 2023 – Added finest settings for Lowlight/Evening.
• Jan 2025 – Added GoPro 13 to the product record.