170703 Update: Added section with GoPro every-day carry hacks, tips and tricks
I recently purchased a GoPro Hero5 Session and love it! It lacks a screen and battery life, if I’m honest, sucks donkeys. But the lack of a screen has been unexpectedly freeing: instead of staring at the back of a camera, I find myself being able to better focus (no pun intended) on my subject and surroundings, allowing me to more smoothly move the camera. And with it’s uber-wide field of view, and built-in digital stabilization, I’ve been surprisingly pleased with my blind captures. Image quality isn’t as good as my favourite point and shoot and low light pictures are blurrier and grainier than a decent smartphone. But the GoPro Hero5 Session wins with its tiny, pocketable, waterproof and user-friendly design. There’s really no excuse to not carry it literally everywhere you go.
GoPro Hero5 Family Features:
- 4K @30fps video
- Waterproof to 33ft
- new Linear mode
- Electronic Image Stabilization
- Voice Control
Hero5 Black vs Session:
- 2” touch LCD vs None
- 12MP vs 10MP stills
- 1080p SlowMo: 120 vs 90 fps
- GPS vs None
- RAW stills vs None
- 3 noise-cancelling mics vs 2
Why I chose the Session over Black
- smaller & lighter
- stealthy & less intrusive
- no LCD = no questions or fuss
Pros:
- size & form factor
- ease of use
- robust & waterproof
- build quality
Cons:
- door falls off
- no LCD
- limited dynamic range
- battery life
- fixed wide angle lens
- disappointing in low light
Wishlist:
- Include Black’s RAW and Wide Dynamic Range modes
- Better Low-Light video and still quality
GoPro Hacks, tools and tips for every-day carry
Verdict:
- tiny size and bullet-proof build makes it able to get shots that would otherwise be impossible
THANK YOU! + NotSo Fine Print
I hope you’ve found a few tools here that will help make your life easier and more fulfilled.
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