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GoPro cameras are quite possibly the most durable camera available. They provide a wide-angle point of view and are the standard in action cameras. They can be mounted to nearly any surface, giving you a unique perspective at the heart of the action. We are always talking about adding movement and transitions to your films and there is no better way to get creative shots than with this camera.
The image above is exactly what I’ve been using for the past several years, and it’s served me well. GoPro has made multiple improvements both to the quality of their cameras as well as their functionality. That’s why rather than linking you to the 3 as pictured above, we’re providing links to their newest cameras, which have phenomenal image stabilization. In full disclosure, I have not used the latest versions, but they are most definitely on my wish list and I’ve watched hours worth of reviews to know that the quality is there!
WHY IT’S IN OUR CAMERA BAG
This is the original action camera. It can take a beating and keep on working, whether it’s attached to a bike, car, or a surfboard. If you want first person point of view action, a GoPro is a must!
WHAT WE USE IT FOR
In complete transparency, we don’t use it nearly as often as we used to. There are many reasons for that, but the primary one is that we still have version 3 and they are now on version 9. Many of our other cameras can do some similar things as the GoPro, but none of them are as tough and made to take a beating as the GoPro is.
The super compact size will always be one of its greatest features! We use it at the beach, in the water, and one of favorite ways to use it is by using the suction cup mount and attaching it to the window or hood of our car while we are traveling to get footage while we’re on the move.
PROS
It’s very compact and can provide some pretty fantastic footage from tight spaces like in the bottom of a coffee cup or in the hole on a golf green. The newer versions come waterproof even without the case, but the case adds even more protection to the lens and allows for protection at greater depths of water. Our version doesn’t have this, but the latest GoPros (we’d recommend 7 on up) have awesome stabilization built right in giving you really usable footage even when the camera isn’t very still. The last several versions also have screens on them so you can see what you’re capturing as you capture it.
CONS
The battery life on GoPros kinda stinks. Thankfully, you can get back up batteries that take up next to no room at all. Although there are many and unique ways to mount a GoPro camera, having to purchase all of them separately and fidget with all of the many pieces can be very annoying. There has to be a better solution to provide multiple mounting options without having to unscrew and screw the bolt over and over again.
INVESTMENT
You can save money by going with a version that is slightly older, but we would not recommend going back as far as our version 3 we have. Although we do still get good footage with it, the 7th iteration on up to the 9th are far superior and will give you much more usable footage than ours. You can get a GoPro Hero 9 for as low as $400 this time of year and the Hero 8 for $300.
ACCESSORIES
Batteries (version 9) – These are a NEED. We’d recommend 1-2 extra depending on how often you intend to use the camera. Version 6, 7, & 8 batteries here.
As we mentioned earlier, there are a lot of fun ways to mount a GoPro, but that all depends on how you plan to use it and what activities you’re into.
Suction Cup Mount – Exactly what it sounds like, this is a giant suction cup that easily mounts to the hood of a car, the interior or exterior of a car window, a window in your home / hotel room, etc.
Handlebar Mount – This mount bolts around a handlebar. Think about a bike handlebar, a railing on a cruise ship, a bar on a tuk tuk, your luggage handle, a river taxi, a golf club, etc.
Clamp Mount – This one is similar to the handlebar, but clamps on to things. It is a little less fidgety because of that, and can be used in similar situations.
Chest Harness – If you’re willing to humiliate yourself while wearing it, the chest harness does provide some pretty fantastic point of view footage. It just looks absolutely ridiculous while you’re wearing it. This one can be really fun for playing with your kids at the beach, pool, or park.
Wireless Remote (link for versions 5 – 8) – We use this fairly often when we are filming with a GoPro. It can be useful when your camera is mounted to an area you can’t easily reach (like the hood of your car) or if you need to have things set up in advance but aren’t ready to record yet (like meeting your adopted child for the first time).
If you’re an active person, love spending time at the pool or beach, or simply have a habit of dropping things a lot, the GoPro is a great choice to very quickly and easily get some fun useable action footage while you’re on the move!
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