A noob’s guide to wearable cameras & GoPros

GoPro is one of the most famous brands of wearable cameras. Their products are small and easy to mount on various body parts. GoPro cameras can take regular photos and burst photos, and are perfect for making regular and time-lapse videos as well. Below are some essential know-hows if you're considering a GoPro for yourself.

Benefits of an action camera

Capturing moments being present in the moment is now made possible using wearable cameras. They allow you to go hands-free while recording and capture great points of view. Most importantly, these cameras are flexible and portable. You can carry them anywhere.

If you love outdoor adventures and recording them, an action camera is the right choice. It is also fun for many other purposes since they come with a wide variety of mounting and housing options to let you capture unique perspectives.

Why consider a GoPro

Aside from mobility and quick shots, GoPro is also useful for underwater recording, as they are waterproof. You can also mount them on different props or vehicles and parts of your body. It comes with available mounts and straps.

The mounting options of GoPro cameras make them unique. You can mount one on your head, chest, arms or legs and just start filming. You can also strap it to your bike, surfing board or other vehicles and record your motion.

Choose from the variety of housing options of your GoPro by altering the backdoors. There are floating backdoors for GoPro as well, which help the camera float in water. There are options to mount them on backpacks and vehicles. You will also get floating hand grip options that work as a handle and buoy.

Specifications

GoPro cameras are sturdy, smooth, and waterproof. They can capture videos that are smoother and clearer than HD cameras. Their models have the availability of 4K video capture and are easily connectable to any device to share and import files.

Since it is a small-sized camera, there is only one screen to operate it. Owing to the small frame, GoPro cameras tend to be quite lightweight. Different models have different weight ranges, from 2.6 ounces to as much as 7.8 ounces depending on the function and shape.

GoPro cameras also have non-removable batteries. You can charge the battery using the USB cable which comes with the camera kit. You can easily transfer files from the GoPro to your computer or other devices using the same cable or an adapter.

The older models of GoPro cameras used to come with small built-in memory. The modern ones need an SD card for storage. SD cards of more than 64GB are suitable for these cameras.

The image quality of the new models of GoPro is getting better. Previously, it saved only JPEG images. But the recent versions can now capture photos in JPG format. Some models can take RAW images as well.

Possible downsides

The handling of a GoPro camera is pretty basic. But you have to be patient enough to figure it out first. Unlike regular cameras, captures cannot be zoomed in or out. It has a fixed focal length.

Thus, it takes some extra effort to handle this camera. As it is small in size, the buttons are small as well. Although it does not compromise the quality of videography, the quality of photography is expectedly not to the level of bigger cameras.

The controls are slow in responsiveness. The battery also drains a lot faster than regular cameras. However, these downsides can be worked around with a bit of prior preparation and patience.

Product names and price range

There are quite a few models of wearable cameras available in the local market. If you are new to exploring wearable cameras, you can start with a basic model. Even the basic model comes with a variety of capture options.

Starting from as low as Tk. 4,000 to more than Tk. 50,000, different kinds of wearable cameras can suit your needs and usability. Different brands like Xiaomi, Dji and EKEN also sell wearable cameras. These come at low price ranges, with some options you can potentially find are EKEN H9R V2 4K WiFi Waterproof Action Camera, Dji Osmo Pocket OT-110 12MP 4K Action Camera and Xiaomi Mijia 4K Action Camera.

GoPro models are expensive compared to these brands. The lowest range of GoPro cameras available in the local market is around Tk. 25,000. For example, GoPro Hero 7 costs Tk. 23,900. The price rises as we go up the series. GoPro Hero 8 costs Tk. 29,500, GoPro Hero 9 costs Tk. 35,500, and the latest model GoPro Hero 10 costs Tk. 45,500.

Final words

Initially designed to capture surfing moments in the sea, GoPro has advanced a lot in recent times. This wearable camera can do wonders, owing to its size, weight, mobility and fun features. They ease travelling and ensure adventures with maximum enjoyability.

You do not have to worry about holding your camera anymore. With GoPro, you can go hands-free on any surface you want without ever compromising the quality of your captures.