GoPros to avoid

GoPro still sells the Hero 12, and there are plenty of Hero 11s and even Hero 10s for sale on the internet (usually from shady, nonsensically named Amazon retailers). We suggest avoiding them all. They may work well, but they usually aren’t much cheaper than the Hero 13.

The best GoPro accessories

Photography: Scott Gilbertson

Should you buy a package? I usually say no. Get the camera, figure it out, and see how you end up using it. When you find yourself trying to solve a problem, start looking for an accessory. These are some of my favorite things I’ve tried and used, but if you have favorites you think I should try, leave a comment below. Please note that most of these mounts will work well with the new Mission 1 series camera, where there are differences. I added a note about it.

A good MicroSD card for $50: Based on GoPro’s recommendations, you want a microSD card rated V30 or UHS-3. That said, GoPros can be finicky with SD cards. I have had good luck and recommend this Samsung Pro Plus model. Another card I’ve used a lot is the SanDisk Extreme Pro.

GoPro multimedia mod for $100: By far my most used accessory, the media mod adds some bulk, but in most cases this is more than made up for by the fact that you can plug it into a real microphone (I use mine with a Rode Wireless). The sound quality improves radically with this one. This may be less necessary if you get the Hero 12 or later, as those models do support Bluetooth microphones, but Bluetooth sound quality is rarely good. The Mission 1 Pro supports USB microphones out of the box, it doesn’t need a Media Mod, although one is available. The Media Mod for Mission 1 cameras ($150) adds an HDMI port for 4K video monitoring.

GoPro handlebar mount for $40: I’ve been riding a lot more lately and this mount practically lives on my bike these days. It’s been rock solid in my testing and outperforms any of the third-party mounts I’ve tested.

Floating GoPro for $35: If you go near the water, grab one of these. Trust me, you’ll drop your GoPro, and when you do, you’ll be glad you have it (unless the water is clear and you’re a good free diver). GoPro originally listed it as compatible with the Mission 1 Pro. I couldn’t get my test unit into Floaty and then the support listing disappeared from GoPro’s website. For now it looks like you’ll have to settle for one of Amazon’s knockoffs for Mission 1. GoPro also makes one Floating grip ($23), that not only floats but has a leash for diving or surfing.

GoPro Selfie Stick for $80: This 48-inch extension pole collapses into something surprisingly small and isn’t very heavy. It’s the best selfie stick I’ve ever used. I rarely use it for selfies, but it’s a great monopod on soft ground, like a sandy beach.

DaVinci Resolve Studio for $300: This is my preferred video editing software. There is a free version, but I got tired of converting media to fit the restrictions of the free version. Best money I’ve ever spent on making better videos. I found that the latest LLM-powered sharpening tools in Resolve pair very well with Mission 1 Pro’s GP-Log2 images.

Do more with your GoPro

GoPro Hero 13 Black in White with Anamorphic Lens attachedPhotography: Scott Gilbertson

So you bought a GoPro, now what? Well, besides reading the manual and learning how to control it, the best thing you can do is go out and experiment. Here are some suggestions and things I use my GoPro for regularly.

GoPro Labs: GoPro Labs is an alternative firmware for your GoPro Hero camera that allows for all kinds of features and experiments that allow you to do things you can’t do with the stock firmware. There is some risk of instability and bugs, but I’ve been using Labs firmware for five years and never had any problems. It’s like adding 10 new features to your GoPro for free. I’ll reference several of my favorites in the sections below, but you can see the full list of things you can do with GoPro Labs on the GoPro Labs website.

Time Lapse Videos: After mounting the GoPro on my bike, this is the feature I use the most. GoPro time-lapse is incredibly easy to use (compared to most mirrorless cameras anyway), and with the Labs firmware you can take really long time-lapse shots, over 24 hours if you have a battery to power it.

Increase bit rate: By default, Hero 13 Black does not record at the highest bitrate. This is probably why your video looks mushy and not as clear and sharp as it should. Change that by going to ProTune settings and choosing “high” for the bitrate. If you want to go crazy, you can use Labs to increase your bitrate up to 200 (the “high” setting in the stock firmware is 100). The caveat is that depending on your SD card, you may not be able to record as loud. But everything helps. The downside is that increasing the bitrate drains the battery and can also cause overheating, so if you’re filming in very hot conditions you may want to reduce it. Some pictures are better than none because it overheated and the camera shut down.

Learn manual exposure: Hero 13 Black gives you full control over exposure, so take advantage of it. Play especially with the exposure compensation (called EV Comp in the settings). Try reducing it to -1 for midday shots. Also play with maximum ISO. The lower you can keep this, the better your footage will look, although because the GoPro kind of sucks in low light, there are some limits.

Improve sound with Media Mod: It’s worth repeating, but the Media Mod is the best way to get good sound from the GoPro without investing in Bluetooth microphones (which isn’t practical in many mounting scenarios anyway). The only time the media mod comes out of my GoPro is when I’m in the water (sadly, the Hero with the media mod installed is not waterproof at all).

Is now a good time to buy?

Probably. GoPro released its new Mission 1 cameras earlier this summer, but so far there’s no sign of a Hero 14. GoPro typically releases new Hero cameras in late September or early October, but with the Mission 1 series just hitting the market, it seems very possible that we won’t see a new Hero camera this fall.

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