GoPro是一家以开创“运动相机”而闻名的公司，至今仍继续在其创建的市场中树立黄金标准。它的相机通常被称为“GoPros”，但每个型号都有自己的名字。
但什么是GoPro，您如何开始使用它们？这篇文章将回答所有这些烦人的问题。
GoPro是“运动相机”——那是什么？
第一台GoPro是一款开创性的设备。一个小型相机，可以承受敲击、颠簸和任何其他大自然可以扔给它的东西。尽管如此，GoPro摄像机还是提供了非常高质量的素材(quality footage)。配方的最后一部分包括创新的安装系统(mounting system)，以及一长串的第一方和第三方配件。GoPro 安装(GoPro mount)系统的影响力如此之大，以至于其他运动相机(action camera)品牌经常与之兼容。
因此，运动相机(action camera)是一款紧凑型相机，能够以非常宽的视野 拍摄高质量、高帧率的素材。(frame rate footage)
它坚固耐用，并且由于有安装选项，几乎可以放在任何地方。使用GoPro(GoPro)的预期方式是安装在您的头盔、胸部或您正在使用的车辆（例如摩托车）上。镜头应该让观众以第一人称的视角了解动作运动(action sport)的样子。
然而，内容创作者已经发现了运动相机的各种创造性用途。他们不只是被用来分享他们周末功绩的人！纪录片(Documentarians)制作人、大预算电影(budget film)制作人、电视节目(TV show)创作者、视频博主等已将运动相机作为其工具包的重要组成部分。
每个模型都有它的位置
主线GoPro 运动(GoPro action)相机是“英雄”。在撰写本文时，最新的顶级型号(range model)是HERO 8 Black。因此，如果您只是想要最好的GoPro 钱(GoPro money)可以买到，那就买那个。
然而，过去和现在的各种模式都有其一席之地。通常，拥有两到三台便宜的GoPro 摄像机(GoPro cameras)比只有一台高级型号更好。HERO 系列(HERO line)会定期更新。例如，HERO 7 Black 和 HERO(Black and HERO) 8 Black之间的差异并不显着。
仔细查看每种待售型号的规格，并确定您是否绝对必须在该范围的高端进行改进。最重要的是，在线查找使用您正在考虑使用的相机拍摄的素材，以第一手了解最终结果(end result)。
选择合适的配件
开箱即用的GoPro(box state)相机实际上(GoPro camera)只是一个构建平台。除非您将GoPro与正确的配件配对，否则您将无法充分利用它。例如，虽然许多GoPro型号的防水深度适中，但如果您想潜水，则需要购买优质的水下外壳(underwater housing)。
如果你想把它安装到车窗内部(car window interior)，你需要一个吸盘支架(suction cup mount)。清单不胜枚举，但您可以想象到几乎任何用途的支架和配件。
确实没有通用的“必备” GoPro 配件(GoPro accessory)，但我们强烈建议所有GoPro用户考虑购买一个“骨架”外壳(“skeleton” housing)，它提供自己的安装点(mount point)和一定程度的跌落保护(drop protection)。这些外壳通常还具有用于灯或麦克风的附加连接点。使它们成为 vlogger 的不错选择。
我们可以推荐的另一个配件是GoPro “Jaws” Flex Clamp。这种创新的夹钳和鹅颈管系统(clamp and gooseneck system)让您可以将GoPro快速连接到几乎任何东西上，包括像铅笔一样薄的东西。
坚持使用官方GoPro配件通常是个好主意，特别是如果它是为了保护您昂贵的相机设备(camera equipment)，但有一些很棒的第三方产品可供细心的购物者考虑。
考虑镜头
开始使用GoPro(GoPro)时，您需要了解的最重要的事情之一是您的镜头对镜头的影响。标准 GoPro 镜头(Standard GoPro footage)是使用超广角镜头制作的。由于您将如此宽的视野放入标准矩形视频帧(rectangular video frame)中，因此会出现明显的失真。
框架边缘的对象将扭曲最多。这样做的好处是你会获得令人难以置信的速度感，因为它总是看起来像你在从一个地方到另一个地方扭曲。然而，许多人使用GoPro(GoPros)拍摄不受欢迎的镜头。较新的(Newer)GoPro型号，例如HERO 8，可让您为镜头选择不同的设置。
然后，相机会根据不同的视野偏好补偿镜头失真并重新构图捕获的图像。如果您的GoPro 没有(GoPro doesn)此功能，则可以使用Adobe Premiere Pro等软件纠正失真。
学习使用应用程序
虽然一些GoPro型号的背面有全彩LCD 屏幕，(LCD screen)或者(back or otherwise)提供了一些自行操作相机的方式，但GoPro 智能手机应用程序(GoPro smartphone app)是无法逃避的。这确实是所有魔法发生的地方，您越早了解该应用程序越好。
使用该应用添加相机后，您可以通过手机更改所需的任何设置。您还可以实时查看相机所看到的内容，让您完美地构图。录制完成后，您可以将素材无线传输到手机以进行保管。
鉴于GoPro(GoPros)经常被锁在箱子里，该应用程序是控制和管理(control and management)设备的首选方式。
选择正确的设置
GoPro 不是傻瓜相机解决方案(camera solution)。您需要仔细考虑要拍摄的内容以及合适的设置。这里主要考虑：
- 帧率(Framerate)：每秒 60 帧用于流畅的极限运动，每秒 24 帧用于更电影化的外观
- 分辨率(Resolution)：您需要 4K 吗？你需要全高清(Full HD)吗？考虑它如何影响录制时间和可用帧速率。
- 视野(Field of view)：广角(Wide angle)失真？带有裁剪视图的线性？你决定！
- 颜色(Color)：如果您有“平面”颜色(” color)配置文件的选项，如果您要在分享之前先编辑素材，这是最好的选择。如果您不打算(t plan)自己调色，请使用GoPro 颜色(GoPro color)配置文件。
(White balance)如果您是相机新手，(novice camera user)白平衡、快门速度和 ISO 设置(speed and ISO settings)都可以自动设置。但是您应该稍微阅读一下这些设置的作用以及如何调整它们以获得可能的最佳镜头。
编辑和分享您的素材
GoPro 应用程序(GoPro app)具有一些出色的自动素材编辑功能。您可以自动剪切和打包您的GoPro 剪辑(GoPro clips)，添加音乐，然后将其直接分享到网络上。如果您想尽快分享您的录音，使用该应用程序的内置工具是您的最佳选择。
但是，编辑GoPro 素材(GoPro footage)的最佳位置是在成熟的编辑包(editing package)中。这些是我们的建议：
这是您开始使用 GoPro 所需的最少知识！现在去制作一些令人难以置信的内容！
What Is a GoPro & How To Get Started Using One
GoPro is a company famous for pioneering “action cameras” and continues to set the gold standard in the market it created to this day. Its cameras are commonly referred to as “GoPros”, but each model has its own name.
But what is a GoPro and how can you get started with them? This article will answer all those nagging questions.
A GoPro Is An “Action Camera” – What’s That?
The first GoPro was a groundbreaking device. A small camera that could stand up to knocks, bumps and whatever else nature could throw at it. Despite this, GoPro cameras offered very high quality footage. The final piece of the formula included an innovative mounting system, with a long list of first- and third- party accessories. The GoPro mount system has been so influential that other action camera brands are often compatible with it.
So an action camera is a compact camera, capable of taking high-quality, high frame rate footage with a very wide field of view.
It’s ruggedized and, thanks to mounting options, can be put just about anywhere. The intended way to use a GoPro is mounted on your helmet, chest or on the vehicle you’re using such as a motorcycle. The footage should give the viewer a first-person view of what the action sport is like.
However, content creators have found all sorts of creative uses for action cameras. They’re not just being used for people who want to share their weekend exploits! Documentarians, big budget film makers, TV show creators, vloggers and more have taken to action cameras as an essential part of their toolkit.
Every Model Has Its Place
The mainline GoPro action camera is the “Hero”. The latest, top of the range model at the time of writing is the HERO 8 Black. So if you simply want the very best GoPro money can buy, go for that one.
However, the various past and present models all have their places. Often it’s better to have two or three less expensive GoPro cameras than just one premium model. The HERO line is refreshed fairly regularly. For example, the differences between the HERO 7 Black and HERO 8 Black are not dramatic.
Carefully look at the specifications of each model for sale and decide whether you absolutely must have the improvements at the higher end of the range. Most importantly, find footage online taken with the exact camera you’re considering to get a first-hand look at the end result.
Pick The Right Accessories
A GoPro camera in its bare, out-of-the box state is really only a platform from which to build. Unless you pair your GoPro with the right accessories, you’re not going to get the most out of it. For example, while many GoPro models are waterproof up to a moderate depth, if you want to take yours diving you’ll need to buy a good underwater housing.
If you want to mount it to a car window interior, you’ll need a suction cup mount. The list goes on and on, but there are mounts and accessories for just about any use you can imagine.
There really isn’t such a thing as a universal “must-have” GoPro accessory, but we’d strongly recommend all GoPro users consider getting a “skeleton” housing which offers its own mount point and a measure of drop protection. These housings also often have additional connection points for lights or microphones. Making them a good choice for vloggers.
The other accessory we can recommend is the GoPro “Jaws” Flex Clamp. This innovative clamp and gooseneck system lets you quickly attach your GoPro to just about anything, including something as thin as a pencil.
It’s generally a good idea to stick with official GoPro accessories, especially if it’s meant to protect your expensive camera equipment, but there are fantastic third-party products out there for careful shoppers to consider.
Taking The Lens Into Account
One of the most important things you need to know when getting started with a GoPro is the effect your lens will have on footage. Standard GoPro footage is made using a very wide-angle lens. Since you are putting such a wide field of view into a standard rectangular video frame, there will be significant distortion.
Objects at the edges of the frame will distort the most. The upside of this is that you get incredible sensations of speed, because it always looks like you’re warping around from place to place. However, many people use GoPros to make footage where this is undesirable. Newer models of GoPro, such as the HERO 8, let you choose different settings for the lens.
The camera then compensates for the lens distortion and reframes the captured image according to different field of view preferences. If your GoPro doesn’t have this feature, it’s possible to correct distortion using software such as Adobe Premiere Pro.
Learn To Use The App
While some GoPro models have a full-color LCD screen on the back or otherwise offer some way to operate the camera by itself, there’s no escaping the GoPro smartphone app. This is really where all the magic happens and the sooner you get to know the app the better.
After adding your camera using the app,you can change any settings you want from your phone. You can also get a live view of what the camera sees, letting you frame your shot perfectly. Once the recording is done, you can transfer the footage wirelessly to your phone for safekeeping.
Given that GoPros are often locked up in a case, the app is the go-to way for control and management of the device.
Picking The Right Settings
GoPros are not a point-and-shoot camera solution. You need to think carefully about what you are shooting and what settings are appropriate. Here the key considerations:
- Framerate: 60 frames per second for smooth extreme sports, 24 frames per second for a more cinematic look
- Resolution: Do you need 4K? Do you need Full HD? Consider how it affects recording time and available frame rates.
- Field of view: Wide angle with distortion? Linear with a cropped view? You decide!
- Color: If you have the option for a “flat” color profile, that’s the best choice if you’re going to edit the footage first before sharing it. Use the GoPro color profile if you don’t plan on grading it yourself.
White balance, shutter speed and ISO settings are OK to leave on automatic if you’re a novice camera user. But you should do a little reading on what these settings do and how to tweak them for the best footage possible.
Editing And Sharing Your Footage
The GoPro app has some brilliant automatic footage editing features. You can automatically cut and package your GoPro clips, add music and then share it straight to the web. If you want to share your recording as quickly as possible, using the app’s built in tools is the way to go.
However, the best place to edit your GoPro footage is in a full-fledged editing package. These are our recommendations:
That’s the least you need to know to get started with your GoPro! Now go make some incredible content!
