GoPro Hero4 Black User Manual

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/ Video Mode/ Video Mode
Video mode contains four capture modes: Video, Time Lapse Video, 
Video + Photo and Video Looping.
Capture Mode Description
Video (default) Captures video.
Time Lapse Video Creates video from frames captured at 
specific inter vals. Time Lapse Video is 
available only in 4K and 2.7K 4:3 resolutions. 
Time Lapse Video is captured without audio. 
Protune
™, Auto Low Light, and Spot Meter are 
not available in this capture mode.
Video + Photo Simultaneously captures both video and 
photos. You can set the camera to capture a 
photo at selected inter vals while you record 
video. For details, see Video + Photo Inter vals
 
in this section.
Looping Lets you continuously record and save only 
the best moments, which helps to conser ve 
space on your microSD card. You must 
 
select an inter val. Protune is not available in 
this capture mode.
Note: Looping is not available in high-performance video modes.
CAPTURING VIDEO
1.  Press the 
Power/Mode  button [
  ]  repeatedly until you get to 
Video  mode.
2.  If necessar y, select a different video capture mode ( Video, Time 
Lapse Video, Video + Photo, or Video Looping):
a.  Press the Settings/Tag  button [ 
 ] to open the settings menu.
b.  Press the Shutter/Select  button [ 
 ] repeatedly until you get 
to the desired capture mode.
c.  Press the Settings/Tag  button [ 
 ] to close the settings 
menu. The icon for the selected capture mode appears in the 
upper left on your camera status screen.
3.  Press the Shutter/Select  button [ 
 ]. The camera beeps once 
and the camera status lights flash while the camera is recording.
4.  To stop capturing, press the Shutter/Select  button [ 
 ]. The camera  
status lights flash three times and the camera beeps three times.
If the memor y card is full or the batter y is out of power, your camera 
automatically stops recording. Your video is saved before the camera 
powers off.
PRO TIP:  When the camera is off and QuikCapture is enabled, you 
can turn the camera on and immediately begin capturing video just 
by pressing the Shutter/Select  button [ 
 ]. Press again to stop 
recording and power off the camera. For details, see Setup Mode .  
						

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/ Video Mode/ Video Mode
HILIGHT TAGGING 
You can mark specific moments in your video during recording  with 
HiLight Tags. HiLight Tags make it easy to find the best highlights to 
share. You can also add HiLight Tags when playing back content using 
an LCD Touch BacPac.
You can add tags with your camera, the GoPro App, or the Smar t 
Remote (sold separately).
To Add a HiLight Tag with Your Camera:  
While recording or playing back video, press the Settings/Tag   
button [ 
 ].
PRO TIP:  In the app, tap the screen during playback to display the 
HiLight Tags on the progress bar.
VIDEO SETTINGS  
Four capture modes are available for Video  mode: Video, Time  
Lapse Video, Video + Photo and Video Looping. The capture mode   
that you select determines the Video  settings that appear in the  
rest of the menu.
For instructions on how to change the following settings, see 
Navigating Settings Menus .
PRO TIP: To open the settings menu for the current mode, press the 
Settings/Tag  button [  ].  
						

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/ Video Mode
Looping Intervals 
Available inter vals for Looping are 5, 20, 60 and 120 minutes. For 
example, if you select a 5-minute inter val, only the previous 5 minutes 
is saved when you stop recording. If you record for 5 minutes and do 
not press the Shutter/Select  button [ 
 ] to stop recording and save, 
the camera begins a new 5-minute inter val by recording over your 
previous 5 minutes of footage. 
You can also select max video as the inter val. With this option, the camera 
records until the memor y card is full, then over writes the content.
Note: To use Looping, be sure that your microSD card has sufficient space.
PRO TIP:  Multiple chapter files are written to your memor y card 
so that small segments of content can be over written during loop 
recording. When viewing this content on a computer, you see separate 
files for each time segment. Use GoPro software to combine the files 
into a longer video.
INTERVAL
The Inter val setting applies to Time Lapse Video, Video + Photo and 
Looping. Inter val determines the amount of time that passes between 
each captured frame.
Time Lapse Video Inter vals  
Available inter vals for Time Lapse Video range from 0.5 seconds 
(default) to 60 seconds. 
Interval Examples
0.5-2 seconds Sur fing, biking or other spor t
2 seconds Busy street corner
5-10 seconds Sunset
10-60 seconds Lengthy activities, such as 
 
construction projects
Video + Photo Inter vals  
Available inter vals for Video + Photo range from 5-60 seconds. The 
quality of the photo depends on the selected video resolution and FOV.
/ Video Mode  
						

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RESOLUTION, FPS AND FOV 
The HERO4 Black includes the video resolutions listed below.
Video   
Resolution NTSC/
PAL 
FOV
Screen Resolution
4K  30/25
 
24/24 Ultra Wide
3 8 4 0 x 216 0 , 16 : 9
4K SuperView
™24/24 Ultra Wide 3 8 4 0 x 216 0 , 16 : 9
2.7K 60/50
 
48/48  
30/25  
24/24 Ultra Wide, 
Medium
2704x1520, 16:9
2.7K SuperView 30/25Ultra Wide 2704x1520, 16:9
2.7K 4:3 30/25Ultra Wide 2704x2028, 4:3
14 4 0 p 80/80
 
60/50  
48/48  
30/25  
24/24 Ultra Wide
1920x1440, 4:3
10 8 0 p 12 0/12 0
 
90/90 Ultra Wide,
 
Narrow 19 2 0 x10 8 0 , 16 : 9
/ Video Mode
/ Video Mode
Video  
Resolution NTSC/
PAL
FOV
Screen Resolution
10 8 0 p 60/50
 
48/48  
30/25  
24/24 Ultra Wide, 
Medium, 
Narrow
19 2 0 x10 8 0 , 16 : 9
1080p SuperView 80/80
 
60/50  
48/48  
30/25  
24/24 Ultra Wide
19 2 0 x10 8 0 , 16 : 9
960p 12 0/12 0
 
60/50 Ultra Wide
1280x960, 4:3
720p 240/240Narrow 1280x720, 16:9
720p 12 0/12 0
 
60/50  
30/25 Ultra Wide, 
Medium, 
Narrow
1280x720, 16:9
720p SuperView 12 0/12 0
 
60/50 Ultra Wide
1280x720, 16:9
WVGA 240/240Ultra Wide  848x480,  16:9
PRO TIP:  To open the settings menu for the current mode, press the 
Settings/Tag  button [ 
 ].  
						

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/ Video Mode
High-Performance Video Modes and Camera  
Temperatures
The HERO4 Black features unique high-per formance video modes: 
4K30/24, 4K24 SuperView, 2.7K60/48, 2.7K30 SuperView, 2.7K 4:3, 
1440p80, 1080p120/90, 960p120, 720p240 and 720p120 SuperView. 
When using these video modes, it is normal for the camera to 
become warm and use more power.
Using these high-performance modes in higher temperatures 
decreases camera recording time. In addition, lack of air flow around 
the camera, using the camera with the GoPro App, or in combination 
with BacPac accessories fur ther increases camera temperature and 
power consumption, and decreases camera recording time.
If the camera gets too hot, a message appears on the screen 
indicating that the camera is shutting down. The camera stops 
recording, saves your video, disconnects from the GoPro App, 
and powers off. If this happens, let your camera sit and cool before 
attempting to use it again.  
For extended recording time in high-per formance video modes, 
capture shor ter video clips when in stationar y use, and/or limit your 
use of features that increase power consumption, such as the GoPro 
App or BacPac accessories. To control your camera remotely at higher 
temperatures, use the GoPro remote instead of the GoPro App.
/ Video Mode
Video Resolution Best Use
4K Stunning high-resolution video with 
professional low-light performance. 8MP 
stills available from video. Recommended 
 
for tripod or fixed position shots.
4K SuperView SuperView delivers the world’s most 
immersive field of view. Recommended for 
tripod or fixed position shots. More vertical 
4:3 content is automatically s t r et c h e d t o 
full-screen 16:9 for stunning widescreen 
playback on your computer or T V.
2.7K 16:9 resolution video downscales to provide 
stunning, cinema-quality results for 
professional productions. 
2.7K SuperView SuperView delivers the world’s most 
immersive field of view. Recommended 
for body-mounted shots. More ver tical 4:3 
content is stretched to full-screen 16:9 for 
stunning widescreen playback on your 
computer or T V.  
						

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/ Video Mode
Video ResolutionBest Use
2.7K 4:3 Recommended for body-mounted, 
 
ski-mounted or surfboard-mounted   
shots. Provides large viewing area.
14 4 0 p Recommended for body-mounted shots. 
Larger viewing area and high frame rate yield 
the smoothest, most immersive results for 
high-action capture.*
10 8 0 p Great for all shots. High resolution and frame 
rate yield stunning results.*
1080p SuperView SuperView delivers the world’s most 
immersive field of view. Recommended for 
body-or gear-mounted shots. More vertical 
4:3 content is automatically stretched to 
 
full-screen 16:9 for stunning widescreen 
playback on your computer or T V.Video Resolution Best Use
960p Use for body-mounted shots and when 
 
slow motion is desired.* Provides large 
viewing area and smooth results for high 
action capture.
720p Good for handheld shots and when slow 
motion is desired.*
720p SuperView SuperView delivers the world’s most 
immersive field of view. Good for body-or 
gear-mounted shots. More ver tical 4:3 
content is automatically stretched to 
 
full-screen 16:9 for stunning widescreen 
playback on your computer or T V.
WVGA Good when super slow motion is desired and 
standard definition is acceptable.
* For slow motion at high frame rates, turn off Auto Low Light. If shooting indoors, be sure you have 
sufficient light.
/ Video Mode  
						

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FOVBest Use
Ultra Wide Largest field of view, increased image 
stability. Good for action shots where 
 
you want to capture as much as possible 
within the frame. 
Medium Mid-range field of view, moderate  
image stability.
Narrow Smallest field of view, reduced image 
stability. Reduced distor tion. Good for 
capturing content at a distance.
PRO TIP : Easily create epic GoPro-style videos using free   
GoPro software. Learn more and download this software at   
gopro.com/getstarted .
/ Video Mode / Video Mode
LOW LIGHT
Auto Low Light allows you to shoot in low-light environments or   
when quickly transitioning in and out of low-light conditions. The 
camera automatically adjusts fps to achieve the optimal exposure   
and best results. 
Auto Low Light is not available for 240 fps or 30 fps and below. The 
options for this setting are on (default) and off.
SPOT METER
Spot Meter lets you film from a dark space while pointing the camera 
into a brighter setting, such as when recording the outdoors from 
within a car. When Spot Meter is turned on, [ 
 ] appears on the 
camera status screen. The options for this setting are off (default) 
and on.
Note: Changes that you make to the Spot Meter setting in Video  mode apply only to video capture.  
To adjust this setting for photo capture, adjust the setting in Photo  mode. To adjust this setting for 
multi-shot capture, adjust the setting in Multi-Shot  mode.
PROTUNE
For details about Protune settings, see Protune .
Note: Changes that you make to the Protune settings in Video  mode apply only to video capture. 
To adjust this setting for photo capture, adjust the setting in Photo  mode. To adjust this setting for 
multi-shot capture, adjust the setting in Multi-Shot  mode.  
						

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/ Photo Mode
Photo mode contains three capture modes: Single, Continuous   
and Night.
Capture Mode Description
Single (default) Captures a single photo.
Continuous Captures a series of photos continuously 
while holding down the Shutter/Select
 
button [ 
 ]. 
Night Captures a single photo with a customizable 
exposure time up to 30 seconds. For available 
exposure times and examples of when to use 
them, see Shutter
 in Photo Settings.
PRO TIP:  While capturing video, you can manually take a photo at   
any time by pressing the 
Power/Mode  button [
  ]. Press and hold   
the Power/Mode  button [
  ] to capture a photo ever y 5 seconds.
/ Photo Mode
CAPTURING A SINGLE OR NIGHT PHOTO
1.  Select the desired photo capture mode (Single or Night):
a.  Press the 
Power/Mode  button [
  ] repeatedly until you get 
to  Photo  mode.
b.  Press the Settings/Tag  button [ 
 ] to open the settings menu.
c.  Press the Shutter/Select  button [ 
 ] repeatedly until you get 
to the desired capture mode (Single or Night).
d.  Press the Settings/Tag  button [ 
 ] to close the settings 
menu. The icon for the selected capture mode appears in the 
upper left on your camera status screen.
2.  Press the Shutter/Select  button [ 
 ]. The camera beeps two 
times, the camera status lights flash and the counter on the 
camera status screen increases by one.
PRO TIP:  For Night photo, be sure to use the right Shutter setting for 
the situation. For details, see Shutter  in Photo Settings.  
						

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CAPTURING CONTINUOUS PHOTOS
1.  Select Continuous mode:
a.  Press the 
Power/Mode  button [
  ] repeatedly until you get 
to  Photo  mode.
b.  Press the Settings/Tag  button [ 
 ] to open the settings menu.
c.  Press the Shutter/Select  button [ 
 ] repeatedly until you get 
to Continuous.
d.  Press the Settings/Tag  button [ 
 ] to close the settings 
menu. The Continuous icon [  ] appears in the upper left on 
your camera status screen.
2.  Press and hold the Shutter/Select  button [ 
 ]. The camera 
beeps and the camera status lights flash repeatedly.
3.  To stop capturing, release the Shutter/Select  button [ 
 ]. The 
counter on the camera status screen increases by one for ever y 
photo captured.
/ Photo Mode
PHOTO SETTINGS  
Three capture modes are available for Photo  mode: Single, 
Continuous and Night. The capture mode that you select determines 
the  Photo  settings that appear in the rest of the menu.
For instructions on how to change the following settings, see 
Navigating Settings Menus .
PRO TIP: To open the settings menu for the current mode, press the 
Settings/Tag  button [  ].
/ Photo Mode  
						

							3839
SHUTTER
Shutter applies only to Night Photo and Night Lapse and determines 
the amount of time that the shutter is open.  The options for this 
setting are auto (up to 2 seconds), 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 seconds. The 
default setting is auto.
Settings Examples
Auto (up to 2 sec) Sunrise, sunset, dawn, dusk, twilight, night
2 sec, 5 sec, 10 sec Dawn, dusk, twilight, traffic at night, Ferris 
wheel, fireworks, light painting
20 sec Night sky (with light)
30 sec Night stars, Milky Way (complete darkness)
PRO TIP: For best results when using the Shutter setting, mount your 
camera on a tripod or other stable sur face to reduce the amount of 
blur in your video or photos.
/ Photo Mode
INTERVAL
Inter val applies only to Continuous photo. Available inter vals are 3 
(default), 5 or 10 photos ever y second.
MEGAPIXELS
The HERO4 Black captures photos at 12MP, 7MP or 5MP.
Note: Changes that you make to the Megapixels setting in Photo  mode apply only to photo capture.  
To adjust this setting for multi-shot capture, adjust the setting in Multi-Shot  mode.
Photo ResolutionField of View (FOV)
12MP Wide (default)  
7MP Wide Largest field of view. Good for action shots 
where you want to capture as much as 
possible within the frame.
7MP Medium  
5MP Medium Mid-range field of view.
/ Photo Mode