Do GoPro Have Night Vision? The Truth About Low-Light Shots

If you wonder do gopro have night vision or not, you’re in the right place!

The short answer is no, GoPro does not have night vision.

However, today I’ll present settings and techniques that you can use to capture stunning low-light photos and videos.

In this post, you’ll learn useful tips and tricks on how to shoot videos at night with your GoPro.

Do GoPro Have Night Vision?

No, GoPro cameras do not have true night vision capabilities, all recent models have features that can help improve low-light performance.

GoPro cameras are incredibly versatile and come with a multitude of features. While most people are aware of the basic functions like time-lapse and fish-eye images, there’s a lot more you can do with them, especially in low-light settings.

GoPro Night Mode Settings

Here are a couple of modes that you can use to capture stunning shots in the dark:

Night Lapse Mode

With this mode, you can capture the beauty of the night sky with all its glittering stars and deep blue atmosphere. This mode is available on Hero Black 4 and later models. For Hero 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12 Black, simply find the Time Lapse Mode, click on the Presets, and select the Night Lapse mode to enable it. The camera will then optimize the settings for low-light conditions and capture the event just like any normal time lapse.

Top Night Lapse Settings for GoPro Cameras

If you own a GoPro Hero 10 Black, Hero 11 Black or GoPro Hero 12 Black, you can take advantage of the improved Night Lapse Video and Photo modes to capture stunning images and videos in low light conditions.

Find all the best settings for night lapse: 7 Tips for Epic GoPro Night Lapses [GUIDE].

To achieve the best results, use the following settings:

Night Lapse Photo – Sunset/Sunrise

For capturing beautiful night lapses of sunrises or sunsets, it’s recommended that you use a tripod. Set your Shutter Speed and White Balance to AUTO, and choose a capture interval of either 5 or 10 seconds, depending on the speed of the scene. Use ISO 100 to ensure the highest image quality, and select GoPro RAW (GPR) output if you plan to edit your photos later.

If you’re shooting fast-moving objects like fog or clouds, choose a shorter interval. For clear skies, pick a longer interval but keep the ISO at 100.

Recommended Settings:

Mode: Night Lapse Photo
Shutter: Auto
Interval: 4 seconds
White Balance: Auto
ISO Min + Max: 100
Color: Natural
Sharpness: Low
Output: RAW/Video (4K 4:3)

Night Lapse Photo – Sunset/Twilight

When capturing night lapses of sunsets or twilight scenes, set your Shutter Speed and White Balance to AUTO, and choose a capture interval of 10 seconds or more for longer exposures. Use an ISO range of 100 to 800 to capture darker scenes like twilight.

Recommended Settings:

Mode: Night Lapse Photo
Shutter: Auto
Interval: 10 seconds
White Balance: Auto
ISO Min + Max: 100 and 800
Color: Natural
Sharpness: Low
Output: RAW (Video: 4K 4:3)

Night Lapse Photo – Night Sky

For clear and appealing night lapses of the night sky, choose a shutter speed of 10, 15, 20, or 30 seconds depending on the light availability. Keep in mind that darker skies require slower shutter speeds. Use an ISO of either 800 or 1600, depending on the darkness of the conditions. Choose RAW photo output to stack individual images during post-production.

Recommended Settings:

Mode: Night Lapse Photo
Shutter: 15 seconds
Interval: Auto
White Balance: 4000K
ISO Min + Max: 800
Color: Flat
Sharpness: Low
Output: RAW

By following these settings, you can capture stunning night lapses with your GoPro camera, whether you’re shooting sunsets, twilight scenes, or the night sky. Experiment with these settings to find the perfect combination for your desired results.

Night Photo Mode

If you prefer still images, you can use the night photo mode to capture scenes even in dim light. The camera will optimize the settings for you, but you also have the option to manually adjust them to your liking.

Optimal GoPro Night Mode Photo Settings

The Night Photo Mode on GoPro cameras offers excellent opportunities for long exposure and low-light astro-photography, especially in the latest models that allow you to choose a shutter speed longer than 1/125th of a second.

Here are some recommended GoPro night mode photo settings to use in various low-light scenarios:

Dark Sky Without Moon

For shooting under a dark sky with no moon, set the exposure for 30 seconds at ISO 1600.

Recommended Settings:

Mode: Night Photo
Shutter: 30s
ISO Min + Max: 1600
Output: RAW

Dark Sky With a Dull, Waning Moon

When shooting the dark sky with a dull and waning moon, set the exposure for 30 seconds at ISO 1600 if shooting against the moon. If the moon is behind you, expose the shot at ISO 800 for 30 seconds, or at ISO 1600 for 15 seconds for a shorter duration.

Recommended Settings (Against the Moon):

Mode: Night Photo
Shutter: 30s
ISO Min + Max: 1600
Output: RAW

Recommended Settings (With the Moon Behind You):

Mode: Night Photo
Shutter: 30s
ISO Min + Max: 800
Output: RAW

Dark Sky With a Bright Moon

During a full moon night or a night with a bright moon, pay attention to high-contrast areas. If there are many shadows, expose the shot at ISO 1600 for 20 seconds.

Recommended Settings:

Mode: Night Photo
Shutter: 20s
ISO Min + Max: 1600
Output: RAW

If you need a faster shutter speed, use ISO 3200 for 10 seconds.

Recommended Settings:

Mode: Night Photo
Shutter: 10s
ISO Min + Max: 3200
Output: RAW

If the lighting is consistently bright throughout the scene, expose to ISO 800 for 15 seconds, or to ISO 400 for 30 seconds for even better image quality.

Skyline Shots

For scenes like cityscapes at night, you can use a low ISO if you’re okay with some motion blur in the foreground, as it allows you to capture maximum image quality.

Recommended Settings (With Motion Blur):

Mode: Night Photo
Shutter: 30s
ISO Min + Max: 200-800
Output: RAW

If you want to avoid motion blur, use regular Photo Mode with a faster than usual shutter speed and an ISO set up to 3200.

Recommended Settings (Without Motion Blur):

Mode: Photo
Shutter: 1/60th
ISO Min + Max: 3200
Output: RAW

Pro Tip: Always shoot RAW images with your camera instead of JPEG format during nighttime. Turn on RAW in Protune when taking pictures to capture more data for post-processing.

Night Video Mode

To achieve the best possible night-time GoPro footage, you should follow these guidelines:

Keep the ISO and Frame Rate as low as possible: To minimize noise in your footage, it’s recommended to set the ISO min to 100 and ISO max to 800. A lower frame rate (preferably 24fps) produces clearer low-light footage.
Opt for SuperView instead of Wide: SuperView reads the entire sensor, while the Wide lens crops the footage. Cropping footage generally results in larger pixels, making the noise more noticeable. SuperView reads the full sensor, reducing the visibility of noise.
Use GoPro Color: When you shoot in low light, the GoPro tries to brighten the shadows if the color profile is set to Flat. This will make the noise more visible, causing the image to appear blurry. GoPro Color profile will help hide the noise in dark shadows, as the camera won’t try to unnecessarily brighten them.
Set Shutter Speed twice the Frame Rate: For high-quality low-light footage, you should set the shutter speed at twice the frame rate. For example, if you’re filming at 24fps, the shutter speed should be 1/48s. If the shutter speed is set below twice the frame rate, the image may be too bright, introducing too much motion blur.

Recommended Night Mode Video Settings for GoPro:

Resolution/FPS: 4K/24fps
Lens: SuperView
HyperSmooth: On
Bit Rate: High
Shutter Speed: 1/48s
White Balance: Auto
ISO Min: 100
ISO Max: 800
Sharpness: Medium
Color: GoPro

By following these guidelines and recommended settings, you can capture stunning night-time footage with your GoPro.

More useful settings fro low light in the following article: BEST GoPro Night Mode Settings for Low Light (Photos & Videos).

Tips to Shoot GoPro Photos/Videos at Night

Nighttime photography can be a daunting task for any photographer, but with the right tools and techniques, you can capture stunning GoPro photos and videos even in low-light conditions.

Here are some tips to help you achieve the best possible results:

Use the right GoPro camera

Choose a GoPro camera that is suitable for low-light conditions. The latest models such as the Hero 10 Black, Hero 11 Black and GoPro Hero 12 Black have improved Night Lapse Video and Photo modes that produce high-quality images in low-light.

Find the comparison of the latest GoPro models: GoPro Hero 11 vs 10 vs 9: How do they compare?

Keep your camera steady

Stability is critical when shooting in low-light conditions, especially if you’re using a longer shutter speed. To ensure your GoPro camera is steady, use a tripod or any other suitable stabilization device.

Consider buying yourself gimbal for ultra stable night shots: Top 7 GoPro Gimbal Stabilizers On the Market.

Choose the right settings

To capture the best photos and videos at night, you need to adjust the settings of your GoPro camera. Set the ISO to the lowest possible value (usually 100), the frame rate to 24fps, and the shutter speed to twice the frame rate (e.g., 1/48s for 24fps).

Use the right lens

The right lens can make a big difference when shooting at night. Instead of using the Wide mode, use the SuperView mode, which reads the full sensor and results in clearer low-light footage.

Experiment with different angles and perspectives

To capture unique and creative shots, experiment with different angles and perspectives. Try shooting from a low or high angle, or use a wide-angle lens to capture more of the scene.

Use the right accessories

Accessories such as external lights and filters can help enhance your GoPro photos and videos at night. Use a waterproof light to illuminate your subject or a red filter to remove blue and green tints from your footage.

Find the best Led lights in the following article: 8 GoPro LED Lights & Accessories for Better Low Light Shots.

Shoot during the golden hour

The golden hour, which occurs during the first and last hour of sunlight, can provide the perfect lighting conditions for low-light shots. Try shooting during this time to capture stunning GoPro photos and videos.

Shoot in RAW format

To have greater flexibility during post-production, shoot in RAW format. RAW files contain more information than JPEG files, allowing you to adjust the exposure, white balance, and other settings in post-processing.

Use GoPro’s Night Lapse mode

GoPro’s Night Lapse mode allows you to capture long-exposure shots of the night sky, stars, and other low-light scenes. Set the capture interval to 30 seconds or longer and use a tripod to stabilize your camera for the best results.

Practice, Practice, Practice

The more you practice shooting at night, the more comfortable you’ll become with your camera’s settings and capabilities. So, get out there and experiment with different techniques and settings to capture stunning GoPro photos and videos at night.

Thanks for reading!

I hope this guide helped you learn whether Do GoPro have night vision or not 🙂

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Do GoPro Have Night Vision? The Truth About Low-Light Shots

Do GoPro Have Night Vision?