When it comes to setting up your GoPro Hero 9, there are a lot of options and settings you can tweak.
So which ones should you use?
It’s hard to know what the best settings for your GoPro are without experimenting with them all!
But, I have tried my hardest to find the absolute BEST Settings for your action camera.
In this blog post, we will discuss the absolute best settings for GoPro Hero 9.
Best Settings for GoPro Hero 9
The GoPro Hero 9 comes loaded with some wonderful settings and presets. Here are the best GoPro Hero 9 settings you should know about in order to produce quality shots with your device:
Video Settings
Digital Lenses | For Different FOVs
The GoPro Hero 9 lets you choose from five different digital lenses for your shot – SuperView, Wide, Linear, Linear + Horizon Leveling, or Narrow. The default lens will vary based on the preset you choose.
When you’re shooting video, the SuperView lens captures the largest field of view while the Narrow lens captures the smallest. SuperView provides the widest and tallest field of view. Wide gives a wide field of view that captures as much as possible within the frame. Linear lens also gives a wide field of view, albeit without the fisheye effect of SuperView and Wide. Linear + Horizon Leveling mode captures a wide field of view without the fisheye effect of SuperView and Wide, while also keeping your footage smooth and level even if your camera tilts while recording. Narrow lets you have a narrow FOV without the fisheye effect.
HyperSmooth Boost | To Maximize Video Stabilization When the Terrain gets Rough
GoPro Hero 9 Black’s HyperSmooth image stabilization delivers ultra-smooth footage by correcting camera shake. The camera achieves this by cropping your videos while recording so that it can buffer the footage. Using HyperSmooth gives wonderful results while shooting activities like biking, skating, skiing, handheld shots, and more. The Hero 9 Black has four HyperSmooth settings – Boost, High, On, and Off.
When you’ve turned HyperSmooth off, GoPro records video without any video stabilization. When it’s turned on, you get a stabilized video with minimal (10%) cropping. Setting HyperSmooth at High provides you with stronger video stabilization, again with minimal (10%) cropping. HyperSmooth Boost mode gives maximum video stabilization, but with tight cropping.
Standard Preset | Great for All-Purpose Video Recording
Standard Preset in GoPro Hero 9 Black is a versatile preset which shoots 1080p video at 60FPS for full-screen playback on your phone and TV. The digital lens is set to Wide to capture more of the scene in the frame.
Standard Preset is great for all-purpose video recording.
Activity Preset | To Capture Ultra-Immersive Footage of any Activity
The Activity Preset records 2.7K video at 60FPS with the SuperView digital lens. This gives your video the classic GoPro look with high-resolution full-screen playback.
The Activity Preset is useful to capture ultra immersive footage of pretty much any activity, including biking, hiking, driving, motorcycling, skiing, and so on.
Cinematic Preset | For 3rd Person and Follow-Cam-Type Shots
The Cinematic Preset lets you shoot stunning 4K videos at 30 fps. As the name suggests, this mode delivers a dramatic cinematic feel to your footage by using the Linear + horizon leveling digital lens to smooth out the fish-eye effect.
Cinematic Preset is my go-to preset for 3rd person and follow-cam-type shots.
Slo-Mo | Great to Slow Down Fast-Action Shots
Slo-Mo mode lets you slow things down to (up to) 8x normal speed during playback. As default, this preset records 1080p footage at 240 fps. It uses HyperSmooth to deliver crystal clear ultra-slow motion shots with amazing details that you can’t see with the naked eye!
Slo-mo is perfect for slowing down fast-action shots so that you’re able to see minute details of the action.
Photo Settings
Photo Preset | For Standalone Pictures
The Photo preset is the default photo capture mode on the Hero 9 action camera. It captures a single photo or a series of continuous
photos. A single press of the Shutter button captures a single photo. When you press and hold the Shutter button, the camera captures continuous photos at a rate of up to 30 per second (depending on lighting conditions).
LiveBurst | For Burst Shots
LiveBurst captures a burst of photos both 1.5 seconds before and 1.5 seconds after the Shutter button is pressed. You can look through the burst to find the perfect shot or even share the whole burst as a short video.
Burst | For Capturing up to 25 Photos in 1 Second!
Burst captures a series of photos at blistering rates! This makes it perfect for fast-action shots. When this preset is active, the Hero 9 automatically shoots up to 25 photos in 1 second (based on lighting conditions).
Night | Great for Dark Scenes/Night Shots
The Night preset automatically adjusts the shutter speed of Hero 9 to let in more light for your shot. It’s perfect for dim or dark scenes. But, please note that this preset is not recommended for handheld or mounted shots when the camera is moving.
Time Lapse Settings
Time Warp | For ‘On the Move’ Time Lapse Video
Time Warp is the default time lapse setting on the GoPro Hero 9 Black. This preset is for you if you want to capture a time lapse video while your camera is moving. As default, Time Warp captures 1080p HD video with the Wide-angle lens of your Hero 9. It automatically adjusts your capture speed for the best results. This mode uses the Hero 9 Black’s amazing HyperSmooth image stabilization technology which helps capture ultra-smooth time lapse video while you’re on the move.
Time Warp mode is for those who want to create time lapses of activities like mountain bike runs, hikes, and more.
Time Lapse | For Still Time Lapse Shots
Time Lapse mode is for those who want to capture time lapse video when the Hero 9 Black camera is mounted and still. When you select the ‘Time Lapse’ setting, your GoPro Hero 9 Black records 1080p video (as default) with the Wide digital lens while capturing one shot every 0.5 seconds.
This is a great mode to shoot sunrise/sunsets, horizon, clouds, street scenes, and similar shots that involve shooting for a long period of time.
Night Lapse | For Low-Light/Night-Time Time-Lapses
Night Lapse mode is meant to capture time lapse video in dark and low light conditions with your Hero 9 Black. It automatically adjusts the camera’s shutter speed to let more light in and picks the interval that will give you the best results. GoPro Hero 9 Night Lapse shoots 1080p video with the Wide digital lens as default.
Night Lapse shots are strictly for nighttime/dark shots, like the moon, stars, or city streets at night. Please note that you must keep your camera stationary and held by a mount or a tripod to get the best shot in this mode.
For more settings tips watch this tutorial:
THE BEST GoPro Hero 9 Settings for Different Activities
Here are the suggested settings for capturing your favorite activities with the GoPro Hero 9 Black:
Air
Here are the top recommended settings for some amazing aerial shots:
Video Settings
- 4K60, Wide Lens
- 1080p120, Wide Lens
- 15x TimeWarp Video
Photo Settings
- Time Lapse Photo (1-second interval) 1080p120, Wide Lens
- Burst (30/3 Rate), Wide Lens
Bike
Here are the top recommended settings for some great bike shots:
Video Settings
- 2.7K60 4:3, Wide Lens
- 1440p60, Wide Lens
- 15x TimeWarp Video
Photo Settings
- Time Lapse Photo (5-second interval), Wide Lens
Indoor
Here are the top recommended settings for indoor shots:
Video Settings
- 1440p30, Wide Lens
- 1080p30, Wide Lens
Photo Settings
- Photo or Continuous Photo, Wide Lens
Motor
Here are the top recommended settings for motor shots:
Video Settings
- 2.7K60 4:3, Wide Lens
- 1440p60, Wide Lens
- 15x TimeWarp Video
Photo Settings
- Time Lapse Photo (5-second interval), Wide Lens
Mounted
Here are the top recommended settings for great mounted shots:
Video Settings
- 5K30, Wide Lens
- 1440p60, Wide Lens
- Auto TimeWarp Video
Photo Settings
- Time Lapse Photo (5-second interval), Wide Lens
Outdoor
Here are the top recommended settings for wonderful outdoor shots:
Video Settings
- 5K30, Wide Lens
- 1440p60, Wide Lens
- 10x TimeWarp Video
Photo Settings
- Photo or Continuous Photo, Wide Lens
POV
Here are the top recommended settings for appealing POV shots:
Video Settings
- 1440p60, Wide Lens
- 1440p120, Wide Lens
- 15x TimeWarp Video
Photo Settings
- Time Lapse Photo (2-second interval), Wide Lens
- Burst (30/3 Rate), Wide Lens
Selfie
Here are the top recommended settings for nice-looking selfie shots:
Video Settings
- 4K30 4:3, Narrow Lens
- 1440p60, Narrow Lens
Photo Settings
- Photo, Narrow Lens, SuperPhoto, Photo Timer
Snow
Here are the top recommended settings for snow shots:
Video Settings
- 4K60, Wide Lens
- 1080p120, Wide Lens
- 15x TimeWarp Video
Photo Settings
- Time Lapse Photo (1-second interval), Wide Lens
- Burst (30/3 Rate), Wide Lens
Trail
Here are the top recommended settings for shots while you’re hiking or on a trail:
Video Settings
- 4K30 4:3, Wide Lens
- 1440p60, Wide Lens
- 15x TimeWarp Video
Photo Settings
- Photo, Wide Lens
Travel
Here are the top recommended settings for some amazing shots while you’re on the go:
Video Settings
- 5K30, Wide Lens
- 1440p60, Wide Lens
- 10x TimeWarp Video
Photo Settings
- Photo or Continuous Photo, Wide Lens
Water
Here are the top recommended settings for under/over water shots:
Video Settings
- 4K60, Wide Lens
- 1080p240, Wide Lens
- 1440p60, Wide Lens
Photo Settings
- Time Lapse Photo (2- or 5-second interval), Wide Lens
- Burst (30/6 Rate), Wide Lens
What Is The Best Resolution for GoPro 9?
The GoPro Hero 9 Black is capable of shooting at several different resolutions, but the best one depends on your needs and intended use of the footage.
For the highest quality and most detailed footage, the best resolution for the GoPro Hero 9 Black is 5K at 30 frames per second (fps). This mode provides a resolution of 5120 x 2880 pixels, which is higher than the resolution of most consumer-grade displays.
However, if you need to shoot at a higher frame rate for slow-motion footage, or if you want to save storage space, you may want to choose a lower resolution. For example, shooting at 4K at 60fps or 1080p at 240fps can be ideal for capturing fast action or creating slow-motion effects. Ultimately, the best resolution will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
What Setting Is 4K on GoPro 9?
The 4K setting on the GoPro 9 refers to a video resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This setting offers high-quality footage with sharp details and is one of the highest resolutions available on the camera. It is a popular choice for filming action sports, landscapes, and other outdoor adventures.
Additionally, the GoPro 9 offers several frame rate options for shooting in 4K, including 24fps, 30fps, and 60fps, allowing users to choose the best frame rate for their specific needs.
Thanks for reading!
I hope this tutorial has been helpful for getting acquainted with your new gadget before taking it out on a wild adventure 🙂
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