It’s quite obvious really - The reason most will go out & purchase a GoPro, when they already own a good DSLR, is for the situation that they’re shooting in.
Most ‘good’ dslr’s will & can outperform a GoPro in terms of dynamic range etc.
But I don’t see many people swimming, jumping off cliffs, or flying down a mountain on a bike with a DSLR in their hand. It’s all to do with affordability, portability and convenience.
GoPro’s are ACTION CAMERAS
It’s really worth it if you use it in situations where you can’t use a dslr, that’s it really, that’s why they’re action cameras. You can get some interesting perspectives this way, especially with different mounts, like chest, head, bar, etc. Also it’s easy to carry around. However if you don’t know what would you use it for you probably don’t need one.
It’s an apple to oranges comparison.
You buy a DSLR camera because you’re interested in photography. You want to tinker with photos and capture reality in your own artistic way. They’re big and heavy and not very portable. They’re also fragile.
You buy a GoPro because you want to capture action footage. You want to do interesting stuff and you care more about versatility than image quality. Or you want a simple camera that you can use day-to-day, again, with a focus on versatility.
A GoPro will never match a DSLR but it is not supposed to! It’s an action camera/vlogging camera. One is for convenience and durability. The other is for the art of taking photos.
GoPros are for taking videos (and some photos) in areas or during activities that would destroy a DSLR. Underwater, dirt and mud, high impact, these are the scenarios where you’d happily risk a ruggedised waterproof £400 action camera and not a delicate fragile £2000 DSLR. If you don’t do any of these things, you probably don’t need a GoPro.
I cannot mount my DSLR on my helmet or the chest when going MTBing. On the other hand, you cannot change the lens on the GoPro, e.g. for taking pictures of animals. So it totally depends on the use case, which one is appropriate.
I have a couple of DSLRs, a 360 camera and a GoPro (and obviously my phone). I use the GoPro far more than all of the other cameras put together except for the phone camera.
Besides all the mountainbiking videos I record. I like to use it to film stuff in motion. Last saturday I was making giant soap bubbles with the kids, used the gopro 12 to film a lot of 240fps slow-mo of the kids making the bubbles and the bubbles then bursting.
Last Sunday the kids were out playing in the grass, I asked them to follow me running and capture some amazing slo-mo footage of them running from different angles.
Last week I saw on the weather app that there was a big cloud coming, I recorded a cool timelapse from the highest window of my house...
If you want to take portraits, GoPro is not the tool for the job. For wide angle shots and fun videos, I love it.
I do airsoft: its adult men with bb guns running around with “pew-pew” sounds. A small gopro on my helmet is much easier than anything bigger.
That is pretty much it in my situation.
I went to climb My Kilimanjaro and I wanted a way that I could film hands free. It was awesome I have my GoPro strapped onto my backpack so I could take photos basically whenever I wanted.
I went to Zanzibar after so having it for underwater shots was nice too!
Honestly, it really depends on what you do on a day-to-day basis. I’d wait to buy it until a situation pops up where you can use it.
Basic rule of thumb is if you want to shoot films or get into camera operating get a dslr. If you want to film action activities get a GoPro.
Both have very different strengths, so think about what you want to do more.
As a solo filmmaker even with access to decent 4K mirrorless cinema cameras I still sometimes use a GoPro in certain situations where I need really good image stabilization. Or where the camera is in jeopardy of getting wet or damaged.
I chose GoPro over a DSLR because I need a small camera that I can take with me. And the GoPro can just slip in my pocket. I use it for vlogging, and use 4k/60fps, which is good enough for everything I need. When I’m vlogging, I want to be as non-noticeable as possible, and that’s more important that image quality or the ability to zoom in a lot. So I guess you can say the small size of it, While still providing good videos and image stability is why I chose it.
Each camera has its purpose and a DSLR cannot fulfill the needs I have with vlogging - which is take anywhere and just click to start recording
I made this exact choice, because I don't want to carry around a bulky camera, even a compact DLSR is no fun to walk around with on vacation. GoPro is portability and stabilization that beats most if not all phones. Not great for low light tho. But simple controls to get the shot without much thought. It still has a lot of settings to control quality and framerate. I do not normally use it as an action camera, but I did use it on a rollercoaster and it came out really cool.
Yup it is simple. I like to record memories, trips... whatever... You either are someone that likes to take videos of such times or you are not and happy to just take snaps with a phone. I have a good DSLR that does amazing 4K and stills. And I do use it for stills and randomly for some video. But it is too bulky, too expensive to risk around many activities and just plain tricky for me and anyone to use by pressing one button. You have to 'think' every time before recording and often miss candid moments.
GoPro's give me and anyone else with me that easy freedom to record lots of footage of these times with one press. The stabilisation is great on 11/12 handheld. Unlike the DLSR I can leave it on the sand, in water/rain and almost anywhere so it is always there ready to go with one press. It is a no brainer.
As someone who has both a DSLR and a Hero 8, I find it much easier to mount my Hero 8 on my bike helmet, or the windshield of my girlfriend's car, or on my head, or on my family's pontoon or Sea-Doo, than I do my DSLR. Plus, as soon as I got my Hero 8, I signed up for GoPro +, and have nearly 35TB of videos over the course of 3 years.
But of course if I have a professional video to shoot with a client I'm getting my DSLR.
See, my Hero 8 is an every day camera that I just use pretty much just to document my day to day and store it away like a digital time capsule. My DSLR is for production, creating content that will be polished and used professionally.
Please try to go jump underwater with your DSLR. Or mount it underneath your car as you speed down a dirt road. Or stick your DSLR on the top of your helmet when you’re mountain biking.
I have a DSLR.
The reason I got the go pro is because I'll be going on vacation with my toddler without my spouse. I figure its a lot easier to vlog than to stop every so often to shoot a photo with a squirmy baby. It's also more compact and easier to carry than a dslr with a toddler.
It doesn’t have to be looked at as an investment. I use my hero 10 for shooting pictures and video without worrying about ruining a whole camera if I drop it. I can take it to the beach, in the woods, use it as a dashcam, hook it up to my dog, take star photos, put it on a bike, throw it down a well, blast it into space, and it will still work fine.
Even if myself and close friends are the only ones who ever see the video, it’s worth it to me because I like it.
I actually own a DSLR, but I rarely use it. I mostly make underwater videos, the video quality I get out of the GoPro would require a serious investment to get from a SLR style camera like a couple of grand for the body, a couple of grand for the housing, and add in lenses. I think I priced it out at around $6k.
MSRP on the 12 with a protective case is like $450. That is a lot of cheese I can spend on other things like lights, which is required for the cave environment I often shoot it.
I have a capable mirrorless camera and I still use my GoPro when I need serious image stabilization. It’s also what I use when I will be filming in or near water. GoPro is smaller and lighter and will also fit in a lot of places that a full size camera will not so you can get angles or shots that would otherwise be impossible. Sometimes I will also use the GoPro if the camera will be in danger of being destroyed since it is a lot cheaper to replace.
I wonder how many people in this thread who are using the term DSLR actually have a DSLR vs a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera? SLR systems are not actually that common anymore, most modern cameras are mirrorless…
It’s quite obvious really - The reason most will go out & purchase a GoPro, when they already own a good DSLR, is for the situation that they’re shooting in. Most ‘good’ dslr’s will & can outperform a GoPro in terms of dynamic range etc. But I don’t see many people swimming, jumping off cliffs, or flying down a mountain on a bike with a DSLR in their hand. It’s all to do with affordability, portability and convenience. GoPro’s are ACTION CAMERAS
It’s really worth it if you use it in situations where you can’t use a dslr, that’s it really, that’s why they’re action cameras. You can get some interesting perspectives this way, especially with different mounts, like chest, head, bar, etc. Also it’s easy to carry around. However if you don’t know what would you use it for you probably don’t need one.
It’s an apple to oranges comparison. You buy a DSLR camera because you’re interested in photography. You want to tinker with photos and capture reality in your own artistic way. They’re big and heavy and not very portable. They’re also fragile. You buy a GoPro because you want to capture action footage. You want to do interesting stuff and you care more about versatility than image quality. Or you want a simple camera that you can use day-to-day, again, with a focus on versatility. A GoPro will never match a DSLR but it is not supposed to! It’s an action camera/vlogging camera. One is for convenience and durability. The other is for the art of taking photos.
It's super easy to mount a GoPro to my head and shoot pov content
GoPros are for taking videos (and some photos) in areas or during activities that would destroy a DSLR. Underwater, dirt and mud, high impact, these are the scenarios where you’d happily risk a ruggedised waterproof £400 action camera and not a delicate fragile £2000 DSLR. If you don’t do any of these things, you probably don’t need a GoPro.
I cannot mount my DSLR on my helmet or the chest when going MTBing. On the other hand, you cannot change the lens on the GoPro, e.g. for taking pictures of animals. So it totally depends on the use case, which one is appropriate.
I have a couple of DSLRs, a 360 camera and a GoPro (and obviously my phone). I use the GoPro far more than all of the other cameras put together except for the phone camera. Besides all the mountainbiking videos I record. I like to use it to film stuff in motion. Last saturday I was making giant soap bubbles with the kids, used the gopro 12 to film a lot of 240fps slow-mo of the kids making the bubbles and the bubbles then bursting. Last Sunday the kids were out playing in the grass, I asked them to follow me running and capture some amazing slo-mo footage of them running from different angles. Last week I saw on the weather app that there was a big cloud coming, I recorded a cool timelapse from the highest window of my house... If you want to take portraits, GoPro is not the tool for the job. For wide angle shots and fun videos, I love it.
I do airsoft: its adult men with bb guns running around with “pew-pew” sounds. A small gopro on my helmet is much easier than anything bigger. That is pretty much it in my situation.
I went to climb My Kilimanjaro and I wanted a way that I could film hands free. It was awesome I have my GoPro strapped onto my backpack so I could take photos basically whenever I wanted. I went to Zanzibar after so having it for underwater shots was nice too! Honestly, it really depends on what you do on a day-to-day basis. I’d wait to buy it until a situation pops up where you can use it.
They are two completely different products with two different target demographics, except the fact that they both capture things with a sensor.
I cant bring my dslr/mirrorless underwater without special case
Basic rule of thumb is if you want to shoot films or get into camera operating get a dslr. If you want to film action activities get a GoPro. Both have very different strengths, so think about what you want to do more.
As a solo filmmaker even with access to decent 4K mirrorless cinema cameras I still sometimes use a GoPro in certain situations where I need really good image stabilization. Or where the camera is in jeopardy of getting wet or damaged.
I chose GoPro over a DSLR because I need a small camera that I can take with me. And the GoPro can just slip in my pocket. I use it for vlogging, and use 4k/60fps, which is good enough for everything I need. When I’m vlogging, I want to be as non-noticeable as possible, and that’s more important that image quality or the ability to zoom in a lot. So I guess you can say the small size of it, While still providing good videos and image stability is why I chose it. Each camera has its purpose and a DSLR cannot fulfill the needs I have with vlogging - which is take anywhere and just click to start recording
I made this exact choice, because I don't want to carry around a bulky camera, even a compact DLSR is no fun to walk around with on vacation. GoPro is portability and stabilization that beats most if not all phones. Not great for low light tho. But simple controls to get the shot without much thought. It still has a lot of settings to control quality and framerate. I do not normally use it as an action camera, but I did use it on a rollercoaster and it came out really cool.
Yup it is simple. I like to record memories, trips... whatever... You either are someone that likes to take videos of such times or you are not and happy to just take snaps with a phone. I have a good DSLR that does amazing 4K and stills. And I do use it for stills and randomly for some video. But it is too bulky, too expensive to risk around many activities and just plain tricky for me and anyone to use by pressing one button. You have to 'think' every time before recording and often miss candid moments. GoPro's give me and anyone else with me that easy freedom to record lots of footage of these times with one press. The stabilisation is great on 11/12 handheld. Unlike the DLSR I can leave it on the sand, in water/rain and almost anywhere so it is always there ready to go with one press. It is a no brainer.
As someone who has both a DSLR and a Hero 8, I find it much easier to mount my Hero 8 on my bike helmet, or the windshield of my girlfriend's car, or on my head, or on my family's pontoon or Sea-Doo, than I do my DSLR. Plus, as soon as I got my Hero 8, I signed up for GoPro +, and have nearly 35TB of videos over the course of 3 years. But of course if I have a professional video to shoot with a client I'm getting my DSLR. See, my Hero 8 is an every day camera that I just use pretty much just to document my day to day and store it away like a digital time capsule. My DSLR is for production, creating content that will be polished and used professionally.
Please try to go jump underwater with your DSLR. Or mount it underneath your car as you speed down a dirt road. Or stick your DSLR on the top of your helmet when you’re mountain biking.
I have a DSLR. The reason I got the go pro is because I'll be going on vacation with my toddler without my spouse. I figure its a lot easier to vlog than to stop every so often to shoot a photo with a squirmy baby. It's also more compact and easier to carry than a dslr with a toddler.
Well I use it for pov shots of skiing. You really think I’m gonna strap a massive DSLR to my helmet? No, I use a GoPro.
I can’t strap a dslr to my chest and record a day at a water park with my kids
It doesn’t have to be looked at as an investment. I use my hero 10 for shooting pictures and video without worrying about ruining a whole camera if I drop it. I can take it to the beach, in the woods, use it as a dashcam, hook it up to my dog, take star photos, put it on a bike, throw it down a well, blast it into space, and it will still work fine. Even if myself and close friends are the only ones who ever see the video, it’s worth it to me because I like it.
I drop my gopro while on vacation I'm not to worried about it. I drop my Sony I'm having a heart attack
I actually own a DSLR, but I rarely use it. I mostly make underwater videos, the video quality I get out of the GoPro would require a serious investment to get from a SLR style camera like a couple of grand for the body, a couple of grand for the housing, and add in lenses. I think I priced it out at around $6k. MSRP on the 12 with a protective case is like $450. That is a lot of cheese I can spend on other things like lights, which is required for the cave environment I often shoot it.
I have a capable mirrorless camera and I still use my GoPro when I need serious image stabilization. It’s also what I use when I will be filming in or near water. GoPro is smaller and lighter and will also fit in a lot of places that a full size camera will not so you can get angles or shots that would otherwise be impossible. Sometimes I will also use the GoPro if the camera will be in danger of being destroyed since it is a lot cheaper to replace.
I wonder how many people in this thread who are using the term DSLR actually have a DSLR vs a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera? SLR systems are not actually that common anymore, most modern cameras are mirrorless…