Are GoPro cameras waterproof and the way deep can they go?

Motion cameras are vital for each lover of the outside. Be it snowboarding or snowboarding, parachuting or spelunking, they’re a perfect device to file all of your actions.

GoPro makes, with out query, lots of the best action cameras around today. The corporate provides a variety of units that supply not solely nice video high quality, however are additionally identified for being sturdy and taking up even the harshest environments in stride.

Nevertheless, with the ability to face up to excessive and low temperatures, sand, particles or an unintended fall is one factor. The opposite is the component that claims in all probability probably the most tech units yearly – water. Recording your diving or swimming would make for some superior footage, however first, it’s essential make it possible for your digicam is as much as the duty, which means how waterproof it’s. GoPros differ wildly in this regard, so right here’s a useful explainer in case your mannequin can go underwater and the way nicely it does it!

Are GoPro cameras waterproof?

Waterproofing a tool could be a problem – a producer has to make it possible for each nook and cranny is protected not solely from mud and particles but in addition a lot smaller – and extra corrosive – water droplets. That’s why, regardless that defending motion cameras from mud is a typical factor, not all of them include waterproofing as customary.

Nevertheless, to counteract that, GoPro and different producers are inclined to assemble specialised waterproof shells for his or her units. That approach, even when the machine itself shouldn’t be shielded from water, it will get waterproofing from its onerous shell.

In fact, the very best plan of action is to have each, that’s an IP waterproofing score in your machine, plus a water-resistant shell. Moreover, these waterproof circumstances are often way more resistant and go a lot deeper underwater than units that aren’t outfitted with them. A typical waterproof motion digicam can go as little as 5-10m underwater. Nevertheless, some waterproof shells mean you can dive a lot deeper – even as much as 60 meters.

Generally, you may anticipate newer GoPro fashions to be waterproof even and not using a protecting case, both as much as 5m or 10m. Older fashions, alternatively, should depend on their casing to have the ability to go underwater.

How deep underwater can my GoPro go?

Numerous GoPros include totally different waterproofing scores and equipment that enable them to go even deeper. Right here’s a deep-dive into all of the fashions and the way deep underwater they will go:

• GoPro HERO12, HERO11, HERO10, HERO9, HERO8, HERO7, HERO6, HERO5 Black – These fashions are waterproof right down to 10m/33ft and not using a case (offered all of the doorways are sealed correctly). What’s extra, you may equip them with a dive housing that extends their waterproofness right down to 60m/197ft.
• GoPro HERO7 White, HERO7 Silver – These fashions are waterproof right down to 10m/33ft and not using a case (offered all of the doorways are sealed correctly). You can even add a Protecting Housing, which lets you go down as much as 40m/131ft.
• GoPro HERO11 Black Mini, HERO (2018), HERO5 Session, HERO4 Session, HERO Session – These fashions are waterproof right down to 10m/33ft and not using a case (offered all of the doorways are sealed correctly).
• GoPro MAX – GoPro MAX is waterproof as much as 5m/16ft with out the necessity of a housing (offered all of the doorways are sealed correctly).
• GoPro FUSION – GoPro FUSIONis waterproof as much as 5m/16ft with out the necessity of a housing (offered all of the doorways are sealed correctly).
• GoPro HERO+ LCD, HERO+, HERO (2014) – These fashions are available a non-removable housing that makes them waterproof right down to 40m/131ft.
• GoPro HERO4 Black, HERO4 Silver, HERO3+ Black, HERO3+ Silver – These cameras will not be waterproof and not using a shell. Nevertheless, they arrive with a normal Housing that makes them waterproof right down to 40m/131ft. Furthermore, you may as well equip them with a Dive Housing, which extends their waterproofing right down to 60m/197ft.
• GoPro HERO3 Black, HERO3 Silver, HERO3 White, HD HERO 2, HD HERO Authentic – These fashions will not be waterproof and not using a housing. Nevertheless, they arrive with a protecting case that permits them to go down 60m/197ft underwater if the shell is sealed correctly.
• GoPro HERO Commonplace Definition – the Commonplace Definition HERO digicam shouldn’t be waterproof. Nevertheless, it may be positioned in a Wrist HERO Housing to make it capable of face up to the strain right down to 30m/100ft underwater.

Which GoPro can go deepest underwater?

As you may see, there are lots of GoPro fashions, and lots of of them allow you to go fairly deep underwater. Which one is the very best for those who’re right down to expertise (and file) some diving adventures?

Should you’re searching for an motion digicam to make use of and not using a housing, you will have loads of GoPro fashions that may go down 10m/33ft underwater. These are: HERO12, HERO11, HERO10, HERO9, HERO8, HERO7, HERO6, HERO5 Black, HERO7 White, HERO7 Silver, HERO11 Black Mini, HERO (2018), HERO5 Session, HERO4 Session and HERO Session.

Nevertheless, for those who actually wish to go deeper, it’s best to look into one of many fashions that mean you can encase them into GoPro’s Dive Housing. This difficult shell permits the cameras to go down as little as 60m/197ft underwater, which needs to be a lot. These are: HERO12, HERO11, HERO10, HERO9, HERO8, HERO7, HERO6, HERO5 Black, HERO4 Black, HERO4 Silver, HERO3+ Black, HERO3+ Silver, HERO3 Black, HERO3 Silver, HERO3 White, HD HERO 2 and HD HERO Authentic.

Ought to I exploit the GoPro protecting case on a regular basis?

As we’ve proven, the protecting circumstances on GoPros are an excellent device for divers, as they permit them to take their cameras a lot deeper underwater. Nevertheless, these shells even have their disadvantages, so there are occasions it’s best to think about leaving them at dwelling.

In fact, for those who’re going swimming together with your GoPro, leaving the case on is the very best follow, even in case you have a water-resistant mannequin. This makes for an additional layer of safety and ensures the protection of your machine and your recordings.

There may be one exception. Should you’re not going that deep underwater and have a water-resistant mannequin, you may wish to take the casing off if it’s essential squeeze your GoPro into some tight areas. The onerous shell is kind of cumbersome and makes the entire machine take up way more area, so if you wish to use it to see what’s between some great-looking coral reefs, you may wish to take away the shell for some time.

Nevertheless, for those who’re out of water, eradicating the case has extra advantages. As soon as once more, the housings are fairly cumbersome, so eradicating them makes for a slicker, much less heavy digicam, and that’s necessary for an motion cam.

Nevertheless, that’s not all. When underwater, sound shouldn’t be that necessary. However, for those who’re doing one thing on land, you may wish to file not solely the visuals however the sounds of nature (or your excited screams) as nicely. Sadly, the protecting housing makes recording sound fairly troublesome. Though some variations of it account for the mic gap, the sound does nonetheless get muffled, and its high quality is far worse than with the housing eliminated. So, for those who worth the sound of your GoPro footage, it’s best to think about eradicating the case.