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

Motion cameras are a must have for each lover of the outside. Be it snowboarding or snowboarding, parachuting or spelunking, they’re a great instrument to report all of your actions.

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

Nevertheless, having the ability to face up to excessive and low temperatures, sand, particles or an unintentional fall is one factor. The opposite is the factor that claims in all probability essentially the most tech gadgets yearly – water. Recording your diving or swimming would make for some superior footage, however first, you should be sure that your digital camera is as much as the duty, which means how waterproof it’s. GoPros differ wildly in this regard, so right here’s a helpful explainer in case your mannequin can go underwater and the way nicely it does it!

Are GoPro cameras waterproof?

Waterproofing a tool is usually a problem – a producer has to be sure that each nook and cranny is protected not solely from mud and particles but additionally a lot smaller – and extra corrosive – water droplets. That’s why, regardless that defending motion cameras from mud is a standard factor, not all of them include waterproofing as commonplace.

Nevertheless, to counteract that, GoPro and different producers are likely to assemble specialised waterproof shells for his or her gadgets. That method, even when the gadget itself just isn’t shielded from water, it will get waterproofing from its laborious shell.

In fact, the most effective plan of action is to have each, that’s an IP waterproofing ranking in your gadget, plus a water-proof shell. Moreover, these waterproof instances are normally way more resistant and go a lot deeper underwater than gadgets that aren’t geared up with them. A typical waterproof motion digital camera can go as little as 5-10m underwater. Nevertheless, some waterproof shells assist you to dive a lot deeper – even as much as 60 meters.

Normally, you’ll be able to 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 rankings 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’ll be able to 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 too can 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 in 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 regular Housing that makes them waterproof right down to 40m/131ft. Furthermore, you may also 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 enables them to go down 60m/197ft underwater if the shell is sealed correctly.
• GoPro HERO Customary Definition – the Customary Definition HERO digital camera just isn’t waterproof. Nevertheless, it may be positioned in a Wrist HERO Housing to make it in a position to face up to the stress right down to 30m/100ft underwater.

Which GoPro can go deepest underwater?

As you’ll be able to see, there are plenty of GoPro fashions, and plenty of of them allow you to go fairly deep underwater. Which one is the most effective when you’re right down to expertise (and report) some diving adventures?

In the event you’re searching for an motion digital camera to make use of and not using a housing, you could 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, when you actually need to go deeper, you must look into one of many fashions that assist you to 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 loads. 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 instances on GoPros are a fantastic instrument 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 you must take into account leaving them at dwelling.

In fact, when you’re going swimming along with your GoPro, leaving the case on is the most effective follow, even if in case you have a water-proof mannequin. This makes for one more layer of safety and ensures the protection of your gadget and your recordings.

There is perhaps one exception. In the event you’re not going that deep underwater and have a water-proof mannequin, you would possibly need to take the casing off if you should squeeze your GoPro into some tight areas. The laborious shell is sort of cumbersome and makes the entire gadget take up way more house, so if you wish to use it to see what’s between some great-looking coral reefs, you would possibly need to take away the shell for some time.

Nevertheless, when you’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 digital camera, and that’s vital for an motion cam.

Nevertheless, that’s not all. When underwater, sound just isn’t that vital. Alternatively, when you’re doing one thing on land, you would possibly need to report not solely the visuals however the sounds of nature (or your excited screams) as nicely. Sadly, the protecting housing makes recording sound fairly tough. Despite the fact that some variations of it account for the mic gap, the sound does nonetheless get muffled, and its high quality is way worse than with the housing eliminated. So, when you worth the sound of your GoPro footage, you must take into account eradicating the case.