The GoPro HERO5 and HERO6 are the current flagship action cameras in the market. While there are many knockoffs in the market, GoPro continues to have a strong brand presence as the premier action cam.

For a quick overview of the similarities and differences, both cameras capture 4K and have nearly identical external construction. The devil is in the details though and the HERO6, of course, edges out the spec sheet of the HERO5.

Both cameras feature a 12MP sensor for capturing still images in JPG and RAW formats. The HERO6 adds a more capable HDR mode than the HERO5.

On the video side, the HERO6 gives you 4K/60p/50p capture in H.265 (HERO5 offers up to 4K/30p in H.264) and 1080/240p (compared to the HERO5 at 1080/120p).

While I use a GoPro for videos on occasion, I probably get more use out of the built-in timelapse functions – especially since GoPro started building the LCD into the cameras with the HERO4 Silver. Of course, both the HERO5 and HERO6 have a great touchscreen setup with more intuitive control.

I find the LCD to be critical for my use of setting up a timelapse shoot. For one, it’s on the camera and I don’t have to fiddle with connecting my phone wirelessly through the GoPro app. Additionally, I save battery life by being able to leave the WiFi turned off. The built-in LCD is a standard feature now and is even included on the most recent reissue of the basic GoPro HERO.

In-Camera Timelapse Options

There are a couple different ways to capture timelapse images with the GoPro HERO5 and HERO6: [Read more…]