GoPro Hero5 Session, 1080p

Ok, I might fix the issue. I have been using a class 10 SD card (sandisk ultra plus), but it is not extreme family, and not an recommended list for Gopro. After having problems on 4 different GoPro and 3 different SD cards, I started to realize that there must be some other reasons and started to research on line, and most popular answer is SD card compatibility issue. After switching to a sandisk extreme, the response did get faster, and so far no SD issue any more. ==========original review============== I chose session5 over hero5 because my kid is trying to play with anything with a LED screen, so session5 is ideal for my case. The video quality is nice, perfect for beach vocation. The voice control is good for video, but the response is too slow for pic, so you need to hold your smile for a while after voice command. I don't really care, since I don't usually use it in order to extend the battery life. However, the quality of this product is terrible. I am requesting my 4th right now, and it is the last chance I will give to this product. 1st one: card reader issue. I tried several cards, and randomly I would get SD card error and asked me to format the card. The issue can be fixed by taking card out and re-insert, or formating the card, but this is usually not an option when you are in the pool. Requested for replacement. 2nd one: works fine for 3 weeks and I used it a lot on a trip to Hawaii. One day, after the charge, it is just dead w/o any reason. Can't turn on. Requested for replacement. 3rd one: I tested it Day 1 I got it, no issue. Today card reader goes bad again. Requsted for 4th one, and last one. I tried all those cards on my canon 5d3, and none of them gave error there, so I think it is GoPro's issue. My friend has a HERO5, and so far it is good. Not sure if this is only a session5 issue. Very frustrated.

UPDATE May 28th 2021: $729? ... 😳 That's nearly double what it cost when it came out. 🤣 This is a GREAT camera. I purchased one back in Aug 2018. GoPro made a huge mistake not making the Session camera anymore. 🙁 I would have loved to see a new version with a small screen. This camera has everything. Good picture image stabilization good audio external mic input and its waterproof. Can't imagine how much better it would be now had they not dropped it. Yes they can put a tiny screen just like what's on the Pocket. Love the size. They could have improved everything added motion detection night vision and it would be a formidable spy cam. 😉 Bring it back ... but at less than $400. Like half that price. That's when these moved off the shelf. This one is so much better than the Hero4 Session. The audio actually works. You can hear good audio and it has an external mic input via the overpriced obtrusive GoPro dongle. It has image stabilization that was missing on the Hero4 Session. It works better than the Hero 5 but not as good as the Hero 6. You can delete files from the cam without having to use their invasive app. But if you want to shut off the LEDs you have to use the app and let GoPro know what you are doing and where you are doing it. If you don't give the permissions it's no go for you. The battery lasts longer but also takes longer to charge. This one only comes with 1 mount as the Session 4 came with 2. One of them being low profile which I use the most. I hope I don't lose it or break it bc I can't find another one anywhere. I bought this bc GoPro in their infinite wisdom decided to drop this from their lineup. I was just going to wait for the Hero6 Session but that won't happen now. This camera has huge potential but GoPro priced it too high at launch. Hope they rethink their decision to can this and bring it back with even more improvements and at a good pricepoint of $150 or less. It's a great camera now with 4k and all the improvements.

Product Description GoPro Hero5 Session is a high definition video recording device that is waterproof. There are currently three different versions of camera along the Hero series while the Hero5 Session is considered a mid-range camera with a reasonable price compare to its counterpart. This camera is highly portable due to its small size and weight. This camera is now more powerful compared to its previous version because it has many features such as voice control, video stabilization, advanced wind noise reduction, waterproof, and it can shoot up to 4k resolution at 30 fps. It can also connect to smartphone through an official GoPro app wirelessly. Ideal User This camera is suitable for people who love to go outdoors and want to capture every moment in crystal clear 4k resolution at 30 fps. Extreme sport enthusiast who like surfing, diving, skydiving, motorsports and paragliding will love this product. Besides, this product is also extremely suitable for travelers like drivers and hitchhikers due to its flexibility and hand-free feature. Furthermore, it is not only suitable for taking pictures and videos for extreme sports, but it also good for capturing family activities such as picnic or birthday parties. Ease of Use I brought this camera one week before my summer trip, there is a learning curve, but it only took me an hour to learn how to use it. The one-button simplicity feature shortens the learning curve; hence, it is best for beginner user like myself. Also, it comes with an official GoPro app that enable users to connect to the camera via Bluetooth, which in my opinion, is very convenient since users can manage the camera storage with ease. Advantages The camera itself is waterproof up to 20 feet, so there is no necessity for external case. Video stabilizing is another GoPro feature that outperform other cameras. It allows users to steadily record and take picture in some extreme situation such as skydiving and other extreme sports. Given the extreme conditions where the pictures or video were taken, GoPro 4K resolution will ensure that the quality of the pictures and videos were met. It works perfectly well in not just shaky conditions but also places with limited light intensity because of its diverse settings and filters. Overall This Camera is one of the best Camera I have owned so far. Its awesome features, size and user-friendly design did not fail my expectations. It allows photographers to snap pictures and record videos with perfect resolution. GoPro definitely provides an experience that no other camera does.

When i purchased the camera i mostly knew what to expect, I didnt want a big camera with a touchscreen so this Hero Session 5 was great. I primarily used this camera to record video while my car was parked and i was away from it and obviously while i was driving for a normal dashcam. The pros are, It’s very small so i can just about place it anywhere and even with the windshield mount its still hard to notice. Its very quick set up to record videos and so far has worked well in the warm and cold temperatures. With the streaming app paired to the camera i can look at how the video will record before i leave it for a couple hours. I was able to hook an external ANKER battery bank to it and it lasted all day while recording. Even though the frame of the camera gets really hot while recording for a long time it did not force the canera to overheat and turn off, it was a champ. Cons are, When I received the box it was odd opening it and i looked up unboxings for this device and i noticed everyone elses box looked different than the one i got. Not a huge deal but unusual. There seems to be a bit of processing noise that is heard when recording but then again i had my device recording when my car was turned off and silent. If you are recording with noise in the background or any normal audio then it will come through clear. The app linked to the camera is pretty good, but its rated to stream at 600ft but it doesnt seem to do more than 200ft in my usage. The battery no matter what settings only seems to last 2 hours give or take but with my external battery hooked to it makes it last all day. Overall i enjoy this camera for my needs but don’t expect it to last anywhere near 4+ hours without a battery bank.

Amazing little camera in the palm of your hand. It's my first GoPro, and I love how simple it is to use. One tap of the button on top starts recording in the default mode. By going through the menu, you may switch it to take pictures instead at a tap. At the price range it has been in, I dont think there's a better alternative in video quality. The design is simple and impressive, build quality seems great, and paired with decent accessories, such as a tripod, stick, or chest mount, you can of course have some great videos. Get a good case to protect it as well. it can be easy to misplace it if your clumsy. As for water, be careful. Make sure the casing is closed properly. Batteries cannot be switched out on this model. Plan accordingly, or miss out on great footage. The only issue I have with this product may be more Apple related, but I will mention it in case someone needs help. My problem was i couldn't get GoPro videos to play in the ipad. I used a microsd adapter and the Apple sd card reader cable to move fresh videos over to the ipad. They would transfer, but not play. bummer. The workaround i found, is to upload Go Pro vidoes to a pc, then to a cloud storage, and then download to your ipad. Not ideal for travel, but the current solution for myself.

Great video camera! I've used it for snorkeling, ATV/Dirtbike trail riding and even as a dash camera with great results. Two complaints... the voice control doesn't work to well with background noises, and the battery isn't replaceable. So far, I haven't run into a problem with the battery running out, but over time rechargeable batteries fail and if that happens, the camera is worthless. Hopefully the battery will last a long time. Video quality is excelent, I like that you can view your videos on your smart phone with go pro app. I miss not having a screen on the camera, but love the smaller size. I dont even notice the camera on the side of my helmet. I wasted time, money and memories buying Chinese knock offs on older "Go Pro" cameras...to only be disappointed in missing great videos of memories in my life due to crummy/cheap video cameras. The Hero 5 Sessions hasn't let me down yet. Make sure you spend the money on high quality SD cards too. Good luck.

I got the GoPro Hero 5 Session with a very specific purpose in mind. I wanted a small form factor action camera that I could use in places that I wouldn't be able to use my other video and photography gear. During the very first shoot I did with this camera I put it through a scenario that probably was a pretty good test for both its ability to survive as well as its low light capability. We did a splatter paint video in the dimly lit bathroom of a hotel in which an artist friend and I were collaborating on projects at. The camera did surprisingly well in lower light situations despite what I've read on other reviews. I definitely recommend using the protune settings and capping your ISO at about 800 if you don't want a ton of grain though. You can always adjust your exposure later in software. But the camera also survived the onslaught of paint we threw over-top of it, as well as the bath we gave it to wash it off after haha. But overall I'd say the camera is a great performer for what it is. I wasn't expecting it to be GoPro's best as far as image and audio is concerned, but I was legitimately surprised with how well it did. If you're considering this GoPro with specific needs in mind, then definitely get this one as it won't disappoint you! However, if you're looking for the best GoPro out there in general, you could probably invest a little more money and get something that'll work a bit better for you.

The only thing I like about the HERO Session 5 is its form factor. It was the primary reason for buying this product. Of course, the GoPro marketing also played a large factor in my purchase. As I quickly found, form factor is its only grace. Battery life is uncommonly short for such a small device. I suspect this may have something to do with heat as the Session 5 gets extraordinarily hot while in use, so hot, in fact, that I had to handle it carefully after it shut itself off (more on that in a bit) because it felt as if I might get a wee burn. Video is cut into 17+ minute chunks, so don't expect to have any continuous footage of longer duration. As you might expect from such a small form factor, the wide angle setting leads to a great deal of distortion around the edges of the image. The biggest issue I have with this device, however, is that it just won't stay on. I've fiddled with settings. I've gotten help from their community via their Web site. I've updated firmware and made sure I've had the latest App versions for both mobile devices and desktop (iOS, WIN10, and MacOS). My first annoyance was battery life. No problem, I bought a long USB "C" cable to keep it powered while filming. But when it comes to transferring files from the device to any other device, the thing is fickle. Even when plugged into the computer with the USB "C" cable that came with it, it frequently refuses to transfer files, locks up, or otherwise balks at the transfer. Transferring to mobile device such as an iPad Pro or iPhone X is nearly impossible for multiple files and has been literally impossible on a consistent basis. And if you get the files to start transferring, it takes forever. The file transfer process is incredibly slow whether via wireless or cabled connection. Each file of 17+ minutes takes at least 15 minutes, no matter the proximity of devices. When using the Quik software (an ironic misnomer as it is nothing but plodding) while connected to a computer, one cannot choose which media to download. It's all or nothing. However, one may choose while connected to mobile device. The software is terrible. Other minor but increasingly fatal annoyances are the menu built into the device for management of settings which is unnecessarily obtuse, the inability to change the name of the device, its odd connection method to iOS via it's own WiFi pairing which forces the iPhone to join a network with only the Session 5, lack of Bluetooth connectivity, and its price. For the amount paid for this device and for the slick marketing, I expected much better. This device now sits on my desk. I paid too much to throw it away after a couple months' struggle, but I have decided the hassle just isn't worth the project it was bought for. It's no wonder that it's been discontinued.

Really like and enjoy the tiny unit on my helmet. Such choice of views and programs! Only downside is one hour of video recording. Cannot find a way to boost this on a long bike ride, any suggestions?

Nice and small and lightweight. I've used it as a helmet cam, a dash cam and a general purpose cam to get footage and pictures. Even at 1080p and 30fps its shooting great video (but has better settings). The only downfall to the "Session" series is the battery life isnt very long but I knew that before purchase and it is able to start/stop shooting very quickly and easily with the touch of a (big) button. Overall I'm very happy I bought this!

Seit 2 Tagen liegt der kleine Würfel jetzt vor mir. Zur Bild- und Videoqualität kann ich deswegen noch nicht so viel sagen. Nach jahrelanger Nutzung von Chinamodellen beugt man sich irgendwann dem Zwang auch eine GoPro zu kaufen, vor allem wenn im Freundeskreis jeder eine besitzt und es mit verschiedenen Kameramodellen immer etwas umständlich war Videos zu schneiden usw..... Ich war erst mal überrascht als ich den kleinen Würfel auspackte, er ist doch angenehm schwer und macht einen wertigen und stabilen Eindruck, man merkt das man was in der Hand hat und das ist auch gut. Ok, der Lieferumfang ist jetzt nicht der Brüller, für mich aber ausreichend da ich alle Halterungen, Pads usw.....von meinem Chinamodell noch habe und es mit der GoPro verwendet werden kann. Die GoPro war zu 40% geladen bei der Lieferung, ich konnte deswegen gleich mal die Einrichtung mit meinem Xiaomi-Handy starten was auch ohne Probleme klappte. Die App empfinde ich als übersichtlich und ausreichend um alles schnell einrichten zu können was Qualität, Modus usw...betrifft. Ok, ich hatte mir alles schon im Vorfeld bei meinen Freunden angeschaut da wir all die gleichen Einstellungen nutzen wollen für unsere Bike-Videos. Auf jeden Fall klappte alles auf Anhieb und auch mit der 1 und 2-Tasten-Bedienung direkt an der GoPro kommt man ziemlich schnell zurecht. Die aktivierte Sprachsteuerung klappt bei mir bis jetzt auch fehlerlos, allerdings testete ich es nur in ruhiger Umgebung. Auch bin ich gespannt wie es ist wenn wir dann zu dritt die gleiche GoPro besitzen und alle 3 die Sprachsteuerung in deutsch nutzen, evtl. stell ich sie bei mir noch auf englische Sprache um. Praktisch, beim kurzen Druck auf den Auslöser startet gleich die Videoaufnahme, allerdings würde ich es besser finden wenn man durch den Druck auf den Auslöser erst mal die Kamera einschalten würde und dann entweder durch Sprachsteuerung oder nochmaligen Druck die Aufnahme starten könnte. Was ich noch gar nicht kapiere oder gefunden habe ist die Möglichkeit durch einen längeren Druck auf den Auslöser irgendwie den Fotomodus ändern zu können. Bei mir startet dann gleich die Zeitraffer-Fotoaufnahme mit standardmäßig 0,5 Sekunden. Zwar hab ich hier schon den Intervall geändert allerdings würde ich es super finden wenn man hier auch die Möglichkeit hätte für Einzelbilder die dann entweder wieder durch Sprachsteuerung gemacht werden oder durch nochmaligen Druck auf den Auslöser. Naja, vielleicht finde ich das ja noch, ansonsten schalte ich den Fotomodus über den Menüknopf ein auf der Rückseite der Kamera ein. Alles in allem macht der kleine Würfel einen guten Eindruck auf mich, für meine Ansprüche reicht die 5er Session voll und ganz, eingestellt habe ich sie auf 1080 mit 60 Fps und Wide, ob ich da noch was verändere sehe ich dann wenn ich die GoPro mehr testen konnte.

This is an amazing starter GoPro, it has a good range of filming modes and is definitely worth the money. The battery life isn’t the best and this factor is further brought down by the lack of removable batteries. However, the camera is perfect for a throw in your bag and go situation. The small size is perfect for travelling and means that accessories and mounts also take up less space. The picture quality is good below 4K, but once in 4K contrast and stability begins to drop along with battery life. Overall, considering it’s cheaper price in comparison to other GoPro’s and other action cameras this is a great device and is perfect for family holidays and beach trips.

Cámara original. Muy compacta, calidad de grabación superior, con estabilizador de imagen muy bueno. Yo la utilizo para Mtb y Motocross y obtengo resultados sensacionales. Grabo 1080 - 60fps y perfecto! Tiene aún más calidad pero los vídeos ocupan muchos MBs. El único pero la duración de la batería, entre unos 45-60 min de grabación como mucho, y el no poder llevar baterías intercambiables es un fastidio. Por lo demás son todos “pros”, el tamaño es súper compacto, lo llevo en el casco y ni me entero, en el pecho con el arnés y es súper cómodo, en la bici se puede enganchar en cualquier sitio!!! Hasta en las gafas de bucear!!!! Y luego el programa que instalas en el móvil es perfecto, puedes controlas la cámara desde la app y ver el contenido de los vídeos grabados. GENIAL!!!! Ahhh y de vez en cuando sacan ofertas, yo la pillé por 149€!!!!!