04. Overview of GoPro HERO Mounts

In this chapter, you learn about the vast selection of optional mounts that are available for the GoPro cameras. Topics include the following:

How mounts work and where to get them

How to choose the best mount for each unique shooting situation

Which mounts from GoPro and third-party companies are most popular

You can hold any of the GoPro cameras in your hands and use them as traditional, point-and-shoot still cameras or video cameras. In other words, you are the photographer, and you don’t appear in the photos or video. However, this shooting method limits your ability to simultaneously (and safely) be engaged in other activities.

What truly makes the GoPro cameras unique and versatile, however, is their ability to be worn on your body (attached to what you’re wearing), or mounted on your gear/equipment. You can also place the camera on an optional tripod or extension pole (selfie stick).

The bottom of the Frame housing (and all other optional housings) include GoPro’s patented Quick Release Buckle, which makes it easy to attach and remove the housing from whichever mounts you opt to use.

Place the camera within the housing you’ll be using. Most often, this will be the Frame housing. If necessary, remove the Side Door of the camera first, so you’ll have access to its USB-C port when the camera is encased within the housing. (Remember, when the Side Door is removed, the camera is not waterproof.)

Make sure the camera and the mount are facing the same direction, and then place the camera housing’s two prongs between the three prongs of the mount. The holes in the prongs should line up.

Place the thumb screw through the holes of all five prongs, and screw it into the end piece.

Adjust the camera’s angle and then tighten the thumb screw (not shown). When the thumb screw is secure, you should be able to engage in any action-oriented activity, but the camera and its housing will remain securely attached to the mount.

If you’re be engaged in an activity that results in a lot of vibration (such as riding in a motor boat or snowmobile), consider adding an optional rubber Quick-Release Anti-Vibration Locking Plug to the mount, which reduces the excessive camera movement caused by the vibration and results in sharper video footage.

The best way to do this is to place your camera securely within the Frame housing and then use the optional mount that’s best suited for the shooting task at hand. Between GoPro and an ever-growing number of third-party companies, there are literally hundreds of optional mounts available for your GoPro camera.

Some of these mounts are very versatile and will serve you well in a wide range of shooting situations. For example, the optional GoPro Tripod Mount ($19.99) allows you to attach the camera (within its housing) to a small, tabletop tripod that’s included with the mount, or to any standard tripod or monopod (using the supplied adapters).

In addition to the specialty mounts designed for securely attaching a GoPro camera to a specific piece of gear or object—such as a hat, handlebars of a bike or motorcycle, a helmet, a surfboard, your dog, or a musical instrument, for example—a wide range of full-size and portable camera handles, camera grips, and extension poles are available, which can help you hold the camera steady and/or position the camera perfectly to capture the best possible shots.

Regardless of what you’re shooting or where, it’s your job as the photographer/videographer to set up and properly frame your shots in a visually interesting way. This often means being able to position the camera at a very specific angle and then being able to keep it steady while shooting. Be sure to choose the best mount for the task at hand.

To help you set up your GoPro camera and equip yourself with the best housing and mount(s) for specialized shooting situations, the GoPro website offers its “Shop By Activity” page (http://shop.gopro.com/shopbyactivity). From this webpage, you can select an activity and discover the best GoPro equipment to use while you’re engaged in more than 20 popular activities.

Beyond what GoPro recommends in terms of using official GoPro mounts, various third-party mounts offer even more options and flexibility. The websites from these third parties often offer useful tips for using their specialized mounts with a GoPro camera. For example, if you plan to attach your camera to an Octomask when snorkeling or scuba diving, check out the Octomask website (www.octomask.com) for some awesome shooting tips.

• Who or what your intended subject(s) will be

• What activities you or your intended subject(s) will be engaged in while shooting or filming

• Whether you’ll be shooting photos and/or video

• What type of shooting conditions you’ll most likely encounter

• What shooting obstacles or challenges you’ll potentially face

• Specifically how you want to frame your shots, including what shooting perspective or angles you’ll want to use

• How you’ll ultimately be using or showcasing the photos and/or video once it’s been shot

• Whether or not you’ll be controlling the camera directly or controlling it remotely via the optional Smart Remote, the GoPro Capture mobile app (in conjunction with your smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch), or using voice commands

As you go into any shooting situation, always devise a plan so you understand what you’re trying to achieve in advance. By doing this, you can ensure you bring along the best camera mount(s) and accessories to achieve these goals, and also be able to capture the highest quality photos or video possible.

When you understand what you’re trying to achieve, you typically have two types of decisions to make regarding an appropriate mount:

• Will you be holding the camera in your hands while shooting, or will you need to attach the camera to yourself or your equipment to capture shots from a first- or third-person perspective?

• What shooting angle or perspective do you want to use? This determines how you need to mount the camera and the angle at which you mount. Even the slightest variation in camera angle can dramatically affect what you capture within your shots. After you figure out how you want to mount the camera, it’s essential that you use equipment that securely holds your camera in place throughout the shooting process.

For example, some mounts have a clasp or suction cup that enables you to attach the mount to something else. Other mounts rely on an adhesive connection, whereas some screw into place. Make sure you follow the directions that come with your mount order to ensure a secure connection between the mount and whatever you’re attaching the mount to.

To reduce the affect vibration has on your photos or video, consider attaching an optional Quick-Release Anti-Vibration Locking Plug to the mount after it’s attached to a housing. This rubber accessory comes with applicable mounts, or you can purchase it as part of GoPro’s Replacement Parts package ($19.99).

This accessory works when you’re mounting a GoPro camera on a vehicle dashboard, a motor boat, personal watercraft, motorcycle, ATV, dirt bike, or on an airplane, when the vibration from an engine could affect your shots. You can also use it when the camera is attached to skis, a skateboard, or a surfboard because these activities involve quick and sometimes jerky movements.

Often, which housing and mount to use for a specific shooting task will be obvious. In other situations, however, you might need to use a bit of your own creativity or ingenuity to come up with a viable shooting solution.

• 3-Way Mount ($69.99)—This is GoPro’s answer to a portable, waterproof, and expandable arm (selfie stick) that can also be used as a mini-tripod, or as a 7.5”-long handheld camera grip. 3-Way includes a 20” extension arm with a handle on one end and a Quick Release Buckle on the other. When the handle is extended, you can open the legs of this mount so it can stand on its own, like a tripod. Thanks to its various configurations, you can use it in a wide range of shooting situations to capture photos or video from a traditional, first-person, or third-person perspective.

• Adhesive Mounts ($19.99)—These small mounts enable you to easily and semi-permanently attach your GoPro camera mount to almost any flat and smooth object or any slightly curved object. The mount remains affixed to the equipment, but you can easily remove the housing (and camera) from the mount at any time. These mounts use a strong and waterproof adhesive that bonds directly onto your equipment. To separate the mount from the surface, you need to first heat the adhesive with a hairdryer and then pull it off. These mounts are ideal for attaching your camera to equipment that doesn’t otherwise have a specialized mount designed for that particular task. The package comes with three curved mounts and three flat mounts.

• Ball Joint Buckle ($19.99)—Exclusively for the HERO Session and HERO5 Session cameras, this mount fits between the Frame housing and another mount, which enables you to rotate and quickly adjust the camera to a broader range of shooting angles. It works nicely in conjunction with the 3-Way or Handler, for example.

• Bodyboard Mount ($19.99)—Use this mount to attach your GoPro camera to the front of a bodyboard, soft-top surfboard, or foam surfboard to shoot yourself on the board (with the camera pointed backward) or point the camera forward to shoot from a first-person perspective while riding the board. This mount requires a screwdriver to attach it to your equipment.

• Chesty ($39.99)—This mount is made from black nylon straps and is designed to be worn on your body so that the camera can be securely mounted, facing directly outward, from the middle of your chest. The angle of the camera is not adjustable when it’s connected to this mount. Thus, it allows you to capture photos or video of what’s in front of the wearer, from a first-person perspective. The harness is fully adjustable and is as easy to put on as a t-shirt.

• Fetch Dog Harness ($39.99)—Have you ever wanted to see the world from your dog’s point of view? Well, when you strap this padded and adjustable harness onto your pooch and then attach the camera, you can remotely control the camera and easily capture photos or videos as your dog roams freely. The harness offers two possible camera-mounting locations (on the dog’s back or chest) and is designed to fit onto any breed of dog that weighs between 15 and 120 pounds.

• Gooseneck ($19.99)—This mount is comprised of an 8” adjustable and flexible arm that includes a GoPro Quick Release buckle on one end. The opposite end can work with an Adhesive Mount, Suction Cup Mount, or the Jaws: Flex Clamp. Thus, you can easily attach the camera (within a housing) to a wide range of objects and be able to manually adjust the camera’s shooting angle and perspective. Multiple Gooseneck accessories can be joined together to create a longer arm that’s adjustable and flexible. Use this accessory to position your camera to shoot at unusual angles or around corners, for example. This is an example of a mount that can be used creatively for a wide range of shooting tasks.

• Gun/Rod/Bow Mount ($69.99)—This specialized mount is designed to attach directly to a rifle, handgun, paintball gun, crossbow, or fishing rod, for example. It’s made from a sturdy material with a matte black, non-reflective finish. The versatility of this mount allows you to attach it to the top, side, or bottom of a pole-shaped piece of equipment, between 0.4” and 0.9” in diameter. You can then adjust the camera to shoot at a customized angle.

• Handlebar/Seatpost/Pole Mount ($29.99)—This mount is designed to securely attach to bicycle handlebars, seat posts, ski poles, or any other equipment that’s shaped like a narrow bar or pole (between 0.75” and 1.4” in diameter; a supplied adapter also allows the mount to be attached to poles or bars between 0.43” and 0.7” in diameter). Use it to capture yourself riding a bike, for example, or shoot outward and capture what’s in front of you from a first-person perspective.

• Handler ($29.99)—This hand-held grip floats. Handler makes it easier to hold the camera steady and keep it at the perfect angle while shooting from a traditional perspective. It’s waterproof to a depth of 33 feet, and it includes a grip and wrist strap so it won’t easily slip out of your hands. As a result, this is a perfect accessory to use at a beach, in a swimming pool, or while engaged in a variety of water sports from a first-person perspective. If you want to get yourself in the shot and shoot from a third-person perspective, consider using the 3-Way or an extension pole mount instead.

• Head Strap + QuickClip Mount ($19.99)—This adjustable harness is made from black nylon straps and is designed to be worn on your head (like a minor’s light) or over a baseball cap. The camera is mounted facing forward, so you can capture photos or video from a first-person perspective from just above your own eye-level. Using just the QuickClip, you can mount the camera directly onto the back of a baseball cap (which you can then wear backward in order to shoot what’s in front of you). This is an example of a mount that can be comfortably worn and used while you’re engaged in a wide range of activities.

• Helmet Front and Side Mounts ($29.99)—Attach this mount directly to the front of your safety helmet, so you can capture photos or video from a first-person, almost eye-level perspective. The camera is worn like a minor’s light. The mount attaches to any helmet—such as a biking or skiing safety helmet—using a semi-permanent adhesive. It also works with a batting helmet or motorcycle helmet. Also included is a Helmet Side Mount, which enables you to mount the camera (within a housing) onto the side of a helmet, with the camera facing directly forward or backward. You can then adjust the camera’s vertical angle to achieve the perfect shot of the intended activity.

• Jaws: Flex Clamp ($49.99)—This versatile clamp attaches to your camera’s housing using the standard Quick Release Buckle; the other end clamps onto a table or any equipment that’s between 0.25” and 2” thick. For greater camera angle flexibility and options, use the Jaws clamp with the adjustable Gooseneck arm, which is included. To extend the length of the flexible arm, attach one or more additional Gooseneck mounts (sold separately) to it.

• Large Tube Mount ($39.99)—This is ideal for mounting the camera on railings, vehicle roll bars, or any tube/pipe that’s between 1.4” and 2.5” in diameter. The non-slip design allows you to swivel the camera 360 degrees and lock it into position, but it does not allow the mounted camera to be tilted up or down.

• Low Profile Helmet Swivel Mount ($29.99)—This mount is exclusively for the HERO Session and HERO5 Session cameras. You can use it to attach the camera very close to the top or side of a helmet. The Swivel Mount allows you to adjust the camera to the perfect angle and then lock it into position.

• Mic Stand Mount ($14.99)—As its name suggests, use this mount to attach your camera’s housing directly to any standard microphone stand. You can then position the stand at any height or angle and adjust the mount’s angle to capture the perfect on-stage shots during a performance.

• NVG Mount ($29.99)—Use this specialized mount to attach your GoPro camera housing to any helmet that’s equipped with a standard night vision goggle (NVG) mounting plate. The low-profile mount keeps the camera close to the helmet and enables you to position the camera pointing directly forward to capture photos or video from a first-person, almost eye-level perspective.

• Pro Handlebar/Seatpost/Pole Mount ($59.99)—Designed to be more durable than the standard Handlebar/Seatpost/Pole Mount (sold separately), this mount adjusts to snuggly fit onto poles or tubes between 0.87" and 1.38" in diameter. The camera can be rotated 360 degrees after you’ve mounted the housing to whatever object/equipment you’re using. For example, you can attach it to various parts of a bicycle.

• Pro Seat Rail Mount ($39.99)—This is a compact mount made from durable aluminum. It’s designed to attach to the underside of a bicycle seat, allowing for rear-facing shots as you ride. It’s ideal for capturing photos or video of what’s behind you.

• Removable Instrument Mounts ($19.99)—These small, quick-release mounts utilize an easy-to-remove adhesive, so you can attach them directly to something fragile or costly, such as a musical instrument, without damaging the object. For added flexibility in terms of camera positioning and shooting angles, use one of these mounts in conjunction with the Gooseneck (sold separately). These mounts make it easy to connect the camera to many types of instruments, such as keyboards, guitars, drums, or even a music stand, turntable, or mixing board. Although the Instrument Mounts themselves are reusable, the adhesives are designed for one-time use. The package comes with three Instrument Mounts and two replacement adhesive strips. Additional adhesive strips are sold separately from GoPro’s website.

• Suction Cup ($39.99)—Use this versatile mount to temporarily (but strongly) adhere the camera’s housing to any flat and smooth service, such as a vehicle, boat, or any glass window. The industrial-strength suction cup holds in place at speeds in excess of 150mph. The design of this mount allows the camera to be positioned at a wide range of precise angles. This flexibility, combined with the fact that the mount itself can be placed on the roof, front, side, window, or bumper of a vehicle gives you many shooting options. Unlike other mounts that use semi-permanent adhesive, this one can quickly be removed or repositioned an unlimited number of times.

• Surfboard Mounts ($19.99)—Use this waterproof, adhesive mount to attach the camera’s housing directly to your surfboard, boat deck, kayak, or any other flat and smooth surface. For added security, this mount includes adhesive-based tethers, which you can use to prevent camera loss in rough situations.

• The Jam: Adjustable Music Mount ($49.99)—Ideal for musicians, this mount has several flexible joints, so it can extend outward from what it’s attached to and then be adjusted to any shooting angle. It is useful for mounting the camera on a guitar, mic stand, drum set, or any larger instrument.

• The Strap ($59.99)—Use this adjustable strap to wear your GoPro camera on your hand, wrist, arm, or leg. It includes a mount that can rotate 360 degrees, as well as be tilted up or down. This gives you maximum versatility when adjusting your camera’s shooting angle.

• Tripod Mounts ($19.99)—This inexpensive mount is probably one of the most versatile. It enables you to attach the camera’s housing to any standard tripod or monopod from any company to keep the camera very steady while shooting. This mount works with mini or full-size tripods, tripods with flexible legs, or tripods with a maneuverable head. Thus, it’s possible to set up your camera at the perfect height and angle, and then manually control it as you shoot other subjects, or use one of GoPro’s remote control options. It comes with a tiny table-top tripod with a Quick Release Buckle.

• Vented Helmet Strap Mount ($14.99)—Use this strap-based mount to attach your camera’s housing directly to a vented safety helmet. It works with safety helmets for biking, skiing, or boating, for example.

• Caddie Buddy (www.caddiebuddy.com)—This company sells mounts for a variety of devices, including GoPro cameras. Type GoPro in the Search field on the website home page to find accessories for your camera.

• GoPole (www.gopole.com)—This company offers a selection of mounts, grips, portable tripods, and other GoPro accessories, including several extension poles (selfie sticks) that can be used for capturing photos or videos from a third-person perspective. The Scenelapse, for example, automatically rotates 360 degrees at a set speed, allowing you to capture stunning panoramic photos and videos. The Bobbler camera grip (shown) is waterproof and floats.

• GoWorx (https://goworx.com/collections/gopro-gear)—This company offers a selection of mounts, extension poles, portable tripods, cases, stabilizers, lens filters, and other accessories for the various GoPro camera models.

• Insignia (www.insigniaproducts.com)—This company offers bundles of its own GoPro mounts and accessories. For example, the Insignia Essentials Kit includes the company’s versions of a head strap, chest strap, camera grip, portable tripod, extension pole (selfie stick), and a suction cup mount, plus other accessories, for less than the price of one GoPro-branded mount. Type GoPro in the Search field on the website home page to find products for your camera.

• Joby (http://joby.com)—In addition to offering a selection of portable tripods with fixable and bendable legs (shown), the company offers several different camera grips and handles that work nicely with the various GoPro camera models. The Action Job Kit, for example, includes a 20” expandable pole onto which the camera can be mounded and then positioned at a wide range of angles. The Action Battery Grip has its own built-in rechargeable battery that can triple the shooting time of your camera in between charges.

• Octomask (https://octomask.com)—For snorkelers and scuba divers, this company offers a selection of dive masks that have a Quick Release Buckle built directly onto the mask (see the figure), allowing users to shoot from a hands-free, first-person perspective while underwater.

• Peak Design Ltd (www.peakdesign.com)—This company offers a selection of clips, straps, mounts, and cases for the various GoPro camera models. The Capture Clip or Capture P.O.V., for example, allows you to securely attach your camera to the straps of your clothing, backpack, or equipment.

• PolarPro (www.polarprofilters.com/shop/gopro-mounts)—PolarPro offers a collection of mounts and accessories, including some similar to what’s offered by GoPro, but at a lower price, as well as some unique mounts. For example, the ProView mount allows you to attach your camera to your smartphone for one-handed operation, making it easier to remotely control the camera and use the smartphone’s screen as a viewfinder.

• Removu (www.removu.com)—This company offers several mounts and accessories for the GoPro cameras, including a stabilizer for shooting video, a wireless microphone for recording better audio, and several extension poles. On the website home page, type GoPro in the Search field to find accessories for your camera.

• Sandmarc (www.sandmarc.com/collections/gopro-mounts-and-accessories)—You’ll discover a handful of extension poles, camera grips, camera cases, GoPro battery chargers, and other mounts offered by this company.

• Sybrillo (https://sybrillo.com)—This company sells a high-tech stabilizer for shooting video. (See the sidebar earlier in this chapter for more information.)

• Tiffen (http://tiffen.com/steadicam/curve)—The Steadicam Curve from Tiffen is an affordable, handheld stabilizer for shooting video.

If you know exactly what you’re looking for, you can visit the third-party company websites directly to learn more about their respective GoPro-compatible products or place an online order. You can also use any Internet search engine, such as Google, Yahoo! or Bing, and enter the search phrase GoPro camera mounts or GoPro Camera Accessories.

You can purchase many of the popular or more specialized third-party mounts from Amazon.com. Not only does Amazon typically offer more competitive pricing than its competitors, but if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you automatically receive free two-day shipping for some products.

Within the Amazon.com search field, type what you’re looking for, as previously described.

Yet another source for a vast selection of GoPro-related cameras and gear are online-based digital photography/videography specialty stores, like B&H Photo/Video (www.bhphotovideo.com) and Adorama (www.adorama.com).

Regardless of what type of GoPro-related products you’re shopping for, figure out exactly what you need, and then shop around for the best prices.