Video: GoPro Hero 5 and Karma Drone Launch Video

A few weeks back GoPro announced the launch of its latest line of Hero cameras and its first ever drone – the Karma. What exactly do these new toys bring to the table for adventure filmmakers? Check out the launch video below to get a sense of what they offer. As you'll see, the image quality is stunning and the potential is limitless. The Hero 5 went on sale earlier this week, so if you want one you can grab it now. The Karma will be available on October 23. Interesting times indeed.

Adventure Tech: GoPro Delays Release of Karma Drone

It hasn't been a good year or so for GoPro. The action cam maker has seen a drop in sales, which is now hitting its bottomline in significant ways. Worse yet, one of the company's most anticipated new products – the Karma drone – has now been delayed.

Yesterday, GoPro announced its quarterly results, and to say that they were dire would be an understatement. The tech company saw its revenue drop by nearly 50%, and earnings plummeted from a $22 million profit for this quarter last year, to a $121 million loss this year. A major part of that swing was the company writing off older camera models that it discontinued.

But the news that is most disappointing fans of GoPro is the announcement that the release of the Karma has now been pushed back until the coming winter. It was originally expected to become available to consumers in the first half of 2016, but we'll now have to wait just a bit longer. And since winter doesn't technically start until December 21, it seems likely that the drone won't see the light of day until 2017.

In an effort to diversity its business, GoPro has been looking for other sources of revenue. The Karma is seen as one part of that plan, while investing heavily in virtual reality films is another. The camera maker has also revealed a special system designed to shoot 360º video in stunning 4k resolutions. But the current generation of VR is still in its infancy, and far from a sure bet, so it could be some time before these ventures start to turn around GoPro's fortunes.

Meanwhile, other companies continue to crank out new drones that are only becoming better and better. You have to wonder if the Karma will arrive a bit too late.

Video: Dropping a 60-Foot Waterfall in Mexico

If you're looking for a healthy does of adrenaline to get you week started, GoPro is here to help. This short clip takes us to the Rio Jalacingo in Mexico where kayaker Edward Muggridge drops a 60-foot waterfall called Tomato 2. Thanks to his helmet cam, we get a fist person perspective of the entire event.

Video: Ski Jump Caught On GoPro

The ubiquitous GoPro camera seems to be everywhere these days, as evidenced in the video below, which features ski jumper Anders Jacobsen training in Lillehammer, Norway. Of course, the camera catches a unique perspective as always, but my question is, where is this particular camera mounted exactly? Definitely a mystery to me!

Video: More Footage of the GoPro Karma in Action

We still don't know a whole lot about the GoPro Karma, the company's first entry into the drone market. We know it's coming sometime in 2016, and while those working on the drone are being somewhat coy, they have hinted that it'll operate unlike the traditional drones that we're use to so far. We'll just have to wait for GoPro to reveal more information in time, but for now we have another test flight video that was released yesterday. It purportedly shows footage shot using the UAV as it captures snowboarder Bobby Brown and some friends on the slopes. As with the first preview video, the images look clear, clean, and very stable. I can't wait to find out more.

Video: How to Make GoPro Footage Look Cinematic

I know there are a lot of Adventure Blog readers who own and use GoPro cameras to capture footage of their adventures. So when I came across this video, I thought that it was definitely worth sharing. It is a handy "how to" on ways to make the footage that you shoot look much more epic and cinematic. The GoPro cameras do a good job of shooting the action and the landscapes we visit, but there are some ways we can make those clips look a lot better. And even if you've been shooting on a GoPro for awhile, chances are you can pick up a tip or two from the video. I hope it helps!

Video: Adorable Lion Cub Meets GoPro

By now, we all know that the versatile GoPro camera is good in a variety of situations. In the case of this video below, it's for getting very close to lion cubs. This particular GoPro was mounted on a remote controlled vehicle that allowed it to sneak up on a lioness and her young. The result is some great shots of the not-so-big cats, including an adorable close-up of one of the cubs who isn't too happy to see the camera.

Video: GoPro Invites Us to Meet the Karma Drone (Again!)

Yesterday was a big day for GoPro. That's because, after a three-month delay following a recall, it's much anticipated Karma drone has finally gone back on sale again. The Karma was unveiled last September, and then went on sale in October, only to be pulled from store shelves a few weeks later because of a design flaw that caused it to lose power mid-flight. That flaw has now been corrected, and the Karma is up and flying once again. In this video, we are reminded of what the Karma, when paired with a GoPro Hero 5 camera and the company's awesome new Karma Grip stabilizer are capable of. While it's true that GoPro has fallen on hard times a bit financially of late, their equipment is still top notch and easy to work with. Sure, this clip is essentially a commercial for that gear, but it is also an indication of what you can do with it when filming for your own projects.

Video: Aerial Shots From The Okavango Delta

One of my dream destinations that I haven't gotten the chance to visit just yet is the Okavango Delta in Botswana. The video below was shot in that amazing place using just a GoPro Hero3 camera mounted on a DJI Phantom quadcopter drone. I truly believe that personal drones are going to revolutionize the way we make adventure films, and this footage is a perfect example. The wildlife on display here is fantastic, and many of the shots would have been tough, far more expensive, to capture without the Phantom. Really cool stuff.

Aerials from the Okavango Delta, Botswana from Symbio Studios on Vimeo.

Adventure Tech: GoPro Unveils the Karma Drone at Long Last

It seems like we've been waiting a very long time, but today GoPro finally took the wraps off of its highly anticipated Karma drone, giving would-be filmmakers yet another tool to help them create their outdoor and adventure travel masterpiece.

By now, we all know what a drone is, and how it can be used in a variety of ways. Over the past few years, the drone market has matured dramatically, with companies like DJI leading the way. But this is GoPro's first foray into UAV's, and in order for the company to make a dent in the industry – and possibly reverse its flagging fortunes – it knew that had to deliver something different and unique. Was the Karma worth the wait? We'll have to hold on a bit longer to know for sure, but it certainly is intriguing.

The Karma is a small, sleek looking quadcopter with a foldable design that makes it easy to transport. It comes with its own custom built controller, complete with a touchscreen built right in. The controller is said to be very beginner friendly, and the drone has a number of autonomous features that help to make it easy to fly. Still, it doesn't appear to have anything close to the level of independent control as something like the DJI Phantom 4, which is equipped with a host of sensors to allow it to safely navigate on its own without a pilot.

Being a camera company first and foremost, GoPro clearly put a lot of thought into capturing outstanding footage from its other devices. With that in mind, the Karma comes with a specially built 3-axis stabilizer designed to hold an action camera. This stabilizer can also be removed and attached to a new product called the Karma Grip, which can be mounted on a vehicle or held in your hand to get great, super-stable shots as well.


One area that the Karma may score big over its competition is in price. The drone on its own will retail for $799, which is a good price for something as small and transportable as this UAV. There will also be a $999 bundle that will include the new Hero5 Session camera, and a $1099 version that will come with the new Hero5 Black, both of which were announced today too. It isn't clear when the drone will be available for sale, but it is expected to hit the market in late October.

In terms of what these new cameras bring to the table, those looking to upgrade will have some intriguing incentives to do just that. The Hero5 Black comes equipped with 12MP sensors, voice control options, a 2" touchscreen, electronic image stabilization, 4K video at 30 fps, and possibly even GPS baked right in. Best of all, it is now waterproof without the need for an additional housing.  The smaller, more affordable Hero5 Session shares most of these same features, but has a 10MP sensor for photos and video instead. Both will ship on October 2.

Both cameras now have the ability to automatically upload video to the cloud for sharing and editing as well. This new service gives you access from just about any computer, smartphone, or tablet, but will require a subscription fee to use.

I'm looking forward to seeing how he Karma performs and get some reviews. It definitely looks intriguing. As for the new cameras, they received some nice upgrades, but appear to mostly be evolutionary steps. I'm sure they'll continue to perform up to GoPro's high standards.

Video: Italy From Above

Take a scenic journey across Italy with this video, which gives us a fantastic view of the Italian countryside as shot from a drone. The video is the latest in the GoPro Awards, in which the camera maker gives cash prizes to the best short films created using their gear. In this case, those cameras managing to capture some enchanting shots of one of the most beautiful countries on Earth.

Video: A Year In Review With GoPro

By now, we all know just what a GoPro camera can do. But just in case you need a reminder, we have the video below, which includes some fantastic action scenes (and scenery!) that was all captured on the GoPro Hero3, the company's flagship product. Essentially you're getting a year in review from 2013, with a whole lot of adventure packed on film.

GoPro HERO3: 2014, Music by Rithmk from RITHMK Productions on Vimeo.

Video: GoPro Celebrates One Year Anniversary of the GoPro Awards

Last October, GoPro announced a novel program in which they paid users of their Hero cameras for sharing epic clips of their adventures. The program has become an overwhelming success to say the least. Over the course of the past 12 months, they have received submissions from 196 countries and paid out over $1 million in cash. To celebrate the first anniversary of the GoPro Awards, they've put together this short but sweet video comprised of clips from some of the best submissions the company has seen. The program still continues, so if you have awesome footage to share, find out how you can submit it here.