Buyers Guide: GoPro Cameras

Sitting at the top of the HERO7 lineup is the HERO7 Black, featuring HyperSmooth Video, which is designed to deliver gimbal-like stabilization without the gimbal. You may think you may not necessarily need that feature on your GoPro, but you'll want to reconsider if you're a track day enthusiast. This particular camera will result in extremely smooth video content while you're tackling those bumps and turns on the track.

Like all the cameras in the HERO7 lineup, the Black is waterproof down to 33 feet, which isn't particularly important to an automotive enthusiast, but the beauty of a GoPro camera is how versatile it can be in case you want to use it for other events. But what is an extremely important feature for an automotive enthusiast is Voice Control, which allows you to issue commands to your GoPro while keeping both hands on the steering wheel.

Along with being able to capture 4K60 video, the HERO7 Black is capable of delivering 12MP photos in stunning quality thanks to SuperPhoto, which automatically adjusts pictures with HDR, local tone mapping, and noise reduction, no matter the light. This is great if you're attending a car show and want to take some photos, or to capture some stills after your track day as the sun sets.

This camera also supports live streaming to Facebook Live, YouTube, and more, which is great for sharing your events in real time to friends and family.

Other features on the HERO7 Black include touchscreen support, 8x slo-mo, and GPS. It might be the most expensive GoPro in the HERO7 lineup—the Fusion costs more—but there are a lot of features on this camera that benefit automotive enthusiasts.

In the middle of the HERO7 pack is the Silver camera, which delivers 4K30 video compared to the Black's 60 frames per second (fps). Photos are captured in 10MP resolution and takes advantage of Wide Dynamic Range (WDR), which helps capture natural-looking photos with detail, even in dark areas. It is however, not as versatile as SuperPhoto which uses HDR.

With this camera, you can track your speed, distance, and elevation by adding GPS Performance Stickers in the GoPro app, which is nice to relive your entire track lap. If the Black's Voice Control feature caught your attention but you're not willing to spend that much on a camera, you'll be happy to hear the HERO7 Silver also supports Voice Control. The camera does lack live streaming however, which we understand isn't important to everybody.

While this camera is also touchscreen and waterproof down to 33 feet, it does only offer 2x slo-mo capability, compared to 8x on the Black.

Now if you're shopping for a budget GoPro camera, the HERO7 White is your only real option. It offers full HD video capturing with stabilization and 10MP photos along with Voice Control, which, to us, covers the basic necessities for an automotive enthusiast. You may not get the crisp 4K video offered by the other two cameras, but you may not necessarily need it either.

In terms of photo quality, the HERO7 White will be the poorest of the three, since it doesn't support WDR, nevermind HDR. But if you're looking to mainly capture video and prefer to use your smartphone for photos, this is the camera for you. It does have a touchscreen and is waterproof to 33 feet, while offering the same 2x slo-mo found on the HERO7 Silver. Unfortunately, there's no GPS on the HERO7 White.

Although it may seem basic compared to the other two cameras, the HERO7 White actually offers a lot for the money, which is why GoPro cameras are so appealing in the first place. Even its lowest range model checks a lot of boxes for automotive enthusiasts.

If you want the absolute best camera GoPro has to offer, you'll have to look at the Fusion. Capable of capturing amazing video at 5.2K30 or 3K60, the Fusion also delivers still photos at an impressive 18MP. What makes the Fusion so appealing however is its ability to capture 360-degree video and photos, allowing you to deliver virtual reality (VR) experiences. Want to truly relive your entire track lap in every detail? This is the camera that delivers.

Along with stabilization features and being waterproof to 16 feet, the Fusion also offers Voice Control and OverCapture, which allows you to turn 360 footage into videos and photos you can share on your phone. And along with those 360-degree videos, the Fusion supports spherical surround sound, meaning it captures audio coming from every direction—which is absolutely fantastic to hear every single note of your engine while tearing through the corners.

Basically if you're looking for the top-of-the-line camera GoPro has to offer, it's the Fusion. It's even more appealing to automotive enthusiasts since it can capture 360-degree video, getting your entire cabin in view and giving you the best way to relive the experience in VR.