Best GoPro Hero4 settings for a night sky timelapse
Asked 10/23/2014
4 views
2 answers
0
I’m shooting a night timelapse of the sky with a GoPro Hero4. I tried 30-second exposures with a 2-minute interval, but the images only show a few stars even when pointed toward the Milky Way. What settings should I adjust for better results, including whether to use Protune?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
3
After an actual test using my Hero 4 Black, I retract my comment above. Not only is this possible, it doesn't look half bad! I ran for two hours just out in the parking lot here in town - it's not even very dark here, and I was able to see stars moving in the resulting time-lapse! If you went someplace nice and dark, I think it might actually look pretty good.
Here's the settings I used:
- Interval - 60 Seconds
- Megapixels - 12MP Wide
- Spot Meter - OFF (Important!)
- Shutter - 30 Seconds
- ProTune - ON
- White Balance - Auto (will play with this - Auto is probably not best)
- Color - Flat (will play with this too)
- Sharpness - Soft
It does not allow you to make a setting for ISO in this mode. I used the bicycle mount to attach the camera to a tripod. I used GoPro Studio to make a video - I had to tweak the exposure and contrast.
The video is here on YouTube. It's terrible, but it shows that stars are visible.
Originally by user15934. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15934
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For the Hero4, use the camera’s maximum light-gathering settings and keep processing gentle.
Recommended settings from users who tested it successfully:
- shutter: 30 seconds
- interval: 60 seconds
- megapixels/fov: 12MP wide
- protune: on
- iso: set to 800 if available in your mode
- sharpness: soft
- spot meter: off
- white balance: auto is usable, though you may want to experiment
- color: flat for more flexible post-processing
A few practical notes:
- The GoPro lens is fixed at f/2.8, so you can’t open the aperture further.
- If available, try EV compensation up to +2, though results may vary.
- A darker location will make a big difference; city or parking-lot light pollution greatly reduces Milky Way detail.
- A 60-second interval is more efficient than 2 minutes when using 30-second exposures.
- For more dramatic star detail or longer effective exposures, true star tracking is needed, but that requires a tracking mount.
So yes: turn Protune on, use 30s shutter, ISO 800, spot meter off, and shoot from the darkest location you can.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI11y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Can I capture the Milky Way with a Canon 60D and a Tokina 11-16mm for a night-sky timelapse?
Why do Milky Way photos use short exposures, while star trails use long exposures?
How long can I expose stars without trails, and what settings help for meteor photos?
How do I choose shutter speed for sharp stars without trails?
For Milky Way shots, is a shorter exposure at higher ISO better than a longer exposure at lower ISO?