Got a gadget loving adventurer to buy for this Christmas? I might just have the perfect gift suggestion. In fact, in my opinion a GoPro is one of the best, most fun, investments you can make as a gift for the whole family this year.

Need some convincing? Let me run you through a few of the pros and cons as this photographer and mum sees them.

Please note that my own GoPro (a Hero7 Black) is already over 4 years old, newer models have even better resolution and features than the camera that took the photos in this post. All opinions are my own and are not in any way sponsored.

The Pros

Durability

The number one best thing about a GoPro is the fact that they are so damn rugged. They were originally built with action, adventure and extreme sports in mind. Which means that it can quite literally withstand whatever your family throws at it. Be that a snowball or an epic wave. Ours has hit the pool floor, been dropped on concrete and quite literally tossed from one person to another and bar a few scuffs on the casing it’s still as good as new.

They’re also completely waterproof (without requiring any additional casing) to a depth of 10m. So they’re great underwater in the pool or at the beach. If you’re in big waves I recommend a wrist strap or one of the buoyancy sticks to keep it afloat if you let go.

All this means you don’t need to worry about your kids taking your precious gadget out and then leaving it on the deck in the rain or dropping it on the concrete while they skate. It was quite literally built for that.

Tiny Size

You won’t beat a GoPro for size. It’s around 5.5cm (2.3”) long. Not even your phone is going to compete with that for compact portability.

That small size means it can fit in a pocket, purse, kids palm…I’ve even tucked it into my wetsuit before jumping into the water. It’s like ridiculously portable.

The benefit being that your kids can easily hold it (without claiming to be too tired to carry something). And even if they don’t want to you can always find somewhere to tuck it.

The only inevitable downside of its miniature stature is that it is also easy to lose.

Ultra Wide Angle

The super wide angle of the lens means that you can capture the whole of the scene in one shot - great for capturing a scene or describing a location.

It also means you can get super close to the action. Right up in someone’s face (or under their butt as the case may be).

The lens distortion isn’t for everyone (but you can remove the fisheye effect with editing software if you want to). There are loads of Youtube tutorials outlining how to do this.

Just Point & Shoot = is just plain fun!!

The true “point and shoot” nature of GoPro means that you require exactly 0 photo taking skills to use it. So memory making is possible for even the youngest and least skilled users. The kids can take selfies galore and you can quickly and easily grab snap shots that immortalise every family holiday hotspot.

The kids can shoot 4k video and photos from where-ever they are. They thoroughly enjoy it and it’s not a chore to get them to stop and “smile for the camera”. This is the one camera I never hear them complain about because it’s just plain good fun.

I should note that if you DO want to get technical you can over-ride most of the built in auto settings to control everything from ISO to white balance. You can also set it to burst mode just like your phone to help you better freeze action. Personally I set mine with sharpness at Low for a better result and I shoot in RAW (but you only want to do that if you’re planning to pull the images in to editing software).

Fun Angles

Having a small, durable, easy to use camera is a great excuse to get creative and shoot angles and vantage points you might otherwise overlook. You can hold it down and ground level with one hand, point it up over your head without strain, and of course take it under water and into snow.

Accessories for added fun

Gadget and gizmo lovers will appreciate the many accessories that you can get too. Like a 50/50 dome (my favourite) which allows you to shoot over and under water at the same time. I use an older version of this one.

There’s also wrist band remote controls, floatation sticks (in case you drop it in the ocean), special tripods and mounts. I should note that because it’s built like a little cube it sits pretty well on any flat surface so I’ve never found a need for tripod.

The Cons

Budget

So this is both a pro and a con really. Compared to other camera gear or even the latest phone the GoPro is an affordable alternative. You can grab a new Hero10 (released last year) at Auckland Camera Centre for just under $780 at full retail.

But there’s no denying that in a time where the cost of living is soaring, this is still a big splurge. I would argue that for the family fun you get out of it, and the durability of this little piece of tech it’s an investment worth making though.

Low Light Capability isn’t the best

The GoPro is designed to work brilliantly in bright light conditions. It handles full sun and light reflected off water and snow really well. You’ll get vivid colour, great contrast and crispness then. Where it’s not so great is in shadowy, high contrast or low light conditions.

Apparently new models like the Hero10 and Hero11 have significantly improved low light capacity over the old model I’m still taking away on holidays. However older models like mine (a Hero7) don’t perform overly well in low light. You’ll notice a lot of grain and a significant loss in the crispness of the image.

Poor Battery Life

Once again I’m told that newer GoPro models have vastly improved battery life compared to my 4 year old model. But I thought I should mention this nevertheless. If you buy a second hand one or an older model be ready to buy a couple of spare batteries and keep them charged. The battery won’t last you more than a day - especially if you’re shooting video. I purchased a charger that can charge two batteries at a time and I keep three separate batteries in rotation all the time so I’m never without a charged one.

Hopefully this has given you a little insight into whether this nifty little on the go camera might be right for capturing your family adventures.

Have I missed anything? Drop a note in the comments.