Processing images from GoPro cameras

Follow

GoPro cameras can have pixel resolution of 12 MP, 7 MP, 5 MP. The 12 MP resolution has bigger distortions. Pix4D Desktop is able to manage these distortions. Thus, the images should be taken with the highest resolution (12 MP). This is because, higher pixel resolution leads to more points for the reconstruction.

In order to use GoPro HERO2, GoPro HERO3, GoPro HERO3+, GoPro HERO4, GoPro HERO Session, and other related GoPro cameras for processing with Pix4D Desktop:

1. Capture images with the highest possible image resolution. Check your camera's manual or contact GoPro to verify the highest possible image resolution for your camera.

 
Important: GoPro cameras are fisheye cameras. The images should be taken with the highest resolution. A higher pixel resolution leads to more points for the reconstruction. Never downgrade, edit, or modify the images. Fisheye images work very well for 3D modeling and do not need to be modified.

2. If you cannot trigger the camera based on distance, set up the image rate to take an image every n seconds using GoPro's photo time lapse:

n depends on the speed you move the camera:

      • For walking: n = 0.5 1 seconds
      • For flying with Phantom Vision: n = 1 2 seconds

3.  Ensure sufficient overlap (at least 80% for terrestrial imagery, and 60% for nadir UAV flights: for more information about recommended flight plans: Step 1. Before Starting a Project > 1. Designing the Image Acquisition Plan).

4. Create a project and process the images following the step-by-step instructions: Getting Started Index.

 

Pix4D Desktop can also process video frames obtained with the GoPro Hero4 Black.

In order to process frames from the GoPro Hero4 Black:

1. Acquire the video using the 4K resolution.
2. Create a new project importing the video captured. For step by step instructions: How to use Videos for Processing.
3. Ensure that the right camera model is selected: HERO4Black_0.0_3840x2160_4k_video. For more information on how to edit the camera model: How to use the Editing Camera Model Options.

Was this article helpful?
6 out of 8 found this helpful

Article feedback (for troubleshooting, post here instead)

6 comments

  • Nicolas SCAUT

    Bonjour, 

     

    J'ai essayé

     

    12 MP

    champ de vision large

    Pas de stabilisation d'image

    images toutes les 0,5 seconde

    déplacement : marche à pied

     

    j'ai l'erreur

     

    [UI]: New Project clicked.
    [Processing]: ProjectLoading
    [Processing]: ProjectLoaded
    [UI]: Processing Start clicked.
    [Processing]: Step1Running
    [Processing]: Substep Keypoint extraction started.
    [Processing]: Gather image information
    [Processing]: Generate normalized/thumbnail images
    [Processing]: Computing keypoints
    [Processing]: Write Keypoints.
    [Processing]: Substep Keypoint extraction finished.
    [Processing]: Substep Keypoint matching started.
    [Processing]: Generating pairs
    [Processing]: Computing matches
    [Processing]: Write matches.
    [Processing]: Write matches.
    [Processing]: Substep Keypoint matching finished.
    [Processing]: Initialize automatic tie points.
    [Processing]: Building automatic tie points.
    [Processing]: Substep Camera calibration started.
    [Processing]: Analyse automatic tie points.
    [Processing]: Analyse automatic tie points.
    [Processing]: Compute number of matches.
    [Processing]: Initialize calibration
    [Processing]: Initialize calibration
    [Processing]: Initialize calibration
    [Warning]: No initial frame
    [Error]: no blocks computed
    [Processing]: Substep Camera calibration finished.
    [Error]: No calibrated cameras.
    [Processing]: Substep Report generation started.
    [Processing]: Read keypoints.
    [Processing]: Substep Report generation finished.
    [Error]: Error e0046: Processing failed. No calibrated cameras.
    [Processing]: ProjectLoaded

    Pas de calibrations camera.

    Que puis-je faire ?

    dany.lothaire@province.namur.be

    en ordre de licence sous le mail nicolas.scaut@province.namur.be

    Merci de votre aide

     

  • Alice (Pix4D)

    Hello,

    we have already answered to you via ticket system, but I'll share the answer on the Community so that it might be helpful also for other users encountering the same issue.

    The software has not recognized your camera model because the images were taken with the GoPro HERO 6, which is not in our camera database at the moment. Being this the case, Pix4D Desktop automatically applied some default parameters and the key thing is that it automatically applied a perspective camera model to the images but they are clearly captured with a fisheye lens. In this case, you need to edit the camera model parameters specifying the camera is using Fisheye Lens and entering the necessary parameters, as explained in this article on How to calibrate a Fisheye Lens Camera.

    Cheers,

    Alice

  • Henri Riihimäki

    Do you plan to add GoPro Fusion 360 to the camera models?

    Cheers,

    Henri

  • Daniel (Pix4D)

    Hello Henri,

    If the camera can provide the equirectangular format, it should work with Pix4D.

    If you open a ticket, you could maybe share some images with us and we could test it.

    Regards.

  • Shawn Schneider

    Was wondering if there has been work with the later Gopros they are up to 8 now.   I realise from my point of view I am still at a student level but I currently hang a gopro off my planes from time to time and capture the landscapes.    My gopro session 5 doesn't have the GPS but still makes passable maps that I can use for my homework.   

      The later gopro has the GPS so that seems like a big upgrade having that tagged in the photos.    Just wondering if it would be supported and then worth the upgrade.   Since it can be multi purpose it would be an easy sell until I can justify a industrial plane and camera set up. 

     

    Thanks

     

  • Kapil (Pix4D)

    Hi Shawn, 

    You should be able to process the images obtained from the new Gopros or any camera. The most crucial factor is to have a good overlap during image acquisition. And if you still have an issue during calibration, you can always calibrate your camera, and you should not have any problem while processing. To do so, follow the steps explained in our support article, How to calibrate a Perspective Lens Camera.

    Regards.

Article is closed for comments.