does the gopro karma come with a gopro?

Ah, the GoPro Karma! For many, the name conjures images of sleek drone design, cinematic aerial shots, and perhaps, a touch of what-if. Launched by the action camera giant GoPro, the Karma drone entered a rapidly evolving market with high hopes and an innovative modular approach. Yet, despite its ambitious vision, it ultimately became a footnote in drone history. But before we delve into its legacy, a fundamental question often arises for those revisiting its story or considering a used unit: does the GoPro Karma come with a GoPro?

This isn’t just a simple yes or no query; it’s a question that unlocks a deeper understanding of GoPro’s strategy, the Karma’s unique selling proposition, and the broader drone market at the time. The answer, while seemingly straightforward, carries nuances that illuminate why the Karma was designed the way it was and how it aimed to integrate seamlessly with the existing GoPro ecosystem. Understanding this distinction is crucial for anyone looking to understand the Karma’s place in tech history or even for those who might stumble upon one today.

Join us as we take a deep dive into the specifics of the GoPro Karma drone’s packaging, its compatibility with various GoPro cameras, and the ingenious (and sometimes overlooked) modular design that defined its approach. We’ll explore why GoPro made the choices it did, what came in the box, and what you needed to bring to the table to get this innovative drone airborne and capturing breathtaking footage.

Quick Answers to Common Questions

Does the GoPro Karma typically come with a GoPro camera?

No, the original GoPro Karma drone usually did not include a GoPro camera in its standard retail package. You generally needed to purchase the camera separately to fly the GoPro Karma.

So, if I buy a Karma, do I need to buy a GoPro too?

Yes, if you don’t already own a compatible GoPro, you would need to purchase one to capture footage with your GoPro Karma drone. The Karma itself is the drone and gimbal system, not the camera.

Which GoPro models are compatible with the Karma drone?

The GoPro Karma was designed to work seamlessly with the Hero 4 Black/Silver, Hero 5 Black, Hero 6 Black, and Hero 7 Black cameras. Ensure your GoPro model is compatible before use.

Were there any bundles where the GoPro Karma came with a GoPro?

Yes, GoPro occasionally offered specific “Karma with Hero” bundles that included a GoPro camera, but these were distinct, higher-priced packages. The standalone GoPro Karma drone package did not bundle a camera.

What if I already own a compatible GoPro camera?

Fantastic! If you already have a compatible GoPro, you can simply attach your existing camera to the GoPro Karma drone’s gimbal. This modular design was a key feature, allowing you to use your preferred GoPro.

The GoPro Karma: A Visionary (Yet Troubled) Entry into Drones

When GoPro unveiled the Karma drone in September 2016, the world was abuzz. Here was an action camera powerhouse, synonymous with adventure and immersive footage, entering the burgeoning drone market. The ambition was clear: provide a complete, integrated solution for capturing stunning aerial video that leveraged GoPro’s existing camera technology and user base. The Karma wasn’t just a drone; it was pitched as an entire ecosystem, designed to be portable, user-friendly, and versatile.

The initial excitement was palpable. The Karma’s sleek, foldable design, intuitive controller, and perhaps most notably, its detachable gimbal that could be used as a handheld stabilizer (the Karma Grip), promised a unique all-in-one content creation tool. It was a bold move, positioning GoPro not just as a camera company, but as a holistic media capture platform. However, this visionary entry was quickly marred by significant challenges. Just weeks after its launch, GoPro issued a full recall of all Karma units due to a power loss issue mid-flight, a devastating blow that severely impacted consumer confidence and the product’s trajectory. Despite a re-launch with fixed units, the Karma struggled to regain momentum in an increasingly competitive market dominated by rivals like DJI.

Despite its commercial struggles and eventual discontinuation, the GoPro Karma drone remains an interesting chapter in tech history. It represented a significant effort by a major brand to diversify and innovate, and its modular design concept was genuinely forward-thinking. But the question of whether it came with a GoPro camera within its standard package is key to understanding its design philosophy and target audience.

Unpacking the Box: Did the Karma Drone Include a GoPro Camera?

This is the million-dollar question for many considering the GoPro Karma. To provide a definitive answer, we need to look at how GoPro initially positioned and sold the product. The short answer for most standard packages is: No, the GoPro Karma drone did not typically come with a GoPro camera included in its base configuration.

The Standard Package: A Drone Without a Camera

GoPro’s primary sales strategy for the Karma drone was to sell it as a standalone unit, ready to integrate with a user’s existing GoPro camera. This made sense from a business perspective: GoPro already had millions of camera owners, and the Karma was designed to be an accessory that enhanced their existing investment. The standard GoPro Karma package usually included:

• The Karma Drone itself
• Karma Controller (with built-in display)
• Karma Grip (detachable gimbal stabilizer)
• Karma Charger
• Six Propellers (two sets)
• Karma Case (a backpack-style carry case)
• Mounting ring for the Hero camera

Noticeably absent from this list is a GoPro camera. This modular approach allowed users to use their current GoPro Hero 4 or Hero 5 Black (and later, Hero 6 and Hero 7 Black) with the drone, essentially turning their camera into an aerial capture device. This also kept the initial price of the drone unit lower, making it seem more accessible to existing GoPro users.

Bundles and Promotions: When a GoPro *Was* Included

While the standard package didn’t include a camera, GoPro did offer various bundles and promotions, especially around launch or during specific sales periods, where a GoPro camera *was* included. These bundles were typically more expensive but provided a complete, ready-to-fly-and-shoot solution for new GoPro users or those looking to upgrade their camera alongside their drone purchase. For example, you might have found a “GoPro Karma with Hero 5 Black bundle” which would, of course, include the camera. These bundles were exceptions, however, not the rule for the base Karma unit.

The “Brain” and the “Eyes”: Separating the Components

To truly understand the Karma’s design, think of the drone itself as the “brain” and the GoPro camera as the “eyes.” The Karma provided the flight capabilities, stability, and control, while the GoPro provided the actual image capture. This separation was a deliberate design choice that underscored GoPro’s commitment to its core product – the action camera. It allowed the company to focus on drone engineering while leveraging its established camera technology, ensuring that users always had the latest GoPro camera on their drone (provided they updated their camera separately).

Why GoPro Opted for a “Camera-Less” Drone (Mostly)

GoPro’s decision to mostly sell the Karma without an integrated camera wasn’t arbitrary; it was a strategic move driven by several key factors:

1. Cost Reduction for the Base Unit: By excluding the camera, GoPro could offer the Karma drone at a more competitive price point. Drones with integrated, high-quality cameras tend to be significantly more expensive. This made the Karma more accessible to existing GoPro owners who already had a compatible camera, reducing their barrier to entry into aerial videography.
2. Flexibility and Upgradability for Users: The modular design allowed users to upgrade their GoPro camera without having to buy an entirely new drone. As GoPro released newer, more advanced cameras (e.g., from Hero 4 to Hero 5, Hero 6, and Hero 7), users could simply swap out their camera in the Karma’s gimbal, ensuring their aerial footage remained cutting-edge. This future-proofing was a significant advantage over drones with fixed, built-in cameras.
3. Leveraging Existing GoPro User Base: GoPro already commanded a massive market share in action cameras. The Karma was designed to appeal directly to this existing user base, offering them a new way to use the camera they already owned and loved. It was an upsell opportunity, transforming a handheld camera into an aerial cinematography tool.
4. Focus on Core Competencies: GoPro’s expertise was in action cameras. While they ventured into drone manufacturing, maintaining the camera as a separate, user-insertable component allowed them to focus their drone engineering efforts on flight performance, stability, and controller design, rather than integrating camera hardware into the drone’s core body.
5. The Karma Grip’s Role: The detachable gimbal, the Karma Grip, was a brilliant piece of engineering that further supported the “camera-less” drone strategy. It meant your GoPro camera could transition seamlessly from being an aerial camera to a handheld stabilized camera, maximizing its versatility and value. This “three-in-one” system (drone, handheld grip, and car/body mountable stabilizer) was a major selling point that necessitated the camera being removable.

In essence, GoPro wanted the Karma to be an extension of the GoPro experience, not a completely separate product line that required a fresh investment in a new camera. This modularity was a bold bet, designed to empower users and extend the utility of their existing GoPro cameras.

GoPro Karma Compatibility: Which Hero Cameras Worked?

Since the GoPro Karma drone didn’t come with its own camera, compatibility with various GoPro Hero models was paramount. GoPro designed the Karma to work with a range of their action cameras, but not all of them. The gimbal and harness system was specifically engineered for certain Hero models to ensure stable footage and proper electronic communication.

Initially, the Karma was launched with compatibility for:

• GoPro Hero 5 Black: This was the flagship camera at the time of Karma’s launch and the most common camera seen paired with the drone.
• GoPro Hero 4 Black and Silver: Older but still highly capable, these cameras also worked with the Karma, requiring a specific harness to fit properly.

As GoPro continued to release new camera models, they often updated the Karma’s software (via firmware updates) to include compatibility, and sometimes released new harnesses or mounts. Later, compatibility was extended to:

• GoPro Hero 6 Black: A natural progression, the Hero 6 Black also became compatible, offering improved image quality and performance.
• GoPro Hero 7 Black: The final iteration of a GoPro camera that worked with Karma. Its HyperSmooth stabilization was great for handheld, but the drone’s own gimbal handled stabilization for aerial footage.

It’s important to note that the smaller GoPro Session cameras or later models like the Hero 8 Black, Hero 9 Black, Hero 10 Black, Hero 11 Black, or Hero 12 Black, were generally NOT compatible with the Karma. The physical dimensions, lens placement, and electronic connectors of these newer cameras differed too much from the Hero 4-7 Black series to fit correctly or interface with the Karma’s gimbal and controller. Therefore, if you’re looking at a used Karma unit today, ensure you have one of the compatible Hero Black cameras (4, 5, 6, or 7) to make it operational for aerial videography.

More Than Just a Drone: The Karma Ecosystem

The vision for Karma was always larger than just a drone. GoPro aimed to create a versatile content creation ecosystem that maximized the utility of their cameras. This modular approach was central to its appeal and involved several key components working in harmony.

The Detachable Karma Grip

One of the most innovative and highly praised features of the Karma was its detachable Karma Grip. This handheld stabilizer housed the same gimbal that the drone used, allowing users to remove their GoPro camera and gimbal from the drone and attach it directly to the grip. This instantly transformed the aerial camera into a professional-grade, stabilized handheld camera for buttery-smooth ground-level footage. This “drone to handheld” capability was a significant differentiator and offered unparalleled versatility for content creators, making the most out of their single GoPro camera investment.

Karma Controller

The Karma Controller was another well-designed component of the ecosystem. Unlike many drone controllers that required a separate smartphone, the Karma Controller featured a built-in touchscreen display. This integrated screen provided a live feed from the GoPro camera, telemetry data, and access to flight settings, simplifying the pre-flight setup and in-flight experience. Its game-controller-like ergonomics made it intuitive and comfortable to use, aiming to lower the barrier to entry for novice drone pilots while still offering advanced controls for experienced users.

The Passenger App: Shared Experience

Adding to the ecosystem was the Karma Passenger App. This allowed a second person to connect their smartphone or tablet to the Karma Controller and view the live feed from the GoPro camera. More than just a viewer, the Passenger App also allowed the second user to control the camera’s settings (like changing modes or starting/stopping recording) and even control the camera’s tilt, freeing up the pilot to focus solely on flying the drone. This feature fostered a collaborative flying and filming experience, enhancing the overall appeal for teams or friends creating content together.

The Karma ecosystem was truly designed to be an all-encompassing suite for capturing dynamic footage, whether from the air, on the ground, or mounted to various surfaces. It spoke to GoPro’s ambition to provide a comprehensive solution for their users’ diverse content creation needs.

The Legacy of GoPro Karma: Lessons Learned and Market Impact

Despite its innovative features and ambitious ecosystem, the GoPro Karma’s journey was short-lived. GoPro officially announced its discontinuation in January 2018, citing an “untenable market” and aggressive competition. The recall, undoubtedly, played a significant role in eroding consumer trust and market share. However, the Karma’s story offers valuable lessons and highlights its subtle impact on the drone industry.

The primary competition, DJI, proved to be too formidable. DJI’s rapid innovation cycle, aggressive pricing, and established market presence, particularly with its foldable Mavic series, quickly outpaced GoPro’s efforts. The Mavic Pro, launched just weeks after the Karma, was more compact, flew longer, and offered advanced obstacle avoidance features that the Karma lacked.

However, the Karma’s legacy isn’t entirely one of failure. Its modular design, especially the detachable Karma Grip, was a pioneering concept. This idea of a camera and gimbal seamlessly transitioning between aerial and handheld stabilization has since influenced other products and demonstrated a clear demand for versatility. While other companies haven’t perfectly replicated the Karma’s exact “drone-to-grip” transition, the emphasis on modularity and the multi-purpose use of camera systems remains a strong trend in content creation gear.

The Karma also underscored the challenges for a company to pivot into a new, highly competitive hardware market. While GoPro excelled at cameras, designing and manufacturing a stable, reliable drone with cutting-edge features proved to be a different beast. It was a bold attempt that, while not commercially successful, contributed to the evolution of drone design and the integration of camera technology. Today, a GoPro Karma unit is a collector’s item, a testament to a company’s ambitious vision and the relentless pace of technological progress in the drone industry.

GoPro Karma Compatibility and Standard Package Contents

To summarize the key information regarding what came with the Karma and its camera compatibility, here’s a helpful table:

Item	Description	Included in Standard Karma Package?	Compatible GoPro Models (if applicable)
Karma Drone	The foldable quadcopter unit	Yes	N/A (drone itself)
Karma Controller	Remote controller with built-in display	Yes	N/A (controller itself)
Karma Grip	Detachable gimbal stabilizer for drone and handheld use	Yes	GoPro Hero 4 Black/Silver, Hero 5 Black, Hero 6 Black, Hero 7 Black
GoPro Hero Camera	Action camera for image/video capture	No (in standard package)	GoPro Hero 4 Black/Silver, Hero 5 Black, Hero 6 Black, Hero 7 Black
Karma Charger	Battery charger for drone and controller	Yes	N/A
Propellers	Two sets (6 total)	Yes	N/A
Karma Case	Backpack-style carrying case	Yes	N/A
Mounting Ring/Harness	For attaching compatible GoPro Hero camera	Yes	Specific to Hero 4/5/6/7 Black

Conclusion: The Karma – A Pioneer of Modularity, Not a Bundle of Everything

So, to definitively answer the central question: does the GoPro Karma come with a GoPro? In its standard, base package, the answer is generally no. The GoPro Karma drone was designed as an accessory to your existing GoPro camera, a powerful tool that leveraged your investment in the Hero ecosystem. While bundles that included a camera were available, they were specific promotional offerings rather than the default configuration.

This modular approach was both the Karma’s strength and, perhaps, a factor in its eventual decline. It offered incredible versatility, allowing users to transition their GoPro camera from a flying vantage point to a stabilized handheld device with the innovative Karma Grip. It spoke to GoPro’s vision of a seamless content creation experience, allowing users to choose their camera and upgrade it independently of the drone itself.

The GoPro Karma drone may no longer be in production, but its story is a fascinating case study in innovation, market challenges, and the rapid evolution of technology. It was a product ahead of its time in some aspects, particularly its modularity, and serves as a reminder that even industry giants can face an uphill battle when venturing into highly competitive new territories. For those who owned one, or for tech enthusiasts looking back, the Karma remains a unique and memorable chapter in the history of drones and action cameras.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the GoPro Karma drone typically include a GoPro camera?

No, the GoPro Karma drone was generally sold without a GoPro camera included in the standard package. Buyers typically needed to purchase a compatible GoPro camera separately to use with the drone.

What was usually included when purchasing a GoPro Karma drone?

A standard GoPro Karma drone package typically included the drone itself, the Karma controller, a battery, charger, propellers, and the Karma Stabilizer (which acts as a gimbal). It did not bundle a GoPro camera, though some retailers might have offered their own promotional bundles.

Which GoPro camera models are compatible with the Karma drone?

The GoPro Karma drone was designed to be compatible with several GoPro HERO cameras. Specifically, it supported the HERO5 Black, HERO6 Black, and HERO7 Black models, requiring a specific harness for each.

Could you buy the GoPro Karma as a complete package with a camera?

While the base Karma drone package did not include a camera, some retailers and GoPro itself occasionally offered special bundles that paired the Karma with a specific GoPro camera model, like the HERO5 Black. These bundles were not the standard offering but were available at certain times.

Do I need to purchase a GoPro camera separately to use the Karma drone?

Yes, if you purchased the standard GoPro Karma drone package, you absolutely needed to buy a compatible GoPro camera separately. The drone relied entirely on a GoPro camera for all its imaging and video recording capabilities.

Does the GoPro Karma come with the Karma Grip, and can I use it with my GoPro?

Yes, the GoPro Karma drone package typically included the Karma Stabilizer, which could be detached and connected to the Karma Grip handle. This allowed users to utilize their compatible GoPro camera for stabilized handheld footage, extending the camera’s versatility beyond the drone.