HindSight
Also known as: GoPro HindSight, pre-recording, pre-roll capture
A GoPro feature that buffers the last 15 or 30 seconds before you press record, so a clip includes the moment that made you reach for the button.
Updated
What it means
With HindSight on, the camera continuously records into a temporary buffer while you wait. Nothing is saved until you press the shutter. When you do, the camera keeps the buffered seconds from before the press and continues recording normally, so the saved clip starts in the past.
It solves a common problem: by the time you realize something great is happening, such as a dolphin jumping or a friend landing a big trick, it is already over. HindSight catches it without forcing you to record everything, which also saves you from scrolling through hours of dead time later.
Other brands and phones offer similar pre-recording features under different names.
How it works in practice
Turn HindSight on when you expect sudden, unpredictable moments: wildlife, kids, surf sets, or a buddy who might try something on the next feature. Press the button after the moment, and the clip includes it.
Because the camera is buffering constantly, it uses battery and generates heat as if it were recording. Use it for limited periods, and turn it off during long waits on the lift or in the car. For predictable action, QuikCapture or a remote is more efficient.
Some models offer a scheduled capture or duration setting alongside it, useful for fixed mounts.
What to watch out for
The camera screen and front display may stay on while buffering, draining power. Check the settings to dim screens in this mode.
Not all modes support HindSight. High frame rates, certain lenses or time-lapse modes may disable it, and the feature does not save anything until you press record. A forgotten press means nothing is kept. Make pressing the button part of your routine after anything worth keeping, even if you are not sure the moment was good.
Heat builds up during long buffering on a hot day, especially with the camera in the sun, and may trigger overheating warnings right when you need the camera.
How RawClip handles it
HindSight clips are normal video files that start a little earlier than your button press. Upload them with the rest of the day, and RawClip trims the extra seconds and builds the best moments into one highlight.