Two New GoPro Cameras Are the Biggest Shake-up for the Brand in Years
GoPro products are so ubiquitous that they’re essentially a Band-Aid or Band-Aid in the action camera category: People tend to refer to all cameras of this type as “GoPro.” But with such a stable market position, it can be difficult to release a new product every year without it becoming obsolete. I didn’t feel too strongly about the GoPro Hero 12 Black , last year’s camera, as it was pretty much the same as the 11, but lost GPS connectivity and performed worse when it came to thermal measurements. This year, GoPro is trying its best to offer something truly new, with a two-pronged approach that is a bit confusing to hear.
Meet GoPro Hero and GoPro Hero 13 Black. Although it sounds like the original GoPro from 2004, the Hero is a stripped-down version of modern GoPro cameras aimed primarily at everyday users and social media influencers. Meanwhile, the Hero 13 Black is the company’s new flagship, this time featuring a new modular lens system that seems to be the freshest thing to come out of GoPro in recent years.
GoPro Hero
GoPro Hero looks like GoPro’s answer to TikTok. A smaller and cheaper version of the GoPro design, it can still shoot in 4K and boasts the same waterproof and rugged body for more extreme activities. It even has image stabilization and an easy time-lapse feature.
But despite this capability, the company is positioning it more as a device you can take with you to shoot TikToks or keep in your bag in case something worth capturing happens. That’s because it’s about the size of a couple of cherry tomatoes and not much heavier at just 86g. At $199, it’s half the price of GoPro’s new flagship, so it’s more affordable and less bulky if it gets damaged or lost.
It still has its own screen and access to the Quik app for easy editing or cloud backup, but that doesn’t mean it’s without some compromises. Although it uses vertical video, 16:9 is the only aspect ratio available on the Hero. Its 2x slowdown is also nowhere near as fast as the top 13x slowdown on the flagship Hero 13 Black. Perhaps the most limiting thing is that the Hero can’t use lens attachments like the Max Lens Mod, nor can it use the new magnetic mount system that comes with the Hero 13 Black. It does, however, have built-in fingers for connecting to other GoPro mounts, although it doesn’t have the standard tripod socket that was introduced on last year’s Hero 12.
These issues aren’t likely to bother casual users, but they do mean the Hero will probably only be used as a secondary camera for professional shooting. It’s available for pre-order now and goes on sale on September 22, but for those who want a little more oomph from their staple shooter, there’s the new Hero 13 Black.
GoPro Hero 13 Black
The Hero 13 Black boasts all the advanced features you’d expect from GoPro’s new flagship, including 5.3K video capture, Bluetooth compatibility, and 13x slow motion. But staying up to date isn’t the most interesting part: the same could be said about the Hero 11 Black or Hero 12 Black. Instead, the real charm of Hero 13 Black is how much it shakes up what could have become a stale ecosystem.
First, there’s a new quality-of-life feature: magnetic mount. While GoPro isn’t the first action camera to feature a magnetic mount , the company’s new magnetic accessories make it much easier to switch the Hero 13 Black between tripods or other mounts. Available with both a latch ($24) and a ball joint ($39). You simply insert the new magnetic connector into the bottom of the camera, screw it into the accessory, and pull the camera out of the connector when you’re done with it. This. It’s similar to MagSafe , and since I’ve worked with it, it’s very reliable, holding up well when shaken and thrown. You can even purchase a magnetic charger called the Contacto Magnetic Door and Power Cable Kit ($79), which allows you to charge your camera without removing the battery cover. The downside is that each magnetic connector is sold separately, and for maximum usability of the system, you will need different connectors for each of your mounts.
However, it brings a new level of modularity to the camera, which brings me to the next big feature GoPro has in store here: an all-new line of HB series lens attachments.
While GoPro’s existing Max Lens Mod already has ultra-wide functionality, introducing 177-degree viewing angles to GoPro, the Hero 13 Black gets a lot more features.
First, the Max Lens mod is replaced by the Ultra Wide Lens mod ($99), which now offers a new 1:1 aspect ratio, giving you a perfect square that can be cropped for both horizontal and vertical videos. But the real trick is that it’s no longer the only alternative lens you can choose from. There’s also now a Macro Lens Mod ($129) that can focus on objects up to 4.33 inches away for better close-up shots. A rotating dial controls focus, and GoPro even lets you use the Macro Lens mod as your primary lens, simply adjusting the focus when your subject is far away from your subject.
Perhaps most interesting is the Anamorphic Lens Mod ($129), which allows you to use the cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio for more “Hollywood” shots. It also makes it easier to capture lens flares or soften corners, and you can use the “squeeze” effect in the camera’s UI to compress anamorphic footage to 16:9 for YouTube. This way, you can keep those effects, but your video will take up the entire screen. The catch is that it won’t be available until next year.
Finally, there’s a new set of ND filters that selectively block light and can be used to add motion blur to your photos. Your GoPro will automatically detect when an ND filter is attached and adjust settings accordingly, but you will not be able to use an ND filter with a lens mod attached.
Each lens mod costs a pretty penny and is only compatible with the Hero 13 Black, but even one mod makes this camera much more capable than its predecessors. With the right setup, you could now have all the tools you need to shoot an entire movie on a single GoPro.
There are other improvements here too: GPS motion data returns here after being cut for the Hero 12 Black, slow motion is 13 times faster than last year’s maximum of 8 times, and battery life is slightly better. Plus, there’s Wi-Fi 6 connectivity for faster downloads. Even if you don’t buy any accessories, this is a more powerful camera than last year’s, and the new accessories give a more compelling reason to upgrade.
The Hero 13 Black is available for pre-order now for $399 and will ship starting September 10th. Buyers who want more than just a standalone camera can instead opt for the $599 Hero 13 Black Creator Edition, which includes the camera but also comes bundled. with Volta Power Grip, Media Mod and Light Mod.
First impressions
I’ve had some hands-on time with the Hero 13 Black, and while I’m not quite ready for a full review, I can say that I’m very impressed with the new lenses. So far I’ve only had my hands on an ultra wide angle lens and a macro lens, but while the ultra wide angle lens produces shots similar to the Max Lens mod, the macro lens solves one of my biggest problems with the GoPro – photography. GoPro footage tends to look great, but the shots are close up shots or photos may look blurry to the point that you wonder if your phone could have done better. In contrast, photos with the Macro Lens Mod look great even in low light, and close-up videos look just as good. Here’s an example of what I’ve already shot, although I’ve compressed it a bit. Stay tuned to find out more.