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On Wednesday, Sept. 4, GoPro announced the imminent arrival of two new action cameras, the Hero13 Black and the Hero, as well as new professional lenses. The Hero13 Black is the successor to last year’s Hero12 Black, which earned a Mashable’s Choice award, but the mini Hero camera is a beginner-friendly addition to the lineup.
The Hero13 Black will cost $399 and is available for preorder now; the camera will be delivered and available for purchase starting on Sept. 10.
The Hero, a smaller, simpler action camera, is priced at $199, available for preorder now, and set to be released on Sept. 22. GoPro says it’s the smallest camera of its kind ever made.
Mashable got the chance to preview and test both cameras at an August event hosted by GoPro in New York City (on the Hudson River, to be exact). A full review of both cameras will be coming soon, but in the meantime, get the full download on new features and our first impressions.
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What’s new with the Hero13 Black action camera?
The Hero13 Black offers iterative improvements in key areas you’d expect, including battery life, editing features, and motion stabilization. However, the new camera also has some new features and accessories geared toward pro users.
Credit: GoPro
Some of the new features include:
New lenses and ND filters
Improvements to color clarity, shadows, and highlights
A new magnetic mounting system
Improved battery life
The return of GPS geotagging
New open-source video overlays that let you track altitude, speed, and G-force
Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) HDR video for broadcast-standard footage
The new Hero13 Black can capture 5.3K footage at 120 frames per second. You can also capture HD-quality footage at up to 400 fps.
New lenses, accessories, and magnetic mount
While the Hero12 Black made big advancements to motion stabilization and battery life, the Hero13’s biggest changes will be harder to appreciate for casual users. GoPro previously dropped GPS capabilities for the Hero12 (they were a big drain on battery life), but GPS is back in the 13 model.
For the Hero13 Black, GoPro is debuting new lens mods and filters that give creators and adrenaline junkies new tools for capturing professional-quality photos. However, all of the new accessories have to be purchased separately.
The new GoPro lenses include:
Ultra-Wide Lens Mod: Ideal for capturing POV footage with a 177-degree field of view. A new 1:1 aspect ratio lets you switch between vertical and widescreen while editing. This lens will cost users $99.99.
Macro Lens Mod: The Macro Lens mod provides variable focus, letting the camera clearly depict objects up to four times closer than the default lens. (Focus on objects just 4.3 inches away from the camera.) Plus, a focus ring lets users manually adjust the focus. The Macro Lens Mod is priced at $129.99.
Anamorphic Lens Mod: GoPro created this lens for creators who want to capture more artistic, cinematic footage with their cameras. This lens mod offers a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio and J.J. Abrams-style lens flares. This lens won’t be released until 2025; it will also be priced at $129.99.
ND Filter 4-Pack: For professional videographers, a new ND filter set is available for the Hero13. The 4-pack includes ND4, ND8, ND16, and ND32 filters. These neutral density filters give creators more options and result in more cinematic motion blur. The 4-pack is available for $69.99.
When you attach a lens mod or filter to the Hero13, the camera automatically recognizes the filter and adjusts settings accordingly. It can even recommend the right ND filter for the light conditions.
Finally, a new magnetic latch (a ball joint mount and traditional mount are also available) makes it easier to attach the camera to mounts and accessories. The latch doesn’t rely solely on magnetism, and in our initial testing, the connection was plenty secure and much easier to attach.
Introducing the Hero, a smaller 4K action camera
Credit: GoPro
While the new Hero13 offers new features that pro users will appreciate, what about the rest of us? For those of us not shooting professional surfing videos or jumping out of airplanes, the Hero is an entry-level camera that’s more beginner-friendly. GoPro claims it’s the smallest, lightest, and cheapest 4K camera with a screen in the world, and I believe them.
The Hero, set to be released on Sept. 22, is priced at $199 and weighs just 46 grams. It’s a true micro camera, about the size of a book of matches.
Not only does it have a much simpler UI, but it also strips down the settings to the bare necessities. That said, it’s still waterproof up to 16 feet and has some impressive specs for a mini camera:
Capture Ultra HD 4K and HD1080p video
Capture 12MP photos
Capture slow-motion videos in 2.7K and 60 frames per second
Shoot in 16:9 aspect ratio optimized for YouTube-style videos
The new GoPro cameras: Mashable’s first impressions
Credit: GoPro
I’m still in the process of testing these cameras, but in the meantime, I can tell you that I’ve been very impressed so far. For casual users who already have the Hero12 Black, I probably wouldn’t recommend updating to the new camera, but it’s working hard to justify its $399 price tag.
I’ve been having a lot of fun playing around with the new lenses and accessories. I think vloggers, professional videographers and photographers, and adrenaline junkies will feel the same way. I haven’t been able to really play around with the Hero yet, but I can confirm it’s adorably small.
Credit: GoPro
The HLG video on the Hero13 is also impressive. A GoPro representative showed Mashable side-by-side footage from the Hero12 and Hero13 on an XDR display, and there were noticeable improvements to color, shadows, and highlights. This camera shoots true professional, broadcast-ready video that can only be fully appreciated by pros (and camera nerds).
Of course, those are just my first impressions, and I’m withholding a verdict and endorsement for now.
Head to GoPro to pre-order the new Hero13 Black ($399) and Hero ($199) cameras now.
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On Wednesday, Sept. 4, GoPro announced the imminent arrival of two new action cameras, the Hero13 Black for $399 and the mini Hero for $199.
