GoPro Hero 13 Black Review: Interchangeable Lenses and Magnetic Mounting

GoPro has a couple of methods right here and there value mentioning, although. As somebody who likes to deal with colour grading in postproduction software program, the brand new, improved Log video assist may be very welcome. I might go as far as to say that is the very best Log profile I’ve seen in an motion digicam. The Hero 13 Black additionally has a brand new slow-motion burst mode which may file 5.3K footage at 120 frames per second. It pulls that off for under 5 seconds, although, so that is finest used for conditions like your child going off a soar on their bike or diving within the pool—fast moments you wish to decelerate later.

One other large video enchancment is HDR assist and hybrid log-gamma (HLG) HDR video. The Hero 12’s HDR assist was not nice, however HLG HDR is a extensively used open supply HDR format that gives a lot better compatibility with non-wide-color-gamut shows. The footage additionally appears to be like a lot better than the earlier model.

I stated above that the Hero 13 is similar dimension, which is true on the surface, however internally that is not the case. GoPro has enlarged the battery compartment to suit an even bigger battery that the corporate claims will final 10 % longer than the Hero 12’s battery. I discovered this to be roughly true. Capturing a 4K video with the Hero 13, I constantly coaxed it for about an hour and 45 minutes, typically up over the 1:50 mark if there was extra air flow (using a motorbike for instance).

The alternative was additionally true. Capturing via the window of a automobile as an illustration, with virtually no air flow, noticed recording time go right down to round an hour. I’ve not had an opportunity to check it in chilly climate, however GoPro claims enhancements there too. General that is about 15 to twenty minutes longer throughout the board than I typically get with the Hero 12, which is nice, however it’s effectively behind the brand new DJI Action 5 Pro, which had no hassle operating effectively over 2 hours and half-hour within the 4K check. The Hero nonetheless has the worst battery life within the motion digicam market and the brand new battery, whereas improved, additionally means your previous batteries will not work, including a large price to these trying to improve.

One fascinating battery-related addition to the Hero 13 Black is the brand new magnetic cost door, which GoPro calls Contacto. It is a USB-C pass-through door with a magnetic charger on the surface, permitting you to energy the GoPro utilizing an exterior battery with out maintaining the battery door off. There have lengthy been USB-C pass-through doorways accessible from third-party sellers, however that is the one one I am conscious of that is waterproof, which suggests should you neglect you may have it on and soar within the ocean, you will not fry your GoPro.