GoPro Hero 13 Black is filled with adjustments from swappable lenses to a magnetic mount. It is a huge year-over-year change, even when it options the identical sensors.
Updates to the favored motion digital camera have elevated to a near-yearly foundation. Just like the iPhone, meaning some years are extra impactful than others.
All through its storied historical past, there have been notable developments in GoPro expertise. Some have included water resistance with out requiring further housing, integrating mounts into the physique, and transitioning to 4K functionality.
The identical sensors could also be inside, however different adjustments could make the fortunate Hero 13 a kind of huge steps ahead.
GoPro Hero 13 Black evaluate: Design
They’re calling this an “all-new” design, but it surely’s nonetheless only a GoPro. It appears to be like like a GoPro, and the design adjustments are minimal.
You have received the small colour LCD on the entrance, which is useful for selfie content material, and the bigger touchscreen across the again for controlling the digital camera.
The shutter button is on the highest and the mode/energy button is on the facet. The underside has varied mounting choices, and the remaining facet has a door to entry the battery, charging port, and microSD card.
It nonetheless powers over USB-C, although it now boasts a brand new magnetic energy system that appears nice. We did not get to check it, but it surely’s basically MagSafe for GoPros.
You swap the door for a brand new magnetic one which has a number of contact factors. Then, snap on the Contacto energy cable, which any USB-C energy supply can energy.
You might run this off a big exterior energy station or plug it into the wall. This will probably be incredible for any skilled setting, in a single day shoot, or state of affairs the place swapping batteries is inconvenient.
It even works with out the inner battery put in. It will have been good to incorporate this within the field, although.
GoPro Hero 13 Black evaluate: New mounting choice
The Hero 8 was the primary mannequin so as to add the collapsable mounting fingers to the underside, and it was a recreation changer. You did not want any kind of housing or bracket to mount the digital camera.
Simply pivot out the mounts and join it to any normal GoPro clip going again to the unique. They later added a threaded 1/4-inch gap within the center, appropriate with any tripod.
This time, they’ve embedded magnets for a brand new, simpler expertise. You employ the magnetic plate to connect with the standard clips or mounts; then, the digital camera snaps to that.
You simply pinch the perimeters to launch the digital camera. We arrange a number of completely different mounting factors on a child’s Jeep, and it saved transferring the GoPro round to every one with ease.
We love this and must decide up extra magnetic plates to outfit our varied equipment.
GoPro Hero 13 Black evaluate: Swappable lenses
Other than the magnetic charging and mounting adjustments, there’s additionally a brand new collection of interchangeable lenses you can outfit your digital camera with.
At launch, there is a new ultra-wide, anamorphic, macro, and a set of ND filters. We examined all of them besides the anamorphic, which wasn’t but obtainable.
The digital camera will routinely detect the lenses, present which one is related, optimize the video, and write that to the metadata.
The anamorphic is the one we’re possibly most enthusiastic about as a result of it, mixed with the digital camera’s new 21:9 help, creates wonderful cinematic pictures.
They’ve the anticipated comfortable edges and horizontal lens flares. The pattern pictures we noticed had been unbelievable.
Plus, the GoPro will routinely de-squeeze the video in-camera, so no post-processing is required to stretch it out.
The macro lens is exclusive as it’s the first official lens to come back with variable focus. There is a ring across the edge to prioritize close-up or far-away topics.
It could possibly focus 4 occasions nearer than the usual lens, as shut as 11mm. It even offers at the very least slightly little bit of bokeh.
When it is related, you may activate focus peaking in settings to assist with the lens. You possibly can select the colour of the main focus peaks, or it will likely be chosen based mostly on the shot and what’s going to most stand out.
We would have preferred it to focus a bit nearer than it does, however this can be a first step, and possibly a future lens could possibly be launched to resolve this.
For now, it was very cool to set the give attention to a wheel or different small object whereas in movement.
The extensive lens is pretty normal and offers an superior POV expertise. That is basically a model of the Lens Mod Max that they had earlier than.
Lastly, the ND filters. They arrive in their very own field with ND 4, 8, 16, and 32 strengths. ND filters are used to basically darken the shot, which may regulate the shutter velocity and lead to pretty movement blur.
It is usually a trial-and-error state of affairs the place you apply a filter, shoot some footage, after which regulate up or down as wanted. GoPro takes out that guesswork.
Making use of the filter will inform you to step up or down relying on the obtainable mild for the right shot. It provides you slightly up or down arrow on the display screen.
This can make ND filters extra approachable and assist customers get capturing quicker.
The draw back with the ND filters is you can’t use them with some other lenses. All of the lenses simply twist on and off, so you will need to select a filter or a sensible lens.
There are third-party ones you should use, however they will not have automated identification like GoPro’s.
GoPro Hero 13 Black evaluate: Internals and settings
Internally, GoPro has upped the battery capability. A longstanding gripe in regards to the cameras.
They’ve moved from a 1720mAh battery to a 1900mAh one. This, mixed with the brand new thermal design, has boosted the battery life.
With airflow, the battery has improved just a bit. For instance, 4K60 went from 81 minutes of recording to 87.9 minutes.
In case you are in a restricted surroundings — like inside a automobile — numbers get significantly better. The identical 4K60 with no airflow improved by 28% from 41 to 52 minutes.
Different resolutions noticed related positive factors, some as a lot as 58% as with 2.7K. Capturing 2.7K at 100 FPS jumped from 38 to 60.2 minutes of recording time on a full cost.
The GoPro Hero 13 Black has GPS information once more, which may overlay cool graphics if you sync it with the Quik app. We at all times like including GPS metadata to pictures, so that is very welcomed.
Wi-Fi expertise advanced from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 6, leading to quicker automated uploads. It is a good selection as Wi-Fi 6e was a minimal change, and Wi-Fi 7 is simply beginning to be launched.
We at all times appreciated how the digital camera would routinely add its footage to the cloud, and we might get an superior abstract video of what we captured from the Quik app.
Video footage can now be shot in HLG HDR. This unlocks extra changes for execs who want that log footage for higher colour grading.
A bunch of different system enhancements had been made, too, equivalent to the flexibility to call your customized presets. That is method simpler to maneuver between as wanted.
The final software program change we noticed that we’re in love with is burst slow-mo. This new setting will document extremely high-frame-rate movies for only a few seconds.
It could possibly document at 5.3K at 120 frames per second, 900P at 360 frames per second, or 720P at 400 frames per second. Simply press shoot, and it’ll document this abbreviated video for between 5 and 12 seconds.
We took our tot swimming and received these wonderful pictures of him leaping into the pool or being thrown into the air. Clearly, the video high quality is diminished at 720P, however that body price is wonderful.
That is most likely our most-used new characteristic on this digital camera as a result of it is so enjoyable. Even saving stills from these movies look excellent.
GoPro Hero 13 Black evaluate: In comparison with iPhone Motion Mode
Utilizing a GoPro has distinctive benefits over capturing together with your iPhone. First – it is way more rugged, and no case is required.
It additionally has a lot increased resolutions obtainable. iPhone 15 Professional can do 240 frames per second at 1080, however GoPro Hero 13 Black can do this at 2.7K, or 400 at 720p as we mentioned.
GoPro may shoot at a whopping 5.3K. Not to mention the varied modes, equivalent to star trails or night time pictures.
The motion cam additionally has its HyperSmooth 6 stabilization characteristic. Apple’s iPhone does have Motion mode, but it surely’s capped at 2.8K decision.
GoPro is the higher alternative if you happen to’re capturing transferring footage or have the digital camera mounted on one thing like a motorbike or automobile. We discovered Motion Mode excellent, however HyperSmooth on enhance gained out.
In actuality, the iPhone is a good different folks can use already with none added purchases, but it surely may also be an amazing second angle when paired with a GoPro.
GoPro has a barely wider angle than the iPhone’s important lens, they usually each have their place. But it surely’s arduous to beat the expertise GoPro has packed into this devoted digital camera.
GoPro Hero 13 Black evaluate: Must you purchase the most recent motion digital camera?
Final 12 months’s GoPro Hero 12 was a strong digital camera however had comparatively minor adjustments. The Hero 13 Black is way more than that.
We would not counsel customers of the last-gen mannequin improve, although. Loads of the advantages come from further purchases, which may actually add up.
In case you have a mannequin a number of years outdated, the Hero 13 Black is a strong improve— particularly because it builds on the ecosystem with the brand new mounts, charger, and lenses.
What we love a lot about this digital camera is its versatility. It may be an superior device for a dad or mum to seize their household, an inexpensive device for content material creators, or a part of knowledgeable equipment on the most recent TV present.
Our solely criticism is that there was no upgraded sensor, however what’s right here is greater than ample for many customers.
Should you want one thing extra inexpensive, there’s the brand new GoPro Hero, which additionally has a brand new design at a extra inexpensive price ticket.
GoPro Hero 13 Black evaluate: Execs
- Upgraded design to assist with cooling
- A number of interchangeable lenses
- Lens and filter auto detection takes the guesswork out of your pictures
- Simple and professional modes make capturing faster and extra customizable
- Magnetic mount system is superior for shoots
- Love the brand new burst slow-mo mode
GoPro Hero 13 Black evaluate: Cons
- Contact charger is not included within the field
- Similar sensors from final 12 months
GoPro Hero 13 Black ranking: 4.5 out of 5
The place to purchase GoPro Hero 13 Black
Yow will discover the GoPro Hero 13 Black on Amazon or B&H for $399 for the bottom equipment. A creator equipment bundled with further equipment can also be obtainable.