GoPro Hero 11 review: One change makes all the difference

As of late, the concept of a digicam only for “motion” appears like a little bit of an anachronism. In 2022 social media is king, and motion is a only one subsection thereof. You solely want to have a look at the previous couple of GoPros, and the competitors, to see that manufacturers with pores and skin within the recreation are all too conscious of that. Enter the Hero 11 Black, the place every little thing feels a bit grown up, in a skate-dad kinda means.

As for what’s new, in the event you had “bodily design” in your bingo card, you’re out of luck. Substantial redesigns appear to return alongside each three or 4 years, however for now the Hero 11 seems to be precisely the identical as the ten simply with a 1 changing the 0 painted on the aspect.

As regular, although, there are some further capturing modes. SuperView is now obtainable proper as much as 5K60/4K120 (beforehand 4K/60 was the max). Equally, nonetheless pictures obtain a lift from 23-megapixels as much as 27. There’s additionally 10-bit coloration throughout the board. The shrewd amongst you’ll have noticed that this implies there’s a new sensor and it’s core to a few of the different new options beneath. Regardless of the transfer up from 1 /2.3 to 1 /1.9 these further megapixels don’t appear to have actually translated to improved low mild efficiency (accordingly there’s no such declare). As an alternative you’ve gotten extra pixels to play with.

In reality, this new, taller sensor is what allows two of the primary new options: First is 360-degree horizon lock in Linear mode (as much as 5.3K/30). Horizon-leveling was already fairly good on the Hero 10, however now it’s absolute. In case your actions contain lots of tight corners or literal physique spinning this can be utilized for artistic impact. If, like me, you’re simply liable to wonkily mounting your digicam you’ll be able to actually simply neglect about all that now. Each DJI’s new Osmo Motion 3 and the Insta360 supply comparable horizon lock options, however GoPro’s is obtainable in body charges comparable to 4K/60 and a couple of.7K/120, whereas DJI’s, for instance, tops out at 2.7K/60.

The second, and possibly greater benefit to the taller sensor is the flexibility to document in “Full Body.” This isn’t a digicam mode per se – though it may be used as such in the event you like 8:7, 5.3K video. It’s extra of a device for capturing completely every little thing after which “punching out” the facet ratio you need (or multiple) after the actual fact. With Full Body, you’ll be able to shoot as soon as and pull a 4K,16:9 video out for YouTube after which a 9:16 model for TikTok, for instance. Each with utterly totally different framing if you want. Alternatively, you’ll be able to kinda set and neglect, after which simply body the shot after the actual fact.

This characteristic has lots of potential, particularly in the event you’re not likely certain what capturing mode to go for. I attempted it out by mounting the digicam on my bike perpendicular to the body (turning the bike right into a dolly of types). I rode previous some fascinating surroundings after which punched out a standard 16:9 edit and a mobile-friendly 9:16 model. The panorama clip got here out fairly good as I used to be in a position to minimize out lots of pavement and concentrate on the topic. The cell model nonetheless turned out higher than if I needed to crop it out from a 16:9, and naturally there was no lack of decision, however this explicit shot didn’t find yourself being appropriate for portrait. Both means, the Full Body characteristic improved each movies and the actual fact I may body every of them in another way positively obtained me fascinated with different cool issues I may do with this.

If there was a destructive, you would possibly end up having to suppose backwards. For instance, I did a brief intro to digicam utilizing the entrance display screen to border myself, however once I was selecting the facet ratio I wished to punch out later, I noticed that I used to be filling the display screen so needed to accept a bizarre crop. One thing I’d have averted if I used to be recording in a set FOV like 16:9 from the beginning.

Holding issues frame-related, there’s a new “digital lens” (which is GoPro’s advertising language for Area of View) known as HyperView. Method again in 2013 the corporate launched SuperView which shoehorned every little thing on the sensor right into a 16:9 facet ratio. It’s a bit intense, however does make first-person photographs really feel quicker and extra immersive. Nicely, HyperView is actually that however for the brand new, taller sensor and it’s a bit bonkers.

You’ll completely not wish to use this one for every little thing, however for sure photographs it needs to be a go-to. I attempted it whereas mounted on my handlebars and it was very noticeable how warped timber and buildings regarded as I handed. Worse, these barely bizarre angles made the video really feel like I used to be watching a 90s first-person-shooter recreation.

That stated, I did a second shot with the digicam hanging low by my board as I skated round city and I can’t cease watching it. The proximity to the ground and the tempo and depth of objects as they handed by made it really feel like I used to be within the cockpit of a tiny FPV drone. Even I felt like I wanted to decelerate after watching the video, regardless of figuring out in actuality I wasn’t going notably quick.

Now, this may need been a good time to check one other flagship characteristic – mechanically generated spotlight movies. GoPro has steadily been making it simpler to show the contents of your SD card into an fascinating edit for just a few years. Now, the corporate is taking issues into its personal (AI) palms and can rustle up an edit for you when you get again dwelling and plug the digicam in. You’ll want a GoPro subscription to benefit from this characteristic, however given it’s successfully cheaper today to purchase the sub with the digicam that shouldn’t preserve too many individuals excluded.

Sadly, at time of penning this, the characteristic isn’t obtainable to check.

One thing that we are able to discuss are the brand new evening lapse modes. There are three in whole: Star Trails, Mild Portray and Automobile Lights. All three are fairly explanatory they usually add some welcome additions to the usual time-lapse choices, however I’m going to guess these aren’t actually issues most people will likely be utilizing often, although they’ll make for some good artistic B-roll kind photographs or enjoyable issues to share whenever you’re in a location with low mild air pollution (or close to a loopy motorway intersection at evening we presume).

We have come this far with out speaking about how the movies and images really look. GoPro picture high quality has come a good distance lately. Final yr there was a noticeable enchancment in sharpness. And whereas there’s no actual change this time round, colours do appear to pop a little bit bit extra, with out the marginally over-saturated look of older cameras. That’s seemingly due to the brand new 10-bit coloration which will likely be appreciated by professional customers having extra information to crunch in publish.

HyperSmooth, as soon as once more will get some love, with the software-stabilization now in its fifth iteration. Truthfully, at this level the stabilization is so good that it’s arduous to inform the way it’s improved. Mentally I’ve written off any GoPro earlier than the Hero 7 as I simply can’t return to pre-stabilization days. Simply know that movies look as easy and regular as you seemingly ever want.

Maybe you haven’t used a GoPro earlier than, or because the darkish days when there was solely a small monochrome show on the entrance. Through which case, utilizing a contemporary mannequin is usually a bit overwhelming as there are lots of options and shortcuts crammed into the rear show. To assist with that, GoPro launched “Simple” mode which makes use of a single preset for every of the three important capturing modes (Time Lapse, Video, Photograph).

Simple mode doesn’t make it immediately clear what FOV or framerate you’re capturing in, however it’s 5.3K/30 at 16:9 in accordance with a check video and the small textual content within the “velocity” shortcut menu that I’ll get to in a minute. Time Lapse defaults to Time Warp (stabilized movies comprised of nonetheless pictures), which might be probably the most helpful of the lot, in order that is smart. Photographs default to SuperPhoto which is GoPro’s personal “computerized” mode in order that additionally is smart.

Regardless of the shortage of menu choices, you’ll nonetheless discover shortcuts to vary the “velocity” (gradual movement) and the quantity of Horizon Lock (or not) to make use of. Likewise, in photograph mode you’ll be able to nonetheless change the FOV if you want and add a self-timer. I’m by no means going to complain about having a extra accessible choice for people who don’t wish to be bombarded with selection, however common customers in all probability wish to keep on with Professional mode.

Whichever choice you select, it’s no good if the battery doesn’t provide you with time to get pleasure from it. That tacky transition is me introducing the common battery-life part. Final yr the corporate launched a brand new excessive climate “Enduro” battery as an extra accent. Now, that battery is the usual cell for the digicam.

Regardless of the title, the claims are ambiguous, stating a battery life enchancment of as much as 40 p.c. That appears to be particularly tied to the efficiency underneath extra intense temperatures. Probably the most “excessive” climate I used to be in a position to check in was common 94-degree summer season warmth. I had just a few outings the place the digicam was on always and recording with GPS activated, save just a few events once I was altering settings and so forth. This consists of loads of connecting to the digicam with my cellphone and pulling media wirelessly. On common, the GoPro lasted for about an hour and a half which isn’t fairly so long as I’d hoped, however it’s a 20 p.c improve over final yr’s digicam in comparable testing (minus GPS).

This, in fact, is fixed use with all of the wi-fi/GPS on. When you’re turning the digicam on and off all through the day, not capturing in most decision and never utilizing the app closely like I used to be, you’ll be able to moderately count on one thing decently north of that. Both means, given the brand new battery comes as customary there’s a minimum of a small saving right here over having to purchase it as an adjunct.

Which naturally brings us onto the general worth proposition. The excellent news is, the Hero 11 Black prices the identical as final yr’s flagship: $399.98 with a subscription or $500 with out. There’s actually no purpose to purchase it with out the subscription although so far as I can inform. Nevertheless, even on the cheaper price, the Hero 11 Black is costlier than the Osmo Motion 3 ($329) and the Insta360 RS 4K bundle ($300).

100 {dollars} (or two, doubtlessly) is a fairly large unfold for competing merchandise. GoPro has the richest ecosystem of the three cameras talked about above, however the rivals broadly sidestep this with appropriate mounts. When it comes right down to options, there’s lots of overlap, however I’ve discovered GoPro’s are the higher stability of practical-yet-creative. However as famous above with issues like Horizon Lock, the specifics can differ from model to model.

What’s much less doubtful is the dilemma in the event you had been considering of upgrading. When you’re coming from the Hero 10, there’s possibly not sufficient of a step ahead to make it worthwhile simply but. When you’re coming from an older mannequin, just like the Hero 8 and earlier than, the choice is way simpler.

As a lot as this appears like an iterative replace in some ways, we’ve had two years of pretty robust revisions with the Hero 9 and Hero 10. In tandem, the competitors from DJI and Insta360 has actually began to place some critical stress on GoPro. The result’s that it’s presumably the very best time in historical past to be shopping for what was previously referred to as the motion digicam.