In the ever-evolving world of action cameras, GoPro continues to push boundaries with its latest offerings, the HERO13 Black and the HERO.
As adventure enthusiasts and content creators alike seek to immortalize their exploits, these two cameras present a compelling choice.
While the flagship HERO13 Black boasts cutting-edge features and unparalleled performance, the HERO emerges as an affordable yet capable companion.
The HERO, true to its name, stands as GoPro’s most compact offering to date, boasting a remarkable 35% reduction in volume and a staggering 46% decrease in mass compared to its larger sibling, the HERO13 Black.
Tipping the scales at a mere 86 grams, the HERO effortlessly slips into your gear, ensuring an unencumbered journey.
However, it’s important to note that the HERO13 Black’s larger stature translates into enhanced durability, with an impressive waterproof rating of 33 feet, surpassing the HERO’s 16-foot capability.
When it comes to capturing breathtaking visuals, both cameras excel in their respective domains.
The HERO13 Black, a true powerhouse, boasts the ability to record stunning 5.3K video at a silky-smooth 30 frames per second (fps), or an adrenaline-pumping 120fps for captivating slow-motion sequences.
In contrast, the HERO, while limited to 4K resolution, still delivers exceptional clarity and detail, catering to the needs of most content creators and platforms.
View GoPro HERO and HERO13 Black Pricing and Availability at Vistek
For those seeking to push the boundaries of slow-motion capture, the HERO13 Black emerges as the undisputed champion.
With its remarkable 13x slow-motion capabilities, it can record 720p HD footage at a blistering 400fps, 900p at an impressive 360fps, and even its full 5.3K resolution at a remarkable 120fps.
The HERO, on the other hand, offers a more modest 2x slow-motion option, supporting 2.7K video at up to 60fps.
Stabilization
Capturing smooth, cinematic footage is a hallmark of GoPro’s expertise, and both cameras excel in this regard.
Both the HERO13 Black and the HERO are equipped with GoPro’s renowned HyperSmooth stabilization technology, helping to ensure your videos remain steady and free from unwanted shakiness, even in the most demanding environments.
However, the HERO13 Black takes stabilization to new heights with its HyperSmooth 6.0 iteration.
This advanced system features a next-generation AutoBoost that automatically adjusts stabilization levels based on your activity, while minimizing cropping margins.
Additionally, the Horizon Lock feature maintains a level horizon, even when the camera rotates a full 360 degrees, ensuring your footage remains perfectly balanced and cinematic.
In today’s connected world, seamless integration with other devices is essential. Both the HERO13 Black and the HERO offer Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to control the cameras remotely, transfer files, and even live stream your adventures with ease.
However, the HERO13 Black takes connectivity a step further by introducing wireless Bluetooth audio support.
This innovative feature enables you to connect Apple AirPods or other Bluetooth audio devices, transforming your camera into a versatile vlogging tool or a convenient means of issuing voice commands from a distance.
Battery Life
Capturing life’s adventures often means extended periods away from power sources, making battery life a critical consideration.
The HERO13 Black features a newly designed 1900mAh Enduro Battery, boasting a 10% larger capacity than its predecessor. This translates into an impressive 1.5 hours of continuous 5.3K/30fps or 4K/30fps recording, or a remarkable 2.5 hours at 1080p/30fps.
Surprisingly, the compact HERO manages to outperform the HERO13 Black in terms of battery life for 4K/30fps recording, with GoPro claiming that the HERO can capture up to 100 minutes of continuous 4K footage, surpassing the HERO13 Black’s 90-minute mark for the same resolution.
Interchangeable Lenses
One of the standout features of the HERO13 Black is its compatibility with GoPro’s new HB-Series interchangeable lenses and ND filters.
This innovative system allows you to swap out the camera’s standard lens for a range of specialized options, including:
Anamorphic Lens: Designed for cinematographers and content creators, this lens captures ultra-wide-angle footage with reduced distortion, delivering a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio.
Macro Lens: With a variable focus ring and focus peaking, this lens enables you to capture stunning close-up shots from as little as 4.33 inches (11cm) away, revealing intricate details often missed by the naked eye.
Ultra-Wide Lens: Expanding the HERO13 Black’s field of view to an impressive 177 degrees, this lens maximizes the camera’s HyperSmooth performance, resulting in unbreakable in-camera video stabilization with stunning 4K/60fps resolution.
Neutral Density (ND) Filters: These high-quality glass filters are automatically detected by the HERO13 Black, enabling you to fine-tune your exposure and shutter speed settings for optimal results in various lighting conditions.
The interchangeable lens system not only enhances the HERO13 Black’s versatility but also streamlines the shooting process, as the camera automatically adjusts its settings to accommodate the attached lens, ensuring a seamless and intuitive experience.
Power Tools
Both the HERO13 Black and the HERO are equipped with a suite of Power Tools designed to unleash your creative potential and capture unique perspectives. These tools include:
- HindSight: This innovative feature captures up to 30 seconds of footage before you start recording, ensuring you never miss a crucial moment.
- Scheduled Capture: With this tool, you can program your camera to turn on and start recording at a specific time, up to 24 hours in advance, allowing you to capture events or scenes without being physically present.
- Duration Capture: This feature enables you to set a predetermined recording duration, ranging from 15 seconds to 2 hours, ensuring you capture the entirety of an event without worrying about running out of storage or battery life.
- Interval Photo: Ideal for capturing time-lapse sequences, Interval Photo allows you to set the camera to snap photos at fixed intervals, from every 0.5 seconds to every 120 seconds.
Wireless Timecode Sync
The HERO13 Black also introduces wireless timecode sync, a feature that enables you to synchronize an unlimited number of HERO13 Black and HERO12 Black cameras.
Auto-Upload and Cloud Storage
With the Auto-Upload to the Cloud and Auto Edits features, your HERO13 Black or HERO footage is automatically uploaded to your GoPro cloud account while the camera is charging, eliminating the need for manual file transfers.
Additionally, GoPro subscribers can enjoy unlimited cloud storage for their footage, with the added benefit of automatic highlight video generation after each upload.
Other Accessories
For the HERO13 Black, GoPro has introduced a 48-inch extension pole that collapses to a compact 10 inches, and featuring 1/4-20 mounting threads, and a detachable, wearable, and waterproof Bluetooth shutter remote for convenient control, even when the pole is fully extended.
Additionally, the new Contacto Magnetic Door & Power Cable Kit, forms a weatherproof seal with the HERO13 Black’s door and connects to any USB-C power source, enabling continuous power for extended recording sessions.
