No different digital camera firm has managed to show a product into a life-style model fairly the way in which GoPro has, which is likely one of the causes we’ve personally been utilizing their merchandise since 2010 (holy moly, greater than 13 years now).
And whereas we love virtually every little thing concerning the enterprise and the gear they make, we’ll even be the primary to confess that some fashions aren’t as revolutionary as others.
That hasn’t stopped us from personally reviewing every new sequence when it hits the cabinets although, and this 12 months isn’t any completely different.
We put our GoPros by way of hell. Snowboarding, scuba diving, mountain biking and simply typically pushing them to their limits by way of our jobs as journey content material creators.
The latest digital camera is now out within the wild and naturally we couldn’t wait to attempt it out.
2024 MASSIVE UPDATE – It’s that point of the 12 months once more and the newest digital camera has simply dropped! Try our trustworthy GoPro HERO 13 Black Assessment!
So in our knowledgeable GoPro HERO11 Black overview we dive deep into what units this digital camera aside from its predecessor, the way it performs in the actual world and whether or not or not GoPro have missed the mark.
Our Sincere GoPro HERO 11 Black Assessment
Final 12 months’s slogan for the GoPro HERO 10 was ‘A New Period’, and this 12 months GoPro have opted to go together with ‘Lastly to 11’. Fairly becoming for the eleventh sequence in what has develop into a little bit of a legacy.
However honestly what actually issues what they’ve finished this 12 months is healthier ‘the GoPro Expertise’.
You see in 2023 the brand new digital camera has a variety of reasonable enhancements, which we’ll get to shortly, however the actual spotlight is that every little thing simply works, nicely, nicer.
There’s the brand new bigger sensor, 10-bit color and buttery HyperSmooth 5.0 with 360 diploma horizon lock (how the hell they make it so clean is past us, however we’ll take it).
These items alone imply the GoPro HERO11 Black is superior over the ten, however that’s not what makes the GoPro Expertise a step above anything they’ve finished.
They’ve additionally launched a brand new lighter model dubbed the HERO 11 Black Mini, which is nearly pretty much as good as the principle digital camera however with no few options reminiscent of LCD screens.
When you’re right here, take a look at our GoPro HERO 12 overview!
GoPro have actually tapped into the creator market now, with out forgetting their core origins for journey athletes and normal journey photographers/videographers, by endeavouring to make all the capturing, enhancing and importing workflow as seamless as doable.
Did they pull it off? Let’s discover out in our GoPro HERO11 overview!
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The Newest Options
GoPro have managed to introduce an entire bunch of latest options that make the newest digital camera a pleasure to make use of in any situation, whereas additionally ticking a couple of bins for professionals on the market.
- New bigger 1/1.9″ Sensor
- 8:7 facet ratio
- Automated Spotlight Movies
- 10-Bit Color (lastly!)
- HyperSmooth 5.0 + 360 Diploma Horizon Lock
- 27 megapixel nonetheless pictures
- HyperView
- As much as 5.3k TimeWarp 3.0
- Evening Results (we love this)
- Enduro Battery
- Body grabs – 27MP from 5.3K 8:7 video
After which all the perfect options that we noticed on the ten, reminiscent of:
- 5.3K 60fps
- 4K 120fps
- 2.7K 240fps for 8x slo-mo
- 33 toes (10m) waterproof straight out of the field
- Voice management
- LCD full-colour entrance show
- LCD full-colour actual display
- 1080p Livestream and Webcam with HyperSmooth 5.0 video stabilization
- RAW Photographs in all modes
- Non-obligatory modular equipment reminiscent of Max Lens Mod, Media Mod, Mild Mod and Show Mod
New Bigger Sensor
The largest improve on the GoPro HERO11 Black is the brand new, bigger 1/1.9″ sensor.
With this monster sensor squeezed into the tiny digital camera we are able to now shoot utilizing a new 8:7 facet ratio, which captures an enormous perspective permitting for every kind of crop components in publish.
In truth, it’s a 16% improve in vertical subject of view over the earlier digital camera.
GoPro know that nearly every little thing getting shared nowadays is shifting to vertical elements, like what we discover on Instagram and TikTok, however native width content material like on TV and YouTube isn’t going wherever.
So quite than having to decide on whether or not you shoot in panorama or portrait mode, you should use the 8:7 facet ratio on the bigger sensor which provides loads of room for cropping later with out dropping any picture high quality.
This additionally introduces the larger 27MP display grabs, and a brand new immersive digital lens known as HyperView, which is ideal for these POV (point-of-view) motion thots.
This, matched with the revolutionary GP2 processor launched on the HERO10, makes the brand new GoPro HERO11 Black a flexible, various and top quality powerhouse.
HyperView Digital Lens
Utilizing all the 8:7 ratio on the brand new sensor, we are able to now use HyperView, which GoPro claims provides an ‘ultra-immersive’ video that most closely fits motion POV, massive selfies and enormous areas in tight areas. Suppose structure.
There’s additionally an replace within the pipeline that may enable customers to leap into the GoPro Quik app and alter between all of the digital lens choices after the very fact. So you may go away it on one setting and never be kicking your self later.
10-Bit Color
That is a kind of upgrades that will get skilled creators further excited. However that doesn’t imply it’s past the typical person both.
GoPro have lastly jumped over to true 10-bit color processing. What does that imply precisely?
10-bit color has over 1 billion shades of color in its knowledge.
8-bit, which is what the outdated GoPro (and most video cameras that don’t price the identical as a home deposit) has, processes about 16.7 million colors.
That giant enchancment signifies that the colors you see in your movies are extra like what you see with your personal eyes, with extra vivid particulars, much less color banding and smoother gradients.
Consider it like excessive dynamic vary content material.
This color improve works on all video settings, together with TimeWarp and Time Lapse, and likewise spills out throughout images.
HyperSmooth 5.0
We’re going to allow you to in on a bit secret.
HyperSmooth, which was first launched on the GoPro HERO7, is why we vlog on GoPros as an alternative of our very costly Sony cameras.
HyperSmooth primarily removes the necessity to use a gimbal, and when you’ve seen it in motion you’ll marvel why anyone offers with shaky footage anymore.
If GoPro did completely zero enhancements to this characteristic on the GoPro HERO 11 Black version, no one would thoughts as a result of it’s already so good.
However nope, they needed to go and improve to HyperSmooth 5.0, which is even higher. You’ll be able to actually go path working and the footage seems prefer it was shot in a automotive rolling down a freeway.
HyperSmooth 5.0 now works in all digital lenses, and features a characteristic known as Linear + Horizon Lock.
This makes use of the processor to find out what stage the horizon is on, after which retains your shot in that place, even should you rotate your digital camera a full 360°.
One of many very first guidelines you study in composition is to at all times preserve your horizon straight, and now you by no means have to fret about it.
There’s additionally an all-new ‘AutoBoost’, which acts like a dynamic adjustment in real-time if the digital camera detects further shaky actions.
The Enduro Battery
GoPro quietly launched the Enduro Battery in 2022, however now it comes customary with the GoPro HERO11, and we’re all for it!
It’s a extra highly effective battery in the identical measurement that provides 38% extra battery life and higher efficiency in chilly circumstances.
Simple vs Professional Controls
When GoPro first launched video presets it was a Godsend. We actually use them a number of instances each single shoot they usually save us a lot time and complications.
Nonetheless for the typical person, it may be a bit overkill. Most individuals don’t must recurrently bounce between 4k 30fps broad to 4k 120fps linear then to 4k 60fps Superview between photographs.
Most customers even have the identical 2-3 issues they use time and again. Maybe one video mode, one photograph mode and one TimeWarp mode.
For individuals who don’t wish to overburden themselves with buttons and settings on the fly, GoPro has heard you and now launched ‘Simple Controls’.
Choose what you need – photograph, video or TimeWarp – and GoPro will choose the perfect settings for the scenario. Type of like utilizing Auto on a contemporary digital digital camera.
Virtually each journey we go on all over the world we’ve individuals come as much as us with a model new GoPro and ask if we might help them with their settings. We get it – should you’re not a professional, digital camera settings are extraordinarily complicated,
Now you may simply swap over to ‘Simple Controls’ and by no means fear once more.
New Evening Results
We love love love night time images. We’ve written extensively about astrophotography, lengthy exposures and how you can use gentle to color onto a scene.
Nonetheless this can be a fairly superior type of images, and it will probably take a number of trial and error to dial in the best settings.
Be careful world, as a result of right here’s one of many new options we’re most enthusiastic about on this GoPro HERO11 Black overview – Evening Results!
There are three all-new time lapse presets that are designed to make capturing night time scenes ridiculously straightforward.
These are all robotically finished for you, that means you may concentrate on creating artwork with out the concern of heavy publish manufacturing.
Mild Portray
Use lengthy publicity images to create brush stroke results with transferring gentle, reminiscent of waving a head lamp or fireworks.
Star Trails
The earth rotates across the solar (sorry flat-earthers), so once you take consecutive images of the celebrities you’ll discover they’re slowly transferring throughout the sky.
Star Path mode turns that rotation into unimaginable star trails in a single click on. To offer you context, for us to do that manually takes many hours of capturing, enhancing, stacking and mixing in Photoshop (in addition to a loopy highly effective and costly laptop computer) to realize the identical impact.
Automobile Mild Trails
Set your GoPro up on a bridge over a freeway or within the median strip of a busy avenue, click on the button and watch the headlights of automobiles burn themselves into your shot.
Belief us, it seems superior.
GoPro Quik App
Whereas not a brand new characteristic and never immediately associated to the HERO11, we are able to’t actually do our GoPro 11 overview with out speaking concerning the app that goes together with it.
The GoPro Quik app is a kind of apps that simply appears to have a endless listing of instruments and functionalities, and one way or the other it makes all of them good.
You’ll be able to management your digital camera utilizing your smartphone as a distant.
You’ll be able to import your footage wirelessly.
You’ll be able to edit your images and movies with one click on of a button.
In truth you may even make full-on YouTube or Instagram/TikTok movies proper within the app.
And should you join the GoPro Quik Subscription, the app will auto-upload your footage to the cloud so you may clear the SD card and preserve capturing with out dropping your footage.
There’s additionally rumours or a brand new characteristic coming quickly the place GoPro will use AI know-how to make spotlight reels of your footage within the cloud. Who wants a video editor, huh?
The GoPro HERO 11 Black Mini
Do you bear in mind when GoPro introduced out the Session, a miniature model of the already ridiculously small GoPro?
It was marketed as a extra moveable, easy digital camera for entry-level creators with much less options and energy.
Effectively now the crew at GoPro have reintroduced one thing comparable with the GoPro 11 Black Mini.
It’s principally a barely watered-down model of the GoPro HERO 11 Black digital camera, with out the LCD screens and as an alternative having twin mounting fingers on the backside and again of the physique.
It’s aimed for new-to-GoPro customers, individuals who mount their cameras to their helmets and anybody who finds the present GoPro mannequin too massive.
After all this implies it’s a bit bit cheaper too, which is at all times a giant plus.
Ought to You Get the GoPro HERO 11 Black Mini?
This isn’t a GoPro HERO 11 Black Mini overview, however we’ll let you already know our ideas right here anyway.
Until you fall into considered one of these classes:
- You at all times go away your GoPro in your helmet
- You by no means use an LCD display
- Funds is tight
Don’t fear about shopping for the HERO11 Mini, and as an alternative spend a bit bit extra money and get the full HERO 11 Black.
Why? Effectively not having an LCD display sucks. You’ll be able to’t body your photographs correctly (until you’re utilizing your telephone as a stay view) and you’ll’t overview your footage on the fly.
You should utilize the little display on high to verify your digital camera settings, however these should be customised utilizing the GoPro Quik app quite than on the fly.
Possibly our opinion will change down the highway, however for now we consider it’s 100% value simply getting the full-size digital camera.
The ‘Mods’ – Media, Max Lens, Show and Mild Mod
When GoPro launched their Mods it was a kind of ‘appears cool, however I’ll by no means use it’ sort of merchandise. A minimum of to us anyway.
Effectively that’s all modified now. We not too long ago purchased the Media Mod for the HERO10, and now utilizing it on the HERO11, and are a lot happier with the audio enhancements.
GoPro has at all times been recognized for the plethora of epic GoPro equipment (take a look at our favourites in that publish) you should use with them, reminiscent of mounts to place your digital camera on absolutely anything.
The Mods are a bit extra high-level than the usual mounts you get, however for any severe content material creator they actually do add an entire new ingredient to how we seize scenes.
The HERO11 is identical measurement because the earlier two cameras, and so the mods that match them additionally match the brand new digital camera which is improbable.
The Media Mod provides a bi-directional microphone, chilly shoe mounts, USB C output and a 3.5mm microphone jack, and is now our go-to setup for vlogging.
The Max Lens Mod makes the digital camera lens ultra-wide natively, which is healthier than the digital model of HyperView.
The Mild Mod illuminates your face when capturing in low gentle, or can be utilized for gentle portray.
And the Show Mod provides a display, however until you want one thing greater than the front-facing one, it’s a bit redundant now.
If you happen to’re going to purchase only one Mod to go together with the GoPro HERO11 Black, get the Media Mod.
Is the Digital camera Any Good Within the Actual World?
Alright, we get it. Tech specs are cool and all, however you wish to know if the digital camera really work in the actual world?
Sure the characteristic upgrades are first rate, and also you’re already contemplating whether or not or not it’s value getting the 11.
However stats on paper don’t imply something if the digital camera really performs like a moist towel.
By no means concern, pals. We have now your again and have been tremendous busy throwing the digital camera into every kind of conditions as a part of our overview of the GoPro HERO11 Black.
The preliminary setup of the digital camera was very fast and simple. Flip it on, choose your language, join it to the GoPro Quik app in your telephone, do an replace and away you go.
Then it’s time to truly use the rattling factor.
The LCD contact display could be very quick and responsive, and once we did a side-by-sude comparability with the HERO10 we didn’t discover a giant distinction in comparison with the outdated digital camera.
In comparison with the 9 although, it was night time and day, and we’re so glad that they’ve lastly found out a stable contact display that simply works.
We then instantly switched to the brand new 8:7 facet ratio and began capturing some 5.3k video.
It’s onerous to inform on the little display, however we might see much more of the scene. It was solely once we imported the footage into Adobe Premiere Professional although that we might actually see simply how far more vertical room we needed to play with.
Seeing as content material is all about vertical Instagram Reels and TikToks, that is very helpful characteristic.
HyperSmooth 5.0? Yea it’s loopy good. I took the digital camera for a run down the seashore and it was as clean and buttery as ever.
The brand new 360 diploma horizon stage lock labored fairly nicely too in linear mode.
10-bit color was an unlimited, huge enchancment over the HERO10, however fact be advised we don’t color grade our footage that closely anyway.
So whereas we do now use 10-bit color for all of our photographs (which matches what we shoot on our Sony A7iv too), we’re most likely not utilizing it to its full potential.
At our core, we’re photographers, and we’re happy to say that in our GoPro HERO 11 overview we’re very happy with the standard of pictures the little digital camera produces, and the way far we are able to push the edits in publish manufacturing with out dropping high quality.
We tried HDR, SuperPhoto and Uncooked, however have determined to only at all times persist with Uncooked.
We additionally went and located some rock wallabies close to the boat pier and tried out Auto, Uncooked Burst Mode to see the way it carried out.
The images – improbable.
The lag time although whereas the digital camera buffered the pictures was painfully sluggish. This might most likely be decreased although by utilizing a sooner pace SD card, so we’ll report again sooner or later once we improve this.
We’re but to make use of the brand new Evening Results correctly, however have a giant journey arising very quickly the place we’ll be capable of take a look at this out. Keep tuned for an replace.
General the GoPro HERO11 Black has been a pleasure to make use of, and it’ll now have a everlasting place in our digital camera bag on each journey and shoot we go on.
What We Don’t Like
We’re at all times trustworthy in our gear write-ups, and being an trustworthy GoPro HERO11 Black overview we really tried our greatest to seek out one thing improper with the digital camera.
Why? Effectively nothing may be excellent, and we don’t need you as our trusting reader to assume we’re simply going to reward every little thing that’s on the market.
So with that being mentioned, is it an ideal digital camera?
No. However GoPro are getting shut to creating one.
One characteristic we actually want that they had have included was an optical zoom.
We love the enduring GoPro perspective, but it surely’d be good if we might seize a 2x or 3x optical zoom as nicely to get nearer to our topics and create some lens compression.
Maybe this might be rectified sooner or later with a switchable lens? There’s the Max Lens Mod, why not have a Zoom Lens Mod too?
The audio with out the Media Mod isn’t nice, however should you’re not vlogging this isn’t a giant deal.
Aside from that there actually isn’t something main that we dislike in our GoPro HERO 11 Black overview.
But when we discover something as time goes on we’ll make sure to return to this text and replace it.
GoPro HERO11 vs GoPro HERO10 vs GoPro HERO9 – What’s the Distinction?
We’ve explored all of the updates and what’s new in our GoPro HERO 11 Black overview, and until you’re very accustomed to the outdated fashions it’s possible you’ll be left questioning what the distinction is between the newest variations.
The HERO11 has plenty of main updates in comparison with the HERO10, most particularly across the bigger sensor and 10-bit color, however the engine behind it being the GP2 processor is kind of the identical.
However what about in opposition to the HERO9?
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27MP + SuperPhoto and all RAW modes |
23MP + SuperPhoto with HDR |
20MP + SuperPhoto with HDR |
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|
In-Digital camera with 360° Angle and Horizon Lock |
In-Digital camera with 45° Angle |
In-Digital camera with 27° Angle |
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1.4″ Colour LCD with Smoother Stay Preview |
1.4″ Colour LCD with Smoother Stay Preview |
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2.7″ Colour LCD with Improved Contact Sensitivity |
2.7″ Colour LCD with Improved Contact Sensitivity |
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Media Mod, Max Lens Mod, Show Mod, Mild Mod, Volta |
Media Mod, Max Lens Mod, Show Mod, Mild Mod, Volta |
Media Mod (HERO9 Black) |
|
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1080p with HyperSmooth 5.0 |
1080p with HyperSmooth 4.0 |
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Is it Value Upgrading?
You’ve virtually made it to the tip of our GoPro HERO 11 overview, and also you’re nearly able to both make the leap and make investments, or stash your money for one more day.
So what must you do, particularly if in case you have an older model already? Is it value upgrading to the HERO11?
You Don’t Have a GoPro
If you happen to’re available in the market on your first ever GoPro and are questioning if that is the mannequin value shopping for, then right here’s the recommendation we give to our closest family and friends:
Sure, it’s 100% value shopping for the HERO11.
Irrespective of your fashion, whether or not its normal journey, motion sports activities, life-style, underwater (bear in mind it’s waterproof to 10m) or capturing YouTube movies, this mannequin is fairly near being one of many greatest journey cameras on the market.
For these on the market that contemplate themselves to be a newbie photographer/videographer, you’re in luck too.
With Simple Controls and top quality built-in picture processing it’s by no means been simpler and extra gratifying to make use of a GoPro.
You Have a GoPro HERO9 or Earlier Mannequin
When you have the HERO9 or an earlier mannequin such because the HERO 8 or HERO 7, and questioning whether or not now could be the time to improve, then our reply is sure, it is best to.
The HERO11 takes the legendary cameras to an entire new stage, and the bigger sensor matched with the GP2 processor means it’s like night time and day in comparison with the older variations.
It’s principally a complete new digital camera in comparison with the 9, and should you’re coming from the 7 or 8 you’ll be so grateful you lastly jumped ship to the 11.
You Have a GoPro HERO10 Black
Hmm….this isn’t as easy as we thought it could be, particularly as a result of we nonetheless personal two HERO10s and love them.
We’re not the kind of individuals to go upgrading tech gear yearly. Hell Alesha continues to be rocking an iPhone 8.
That being mentioned, when there’s a big improve or a brand new characteristic that may make our jobs and lives simpler, we fork out the money and are at all times grateful we did.
Is the HERO11 Black a big improve over the HERO10 although?
Not likely.
After all the brand new bigger sensor is great. 8:7 facet ratio is extraordinarily helpful. 10-bit color is one thing execs have been screaming for. And the Evening Results together with 27 megapixels to mess around with is worth it.
However these aren’t issues each photographer, videographer and creator wants.
For us and the way in which we use our gear, sure it’s definitely worth the improve, and the HERO11 is now our go-to motion sports activities digital camera.
We actually just like the 8:7 ratio, as we regularly repurpose footage for YouTube and Instagram in several codecs.
It additionally makes framing photographs quite a bit simpler as you’re grabbing extra vertical area.
If that doesn’t sound such as you although and also you already personal the ten, don’t really feel like it’s essential rush out and promote your outdated digital camera simply but (until in fact GoPro are doing a loopy sale on the 11).
| UPGRADE IF: | I take advantage of my GoPro greater than 2x per week and make an honest quantity of social media content material |
| DON’T WORRY IF: | I take advantage of my digital camera lower than as soon as per week and don’t actually share my content material on social media |
Additionally should you actually simply purchased a ten, don’t get upset and throw it away. It’s nonetheless an incredible digital camera, and so long as you might be having enjoyable getting on the market and capturing content material, it’s extra about creativity than gear anyway.
Remaining Verdict – 9/10
If you happen to do buy the GoPro HERO 11 Black, we additionally advocate getting a GoPro subscription to their cloud storage service too.
Thanks very a lot for studying our GoPro HERO10 Black overview. When you have any questions please go away a remark under and we’ll reply them as quickly as doable.
DISCLAIMER: Among the hyperlinks on this article are affiliate hyperlinks, which implies should you ebook lodging, excursions or purchase a product, we’ll obtain a small fee at no further price to you. These commissions assist us preserve creating extra free journey content material to assist individuals plan their holidays and adventures. We solely advocate the perfect lodging, excursions and merchandise that ourselves or our improbable editorial crew have personally skilled, and recurrently overview these. Thanks on your help, type pal!
GoPro HERO11 Black
After in depth in-the-field testing, we break down each spec, new characteristic and comparability with earlier fashions in our trustworthy GoPro HERO 11 overview.
Execs
- New, bigger 1/1.9″ sensor
- 8:7 facet ratio
- 10-bit color
- Glorious construct high quality
- Quick, responsive processor
Cons
- Native microphone might be higher
- Nonetheless no optical zoom
