GoPro HERO8 Black Assessment – Is it Value Shopping for in 2024?

The final word GoPro HERO 8 overview, detailing the most recent options, settings and upgrades on this model new, top quality motion sports activities digicam. Is the GoPro HERO8 Black the perfect journey vlogging digicam available on the market now? Learn on to search out out…

GoPro revolutionised the sports activities motion digicam market when it first burst on the scene in 2004. Since then the Californian firm has grown to be some of the well-respected and top quality digicam and journey manufacturers on the earth.

From the unique HERO1 in 2004, the evolution of GoPro has seen the pocket-sized cameras go from being a product that solely excessive sport professionals would use to changing into a family identify and one thing that youngsters, households, travellers and professionals use of their day-to-day lives.

It hasn’t all been {smooth} crusing for GoPro. Motion cameras have develop into more and more well-liked. And GoPro has needed to stay targeted on high quality.

However after they launched the HERO7 Black in 2018 with its revolutionary HyperSmooth, TimeWarp and SuperPhoto expertise, the corporate rose again up the ranks to beat their motion digicam competitors.

HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT – Our model new GoPro HERO 13 Black overview of the most recent digicam is now reside. Is it definitely worth the improve? You’ll should learn to search out out. Or have a learn of our GoPro HERO 12 overview when you’re not prepared for the 12.

GoPro have introduced the HERO 8 Black, and it’s set to not solely surpass its predecessor when it comes to options, expertise, usability and general high quality.

But in addition it would possibly simply develop into the usual go-to digicam for vloggers, video makers and common journey photographers.

Is it excellent? No. But it surely’s getting shut.

When you’re wanting into upgrading from the Hero 7 or evaluating the Osmo Motion, discover out extra of our skilled expertise with the GoPro Hero 8 digicam and its equipment beneath.

BONUS! Use our hyperlink to get $170 off the brand new digicam while you buy from the official GoPro web site. Our supply lasts for this week solely.

My GoPro HERO8 Assessment

I’ve been placing the HERO 8 Black to the take a look at for the final two weeks in Japan, and I’ve to say I’m merely amazed on the high quality of movies and pictures it’s producing.

GoPros have all the time been simple to make use of. However with the HERO 8 Black the simplicity is taken to a brand new stage, and you may shortly swap between video and picture modes utilizing presets.

Over the previous couple of years, GoPro has been making an attempt to shift away from their ‘just for excessive sports activities athletes‘ fame and as a substitute cement themselves as a multi-purpose digicam that can be utilized for household holidays, evening images, time lapse, journey vlogs and extra.

Comply with NOMADasaurus on Instagram for extra examples of GoPro images.

READ MORE: Right here’s our record of the finest journey cameras for all budgets (GoPro included)!

What Are the New Options?

My overview of the GoPro HERO 8 Black reveals that there was various large updates over the HERO 7, making it the perfect motion digicam for journey the corporate has ever produced.

Listed below are a number of the new and main options of the HERO 8 Black. I’ll go into extra element on a few of them beneath.

• TimeWarp 2.0
• HyperSmooth 2.0 Picture Stabilization
• SuperPhoto with Improved HDR
• 4K at 60fps in huge and linear at 100Mbps
• 1080p at 240fps
• Evening lapse video
• Folding fingers (eradicating the necessity for a body)
• 1080p reside streaming
• SuperView, Huge, Linear and Slim digital lenses
• Fast video seize presets
• LiveBurst Mode
• RAW pictures in all modes
• Waterproof to 10m
• GPS
• Voice activation
• USB C Charging
• Entrance-facing microphone with improved audio
• Elective modular equipment corresponding to Media Mod, Gentle Mod and Show Mod

TimeWarp 2.0

TimeWarp was launched within the HERO 7 Black as GoPro’s model of a hyper-lapse.

It made capturing thrilling, contemporary content material a lot simpler, and for journey movies, it added an expert contact that often solely took place by means of difficult video modifying methods.

For the HERO 8 Black, they’ve stepped it up one other stage with the most recent model of TimeWarp.

The obvious new characteristic in that is the flexibility to easily contact the display screen and have the video cease taking pictures a hyper-lapse, and as a substitute swap to real-time recording.

That is extremely helpful if you’re in the course of a TimeWarp, and also you see one thing attention-grabbing that you simply wish to spotlight in the course of the clip.

Contact the display screen once more, and it’ll return to taking pictures the hyper-lapse.

Moreover, now you possibly can simply set the time to ‘auto’ and let the GoPro decide the precise pace ramping to make use of, moderately than having to guess beforehand which pace will look higher.

HyperSmooth 2.0 Picture Stabilization

HyperSmooth was the ground-breaking, revolutionary characteristic within the HERO7 that singlehandedly made GoPro again on the high to be the perfect motion digicam for journey.

Often known as the ‘gimbal killer’, HyperSmooth offers digital picture stabilization of video content material, eradicating digicam and handshake to supply buttery-smooth clips.

It labored so effectively, I really stopped utilizing our GoPro Karma Grip for taking pictures movies, and as a substitute did the whole lot handheld.

For the HERO 8 Black, HyperSmooth 2.0 is on the scene, taking issues a step additional.

Now there are 4 completely different settings for HyperSmooth – Off, On, Excessive and Increase. Every one has a slight crop issue, regularly rising the extra you stabilise, so you possibly can select the extent that you simply want for no matter exercise you’re doing.

Downhill mountain biking? Set it to Increase and have your thoughts blown on the high quality of the picture stabilization.

Simply vlogging round city? HyperSmooth 2.0 ‘On’ will take away hand and physique shake so that you don’t have to stabilise in post-production.

Excessive and Increase present probably the most secure photographs at any measurement body.

LiveBurst

The LiveBurst characteristic will get a particular point out in our overview, because it’s taken the normal picture burst technique and made it a lot easier and correct to seize that particular second.

The digicam will now shoot a really quick sequence of photographs in a 3-second video, then will permit you to undergo the sequence body by body to spotlight the precise second you wish to hold.

You may choose the picture you need straight within the digicam, or within the GoPro app later.

Video Presets

The HERO 8 Black video settings provide you with an enormous vary of choices to select from to get the perfect photographs of your adventures.

4K linear or 4K huge, 1080p at 240FPS or 2.7k at 120FPS – Environments change shortly, and within the previous GoPros, going by means of and altering your settings to match what you needed was a time-consuming process.

Now GoPro has positioned various presets on the primary display screen to permit you to funnel by means of these completely different settings with a easy click on.

They arrive with useful names too, corresponding to cinematic, motion, journey and slo-mo, so you possibly can customise each and know precisely what digicam settings you’re getting.

You may even add further presets when you like, and all presets keep in mind your ProTune settings as effectively.

Folding Fingers

For the reason that HERO5, GoPro has been utilizing a unadorned fashion of digicam, the place the physique itself is waterproof with out a want for a case.

It made the motion digicam that rather more versatile. However the one means you could possibly then use any of GoPro’s intensive collection of mounts was to make use of a further body so as to add a mounting level.

On the HERO 8, GoPro has now added folding fingers to the underside of the digicam to do away with this minor annoyance.

When you’re utilizing the GoPro by itself, or possibly inside a Lanyard Sleeve, you possibly can fold the fingers up so that they’re out of the best way.

Able to mount it to a pole, suction cup, clamp or helmet? Fold the fingers out and also you’re good to go.

To date in my take a look at of this product, the fingers appear to be fairly sturdy and of top quality, however there’s a little bit of slight play in them.

A priority could be that maybe someday a finger would possibly snap, nevertheless it seems as if it could be simply changed utilizing a small screwdriver.

I haven’t been in a position to take a look at this personally but so, hopefully, GoPro has already taken this into consideration and can permit clients to cheaply exchange the fingers in case of breakage.

Evening Lapse Video

The HERO7 made taking pictures a time lapse extremely easy, by mechanically turning the pictures captured right into a video contained in the digicam.

Earlier than that you simply needed to import all of your pictures right into a program like GoPro studio or Adobe Premier Professional to show your pictures right into a {smooth} timelapse.

The HERO 8 goes one step additional by implementing the timelapse video characteristic into their evening lapse mode.

Now all it’s essential do is set-and-forget when making an attempt to seize an evening lapse scene, and your video can be created proper then and there.

Higher Audio with Entrance-Going through Microphone

Lastly! We’ve been vlogging on the GoPro HERO 7 Black for a 12 months now, and whereas we really feel as if it’s nearly the right motion cam for journey vlogs, there was one factor that it dropped the ball in – audio.

GoPro has addressed this, and of their new motion digicam, they’ve moved the place of the microphone to the entrance and given it an improve.

The distinction when taking part in again clips is sort of noticeable, and the audio on the HERO 8 Black is a large enchancment.

It’s nonetheless not excellent although, nevertheless it has been addressed now that the brand new Media Mods have been launched.

Be sure to subscribe to us on YouTube, the place we carry out movies of our travels from around the globe each week!

RAW Pictures in All Settings

I get lots of people asking me “Can you are taking pictures with a GoPro”, and regardless of it being often called a video digicam, the reply is sure, you possibly can!

The truth is, GoPro images is fairly rattling superb for such a small digicam.

For these of us that wish to edit their pictures, GoPro have now launched the flexibility to shoot RAW pictures in each single images setting on their digicam, together with on 0.5sec time-lapses and burst mode.

1080p Dwell Streaming

Now you possibly can set your HERO 8 Black as much as reside stream in 1080p excessive definition, in comparison with 720p on the HERO 7 Black.

Simply be sure to have a high-speed web connection.

New Interface

The ultimate new characteristic on the HERO 8 Black I wish to speak about is that the person interface has been given an improve, making it simpler to modify between settings shortly.

On the video display screen, you’ll discover shortcuts to vary the attitude of the shot (Huge to Linear), activate slow-motion mode which places up the body charges, digitally zoom the shot or change the HyperSmooth 2.0 setting.

On picture mode, you possibly can change the timer, or swap between SuperPhoto, HDR, RAW or customary pictures.

Better of all, these shortcuts will be modified within the settings.

Personally, I by no means use the digital zoom, however I’m all the time switching my max ISO to maintain it as little as attainable relying on the sunshine circumstances. I’ve modified it to be a shortcut on all my video screens now.

Modular Equipment – Flip Your GoPro Right into a Video Manufacturing Powerhouse

Probably the most anticipated improve to the GoPro HERO 8 is the launch of modular equipment for the primary time ever.

GoPro is aiming to show their motion digicam into an entire video manufacturing powerhouse for vloggers, they usually’ve taken their greatest criticisms and addressed them with new instruments for video makers.

Further equipment, such because the Media Mod, permits you to set up your GoPro right into a body with an upgraded microphone on one facet and two chilly shoe mounts for including a front-facing LCD display screen.

With the Gentle Mod, you’ve gotten an LED gentle to light up your face for vlogging or an additional shotgun microphone for superior audio.

The display screen particularly challenges their present greatest competitor, the DJI Osmo Motion, which has a front-facing display screen built-in.

The Show Mod can be of upper decision and measurement, to present individuals a clearer view to completely body their selfies. We’re significantly wanting ahead to utilizing the Show Mod in our movies and selfies.

These modular equipment have now began rolling out the world over. We’re utilizing the Media Mod with the Gentle Mod attachment, and they’re epic.

Video Settings and Enhancements

GoPro have improved the video settings on the HERO 8, bringing in some much-needed upgrades.

4K at 60FPS in Huge and Linear

The HERO 8 Black nonetheless shoots in 4K 60 FPS just like the HERO7, however now you possibly can change your area of view to be linear at its highest setting, giving a extra customary perspective in comparison with the everyday GoPro fisheye look.

1080p at 240 FPS

For tremendous slow-motion captures, the HERO8 movies at excessive definition 1080p at larger body charges (240FPS).

100mbps Bitrate

In 4K and a couple of.7K within the 16:9 perspective, the HERO8 Black now has the flexibility to seize video at a 100mbps bitrate, enormously bettering high quality.

Higher Battery

GoPro has upgraded the battery for the HERO8 Black, and it now lasts for much longer.

I’ve managed to get nearly a full day taking pictures video on one cost, which is superb.

Battery life is often a limiting issue with GoPro and opponents like Osmo Motion have tried to maneuver in on GoPro. However the Hero 8 battery life has been spectacular so far. And you’ll cost with the USB C port.

Can You Use the Similar Batteries as Earlier GoPros?

Sure! Nonetheless, a number of the new options corresponding to HyperSmooth 2.0 doesn’t work with the older batteries.

The New GoPro App

Till now, GoPro has used two apps to manage your digicam, and to place collectively fast and simple movies in your cellphone – GoPro and Quik.

That’s all modified, and Quik has been merged straight into GoPro, streamlining the workflow for on-the-go video editors.

With the up to date app there are some new themes to make movies, you possibly can add non-GoPro pics and video clips to your edits, and there’s a much-appreciated computerized horizon levelling characteristic.

Higher Low Gentle Dealing with

In my exams of the HERO 8 Black, I’ve seen that the low gentle efficiency is a large enchancment over the HERO 7, with visibly much less noise at larger ISOs.

GoPro HERO7 Black vs GoPro HERO8 Black – What’s the Distinction?

Whereas at first it won’t appear as if there was an enormous improve between the HERO 8 Black and the HERO 7 Black, the brand new digicam actually packs a punch in comparison with its predecessor.

On this desk I’ve highlighted the variations between the 2 cameras.

I haven’t shared specs which are the identical between the 2, as these will be discovered on the GoPro web site.

Is it Value Upgrading from the HERO7?

The ultimate query you is perhaps asking your self after studying this overview is, “Ought to I improve from the HERO 7?”

There’s little question that the HERO 7 continues to be a incredible motion digicam. The truth is, simply its picture stabilization options alone make it top-of-the-line motion cameras available on the market.

And if you’re simply utilizing it for making primary movies and taking photos of your adventures, there’s no actual purpose to improve to the HERO8 Black.

Nonetheless, if you’re a vlogger, or spend quite a lot of time speaking to the digicam, then the front-facing microphone and optionally available Media Mod, Gentle Mod and Show Mod equipment make the GoPro HERO 8 effectively value shopping for.

Additionally, the video setting enhancements corresponding to 100Mbps, 4K at 60fps in linear mode and 1080p at 240fps make capturing the very best quality movies a lot simpler.

TimeWarp upgrades add a brand new inventive component to your clips to face out from the pack, as does Evening Lapse Video.

Moreover, the replace with HyperSmooth 2.0 means if you’re an motion sports activities fanatic, you’ll be capable to movie buttery-smooth movies in any atmosphere with out the necessity for a gimbal.

When you don’t already personal the GoPro HERO 7 Black and are in search of a brand new digicam to purchase, there isn’t any purpose (apart from to avoid wasting pennies) to purchase the most recent GoPro, because it actually is incredible.

Ought to You Purchase the HERO 8 in 2024?

Actually?

No.

Don’t get us flawed, it’s nonetheless an unbelievable digicam and if you have already got one you’ll nonetheless adore it.

However when you’re available in the market for one thing new this 12 months, we advocate at the very least getting the GoPro HERO10.

Ideally although go for the model new GoPro HERO 12.

It comes with the most recent GP2 processor, a brand new 8:7 facet ratio and is leaps and bounds forward of the 8 when it comes to versatility.

IS IT WORTH IT IN 2024? In our opinion, you’ve gotten two choices. Our first suggestion is that you simply go for the most recent digicam, because it actually is the perfect at school. If that is out of your finances, then our suggestion is you really skip the HERO 8 and go for the HERO10 as a substitute because it gives higher decision and stabilisation. That’s to not say the HERO8 isn’t any good – it’s incredible, and also you’ll be pleased when you choose this up as effectively.

DISCLAIMER: I used to be given the GoPro HERO8 Black as a result of being a member of the GoPro Household. I used to be not requested to write down a overview, share my experiences or paid for this text. All ideas, opinions and ranges of stoke on this digicam are, as all the time, my very own.

GoPro HERO8 Black

I put the digicam to the take a look at on this in-depth GoPro HERO8 Black overview. Discover out about all the brand new options, enhancements & whether or not it is value upgrading.

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