GoPro’s new motion digicam for 2024 is right here to make your content material creation journey higher. The Hero 13 Black launched in September alongside a brand new smaller Hero digicam. The brand new GoPro motion digicam is not a serious improve to final 12 months’s mannequin by way of {hardware} and design, nevertheless it makes up with a bunch of recent lenses, a brand new technique to mount, an even bigger battery, and a number of other different small enhancements.
Whereas the competitors is on the market making an attempt to woo clients with improved sensors, quicker chipsets, and whatnot, GoPro is sticking to the ‘why repair one thing if it is not damaged’ mantra. Are the brand new lenses, magnetic mounting, and bigger battery sufficient to win the motion digicam recreation? Learn the assessment to seek out out.
The GoPro Hero 13 Black begins at Rs. 44,990 in India with out the lens attachments.
GoPro Hero 13 Black Design: Magnets, lastly!
- Dimensions – 71.8 W x 50.8 H x 33.6 D (mm)
- Weight – 159g
- Colors – Black
The Hero 13 Black is an identical in dimensions to the 12 Black, however a few design adjustments will make it easier to differentiate them. GoPro has gotten rid of the blue specks that had been discovered on final 12 months’s mannequin. It is now all black, and a brand new heatsink-like design is on the entrance, proper beneath the digicam sensor. GoPro tells us that it is not a heatsink, sadly. The show sizes on the back and front stay the identical as the location for the file and mode buttons. The battery door can also be the identical as final 12 months.
The Blue dot to align the lenses ought to’ve been on the surface of the lens
You will discover a very powerful design adjustments on the backside, the place the mounting system sits. Aside from the same old fold-down mounting fingers and the ¼-20 mounting threads, the GoPro now has magnetic mounting. The magnetic latch makes it tremendous straightforward to change between mounts, and I discovered it to be safer and simpler to make use of than the competitors. It tends to select up sand and different particles, making it tough to wash.
The brand new magnetic attachments are additionally an additional purchase, sadly
The lens cowl mounting is much like final 12 months, however there’s now a blue alignment dot on the within of the duvet and on the GoPro that makes it straightforward to connect the duvet. The older Hero 12 Black lens cowl works with the brand new GoPro, and vice versa. Nonetheless, the brand new lenses aren’t backwards appropriate.
GoPro Hero 13 Black Digicam, Options, and Efficiency: Minor enhancements
- Sensor – 27-megapixel
- Processor – GP2
As soon as once more, there’s not quite a bit new in each the digicam and efficiency departments. Nonetheless, you do get small enhancements and a few new software program options with the Hero 13 Black. The older sensor and the processor are beginning to present their age, although, however GoPro has managed to do some extra magic and added new options akin to a Burst gradual movement video that permits you to file at as much as 400 fps however at a low 720p decision. You can too file at 360 fps in 900p decision and 120 fps at 5.3K.
The motion digicam now additionally will get HLG HDR video, improved LOG profile, higher customisation for presets, extra Audio tuning choices, and a versatile Fast Seize characteristic that permits you to restart recording or go into idle mode inside 5 seconds whereas powering off in Fast Seize. The Hero 13 Black now comes with Wi-Fi 6.0 for quicker switch speeds, and GPS has made a comeback with help for overlays.
Now, let’s discuss efficiency. With the usual lens and primary video/picture settings, the brand new Hero 13 Black is not that a lot completely different from final 12 months’s mannequin. I noticed some variations in HDR recording with improved colors on the brand new digicam, however largely, the efficiency could be very comparable. Nonetheless, the brand new slow-motion modes are fairly cool if you happen to do not thoughts low video decision; 400 fps at 720p works nicely when there’s loads of gentle, and you will get some actually cool photographs.
You get HyperSmooth 6.0, similar to final 12 months, and it nonetheless works amazingly nicely so long as you do not attempt to shoot movies in low-light situations. The GoPro continues to carry out poorly when there’s not sufficient gentle. The competitors is doing significantly better right here, and it is excessive time GoPro did one thing about this.
There’s additionally a brand new 1:1 facet ratio video recording choice, which is healthier than the 8:7 ratio from final 12 months. Nonetheless, this ratio is just out there with the brand new Extremely huge lens attachment.
Video high quality continues to be top-notch in daylight situations, and also you get punchy colors. Nonetheless, the heating scenario continues to be just about the identical as final 12 months. I reside in a coastal city, and it is fairly scorching right here, so I am guessing the digicam will carry out higher with out cooler ambient temperatures. The Hero 13 Black additionally takes good pictures in daylight situations. 
Prime to backside: Normal lens, Ultrawide lens, Macro lens
GoPro Hero 13 Black Lenses: Makes the digicam versatile
- Extremely-wide Lens – 1:1 facet ratio, 177-degree FoV, as much as 4K60
- Macro Lens – Variable focus with built-in lens ring, minimal focus of 11cm
- ND Filters – ND4 / ND8 / ND16 / ND32
- Anamorphic Lens – 21:9 facet ratio, In-camera de-squeeze
GoPro has slowly been including new lens choices through the years. After the Max Mod lenses, that is the primary time that the motion digicam will get new lenses. You could possibly even name them the most important upgrades this 12 months, however not as a result of they price extra cash. Nonetheless, they do make the digicam versatile. You may get close-up photographs, cinematic blur, and a 1:1 facet ratio with the lenses. Additionally they characteristic auto-detection, which signifies that the Hero 13 Black will set the most effective settings as quickly as you connect a lens.
The auto lens detection and new lenses solely work on the GoPro Hero 13 Black
First, the brand new Extremely Large lens has the identical FoV (177 levels) because the Max Mod 2.0 from final 12 months however now permits a brand new 1:1 facet ratio. The brand new facet ratio is nice for individuals who do not wish to take a number of photographs for various social media. That is the most effective lens for motion sports activities, however you may’t file ultra-slow-motion movies with this lens.
Second, the brand new Macro lens adjustments the core expertise of the GoPro motion digicam. The GoPro was by no means actually made for capturing vlogs or close-up photographs in focus. Nonetheless, now you can accomplish that with the Macro lens mod. You additionally get an adjustable focus ring and focus peaking. Though the Macro lens has a minimal focus distance of 11cm, which is not tremendous shut, it is nice for an motion digicam. I had lots of enjoyable capturing close-ups of objects with this lens. As soon as once more, the outcomes are greatest whenever you shoot throughout daylight.
The anamorphic lens shall be out in 2025
Third, there is a set of ND filters (4,8,16, and 32), which helps you to obtain cinematic movement blur when capturing motion photographs. The filters additionally assist reduce out the tough lighting, and the digicam will auto-detect which filter you have connected and let you know if you might want to go a step larger or decrease. Capturing with the ND filters gave my using movies a cinematic really feel because of the movement blur.
Lastly, the Anamorphic lens, which received lots of ‘awes’ on the launch occasion, gives you a pleasant 21:9 cinematic discipline of view. The GoPro will even robotically de-squeeze the footage, so you do not have to do it later. Sadly, this lens will solely are available 2025, and I did not get to strive it out.
GoPro Hero 13 Black Battery life: Barely higher
Alright, let’s discuss battery life. GoPro now features a new battery on the Hero 13 Black, and that is each good and dangerous. It is good since you now get longer battery life from the digicam, and dangerous as a result of it is not appropriate with any of the earlier GoPro’s and vice versa.
The Hero 13 Black will get a brand new 1,900mAh battery
There’s a noticeable enchancment in battery life with the brand new Enduro battery, nevertheless it’s not as a lot as GoPro claims. I managed to get 37 minutes of steady recording (whereas stationary) at 4K decision (8:7, 60fps) earlier than the GoPro shut off as a result of overheating. It did last more on a motorbike trip, about 50 minutes, because of the airflow.
GoPro Hero 13 Black Verdict
The brand new GoPro Hero 13 Black by itself is not an enormous improve over the Hero 12 Black, so if you happen to personal the 12, you most likely need not get the brand new one. Nonetheless, the brand new one does deliver lots of versatility to the quintessential motion digicam. Then there’s the magnetic mounting system and the marginally higher battery life. The brand new GoPro is a superb selection if you happen to’re shopping for an motion digicam that you’re going to use primarily throughout the day. It is also a good selection if you happen to plan on getting the lens attachments and doing extra together with your motion digicam. If it is lowlight efficiency you are in search of, then look elsewhere.
