New GoPro Hero8 Is Smoother And Smarter

GoPro has introduced the latest edition of its Hero series video actioncams, the Hero8 Black. It features upgraded image stabilisation with GoPro’s second-generation HyperSmooth 2.0 which includes automatic horizon levelling function and a ‘Boost’ mode. Hero8 Black also has TimeWarp 2.0 – a new version of its hyperlapse feature – which is available in all resolutions and frame rates, and automatically adjusts to your speed of movement and can be slowed to real time with a tap, ensuring hyperlapse-style videos with exceptional stabilisation. New Capture Presets enable shooting profiles to be customised and there’s a new RAW capture setting for stills. A selection of digital lenses are built-in with settings for Narrow, Linear, Wide and SuperView. As with any digital lens functions, these settings effectively crop the sensor.

With its main shooting modes, the Hero8

Black records 4K/30p and 2.7K/60p (both at 100 Mbps) or 1080/240p video, this last setting creating super-slow-mo footage.

Upgraded audio capabilities are available via the optional Media Mod which provides a built-in shotgun microphone for better selectivity and a stereo audio input using the standard 3.5 mm minijack connector. There’s also a micro HDMI, a USB-C port and a pair of shoe-type mounts. Other new accessories are the Display Mod which provides a front-facing 4.8 cm flip-up LCD monitor screen, and the Light Mod which incorporates a water-proofed LED light source.

The Hero8 is available at selected retailers around Australia and is priced at $599.95. Available from December, the Media Mod and Display Mod each will cost $139.95, and the Light Mod $84.95.

GoPro has also announced the new MAX, which is a dual-lens camera for 360-degree shooting, but can also be used as a singlelens image-stabilised camera. It’s waterproofed down to five metres and features

Max Hypersmooth in-camera horizon levelling, Max TimeWarp and digital lens settings which include Max SuperView to give the widest field-of-view ever on a GoPro camera. It shoots 360-degree video at up 5K resolution (4992x2496 pixels) and stills at 16.6 megapixels (5760x2880 pixels). 360-degree audio is recorded via six built-in microphones. The MAX has an LCD monitor on its front panel with touchscreen controls which can be used for vlogging, and connections for micro HDMI and USB-C. It accepts a single microSD memory card.

The GoPro MAX is available now priced at $799.95. For more information visit www.gopro.com