GoPro Hero5 Black
Like things extreme? Take it up a notch, brah
$400 Manufacturer GoPro, gopro.com Features 4K 30fps/1440p 80fps/1080p 120fps video, voice activation, video stabilization, waterproof to 33ft
GoPro is a name that has become synonymous with folk who like to throw themselves off mountains at the weekend. However, a whole host of rivals has been attempting to muscle in on the extreme sports video camera market of late, thus the entire GoPro lineup has been refreshed; it now starts with the Hero Session, moves up to the Hero5 Session, and tops out with the high-spec Hero5 Black.
There are plenty of new features for “gnarly” types to sink their teeth into, including a rear touchscreen, voice activation and super-easy, one-button control; the overall experience has been revamped to make capturing the action as painless as possible. The Black still shoots 4K video at 30fps, snaps 12MP images, and offers ultra-smooth, super-slow-mo opportunities with 1080p video at 120fps. Stills can be taken in single, burst, and time-lapse mode, as well as saved as raw files for further editing. A new WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) mode – GoPro’s version of High Dynamic Range – makes shooting perfectly exposed still images much easier. This takes multiple shots at different exposures to nail the perfect image.
For the first time, the unit is waterproof to 33 ft, meaning the bulky plastic housing is only really required when filming in extremely deep, dusty, or dirty areas. The dual microphone setup now offers enhanced wind-noise reduction, too. Lone users can now bark commands, such as “GoPro, take a picture” and “GoPro, shoot burst,” to get the camera rolling. Voice activation, though, is successful maybe 70 percent of the time.
In most lighting conditions, GoPro footage is sharp, with particularly vibrant colors. The addition of video stabilization is also a big plus, as footage is much smoother than before. The camera isn’t without a few minor issues, the first being the rear touchscreen display; this is annoyingly unresponsive to wet or muddy fingers, and simply refuses to play ball when it’s raining. We also found that the lens started to steam up after a spell near water.
the bottom line. This is a superb action cam – the best you can get, in fact. It’s a great evolution of the existing line. Leon Poultney