GoPro Hero 11 Black
MSRP $500.00
“The GoPro Hero 11 Black now has an even bigger sensor and thrilling new options beneath a well-known exterior.”
Professionals
- Bigger sensor
- Backward suitable with current equipment
- New hyperview wide-angle mode
- Upgraded hypersmooth stabilization
- Consists of Enduro battery as normal
Cons
- Indicator noises will be complicated
- A bit dear
Falling leaves, chilly nights, pumpkin spice, and the most recent GoPro camera hitting the cabinets — all are seasonal hallmarks that herald the onset of autumn. The GoPro Hero 11 Black is right here, and regardless of a well-known exterior, there’s loads of new issues to think about below the hood. I’ve been throughout Southwest Washington placing this rugged motion camera to the check, together with zip-lining over a canyon at ZiplineX in Amboy.
With all this expertise below my belt, let’s dig in and discover out if the Hero 11 is the proper motion camera for you.
Design
The GoPro Hero 11 is outwardly practically similar to the Hero 10, the one distinction being a 1 changing the 0 on the aspect. Nonetheless, I don’t fault this design resolution by GoPro — in any case, why mess with a great factor? What GoPro has right here works nice, and truthfully, I can’t consider what they may change in regards to the exterior that might enhance the camera.
Sticking with the identical design is definitely one thing of a pro-consumer transfer because it means present customers can simply make the most of current equipment beforehand launched for the Hero 10. The entire Creator Version package will work with the Hero 11, together with the Volta battery grip, Media Mod, and LED gentle, which have grow to be important content-creation instruments for me.
Picture high quality
The picture sensor within the GoPro Hero 11 is bigger than that within the Hero 10, however solely vertically. GoPro added a little bit of top to the sensor, which suggests now you can shoot each horizontal and vertical footage concurrently while not having to decide on between the 2 codecs. That is vital for me, as this yr I started integrating vertical video content material creation into my repertoire. Now I can use the Hero 11 to movie my longer-form YouTube movies and likewise seize quick vertical clips to share on a number of platforms.
One other benefit of taking pictures in full-frame mode with the Hero 11 is that this additional top means elevated flexibility when modifying. I can primarily modify my camera angle after the very fact or create panning pictures in post-processing whereas sustaining a pointy, high-resolution picture. Talking of post-processing, the Hero 11 can now shoot 10-bit colour that delivers even higher latitude for pulling element out of crushed shadows and blown-out highlights. An additional enchancment to video high quality is that the Hero 11 can now shoot at as much as a 120Mbps bit charge, whereas the Hero 10 maxes out at 100Mbps. The Hero 11 can file 5.3K video at as much as 60fps, 4K at as much as 120 frames per second (fps), and a pair of.7K at as much as 240fps for tremendous slow-motion.
Exploring with the GoPro Hero 11 Black
Additionally new within the GoPro Hero 11 is Hyperview mode, which drastically will increase the sphere of view in comparison with Superview mode within the Hero 10. It’s not fairly a substitute for the Max Lens Mod, however it does provide a a lot wider angle than was ever beforehand native to Hero Black cameras.
GoPro has additionally upgraded the video stabilization within the Hero 11 with Hypersmooth 5.0 and 360 Horizon Lock. Hypersmooth 5.0 offers a noticeable enchancment over the stabilization within the Hero 10, notably when filming within the 4:3 facet ratio. And 360 Horizon Lock will hold the horizon stage even when the camera spins round 360 levels.
Hypersmooth 5.0 offers a noticeable enchancment over the stabilization within the Hero 10.
By way of nonetheless photographs, the bigger 27-megapixel sensor is actually a boon to photographers, notably when you’re keen on sq. photographs, however it additionally permits additional flexibility when modifying to crop right down to totally different facet ratios for various compositions. Personally, I virtually by no means take nonetheless photographs with motion cameras, however when you’re on an journey, typically you’ll wish to seize a single shot, and if the one camera on you is a GoPro, then it’ll do a reasonably good job. It could possibly even do burst taking pictures of RAW format photographs for as much as 10 seconds.
Final however actually not least, the Hero 11 now options new long-exposure evening modes, together with star trails, gentle portray, and automobile gentle trails. I really like astrophotography and was tremendous impressed by the standard of the star path movies I used to be in a position to seize. Every star path video ate up a complete battery for 8 to 10 seconds of footage, however it was completely value it. Additionally, when you get the Volta battery grip, you’ll have the ability to shoot extra and longer star path movies. The outcomes are simply beautiful and might enhance the manufacturing worth of virtually any video.
Between the bigger sensor, upgraded stabilization, and new taking pictures capabilities, the Hero 11 is a significant improve over the Hero 10. The footage has a remarkably true-to-life high quality that I really feel actually immerses the viewer within the expertise.
Show
Andy Zahn / Digital Tendencies
The Hero 11 options the identical back and front screens because the Hero 10, and that’s simply tremendous in my guide. They’re simply seen in vivid daylight and supply an correct preview, with good colours and distinction.
Efficiency
The Hero 11 by no means gave me any motive to not belief it to seize key video footage within the second. It’s very dependable, and I by no means observed any severe overheating. It did get heat after longer recording periods, however that’s true of each camera I’ve ever used, excluding maybe the Nikon Z9.
Andy Zahn / Digital Tendencies
The touchscreen interface is my favourite of any motion camera system. Customizable presets make it simple to swap between settings on the fly, and I used to be in a position to make adjustments even whereas swaying on prime of a 100-foot pole whereas ready my flip for the zip line. You possibly can undoubtedly inform that GoPro has been refining this technique for the previous 20 years.
New to the Hero 11 is the choice to change between simple and professional modes. Simple is nice if all you wish to do is seize nice movies with out having to consider handbook settings of any variety. Professional provides loads of additional customization and is the mode I gravitate towards.
The camera is extraordinarily sturdy, as anticipated, and is waterproof right down to 33 ft.
Battery life
Andy Zahn / Digital Tendencies
The Hero 11 now ships with GoPro’s Enduro battery, which extends battery life by as a lot as 38%. It additionally improves battery life in chilly climate and is rated right down to 14-degrees Fahrenheit. The camera itself additionally now contains an prolonged battery mode that reduces vitality consumption at the price of picture high quality. Even whereas taking pictures in most picture high quality mode, I used to be ready file all of the thrilling moments in a zip-lining tour and nonetheless have 28% battery left on the finish.
App and premium subscription options
GoPro has developed some of the compelling apps round, with camera management and video-editing instruments in-built, and it provides a $100-per-year premium subscription service that’s really well worth the cash. Advantages of subscribing embrace limitless cloud storage, assured substitute of broken cameras, reductions on cameras and equipment, and the power to stream to GoPro’s premium livestreaming service.
New with the Hero 11 are auto-upload and mechanically generated spotlight movies, in addition to cloud-based modifying. Whereas these options weren’t out there previous to launch for me to check, they’ve loads of potential. The best way it’s meant to work is that everytime you plug your Hero 11 in for charging, it would mechanically add all your new footage to the cloud, the place an AI program will then create a video out of that footage for you mechanically. You’ll then have the ability to edit that video within the cloud or edit one by yourself with out AI help after which share it.
Andy Zahn / Digital Tendencies
In idea, this might drastically enhance my workflow, although since I solely have a sluggish DSL connection at residence, it could be troublesome for me to take full benefit of this revolutionary system that GoPro has created. Regardless, when you’re shopping for a brand new GoPro, the subscription is sort of obligatory. Contemplating the $100 low cost you get off the camera with the subscription, it pays for itself.
GoPro Hero 11 value and availability
The Hero 11 is obtainable now and retails for $500, although when you make the most of GoPro’s premium subscription plan, it knocks the worth right down to $400. The Creator version will set you again $700, or $580 with the subscription.
You’re undoubtedly paying a premium for the GoPro Hero 11, although the subscription provides loads of worth. And when you’re prepared to attend, the Hero 11 Black Mini shall be out there October 25 for $400, or $300 with a subscription. That’s going to be a really totally different camera in loads of methods, however it does embrace a lot of the capabilities of the full-size Hero 11 Black for $100 much less.
Andy Zahn / Digital Tendencies
The product of many years of painstaking refinement
Only a few firms have spent so lengthy growing one product as GoPro has, and it actually exhibits in simply how polished the Hero 11 Black is. Just like the Hero 10 earlier than it, this can be a camera I can throw in my bag wherever I’m headed and be assured in its efficiency. Between its bigger sensor, upgraded stabilization, and different enhancements throughout the board, the Hero 11 is a worthy new entry in a venerable motion camera lineage.
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