GoPro Hero 11 Black
MSRP $500.00
“The GoPro Hero 11 Black now has a bigger sensor and exciting new features beneath a familiar exterior.”
Pros
Larger sensor
Backward appropriate with current equipment
New hyperview wide-angle mode
Upgraded hypersmooth stabilization
Includes Enduro battery as commonplace
Cons
Indicator noises might be complicated
A bit dear
Falling leaves, chilly nights, pumpkin spice, and the newest GoPro digicam 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-recognized exterior, there’s a whole lot of new issues to contemplate beneath the hood. I’ve been throughout Southwest Washington placing this rugged motion digicam to the check, together with zip-lining over a canyon at ZiplineX in Amboy.
With all this expertise beneath my belt, let’s dig in and discover out if the Hero 11 is the fitting motion digicam for you.
Ziplining with the GoPro Hero 11
Design
The GoPro Hero 11 is outwardly almost similar to the Hero 10, the one distinction being a 1 changing the 0 on the aspect. However, I don’t fault this design choice by GoPro — in any case, why mess with a superb factor? What GoPro has right here works nice, and actually, I can’t consider what they might change concerning the exterior that may enhance the digicam.
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 Edition equipment 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.
Image 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 implies now you can shoot each horizontal and vertical footage concurrently while not having to decide on between the 2 codecs. This is vital for me, as this 12 months 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 brief vertical clips to share on a number of platforms.
Another benefit of capturing in full-frame mode with the Hero 11 is that this further top means elevated flexibility when modifying. I can primarily regulate my digicam angle after the actual fact or create panning pictures in post-processing whereas sustaining a pointy, high-resolution picture. Speaking of post-processing, the Hero 11 can now shoot 10-bit colour that delivers even larger latitude for pulling element out of crushed shadows and blown-out highlights. An extra enchancment to video high quality is that the Hero 11 can now shoot at as much as a 120Mbps bit fee, 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 couple of.7K at as much as 240fps for tremendous slow-motion.
Exploring with the GoPro Hero 11 Black
Also new within the GoPro Hero 11 is Hyperview mode, which drastically will increase the sector of view in comparison with Superview mode within the Hero 10. It’s not fairly a alternative for the Max Lens Mod, but it surely 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 supplies a noticeable enchancment over the stabilization within the Hero 10, significantly when filming within the 4:3 facet ratio. And 360 Horizon Lock will preserve the horizon stage even when the digicam spins round 360 levels.
Hypersmooth 5.0 supplies a noticeable enchancment over the stabilization within the Hero 10.
In phrases of nonetheless images, the bigger 27-megapixel sensor is definitely a boon to photographers, significantly for those who’re keen on sq. images, but it surely additionally permits further flexibility when modifying to crop all the way down to totally different facet ratios for various compositions. Personally, I virtually by no means take nonetheless images with motion cameras, however for those who’re on an journey, typically you’ll need to seize a single shot, and if the one digicam on you is a GoPro, then it’ll do a reasonably good job. It may even do burst capturing of RAW format pictures for as much as 10 seconds.
Last however definitely not least, the Hero 11 now options new long-exposure night time modes, together with star trails, gentle portray, and car 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. Each star path video ate up a whole battery for 8 to 10 seconds of footage, but it surely was completely price it. Also, for those who get the Volta battery grip, you’ll be capable of shoot extra and longer star path movies. The outcomes are simply attractive and may enhance the manufacturing worth of virtually any video.
Between the bigger sensor, upgraded stabilization, and new capturing capabilities, the Hero 11 is a serious 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.
Display
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The Hero 11 options the identical back and front screens because the Hero 10, and that’s simply positive in my e book. They’re simply seen in vibrant daylight and supply an correct preview, with good colours and distinction.
Performance
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 seen any severe overheating. It did get heat after longer recording periods, however that’s true of each digicam I’ve ever used, excluding maybe the Nikon Z9.
Andy Zahn / Digital Trends
The touchscreen interface is my favourite of any motion digicam system. Customizable presets make it simple to swap between settings on the fly, and I used to be in a position to make modifications even whereas swaying on prime of a 100-foot pole whereas ready my flip for the zip line. You can undoubtedly inform that GoPro has been refining this method for the previous 20 years.
New to the Hero 11 is the choice to modify between simple and professional modes. Easy is nice if all you need to do is seize nice movies with out having to consider guide settings of any form. Pro affords a whole lot of further customization and is the mode I gravitate towards.
The digicam is extraordinarily sturdy, as anticipated, and is waterproof all the way down to 33 ft.
Battery life
Andy Zahn / Digital Trends
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 all the way down to 14-degrees Fahrenheit. The digicam itself additionally now contains an prolonged battery mode that reduces power consumption at the price of picture high quality. Even whereas capturing 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 digicam management and video-editing instruments in-built, and it affords a $100-per-year premium subscription service that’s truly definitely worth the cash. Benefits of subscribing embrace limitless cloud storage, assured alternative of broken cameras, reductions on cameras and equipment, and the flexibility 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. While these options weren’t accessible previous to launch for me to check, they’ve a whole lot of potential. The manner it’s meant to work is that everytime you plug your Hero 11 in for charging, it is going to 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 be capable of edit that video within the cloud or edit one by yourself with out AI help after which share it.
Andy Zahn / Digital Trends
In principle, this might drastically enhance my workflow, although since I solely have a gradual DSL connection at dwelling, it will be tough for me to take full benefit of this progressive system that GoPro has created. Regardless, for those who’re shopping for a brand new GoPro, the subscription is nearly necessary. Considering the $100 low cost you get off the digicam with the subscription, it pays for itself.
GoPro Hero 11 value and availability
The Hero 11 is obtainable now and retails for $500, although for those who benefit from GoPro’s premium subscription plan, it knocks the worth all the way 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 a whole lot of worth. And for those who’re prepared to attend, the Hero 11 Black Mini can be accessible October 25 for $400, or $300 with a subscription. That’s going to be a really totally different digicam in a whole lot of methods, but it surely does embrace many of the capabilities of the full-size Hero 11 Black for $100 much less.
Andy Zahn / Digital Trends
The product of many years of painstaking refinement
Very few firms have spent so lengthy creating one product as GoPro has, and it actually exhibits in simply how polished the Hero 11 Black is. Like the Hero 10 earlier than it, it is a digicam 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 digicam lineage.
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