GoPro Hero 10 Black review: pushing the boundaries once again

Starting with the Hero 6 Black in 2017, GoPro has switched to using its own custom processors in its cameras. The Hero 6 wasn’t a complete overhaul of the Hero 5 Black, but the processor, the GP1, allowed GoPro to push camera resolution, frame rates, and image stabilization to higher heights, which continued until last year’s fantastic Hero 9 Black. GoPro has apparently hit the ceiling of what GP1 could do, for the Hero 10 Black it’s GP2.

A processor upgrade on its own isn’t going to be too exciting for most people. This is what GP2 can do or, more precisely, what you go be able to do with the Hero 10 because of GP2 it’s exciting. Let’s start with resolutions and frame rates. With the Hero 10 Black, you will be able to film at:

• 5.3K (5,312 x 2,988 pixels) at 30 or 60 fps
• 4K at 24, 30, 60 or 120 fps
• 2.7K at 60, 120 or 240 fps
• 1080p at 30, 60, 120 or 240 fps

GoPro also includes the ability to shoot in 5K (30 or 60 fps), 4K (60 fps) and 2.7K (60 or 120 fps) with a 4: 3 aspect ratio. Why would you want this instead of 16: 9? The larger frame allows you to capture more vertically, but also with such high resolution, you can extract frames from video for 19.6 megapixel stills from 5K 4: 3 video. The images in the 5.3K video will be 15.8 megapixels. You can also take 23-megapixel photos in JPEG or raw format.

With the Hero 9 I started shooting a lot more 4K videos but really wanted to shoot at 120fps. With the Hero 10 you can do it and the results are great. It’s not great for battery life, and neither is 5.3K at 60fps. But being able to slow down the action is worth it. My clips rarely last longer than a minute or two (GoPro says 50% of videos shot with its cameras are under 25 seconds) and I was able to capture a lot with two batteries recording at 5K30.

Is the GoPro Hero 10 Black overheating?

The camera heats up while recording in 5K and 4K120. I didn’t have any overheating but, again, my clips rarely last longer than 2 minutes and I don’t leave both screens on all the time while recording. If you’ve used its top settings in hot or hot weather and kept the camera stationary, I’m sure it’s possible to stop or lock the Hero 10. Shooting short clips will help. prevent the camera from getting too hot during recording.

Another tip: You may need to upgrade your microSD card if you’re upgrading from an older GoPro camera. When I started testing I used a Samsung Evo Select card which I used regularly in the Hero 9 Black with no issues. While I initially had no issues with this in the Hero 10, when I started recording at 5.3K60 I received a warning that my card was too slow and I would need a faster card – V30 or higher – to maximize performance.

Even smoother stabilization at all resolutions

HyperSmooth 4.0 is GoPro’s name for its highest level of image stabilization in the Hero 10 Black. It’s available at 5.3K30, 4K60, and 2.7K120, although there is stabilization at other resolutions and frame rates as well. I tested the stabilization on some theme park rides, in a water park, on a bike and just walking and the results were just stellar.

HyperSmooth 4.0 also gives you horizon leveling with a tilt limit of up to 45 degrees; it’s a maximum of 27 degrees in the Hero 9. Stabilization is also available when you’re streaming live with the Hero 10, which is great if you’re doing something like walking and talking with it.

5.3K video is crisp and detailed, even in mixed indoor-outdoor lighting in theme and water parks. It records at a relatively high bit rate of 60 megabits per second. GoPro says you should see improvements in the low-light outdoor scenes and at dusk and sunset, but the indoor low-light video was smooth and loud. That’s not unusual for a small 23.6-megapixel sensor, however.

Same tools, same design

Along with the faster frame rates and higher resolutions – and the processor that makes them possible – most of the Hero 10 Black is the same as the Hero 9 Black. The design is the same except for the bright blue mark. The battery is the same, the lens mount is the same, and the front screen and rear touchscreen are the same size. This will work with all GoPro add-ons designed for the Hero 9 like the Mod media which gives you a shotgun mic, an HDMI output, a 3.5mm mic jack and a few cold shoes, and the Max Lens Mod which mimics an ultra-wide-angle lens found on the GoPro Max 360-degree camera (although the mount doesn’t be available until later in 2021).

GoPro has upgraded the lens cover and now uses hydrophobic hydrophobic glass. For years, I’ve been told that the best way to keep water out of your GoPro lens is to lick the lens. Well those days are gone because this lens cover works great. I’ve had a number of clips ruined by a single drop of water on the lens and that didn’t happen with the Hero 10. It won’t get rid of it 100% of the time, but the water seemed to flow extremely fast. And since the Hero 10 has the same lens mount as the Hero 9, you can get one for $ 20 to use on the Hero 9.

All of the video tools that GoPro added with the Hero 9 are also present in the Hero 10. Items like schedule and duration captures and recoil, which stores a video buffer so you don’t miss a thing before recording. , are all postponed. Watch my video for the Hero 9 to learn more about these.

Basically, compared to the Hero 9 Black, the Hero 10 Black has photo resolution up to 23 megapixels (down from 20), video resolution up to 5.3K at 60fps and 4K at 120fps, and image stabilization. HyperSmooth 4.0. There are a few other improvements like a smoother live preview experience on the front screen and better touchscreen sensitivity on the back, and you can now use a USB-C cable to transfer content to your device. telephone.

Should I upgrade to the GoPro Hero 10 Black?

As with the Hero 9 Black, the prices are a bit confusing for the Hero 10 Black. The camera costs $ 499, which is $ 50 more than the starting price of the Hero 9. However, if you buy direct from GoPro.com and sign up for the GoPro subscription service – which is included with the camera – GoPro costs $ 100, so it’s $ 399. In Australia, the camera with a one-year GoPro subscription will cost AU $ 599 and £ 379 in the UK. Without the subscription, the camera costs AU $ 749 and £ 479.

The subscription service gives you unlimited original-quality cloud backups, damaged camera replacement, discounts on GoPro accessories and gear, and access to GoPro’s premium live streaming platform. I only used it for wireless backups as it makes it easy to share clips and photos. When you plug in the camera to charge it, it will automatically connect to your Wi-Fi network – once you’ve set it up with the iOS or Android mobile app – and it starts backing up.

Again, a one-year subscription is included and cuts the price of the camera by $ 100. After a year, if you like the service and decide to keep it, it’s $ 50 per year or $ 5 per month. In Australia, it’s AU $ 70 per year or AU $ 7 per month; in the UK it’s £ 50 per year or £ 4.17 per month.

The Hero 9 and Hero 8 will remain in the lineup, as will the GoPro Max 360 camera; each one also gets a price reduction if you buy from GoPro.com and sign up for the included service.

I was expecting a stabilized 4K120 video capture on a GoPro and it’s really nice to have. I regularly use the Hero 9’s 5K video to easily capture stills, so it’s nice to have the extra resolution on the Hero 10 for that too. If you already own a Hero 9 Black, you won’t be missing out on much if you wait a year to see what else GoPro can do with the new GP2 processor. The Hero 9 is also a good place to start if you’re new to GoPro cameras. If you have a Hero 7 Black or Hero 8 Black, maybe now is a good time to upgrade as you will get a lot of new features and abilities and a better design.