GoPro Hero8 Black review: comfortable mounts and cool stabilization against the minute battery
Devices / / January 06, 2021
Design
The compact and lightweight camera has gotten a rudimentary standard design, but with important accents. The body is made of black rubberized plastic, on the back there is a large 2-inch full-color screen, in front - a small monochrome, on which important parameters are duplicated, such as the percentage of charging or the remainder of the free places.
On the left there is a button for switching on and switching modes, on top - for starting and ending shooting. Under the cover on the right, there is a charging connector, a battery and a slot for a microSD card, which is already included in the kit. Previously, in order to replace a dead battery, you had to pull the device out of the mounting case, but now you don't have to detach the camera from the place where it is fixed.
The main difference from the previous models is the fastening at the bottom: two small "ears" are built right into the body and, if necessary, simply fold. In its predecessors, the "ears" were replaced by the same notorious case with a frame, which interfered with normal sound recording and generally looked not very convenient.
The camera comes with a battery, a curved adhesive mount, a screw buckle, and a USB Type-C charging cable. There is no separate charger.
The camera is drop-resistant and splash-proof. The manufacturer claims that with it you can dive to a depth of 10 meters. The main disadvantage: when replacing the battery, the cover periodically flies off the hinges. But easily attaches back.
In the future, it will be possible to connect accessories to the camera - mods: additional light, microphone, swivel screen and HDMI connector (the model does not have a built-in one). A full line of additional devices can be purchased by the spring of 2020, while some are just opening pre-orders.
Control
The Hero8 Black has fairly simple controls with a sensor and buttons on the side and top. There are three modes of operation: photo, video and time-lapse. You can swipe the screen to the side to switch between them, but when outdoors it is more convenient to use the side button, especially if you are wearing gloves. Just press harder: it is too recessed into the body.
You can customize the buttons for quick access to dig into the settings as rarely as possible. Be sure to download the GoPro app for Android or iOS: you can also use it to control the camera's operation via Wi-Fi, and most importantly, upload photos and videos directly to your smartphone.
It is better to use it for editing: during management, the service slows down.
It is convenient to edit videos in the application, adding effects or trimming unnecessary details. You can also trim videos neatly for Instagram feed and Stories. The application can also make a clip on its own, it comes out surprisingly well.
The model received a battery with a capacity of 1 220 mAh. During shooting, it is extremely quickly discharged: after an hour of recording, the camera sits down. At the same time, it does not charge quickly. In order not to wait several hours, it is better to buy an additional battery right away.
Filming
The camera shoots in 4K at up to 60fps, 2.7K at up to 120fps, and Full HD at up to 240fps. Wide-angle shooting is possible in 2.7K ‑ resolution at up to 60 fps and 4K up to 30 fps.
Video: Maxim Gustarev
During the day, the "proshka" focuses well and copes well with shooting both shaky hands and a moving BMX. In good light, the picture comes out bright, detailed and clear enough. A distinctive feature of the device is the HyperSmooth 2.0 digital stabilization system, due to which the movement is especially smooth when shooting in any mode and at any frequency. If earlier this stabilization could simply be turned on or off, now there are intermediate modes: High, in which the lens is cropped by 10%, and Boost, which makes it even more hard pruning.
This is what the clip looks like, which the application edited automatically
The gadget levels the horizon on its own - ideal if the camera is fixed unevenly (or you are the one who floods it all the time). The function can be enabled via the mobile application.
The sound is recorded adequately: both loud screams and noises of an average level are heard. Everything that happens is recorded by three microphones at once, the sound is recorded normally even in windy weather. However, we would not refuse the audio mode, because the quality of the recording cannot be called perfect yet.
Slow motion is great: even during sharp movements, the picture is soft and pliable.
In the dark, the camera shoots a little worse. Firstly, in the "Night" mode, the gadget slows down, and secondly, the image will periodically defocus.
However, if you shoot on a street with a lot of lights (as we did on Red Square), the video will come out pretty good.
The camera takes pictures at 12 megapixels. This is unlikely to be your new avatar, as the frames are not very high quality and bright.
There is a "SuperPhoto" mode with which the camera automatically processes images - however, it is rather difficult to notice these changes.
What is the result
GoPro Hero8 Black is a classic firmware that has become even more convenient: thanks to the improved design, it is easier to mount and charge, it has great stabilization, normal sound recording and color rendering. The manufacturer did everything to make the user dig into the settings as little as possible: there are preset modes, and an application that can edit the video for you.
At the same time, this is still an imperfect gadget: the model sits down quickly, does not take pictures very well and does not shoot vigorously enough at night. If these disadvantages are insignificant for you, then it seems that the device will meet all expectations: feel free to save 30,990 rubles for a new product.
Buy
The editorial team thanks GoPro for the device provided for testing. The company had no way to influence the test result.
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