The best upgrade camera for travellers

What’s New With The GoPro Hero 9?.

Already hero 5 6 7 8 have been launched has an upgrade the new edition GoPro hero 9 have been released

Let’s kick things off with what’s new with the GoPro Hero nine. The selling locution for the Hero nine is “More Everything” – thus what’s been beefed up with GoPro’s latest providing

First Impressions

So what square measure my 1st impressions of the Hero 9? Well the primary factor you’ll notice is that size is truly larger than the Hero eight, and it will feel quite an bit chunkier.

Is Bigger Better?

After a touch of use although, it’s not a deal breaker, and I’m proud of that trade for a front-facing screen and half-hour longer battery life.


And after all that front facing screen is that the different massive factor you’ll notice right off the rear and could be a abundant welcome addition – particularly for vlogging.


Shooting wise the rear screen has conjointly had a touch of a bump, with a rather larger show, that is pretty welcome too.


Tech specification wise 5K is associate amazing improvement (although avowedly not a brilliant helpful one!), however i used to be hoping for 4K @ 120FPS further and there’s still no dedicated three.5mm jack for associate external mic.


Overall although it’s constant, rugged, reliable GoPro feel that we have a tendency to all recognize and love, however packing even a lot of punch.


One different factor to say here is that the incontrovertible fact that GoPro has opted for a a lot of environmentally friendly packaging approach too. Gone square measure the large, plastic oriented show cases that they’ve historically are available, replaced instead by a a lot of minimalist and cardboard-based package.

Pros

• Detachable lens
• Front-facing screen
• 30% a lot of battery life
• 5K resolution
• Hypersmooth and Timewarp three.0
• Compatibility with new liquid ecstasy Lens Media Mod
• Comes during a carry case

Cons

• Larger kind issue
• Heavier
• Lack of Mod availableness (at launch anyway)

Do i actually want 5K?

Well, not solely will the new 5K device permit you to shoot in 5K, however the a lot of helpful possibility is it permits you to drag out 14MP still from your 5K footage. 

Now, this can be a fairly epic amazing tool, particularly for those shooting extreme sports. rather than chancing it with single shots and bursts, you'll merely record all the action and pull out the precise frame you would like.

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Admittedly ninety nine of individuals won’t ought to film in 5K, or really even be ready to edit it (the file sizes square measure pretty solid, thus solely top-end computers and laptops are going to be ready to handle redaction in 5K), however having the ability to grab those high-quality stills provides you another solid tool within the bag.


The improved device conjointly permits you to shoot in dedicated 20MP stills and encompasses a immensely improved dynamic vary too – adding even a lot of punch to the HDR and Superphoto modes too – creating your GoPro even a lot of versatile.

Hypersmooth three.0 and Horizon Lock

Horizon lock was one in all my favorite options of the GoPro liquid ecstasy – particularly once vlogging and doing moving, reprimand camera items. It’s an excellent new feature for the GoPro Hero nine and is even a lot of stable than Hypersmooth three.0.


Be aware, however, that it will crop your footage in (roughly 10%), thus it’s not ideal for all shoots.


GoPro has conjointly paired this mode up with the new liquid ecstasy Lens Media Mod although to require full advantage of it – a lot of on it during a bit – however this new mode is actually one thing heaps of individuals are going to be ready to benefit of and obtain super artistic with.

Timewarp 3.0

Timewarp brought all the fun and effects of a Hyperlapse in a straightforward to use package and therefore the new TimeWarp three.0 is even higher than before.


Not solely are you able to benefit of the Horizon Levelling for even higher composed TimeWarps however you'll currently enter and exit real time mode by exploitation the button on the facet, permit you to swimmingly switch between the 2 while photography.


Two apparently little enhancements, however each can create a giant distinction in making even a lot of gorgeous Timewarps if that’s your factor.

Front Facing Screen

Now this can be in all probability the foremost anticipated GoPro feature for a protracted time and therefore the GoPro Hero nine finally encompasses a front facing screen.


For vloggers this can be reaching to be reason alone to upgrade (more on it later!) except for the common GoPro user it’s reaching to create exploitation your GoPro plenty less complicated too, by permitting your to simply see however you’re framing your shot


It’s not a large screen, however its actually enough to urge everything framed properly, that goes to create your GoPro footage that far better and useable.


One issue I actually have encountered with the front facing screen although is I actually have noticed quite an little bit of lag within the image. It’s not a large deal however could be a little bit of a niggle and one thing I hope GoPro will quickly fix with a software/firmware update.

New GoPro Media Mod

Another amazing feature GoPro has carried over from the Height is that the Media Mod vary. Obviously, with the front-facing screen, the LCD mod isn’t very required (unless you would like even a lot of assets for viewing your shots), however the semiconductor diode remains compatible.


The biggest advantage of the GoPro Media Mod is that the ability to enter associate external mic possibility (for ME, that’s the Rode Wireless Go paired with the Rode lavalliere Go) for method higher audio quality. i used to be hoping that GoPro would possibly embody a frenzied three.5mm audio jack input, however the Media Mod could be a sensible bridge for the instant.  

However – and super frustrating for Hero eight users – is that the truth the modification in size and kind on the Hero nine means that you’ll ought to reinvest within the new Hero nine Media Mod, that are a few things you’ll ought to issue into your evaluation. The new Hero nine Media Mod can set you back US$79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.95


The Hero nine Media Mod will have improved weather resistance (not waterproof by the way!), but still, that further outlay could be a little bit of a kick within the teeth for people who waited ages for the first Media Mod unleash, that was pretty delayed.

Detachable Lens + liquid ecstasy Lens Mod

meaning it wasn’t clastic and so was associate absolute pain to switch if you damaged it!
gopro hero nine liquid ecstasy lens mod guideLuckily GoPro listened, and therefore the clastic lens has created a come on the Hero nine – that is nice news.


With the intro of the clastic lens comes associate amazing new Media Mod too – the liquid ecstasy Lens Mod.

Essentially this permits you to mimic the liquid ecstasy Hero Mode (previously solely accessible on the GoPro MAX) by swapping the lens over to at least one with a 155° field of vision. In straightforward to grasp terms, it’s a brilliant optical lens which is able to capture even a lot of of the scene you’re shooting.


Pair this up with the Horizon Levelling possibility, and you've got a brilliant stable, super camera lens possibility – nice for action sports (and one in all my favorite GoPro water sport accessories) and one more reason why the Hero nine is that the best GoPro for vlogging.

Is The Audio Any Good?

One of the largest current downsides of shooting with a GoPro has forever been the quality of the integral audio. There have a been a couple of work arounds – together with the rather sick thought out three.5mm audio jack adapter – and after all the recent addition of the Media Mod.


Well it’s higher than the Hero eight, however solely marginally thus.


From the take a look at I’ve done it’s obvious that the integral audio remains one in all the largest problems on the GoPro vary, associated though I’m positive it’ll be acceptable for many individuals it’s aloof from good and if you’re very needing to use your Hero nine with audio I’d powerfully advocate the Media Mod and an external audio input.

Do My GoPro Mounts work The Hero 9?

upgrade hands on-2As with the GoPro Hero eight, the new GoPro Hero nine is backward compatible with ninety nine of your GoPro mounts because it still takes advantage of the folding fingers.
The modification in kind issue and bigger filler will, however, mean any cage or full casing mounts/accessories can ought to be rebought. Annoyingly for any Hero eight users, this conjointly includes the new Hero nine Media Mod and conjointly the Hero eight Supersuit/Dive Housing too.


But for the foremost half, your commonest mounts square measure still useable with the Hero9

A Couple Of Issues…

Whilst testing out the Hero nine there have been a pair of issue that I flagged up while shooting with it.


The first I’ve already touched on – the lag within the front facing screen. primarily the video encompasses a slight delay in it – that though not crucial for shooting, may get rather irritating, particularly if you’re on the move and exploitation it to stay things framed properly.
Before
Secondly is that the lack of responsiveness of the rear bit screen – that is perceptibly less responsive than the Hero eight and didn’t register heaps of touches and gestures. this can be particularly annoying once putting in your new GoPro and tweaking the presets – which permit you to quickly switch between your most used settings.
Now
GoPro have currently discharged a microcode update that has fastened the bit screen issue, that could be a huge relief!


I’m very hoping that GoPro manage to repair each problems pretty quickly and simply with a software/firmware update (the DJI Osmo Action had an identical issue on launch with the front screen that was quickly fixed), and though neither issue could be a total deal breaker,
Two different gripes that I actually have with the Hero nine square measure the actual fact there's still no integral three.5mm audio jack (as the integral audio remains not great) and conjointly the dearth of availableness on the Media Mod and liquid ecstasy Lens Mod at launch.


The audio jack I will live while not thanks to the Media Mod adding this availability (even although it’s an additional cost) however the actual fact a pair of of the largest selling options of the Hero nine aren’t promptly on the market at launch could be a vast blunder by GoPro.


Fingers crossed GoPro don’t force United States of America to attend that long to unlock the total potential of the Hero 9!


GoPro Hero nine evaluation


Well, the launch value of the Hero nine is $449.99 / £429.99 / AU$699.95


BUT GoPro encompasses a pretty epic supply if you purchase direct from their website – US$349.99 / £329.99 / AU$559.95, together with a year’s GoPro subscription (formerly GoPro Plus).

five hundredth off any GoPro accessories too (for the total length of your subscription and together with the new Media Mod and liquid ecstasy LensMods, once they’re available), further because the replacement service, thus that’s a fairly epic deal, thus get that whereas you can!

My Final Thoughts

gopro hero nine review travel camera upgrade hands on-2Without a doubt, yes. 
The 5K device, come of the clastic lens, the addition of the liquid ecstasy Lens Media Mod, and plenty of solid upgrades like Horizon Levelling create the Hero nine a robust tool for videographers further because the front-facing screen creating it even a lot of appealing for vloggers.


Is it the right GoPro?


Well, still not very.


The need for the dear Media Mod rather than a frenzied three.5mm jack remains associate annoyance (especially having solely had the Hero eight Media Mod for six months!), and not providing up 4K @ 120FPS was a touch of a disappointment.

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That being same although, within the world of technology (and I actually have to mention this can be under no circumstances simply GoPro) we have a tendency to just about ought to settle for a drip-feed of enhancements aboard a singular massive jump (in this case 5K) instead of all our list being provided in one go!