No different digital camera firm has managed to show a product into a life-style model fairly the best way GoPro has, which is without doubt one of the causes we’ve personally been utilizing their merchandise since 2010 (holy moly, greater than 12 years now).
And whereas we love virtually all the pieces in regards to the enterprise and the gear they make, we’ll even be the primary to confess that some fashions aren’t as revolutionary as others.
That hasn’t stopped us from personally reviewing every new sequence when it hits the cabinets although, and this yr isn’t any completely different.
We put our GoPros by hell. Snowboarding, scuba diving, mountain biking and simply typically pushing them to their limits by our jobs as journey content material creators.
The latest digital camera is now out within the wild and naturally we couldn’t wait to strive it out.
So in our professional GoPro HERO11 Black overview we dive deep into what units this digital camera other than its predecessor, the way it performs in the true world and whether or not or not GoPro have or missed the mark.
Our Sincere GoPro HERO 11 Black Overview
Final yr’s slogan for the GoPro HERO 10 was ‘A New Period’, and this yr GoPro have opted to go along with ‘Lastly to 11’. Fairly becoming for the eleventh sequence in what has turn out to be a little bit of a legacy.
However honestly what actually matches what they’ve completed this yr is best ‘the GoPro Expertise’.
You see in 2022 the brand new digital camera has a spread of average enhancements, which we’ll get to shortly, however the true spotlight is that all the pieces simply works, effectively, nicer.
There’s the brand new bigger sensor, 10-bit color and buttery HyperSmooth 5.0 with 360 diploma horizon lock (how the hell they make it so easy is past us, however we’ll take it).
This stuff alone imply the GoPro HERO11 Black is superior over the ten, however that’s not what makes the GoPro Expertise a step above the rest they’ve completed.
They’ve additionally launched a brand new lighter model dubbed the HERO 11 Black Mini, which is nearly pretty much as good as the primary digital camera however with no few options corresponding to LCD screens.
GoPro have actually tapped into the creator market now, with out forgetting their core origins for journey athletes and basic journey photographers/videographers, by endeavouring to make the whole taking pictures, modifying and importing workflow as seamless as potential.
Did they pull it off? Let’s discover out in our GoPro HERO11 overview!
SPECIAL DEAL: GoPro has an unbelievable launch particular on their new digital camera proper now, with huge financial savings throughout the board. This particular is for a restricted time solely, so test it out whereas it’s accessible.
The Newest Options
GoPro have managed to introduce an entire bunch of latest options that make the newest digital camera a pleasure to make use of in any state of affairs, whereas additionally ticking a number of bins for professionals on the market.
After which all the very best options that we noticed on the ten, corresponding to:
New Bigger Sensor
The most important improve on the GoPro HERO11 Black is the brand new, bigger 1/1.9″ sensor.
With this monster sensor squeezed into the tiny digital camera we will now shoot utilizing a brand new 8:7 facet ratio, which captures an enormous perspective permitting for all types of crop elements in put up.
The truth is, it’s a 16% improve in vertical subject of view over the earlier digital camera.
GoPro know that nearly all the pieces getting shared nowadays is shifting to vertical features, like what we discover on Instagram and TikTok, however native width content material like on TV and YouTube isn’t going wherever.
So moderately than having to decide on whether or not you shoot in panorama or portrait mode, you should use the 8:7 facet ratio on the bigger sensor which supplies loads of room for cropping later with out dropping any picture high quality.
This additionally introduces the larger 27MP display screen grabs, and a brand new immersive digital lens known as HyperView, which is ideal for these POV (point-of-view) motion thots.
This, matched with the revolutionary GP2 processor launched on the HERO10, makes the brand new GoPro HERO11 Black a flexible, various and prime quality powerhouse.
HyperView Digital Lens
Utilizing the whole 8:7 ratio on the brand new sensor, we will now use HyperView, which GoPro claims provides an ‘ultra-immersive’ video that most closely fits motion POV, huge selfies and enormous areas in tight areas. Suppose structure.
There’s additionally an replace within the pipeline that may enable customers to leap into the GoPro Quik app and alter between all of the digital lens choices after the very fact. So you may go away it on one setting and never be kicking your self later.
10-Bit Color
That is a kind of upgrades that will get skilled creators additional excited. However that doesn’t imply it’s past the common person both.
GoPro have lastly jumped over to true 10-bit color processing. What does that imply precisely?
10-bit color has over 1 billion shades of color in its knowledge.
8-bit, which is what the previous GoPro (and most video cameras that don’t value the identical as a home deposit) has, processes about 16.7 million colors.
That giant enchancment implies that the colors you see in your movies are extra like what you see with your individual eyes, with extra vivid particulars, much less color banding and smoother gradients.
Consider it like excessive dynamic vary content material.
This color improve works on all video settings, together with TimeWarp and Time Lapse, and likewise spills out throughout photographs.
HyperSmooth 5.0
We’re going to allow you to in on a bit of secret.
HyperSmooth, which was first launched on the GoPro HERO7, is why we vlog on GoPros as an alternative of our very costly Sony cameras.
HyperSmooth basically removes the necessity to use a gimbal, and when you’ve seen it in motion you’ll marvel why anyone offers with shaky footage anymore.
If GoPro did completely zero enhancements to this characteristic on the GoPro HERO 11 Black version, no person would thoughts as a result of it’s already so good.
However nope, they needed to go and improve to HyperSmooth 5.0, which is even higher. You possibly can actually go path working and the footage appears prefer it was shot in a automotive rolling down a freeway.
HyperSmooth 5.0 now works in all digital lenses, and features a characteristic known as Linear + Horizon Lock.
This makes use of the processor to find out what degree the horizon is on, after which retains your shot in that place, even for those who rotate your digital camera a full 360°.
One of many very first guidelines you study in composition is to all the time hold your horizon straight, and now you by no means have to fret about it.
There’s additionally an all-new ‘AutoBoost’, which acts like a dynamic adjustment in real-time if the digital camera detects additional shaky actions.
The Enduro Battery
GoPro quietly launched the Enduro Battery earlier in 2022, however now it comes commonplace with the GoPro HERO11, and we’re all for it!
It’s a extra highly effective battery in the identical dimension that provides 38% extra battery life and higher efficiency in chilly circumstances.
Simple vs Professional Controls
When GoPro first launched video presets it was a Godsend. We actually use them a number of instances each single shoot they usually save us a lot time and complications.
Nonetheless for the common person, it may be a bit overkill. Most individuals don’t have to often bounce between 4k 30fps huge to 4k 120fps linear then to 4k 60fps Superview between photographs.
Most customers even have the identical 2-3 issues they use time and again. Maybe one video mode, one photograph mode and one TimeWarp mode.
For many who don’t wish to overburden themselves with buttons and settings on the fly, GoPro has heard you and now launched ‘Simple Controls’.
Choose what you need – photograph, video or TimeWarp – and GoPro will choose the very best settings for the state of affairs. Type of like utilizing Auto on a contemporary digital digital camera.
Nearly each journey we go on around the globe we’ve got individuals come as much as us with a model new GoPro and ask if we can assist them with their settings. We get it – for those who’re not a professional, digital camera settings are extraordinarily complicated,
Now you may simply change over to ‘Simple Controls’ and by no means fear once more.
New Evening Results
We love love love evening images. We’ve written extensively about astrophotography, lengthy exposures and how one can use gentle to color onto a scene.
Nonetheless it is a fairly superior type of images, and it may take numerous trial and error to dial in the precise settings.
Be careful world, as a result of right here’s one of many new options we’re most enthusiastic about on this GoPro HERO11 Black overview – Evening Results!
There are three all-new time lapse presets that are designed to make capturing evening scenes ridiculously straightforward.
These are all routinely completed for you, that means you may concentrate on creating artwork with out the concern of heavy put up manufacturing.
Gentle Portray
Use lengthy publicity photographs to create brush stroke results with shifting gentle, corresponding to waving a head lamp or fireworks.
Star Trails
The earth rotates across the solar (sorry flat-earthers), so once you take consecutive photographs of the celebrities you’ll discover they’re slowly shifting throughout the sky.
Star Path mode turns that rotation into unbelievable star trails in a single click on. To present you context, for us to do that manually takes many hours of taking pictures, modifying, stacking and mixing in Photoshop (in addition to a loopy highly effective and costly laptop computer) to attain the identical impact.
Car Gentle Trails
Set your GoPro up on a bridge over a freeway or within the median strip of a busy road, click on the button and watch the headlights of automobiles burn themselves into your shot.
Belief us, it appears superior.
GoPro Quik App
Whereas not a brand new characteristic and never immediately associated to the HERO11, we will’t actually do our GoPro 11 overview with out speaking in regards to the app that goes together with it.
The GoPro Quik app is a kind of apps that simply appears to have a endless checklist of instruments and functionalities, and one way or the other it makes all of them good.
You possibly can management your digital camera utilizing your smartphone as a distant.
You possibly can import your footage wirelessly.
You possibly can edit your photographs and movies with one click on of a button.
The truth is you may even make full-on YouTube or Instagram/TikTok movies proper within the app.
And for those who join the GoPro Quik Subscription, the app will auto-upload your footage to the cloud so you may clear the SD card and hold taking pictures with out dropping your footage.
There’s additionally rumours or a brand new characteristic coming quickly the place GoPro will use AI expertise to make spotlight reels of your footage within the cloud. Who wants a video editor, huh?
The GoPro HERO 11 Black Mini
Do you bear in mind when GoPro introduced out the Session, a miniature model of the already ridiculously small GoPro?
It was marketed as a extra transportable, easy digital camera for entry-level creators with much less options and energy.
Effectively now the staff at GoPro have reintroduced one thing related with the GoPro 11 Black Mini.
It’s principally a barely watered-down model of the GoPro HERO 11 Black digital camera, with out the LCD screens and as an alternative having twin mounting fingers on the backside and again of the physique.
It’s aimed for new-to-GoPro customers, individuals who mount their cameras to their helmets and anybody who finds the present GoPro mannequin too giant.
After all this implies it’s a bit of bit cheaper too, which is all the time a giant plus.
Ought to You Get the GoPro HERO 11 Black Mini?
This isn’t a GoPro HERO 11 Black Mini overview, however we’ll let you recognize our ideas right here anyway.
Except you fall into one in every of these classes:
- You all the time go away your GoPro in your helmet
- You by no means use an LCD display screen
- Funds is tight
Don’t fear about shopping for the HERO11 Mini, and as an alternative spend a bit of bit extra money and get the total HERO 11 Black.
Why? Effectively not having an LCD display screen sucks. You possibly can’t body your photographs correctly (except you’re utilizing your cellphone as a reside view) and you may’t overview your footage on the fly.
You need to use the little display screen on high to examine your digital camera settings, however these must be customised utilizing the GoPro Quik app moderately than on the fly.
Possibly our opinion will change down the highway, however for now we consider it’s 100% price simply getting the full-size digital camera.
The ‘Mods’ – Media, Max Lens, Show and Gentle Mod
When GoPro launched their Mods it was a kind of ‘appears cool, however I’ll by no means use it’ sort of merchandise. At the least to us anyway.
Effectively that’s all modified now. We not too long ago purchased the Media Mod for the HERO10, and now utilizing it on the HERO11, and are a lot happier with the audio enhancements.
GoPro has all the time been recognized for the plethora of equipment you should use with them, corresponding to mounts to place your digital camera on absolutely anything.
The Mods are a bit extra high-level than the usual mounts you get, however for any severe content material creator they actually do add an entire new ingredient to how we seize scenes.
The HERO11 is similar dimension because the earlier two cameras, and so the mods that match them additionally match the brand new digital camera which is improbable.
The Media Mod provides a bi-directional microphone, chilly shoe mounts, USB C output and a 3.5mm microphone jack, and is now our go-to setup for vlogging.
The Max Lens Mod makes the digital camera lens ultra-wide natively, which is best than the digital model of HyperView.
The Gentle Mod illuminates your face when taking pictures in low gentle, or can be utilized for gentle portray.
And the Show Mod provides a display screen, however except you want one thing greater than the front-facing one, it’s a bit redundant now.
Should you’re going to purchase only one Mod to go along with the GoPro HERO11 Black, get the Media Mod.
Is the Digital camera Any Good Within the Actual World?
Alright, we get it. Tech specs are cool and all, however you wish to know if the digital camera really work in the true world?
Sure the characteristic upgrades are first rate, and also you’re already contemplating whether or not or not it’s price getting the 11.
However stats on paper don’t imply something if the digital camera really performs like a moist towel.
By no means worry, buddies. We’ve your again and have been tremendous busy throwing the digital camera into all types of conditions as a part of our overview of the GoPro HERO11 Black.
The preliminary setup of the digital camera was very fast and straightforward. Flip it on, choose your language, join it to the GoPro Quik app in your cellphone, do an replace and away you go.
Then it’s time to truly use the rattling factor.
The LCD contact display screen could be very quick and responsive, and once we did a side-by-sude comparability with the HERO10 we didn’t discover a giant distinction in comparison with the previous digital camera.
In comparison with the 9 although, it was evening and day, and we’re so glad that they’ve lastly discovered a strong contact display screen that simply works.
We then instantly switched to the brand new 8:7 facet ratio and began taking pictures some 5.3k video.
It’s exhausting to inform on the little display screen, however we may see much more of the scene. It was solely once we imported the footage into Adobe Premiere Professional although that we may actually see simply how far more vertical room we needed to play with.
Seeing as content material is all about vertical Instagram Reels and TikToks, that is very helpful characteristic.
HyperSmooth 5.0? Yea it’s loopy good. I took the digital camera for a run down the seashore and it was as easy and buttery as ever.
The brand new 360 diploma horizon degree lock labored fairly effectively too in linear mode.
10-bit color was an enormous, huge enchancment over the HERO10, however reality be advised we don’t color grade our footage that closely anyway.
So whereas we do now use 10-bit color for all of our photographs (which matches what we shoot on our Sony A7iv too), we’re in all probability not utilizing it to its full potential.
At our core, we’re photographers, and we’re happy to say that in our GoPro HERO 11 overview we’re very happy with the standard of photos the little digital camera produces, and the way far we will push the edits in put up manufacturing with out dropping high quality.
We tried HDR, SuperPhoto and Uncooked, however have determined to only all the time stick with Uncooked.
We additionally went and located some rock wallabies close to the boat pier and tried out Auto, Uncooked Burst Mode to see the way it carried out.
The photographs – improbable.
The lag time although whereas the digital camera buffered the photographs was painfully gradual. This might in all probability be lowered although by utilizing a sooner pace SD card, so we’ll report again sooner or later once we improve this.
We’re but to make use of the brand new Evening Results correctly, however have a giant journey developing very quickly the place we’ll be capable of check this out. Keep tuned for an replace.
General the GoPro HERO11 Black has been a pleasure to make use of, and it’ll now have a everlasting place in our digital camera bag on each journey and shoot we go on.
What We Don’t Like
We’re all the time sincere in our gear write-ups, and being an sincere GoPro HERO11 Black overview we really tried our greatest to seek out one thing incorrect with the digital camera.
Why? Effectively nothing may be excellent, and we don’t need you as our trusting reader to assume we’re simply going to reward all the pieces that’s on the market.
So with that being mentioned, is it an ideal digital camera?
No. However GoPro are getting shut to creating one.
One characteristic we actually want they’d have included was an optical zoom.
We love the enduring GoPro perspective, nevertheless it’d be good if we may seize a 2x or 3x optical zoom as effectively to get nearer to our topics and create some lens compression.
Maybe this may very well be rectified sooner or later with a switchable lens? There’s the Max Lens Mod, why not have a Zoom Lens Mod too?
The audio with out the Media Mod isn’t nice, however for those who’re not vlogging this isn’t a giant deal.
Aside from that there actually isn’t something main that we dislike in our GoPro HERO 11 Black overview.
But when we discover something as time goes on we’ll remember to return to this text and replace it.
GoPro HERO11 vs GoPro HERO10 vs GoPro HERO9 – What’s the Distinction?
We’ve explored all of the updates and what’s new in our GoPro HERO 11 Black overview, and except you’re very conversant in the previous fashions it’s possible you’ll be left questioning what the distinction is between the latest variations.
The HERO11 has plenty of main updates in comparison with the HERO10, most particularly across the bigger sensor and 10-bit color, however the engine behind it being the GP2 processor is kind of the identical.
However what about in opposition to the HERO9?
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27MP + SuperPhoto and all RAW modes |
23MP + SuperPhoto with HDR |
20MP + SuperPhoto with HDR |
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In-Digital camera with 360° Angle and Horizon Lock |
In-Digital camera with 45° Angle |
In-Digital camera with 27° Angle |
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1.4″ Colour LCD with Smoother Dwell Preview |
1.4″ Colour LCD with Smoother Dwell Preview |
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2.7″ Colour LCD with Improved Contact Sensitivity |
2.7″ Colour LCD with Improved Contact Sensitivity |
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Media Mod, Max Lens Mod, Show Mod, Gentle Mod, Volta |
Media Mod, Max Lens Mod, Show Mod, Gentle Mod, Volta |
Media Mod (HERO9 Black) |
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1080p with HyperSmooth 5.0 |
1080p with HyperSmooth 4.0 |
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Is it Price Upgrading?
You’ve virtually made it to the tip of our GoPro HERO 11 overview, and also you’re nearly able to both make the leap and make investments, or stash your money for one more day.
So what must you do, particularly in case you have an older model already? Is it price upgrading to the HERO11?
You Don’t Have a GoPro
Should you’re out there on your first ever GoPro and are questioning if that is the mannequin price shopping for, then right here’s the recommendation we give to our closest family and friends:
Sure, it’s 100% price shopping for the HERO11.
Regardless of your fashion, whether or not its basic journey, motion sports activities, life-style, underwater (bear in mind it’s waterproof to 10m) or taking pictures YouTube movies, this mannequin is fairly near being one of many finest journey cameras on the market.
For these on the market that think about themselves to be a newbie photographer/videographer, you’re in luck too.
With Simple Controls and prime quality built-in picture processing it’s by no means been simpler and extra pleasing to make use of a GoPro.
You Have a GoPro HERO9 or Earlier Mannequin
When you have the HERO9 or an earlier mannequin such because the HERO 8 or HERO 7, and questioning whether or not now could be the time to improve, then our reply is sure, you must.
The HERO11 takes the legendary cameras to an entire new degree, and the bigger sensor matched with the GP2 processor means it’s like evening and day in comparison with the older variations.
It’s principally a whole new digital camera in comparison with the 9, and for those who’re coming from the 7 or 8 you’ll be so grateful you lastly jumped ship to the 11.
You Have a GoPro HERO10 Black
Hmm….this isn’t as simple as we thought it will be, particularly as a result of we nonetheless personal two HERO10s.
We’re not the kind of individuals to go upgrading tech gear yearly. Hell Alesha remains to be rocking an iPhone 8.
That being mentioned, when there’s a big improve or a brand new characteristic that may make our jobs and lives simpler, we fork out the money and are all the time grateful we did.
Is the HERO11 Black a big improve over the HERO10 although?
Probably not.
After all the brand new bigger sensor is superb. 8:7 facet ratio is good. 10-bit color is one thing execs have been screaming for. And the Evening Results together with 27 megapixels to mess around with is worth it.
However these aren’t issues each photographer, videographer and creator wants.
For us and the best way we use our gear, sure it’s definitely worth the improve, and the HERO11 is now our go-to motion sports activities digital camera.
We actually just like the 8:7 ratio, as we regularly repurpose footage for YouTube and Instagram in numerous codecs.
If that doesn’t sound such as you although and also you already personal the ten, don’t really feel like that you must rush out and promote your previous digital camera simply but (except in fact GoPro are doing a loopy sale on the 11).
| UPGRADE IF: | I exploit my GoPro greater than 2x per week and make numerous social media content material |
| DON’T WORRY IF: | I exploit my digital camera lower than 2x per week and don’t actually share my content material on social media |
Additionally for those who actually simply purchased a ten, don’t get upset and throw it away. It’s nonetheless a tremendous digital camera, and so long as you might be having enjoyable getting on the market and taking pictures content material, it’s extra about creativity than gear anyway.
Last Verdict – 9/10
Should you do buy the GoPro HERO 11 Black, we additionally advocate getting a GoPro subscription to their cloud storage service too.
Thanks very a lot for studying our GoPro HERO10 Black overview. When you have any questions please go away a remark under and we’ll reply them as quickly as potential.
DISCLAIMER: Among the hyperlinks on this article are affiliate hyperlinks, which implies for those who e-book lodging, excursions or purchase a product, we’ll obtain a small fee at no additional value to you. These commissions assist us hold creating extra free journey content material to assist individuals plan their holidays and adventures. We solely advocate the very best lodging, excursions and merchandise, and often overview these. Thanks on your help, form buddy!
GoPro HERO11 Black
After in depth in-the-field testing, we break down each spec, new characteristic and comparability with earlier fashions in our sincere GoPro HERO 11 overview.
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