And 10! The Californian brand GoPro officially unveils a new version of its action camera this Thursday. The Hero10 Black, which we were able to test in preview, is full of interesting new features.
While the Hero9 Black had reached a milestone last year at GoPro, especially in terms of handling and image quality, this new Hero10 Black succeeds it by erasing the few faults of its predecessor (including the ergonomics of menus) but above all to offer a significant leap by facilitating the production of videos (up to 5.3 K please). The object allows you to better control your image and the final rendering which should appeal to thrill seekers but also vloggers. The object is marketed from today at a price of 529.99 euros.
On the aesthetic level, this Hero10 Black does not really stand out from the Hero9 Black of 2020, with the notable exception of the GoPro logo on the front and the mention 10 Black on the edge both sported in blue. The two screens, one on the front to shoot a selfie and the other on the back to better appreciate the return are still present. Interesting detail for backpackers who venture in the rain and sea surfers, GoPro had the good idea to cover the lens of its camera with a hydrophobic film that makes the drops slide. A nice little extra to prevent a nice drop from getting lodged in the middle and spoiling the shot.
It is actually in the bowels of this small box that you have to dive to see the differences. GoPro is also relying on a brand new in-house processor called GP2 to make a difference. This shows itself capable of handling 5.3K videos at 60 frames per second (fps), 4K at 120 fps and even 2.7 K at 240 fps. Double the performance compared to the Hero9 Black.
If the use of the 5.3K resolution is aimed more at professionals who are betting on the future, the generalization of 4K on platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo or Dailymotion places this Hero10 as the highest-rated camera in its range. category. On test, the 120 images per second offer a very fluid and flattering rendering for the eyes.
As such, we can salute the work carried out by GoPro on the different resolutions which offer great flexibility for different uses, whether for filming a sports trip or for walking and showing a place. Various uses, especially for vloggers who want a better rendering than with a smartphone (even high-end). Interestingly, it is even possible to do live video streaming with Full HD resolution. As the object is HDR compatible, it does not suffer from backlighting problems.
Still, all of these videos consume battery and data, especially in 4K at 120 fps. Fortunately, it is possible to change the resolutions very easily via the rear touch screen before launching a video, filming in Full HD 1080p being less demanding, while offering an interesting image quality.
Foolproof image stabilization
GoPro also took even more care of its small camera’s ability to stabilize the image. It was also a point that we wanted to test as a priority on this device. Because GoPro praises here the deserve of the HyperSmooth 4.0 managed to the hair by the new GP2 processor. If the Hero9 already stood out with version 3.0 of this software last year, this 4th generation has crossed a rather impressive gap. Our test consisted of attaching the Hero10 to a skateboard on a low sidewalk, but also attaching it to a radio-controlled car launched over dirt roads and cobblestones. And other than a few swings, the video rendering made it look like these objects were sliding on ice. A bluffing point especially as the quality of the image was not altered. It should also be noted that the camera enables a horizon tracking system to be activated, so that even if it rotates sideways, the horizon point always remains fixed. The effect is there even better managed by the GP2 and avoids giving the feeling of nausea that a spectator could have while watching videos of this type. This is particularly recommended if you take a selfie video by holding the camera on a pole at arm’s length to give a traveling effect to the whole.
And if the Hero10 Black is primarily intended for video, GoPro has thought of pushing the experience in terms of photography to make it a more versatile product. Here we take advantage of a 23 Mpixel sensor (compared to 20 Mpixels on the Hero9), a way of offering slightly more striking images, even if on this point the Hero9 was already doing well.
A more pleasant and responsive interface
But the most appreciable point of this new model, remains in our eyes the use of its interface via the touch screen. Where it was necessary to repeat it several times to display or access certain icons to interact with on the Hero9, this 10th generation offers a much more fluid and responsive interface. It is then more pleasant to go into the menus and give free rein to your creativity. You can then switch between the different modes, the resolutions and deactivate certain options. The object now offers a simpler approach that invites discovery and creativity. It remains for the GoPro to offer a shorter ignition when it is powered up (a detail) and the Hero10 Black will be almost perfect.
Hero10 Black, GoPro, 529.99 euros (or 429.98 euros in the case of a one-year subscription to the GoPro service at 49.99 euros).
