Go Pro is undoubtedly the biggest name in action cameras and with good reason. Since the very beginning, they have changed the way we have filmed our outside adventures in ways that we just can’t achieve with phones or DSLRs.
It takes a lot of tape to strap your phone to a surfboard and stability issues and you can’t lug a full-sized camera up a mountain and film yourself in extreme weather conditions. Go Pro does all this, and best of all gives you the best possible picture quality at the same time.
The GoPro Hero 8 was released at the end of 2019 and is the benchmark device and on most guys’ wish lists for birthdays and Christmas. Guaranteed if you don’t know what to buy someone if you wrapped up a GoPro you’d have a very happy significant other.
The package design is that unique GoPro look, with the camera as the focal point as if on display in a technology museum and the extra accessories in the long box below it.
The battery is a new version that gives you more than 50 minutes of hardcore use, and the housing has been shifted to the side to allow for you to swap in and out the battery without having to remove it from extra housing or a tripod.
This is a feature that really adds a lot of benefits for me on Hero 8. Well thought out. The actual door for the battery is a really unique click latch that gets easier to use the more often you do it. But keeps the camera safe and secure. You’ll also need to use this section to pop in your SD card and the USB c charging connector is also in this compartment to ensure the camera keeps as water-resistant as possible.
The design is the best yet, it’s slimmer than previous models and very much watertight so the need for a separate waterproof case is unnecessary although there are some cases available for added protection.
The last GoPro I used didn’t have the back screen either, so this feature on the Hero 8 is mind-blowing. The touch screen is very responsive and makes swapping between the features a breeze. On top of that, there are voice commands, so if you are using a selfy stick like the GoPro Shorty, you don’t have to keep retracting it to change a setting or press record.
The lens is thicker and it’s said that it is twice as impact resistant. But you can get screen protectors for it as well for that extra bit of “peace of mind”. Especially since it doesn’t detach now so it is more difficult to replace scratches in this model.
If the image quality is a thing that drives you then you are in luck, the GoPro Hero 8 shoots in 4K at 60 fps, meaning you will have the best possible picture and super-smooth movement. Add to that the HyperSmooth 2.0 stability that is really next level, watching those videos back of running or driving and not having the picture bounce around is such an amazing technological advancement. It almost feels like there is a tiny gimbal device inside the camera but it’s all done through amazing software.
SuperPhoto is also amazingly clear for still photography using the GoPro and the Live Burst feature lets you pick from around 90 shots so you get the best pick on your Instagram account without feeling like you missed an important moment.
Go Pro Hero 8 Key Specs:
- 12MP sensor
- 4K/60fps, 2.7K/120fps and 1080/240fps video
- HyperSmooth 2.0 video stabilization (like a built-in gimbal)
- LiveBurst captures 1.5 seconds of photos or video before shot
- Mounting ‘fingers’ built-in and ready to attach to GoPro mounts
- Lots of Mods available (At extra cost)
- Waterproof to 10 metres
- Wi-Fi + Bluetooth connectivity
This new camera isn’t just for extreme use either, there are a heap of new accessories that will turn your camera into the perfect device for Vlogging. There’s a light mod, Display Mod which allows you to see what you are filming when the camera is pointed at you, and the super impressive “Media Mod that adds an inbuilt directional mic, 3.5mm mic port, two cold shoe mounts, and an HDMI port so you can playback straight from the camera. These mods are sold separately but are really great additions especially if you want to add some quality to your Youtube videos or relive the family picnic in super hi-res.
If you haven’t seen it yet GoPro has been doing an inspiring competition through its social channels.
GOPRO HomePro Challenge
The #HomePro Challenge shows off the world of action cam versatility with people at home doing extreme things and filming them on their phones or cameras for a chance to win a HERO8 Black or MAX camera and five years of GoPro PLUS subscription service.
The best ones really use a lot of creativity like this epic stop motion video on Instagram. You could watch this over and over again and not get sick of it.
Others include “livingroom parkour”
Indoor fishing
Or the Aussie tradition of a slip and slide turned EXTREME!
For information on how to enter
The shelter-at-home experience is global in nature, and in this spirit, GoPro has opened the #HomePro Challenge to videos and photos shot on any capture device, be it a smartphone, digital camera, DSLR or, of course, a GoPro. Entering is simple:
- Download the free GoPro App
- Use the GoPro App to post a photo or video that shows us your #HomePro moment to Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Youtube or Facebook
- Tell us and show us how you #HomePro #GoPro – use these tags upfront in your description of your post so we can consider it for the daily prize.
The #HomePro Challenge will continue until April 30. For more information visit the GoPro news blog, The Inside Line.
Read my updated review of the GoPro Hero 10: 10 Days with a GoPro Hero 10
