GoPro Inc. is an American technology company, and it is known worldwide for producing the most versatile action cameras. These cameras are superior quality cameras with incredible built-in features and technologies, which make them worth buying.
Any photographer who gets used to the GoPro cameras won’t find better video quality, ease of use, and value from the competition. These cameras are best known for their video results, but they also give you high still image results.
GoPro Camera Review – GoPro Hero7 Black
There are many extreme-action videography cameras under the brand umbrella of GoPro. One of the trendy ones from these cameras is GoPro Hero 7 4K Video Action Camera. This camera is stepping forward from its predecessors with its excellent video quality, stabilization, improved audio quality, live streaming, waterproof design, range of mounts and accessories, etc.
It can shoot 4K/60fps, 1080p/240fps video, Takes 12-megapixel still photos with HDR, and Timelapse and slow-motion modes.
Here are details about the different functions and specifications of Hero 7:
Product overview:
There is a whole list of features in this camera to talk about. From Hypersmooth to live streaming, everything is worth discussing. Here are some details about the features:
Design:
If someone knows GoPro cameras, the first thing he will notice that Hero 7 is nearly identical to Hero 6. Both models are very similar, aside from the darker-toned finish of Hero 7 and mic design. Improvement in mic design improved the overall audio performance of the camera.
This camera is very lightweight, just like its predecessors, and weighs only 3.33 oz / 94.4 g. The size of the camera is 2.4 inches x 1.8 inches x 3.1 inches. The body has a rubberish finish, and the design is overall simple.
The display of the camera is the LCD type of about 2 inches. This display is a little better than the predecessor, as this screen doesn’t have a yellowish effect in it. On the side, there are some buttons for recording and pausing, turning on/off recording.
There are two openings for the battery/card and USB/HDMI compartments. One new addition in design is the ‘short clip’ button. This button lets the user limit the recording from 15 to 30 seconds. All in all, the hardware is pretty similar, but sure, there are improvements in software.
Waterproof body:
One of the significant improvements in GoPro 7 is waterproofing. And there is no extra casing required the make the camera waterproof. You can take the camera in the water up to 10 meters without any fear of damage to the device.
Protection from water can be expanded up to 30 meters with an optional GoPro waterproof housing. Not to brag, but this camera can be your perfect companion if you are into exploring the underwater world.
HyperSmooth:
When this camera was launched, the company introduced it as ‘HyperSmooth Gimbal-Like.’ Hyper smooth stabilization is built-in electronic stabilization. This stabilization helps to ditch the gimbal, improving the user to capture super-smooth and professional-class images anytime.
The company claimed that Hero 7 camera stabilization for video shooting is the best built-in video stabilization of any camera you can find in the market. The great thing is that many users of this camera approved this claim.
Gimbal-like stabilization is added to achieve ultra-smooth high-quality footage, which you can obtain using a gimbal.
This is a combination of better hardware and software instead of just upgrading existing optical stabilization.
Video Quality
Besides every other feature, GoPro Hero 07 Black is a massive update compared to its predecessors in footage quality. The video quality highlight is that this camera can capture a full 4k at 60 fps (frames per second).
The 4K60 can be captured at the larger 4K (4:3) resolution, which is larger (4096×3072) than the standard 4K (3840×3072) that’s in 16:9 aspect ratio. With 4k at 60 fps, other combinations are available for shooting – 1520 p at 120 fps, 2560 x 1440 p at 120 fps, and 1920 x 1080 p at 240 fps.
To make the video shooting even better, many new video shooting features are also added. Loop recording at all resolutions, Scene Detection Technology, Time-Lapse recording, digital noise reduction, slow-motion recording are some features you can use while capturing your videos.
Videos are saved in mp4 format on the SD card. You have to insert your card as GoPros does not have any built-in storage. Hero 07 Black supports the H.265 or HEVC video codec. It has a maximum video bitrate of 78Mb/s when shooting 4K.
At 4K 60fps at full resolution, one can still shoot in Hypersmooth. You can also get 8x slo-mo at full high definition resolution.
The little drawback in Hypersmooth is that it can’t be enabled when shooting in a 4:3 aspect ratio and when shooting in Full HD at 240fps and 120fps. Overall, hyper smooth results for this camera are incredible. There isn’t any trouble with traditional wrapping like users faced on older versions of GoPro.
Electronic HyperSmooth stabilization can be one good reason they choose this camera over its rivals.
TimeWrap:
TimeWrap is just like the time-lapse video, but HyperSmooth applied it. Time Wrap enables the user to get ultra-smooth and stable results of timelapse videos. Time Wrap gives the option to capture different time-lapse speeds, including 2x, 5x, 10x, 15x, and 30x.
Standard timelapse videos are best when the camera is in a static position; otherwise, optical results are jerky. With hyper smooth, this camera is an excellent option the capture timelapse videos even for bikers during their bumpy rides.
Good audio quality:
One of the significant and noticeable improvements in Go Pro Hero 7 is its enhanced sound quality. Better audio quality is like a blessing in disguise to complement the boosted video quality via HyperSmooth stabilization.
The microphone membrane of a camera is re-designed by experts to capture more subtle sounds. The new design also ensures that the device doesn’t pick up unnecessary noises from the environment and eliminate vibrations.
Built-in processor targets and eliminates vibrating sounds. Better audio quality provides more natural bass \ brighter mids and captures the more dynamic range of tones, i.e., deeper lows and higher highs.
Voice control:
You have also got voice control on this camera. This feature comes in very handy when you want to go hands-free. During surfing, climbing, and snowboarding, this is very useful. Hero7 can be controlled by two commands: ‘GoPro Capture’ and ‘GoPro Stop Capture.’
It can be advantageous, but with this device, voice control is hit or miss. Many users complained about it being unresponsive at times. Both commands to control the camera do not respond at all sometimes.
Improved UI with portrait orientation:
On the rear of GoPro Hero 7, there is a touchscreen. It is in the same place as its predecessor, Hero Go Pro 6, but several things are redesigned, such as menus, modes, and settings. It is easier to operate now.
Resolution and frame rate are now displayed on the bottom of the screen, whereas battery percentage and available space of memory card are shown on the upper side off-screen. One addition Go Pro did while revamping the user interference is the addition of Portrait Mode. This mode allows shooting vertical photos and videos.
Still photography
The image quality of Hero 07 Black is outstanding, with an output of 12MP. Just like for videos, there are several dedicated features for images too. The images can be captured in both RAW and JPEG format. Dynamic range capture is also offered for still – WDR (wide dynamic range) or HDR (high dynamic range).
SuperPhoto
It’s another new feature introduced via this camera. SuperPhoto automatically enhances the images making results come out more sharp and smooth. When images are captured with this feature turned on, an additional 1.5 to 2 seconds is automatically spent on each camera. The resulting images show less contrast as well as automatic and minor shifts in White Balance too.
Live streaming:
If you connect your device to the Go Pro App on your smartphone, you can live stream your shooting. All you need is Wi-Fi or cellular data to broadcast it. When Hero 7 was newly launched, the user can only conduct a 720p live stream on Facebook using WiFi or mobile service. But with an update now, one can also perform a 720p live stream on YouTube too.
Responsive Smartphone Integration with Camera:
Usually, many cameras allow operating your camera via your smartphone by connecting the camera to the app on a mobile phone. Well and reasonable, but actual trouble starts after this. A lot of times, these integrations come out terrible.
There is always a hit or miss that established connectivity will work without changing the camera or mobile phone’s operating system. But when you are using Hero 7, this connectivity is very reliable.
It is highly responsive and makes it easy to control your camera entirely via your mobile phone, and helps you share images and videos immediately after capturing them.
Once your Hero 07 Black is connected with your smartphone, controlling the camera becomes more fun and easy. IOS and Android, as well as GoPro and Quik apps, are supported. By connecting the camera with a smartphone, you can easily share footage and do all basic editing on your smartphone.
QuikStories feature in-app will also edit your footages to ready-to-post by adding music in the background and filters, et cetera.
Stabilization
No matter how fast you’re moving while shooting, ultra-high-definition videos and images are guaranteed – all thanks to the new built-in Electronic Image Stabilization. GoPro named it HyperSmooth. In the Hero series’s recent models, we also came across HyperSmooth 2.0 and 3.0, updates of HyperSmooth, but originally introduced via GoPro Hero 07 Black.
This built-in stabilization is equivalent to the stabilization offered by Gimbal. It works perfectly with higher resolutions of 4k and 1080p and also underwater. To make HyperSmooth possible, GoPro increased the Hero 07 Black’s processing memory, and the results turned out great.
It made this action camera smart enough to look at how motion is happening from frame to frame proactively. In rapid movements such as skiing, diving, hiking, biking, et cetera, the camera adjusts correction automatically and makes the video super smooth.
If you want to find out even more about this product, I am inviting you to watch a YouTube video by Ben Schmanke from the channel AuthenTech. It is an excellent comparison between GoPro HERO 7 Black, Silver, and White:
Mounts and accessories:
There are some accessories in this camera package, including official Go Pro branded mounts and third-party mounts. You don’t need to buy anything extra to add creativity to your videos and photographs.
GoPro Hero7 Black specs:
- Box Dimensions (LxWxH): 9.7 x 5.8 x 3.1 inches
- Package Weight: 0.925 lb
- General Weight: 3.33 oz / 94.4 g
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 2.4 x 1.8 x 1.1″ / 6.2 x 4.5 x 2.8 cm
- Battery: Built-In Lithium-Ion Battery, 3.85 VDC
- Charging method: USB
- Camera sensor: 1-Chip CMOS
- Sensor Resolution: 10 MP
- Recording media: 1 x micro SD
- Video format: 3840 x 2160p at 24/30 fps (30 Mb/s MP4 via H.264/AVC) 1920 x 1440p at 30/60 fps
- Still Image Resolution: JPEG: 10 Megapixel, 3648 x 2736
- Display Type: LCD (TOUCH SCREEN)
- Screen size: 2 inches
- Screen resolution: 320 x 480
- Photo ISO Range: 100 the 1600 (Auto)
- Video ISO Range: 100 the 1600 (Auto)
- Burst Photo: 15 Photos / 1 Second
- Image Stabilization: Digital
- Waterproof Depth Rating: 33.0′ / 10.0 m (Camera)
- Built-In Mic: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Tripod Mount: None
- Inputs: 1 x USB 3.0 Type-C
- Outputs: None
- Microphone input: None
Pros:
- Excellent quality image stabilization. HyperSmooth Video Stabilization up to 4K / 60 fps
- Audio quality better than ever. Improved audio recording
- Waterproof body. No extra waterproof casing is required.
- Live streaming feature
- Great video quality
- Impressive stills can be captured.
- Several mounts and accessories come with the package.
- Function of TimeWrap
- Good App support
- Up the 8x slo-mo at full HD
- Voice control
Cons:
- No perfect battery life just like predecessors
- The device heats while 4k recording
- System hangs. Unresponsive UI occasionally
- Options with the same features are available at a relatively lower cost.
Final Verdict:
Hero 7 black <-Affiliate Link 🙂 instantly become popular among users. It is small and lightweight, but performance-wise it is a beast. The image stabilization is brilliant, and you can get insanely brilliant footage with this incredible and ultimate action camera.
The HyperSmooth stabilization is of the next level, and the camera is the best one so far by GoPro. App support is better than all device competitors, TimeWrap, voice control, and live streaming.
What more can you wish for from an action camera? It can be your best all-rounder camera to capture nature and all your important moments of life.
