GoPro has officially unveiled the HERO13 Black with 5.3K and 4K HDR capture, interchangeable lenses, and HyperSmooth 6.0 Image Stabilization.
Key features
- 27MP with Improved Performance
- 5.3K60/4K120/2.7K240 Video, 27MP Photos
- Compatible with HB-Series Lens Mods
- Upgraded Mounting Ecosystem
- HyperSmooth 6.0 Image Stabilization
- Front and Rear LCD Screens
- Bluetooth Audio Connectivity and Control
- 33′ Waterproof without Housing
- 8x Slow-Motion Video
- 1900mAh Capacity Rechargeable Battery
The new GoPro HERO 13 Black will retail for $399.99 USD and while a lot is unchanged from the HERO12 Black, the interchangeable lens system is a nice touch.
Video & Photo Capture
The GoPro HERO13 Black features the same 8:7 Aspect Ratio 1/1.9” sensor that is found in the HERO12 Black. The sensor can be cropped into vertical 9:16, widescreen 16:9, traditional 4:3 or full-frame 8:7 aspect ratios. This is available across all video resolutions as well as TimeWarp, Time Lapse, Night Lapse, and all Night Effects modes.
The HERO13 Black can capture High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photo and Video. Video can be captured in 5.3K up to 60p and 4K in 10-bit. You can also capture 4K at up to 120fps and 2.7k at up to 240fps. This is unchanged from the HERO12 Black.
There is also a Burst Slo-Mo mode that allows you to capture 720p at 400fps.
Photos can be captured as 27 megapixels and you can also take frame grabs from the video at 24.7 megapixels.
There is also a Vertical Capture mode, even when the camera is used horizontally, it will capture 9:16 video because of the camera’s unique 8:7 aspect ratio sensor.
Interval Photo joins a suite of Power Tools designed to help you capture video and photos in unique ways. Interval Photo enables photo capture at fixed intervals, from every 0.5 seconds all the way up to every 120 seconds.
There are also Night Effects with Still Images, allowing you to capture Light Painting, Vehicle Light Trails, and Star Trails.
HB-Series Interchangeable Lenses
When GoPro announced the HERO12 Black they also introduced a new (optional) Max Lens Mod 2.0 accessory, enabling the HERO12 Black to achieve the market’s widest 177° field of view at up to 4K 60p.
The Max Lens Mod 2.0 can capture video and photos in three field-of-view settings—Max Wide, Max SuperView and the all-new, hyper-immersive Max HyperView. This utilized the HERO12 Black’s extra-large 8:7 sensor to enable perspectives that are 36% wider when capturing widescreen video and 48% taller when capturing vertical video, when compared to HER012 Black’s standard lens.
Well, now GoPro has taken that concept a step further and you can use a variety of optional interchangeable lenses with the camera. These include:
- Anamorphic
- Ultra Wide
- Macro
- ND Filters
GoPro has made these with a smart interface so that the camera automatically detects what is on the front and then sets the camera to the correct shooting mode.
The HB-Series Anamorphic Lens Mod is the easiest way for cinematographers and creators of all levels to capture cinematic, ultra wide-angle footage with reduced distortion. The camera and lens do all the work, allowing users to get the anamorphic look they want without needing to know how to do it in post-production. It uses the 21:9 aspect. Simply attach the lens, and your camera will adjust its settings accordingly. Durable and scratch-resistant, the lens is waterproof when installed.
The HB-Series Macro Lens Mod comes with a manual variable focus ring that gets you 4x closer to your subject, from 4.33in (11cm) to 2.46ft (75cm) while focus peaking helps you see what’s in focus on the camera screen. Simply attach the lens and your camera will adjust its settings. Durable, scratch resistant and waterproof when installed.
The HB-Series Ultra Wide Lens Mod expands HERO13 Black’s field of view (FOV) to 177°, which is 36% wider and 48% taller than shots captured with its standard lens. It also maximizes HyperSmooth performance for unbreakable in-camera video stabilization with stunning 4K60 video resolution. Simply attach the lens, and your camera will adjust its settings accordingly. Durable and scratch-resistant, the lens is waterproof when installed.
The HB-Series neutral density (ND) filters are automatically detected by the HERO13 Black and it and shifts into Auto Cinematic video mode. Advanced users can select the Auto 180° shutter setting, or manually configure the shutter speed and exposure settings to fine-tune a shot for the lighting conditions. Made from scratch-resistant, high-optical quality glass and waterproof when installed.
HyperSmooth 6.0
HyperSmooth 6.0 features a next-generation AutoBoost that automatically boosts video stabilization as needed while maintaining the smallest cropping margin possible. HyperSmooth 6.0 also enables horizon-leveling even with full 360° camera rotation in the Linear + Horizon Lock digital lens or in all lens settings when using the Max Lens Mod 2.0 accessory.
According to GoPro, HyperSmooth 6.0 can analyze your footage up to 4x faster than HyperSmooth 5.0.
Horizon Lock is very impressive because when it is activated, it doesn’t matter if the camera goes upside down or spins 360 degrees, the horizon will stay level.
GP-LOG + available LUTs
There is a LOG recording mode with downloadable LUTs that you can use.
Currently, the only LUT available is GPLOG_Auto_WB.cube.
Wireless Bluetooth audio support
The HERO13 Black features wireless Bluetooth audio support for Apple AirPods and other Bluetooth audio devices such as earbuds, headphones and microphones. This is handy for vlogging, scene narration and issuing voice commands to control your HERO13 Black from a distance.
Battery Time
The new larger 1900mAh Enduro Battery has a re-engineered battery connector specific to HERO13 Black, which delivers improved efficiency and longer runtime, and up to 2.5 hours of continuous recording. Enduro Battery for HERO13 Black is not compatible with older GoPros.
More Enhanced Features
- In-camera Power Tools maximize your battery life. HindSight captures up to 30 seconds of footage before you start recording. Scheduled Capture turns the GoPro on by itself to get a shot up to 24 hours in advance. Duration Capture can capture video clips from 15 seconds to 2 hours long. Interval Photo snaps photos at fixed intervals.
- Use the HERO13 as a webcam or live stream your next activity with professional features.
- Plug your HERO13 in when connected to your home Wi-Fi and automatically upload your footage to the cloud. A highlight video is sent to your phone and can then be edited with beat-synced music and effects.
User Interface & Quik desktop app
The user interface is the same as that of the HERO12 Black. It includes simplified controls plus a Vertical Capture Mode that captures vertical 9:16 aspect ratio video while the camera is mounted horizontally.
There are updated “Easy Controls” for users looking for maximum convenience and streamlined “Pro Controls” for advanced users looking for maximum control and efficiency.
GoPro subscribers can also utilize the Quik desktop app. The Quik desktop app is available exclusively to GoPro subscribers at no additional charge. Quik desktop brings the speed and convenience of the Quik mobile app to desktop users but with an expanded list of features and capabilities that take advantage of a desktop computer’s processing power and screen size.
Quik desktop and Quik mobile apps will sync with one another so that you can start an editing project on one app and seamlessly transition to the other for maximum convenience and flexibility.
Wireless Timecode Sync
The HERO13 Black features wireless timecode sync so that you can sync up an unlimited number of HERO13 Black and HERO12 Black cameras for easy multi-camera editing in Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premier, etc.
Other Features
The HERO13 Black’s mounting fingers feature 1/4-20 mounting threads, making it compatible with standard camera mounts and accessories.
There is also an Auto-Upload to the Cloud, Auto Edits + Unlimited Backup which is available for GoPro subscribers. The HERO12 Black auto-uploads to your GoPro cloud account while the camera is charging, and you’ll receive an automatic highlight video after the upload is complete. There’s no limit to the amount of GoPro footage you can upload to your GoPro cloud account and all footage is claimed to be stored at 100% source quality.
The HERO13 Black is waterproof to 33 feet with no additional housing required. This is the same depth as the HERO12 Black. GoPro subscribers can get a “no questions asked” damaged camera replacement.
GoPro also has a 48-inch-long extension pole that collapses to just 10 inches and is designed to work with the HERO12 Black and HERO13 Black’s 1/4-20 mounting threads. Mounting fingers are also included to ensure compatibility with all GoPro cameras.
Included with the extension pole is a detachable, wearable, and waterproof Bluetooth shutter remote that makes it easy to control HERO13 and HERO12 Black’s shutter even when the pole is fully extended. The remote is compatible with the HERO13 Black, HERO12 Black, HERO11 Black, HERO11 Black Mini, and HERO10 Black.
Contacto Magnetic Door & Power Cable Kit
The magnetic cable forms a weatherproof seal with the door and connects to any USB-C power source to continuously power your camera.
Price & Availability
As I previously mentioned, the GoPro HERO13 Black will retail for $399.99 USD. Which is the same price as the previous HERO12 Black.
The HB-Series | Variable Close-Focus Wide Angle Lens is $129.99 USD.
The HB-Series | 177° Ultra Stabilized POV Lens is $99.99 USD.
The HB-Series | ND4 / ND8 / ND16 / ND32 is $69.99 USD.
The HB-Series | Cinematic Ultra Wide Angle Lens is $129.99 USD.
