T3 - UK (2020-10)

OCTOBER 2020 T3 67

GoPro HERO9 Black

HERO8, but also flags just how
seriously the DJI Osmo Action
competition has been taken by GoPro.
Next door to the new screen, that
newly-boosted 23.6MP sensor might
look similar to the HERO8 at a glance,
but there’s a surprise in store – the
lens cover is back, and in Gorilla Glass
too. A simple twist not only allows
you to swap out scratched lenses, but
also upgrade via the Max Lens Mod,
a whopping 155 degree FOV that
delivers ‘unbreakable’ video
stabilisation. The Max Lens Mod also
boasts a ‘powerful horizon lock’,
that’s baked into the mod, although
you’ll be pretty happy with the native
GoPro HERO9 Black’s impressive
Horizon Levelling skills.
In addition, avid GoPro-ers have
access to the series of ‘Mods’ that were
introduced with the HERO8 to play
with, all engineered with different
superpowers. There’s now a Light Mod
that maxes out at 200 lumens, a Media
Mod directional mic, and a Display
Mod, a 2” front facing display. While
the specs look similar, it’s not
currently clear if these HERO8 Mods

are the same as the HERO9, but due to

the larger size of the HERO9, the Media

Mod is likely to be unique to each unit,

with the Display and Light Mods

potentially interchangeable.

Cornering the market

The overall build quality – as you’d

expect – is excellent; rubberised

industrial corners blend into un-

markable matte plastic, while

critical areas such as the battery

cover and mounting tabs are

comfortingly solid alloy. Those

mounting tabs will be familiar to

GoPro HERO8 users, and will be just

as well received, folding flat for

storage but easily extended and

clamped for use. While the HERO9 is

no giant, it is slightly larger in every

respect than the HERO8. However,

it’s packing not only a more powerful

sensor, but also another 500mAh in

the battery department, and a 16%

larger rear screen to boot.

Another improvement is the

packaging – the HERO9 is GoPro’s

first camera to ship without plastic

packaging, instead arriving in a

zippered travel case – one less

accessory to lay out for, and less

packaging to wrestle with. Win, win.

As you’d expect from a GoPro, the

controls are beautifully simple to

operate, even with just two buttons

• power/mode on the left side and
  record start/stop on the top right.
  There are four pre-loaded Capture
  Presets (Standard, Activity,
  Cinematic and Slo-Mo) that let you
  jump right into recording the action
  without getting bogged down in
  endless settings, which has long been
  a key USP in GoPro’s favour. There are
  up to ten slots available for your own
  custom settings if you need them,
  catering for the professionals too.
  By linking to the GoPro app via
  Bluetooth, and over Wi-Fi for more
  intensive meddling, you can remotely
  control the camera, preview shots
  and share them direct, as well as
  make edits on the go. Finally, you
  can create 1080p livestreams
  immediately, with presets for social
  channels including Facebook and
  YouTube, as well as a manual option
  for the perennially awkward.

VIVID VIDEOS

With a scaled-up sensor, it’s not

surprising the HERO9 offers truly

stunning video, from gorgeous

5K at 30fps to super-slick 240fps

at 1080p – it’s great for rapid

action and slo-mos alike.

Make yourself a

movie! The

resolution is

near-Hollywood

quality

TOUGH CUSTOMER

The HERO9 is very solidly

built, with rubberised

corners and a tough alloy

protecting key components.

It’s also a bit of a beast,

making room for its bigger

battery and screen.