T3 - UK (2020-10)

It almost goes without saying, but
the HERO9 does indeed knock out
incredible quality video and stills.
This is in part due to the significant
bump in sensor resolution, but the
real stars of the show is GoPro’s
backroom work with presets and
software tools. Hypersmooth and
Timewarp will be familiar to HERO7
and HERO8 owners, but here they’re
both upgraded once again (now both
on V3) and deliver noticeably better
results even on stock settings.
Horizon levelling is now baked
into the camera, not just the app, and
is immediately noticeable. Using the
GoPro-supplied RC buggy in testing
creates astonishingly smooth and
watchable footage even in extremely
bumpy situations, more akin to a
professional rig than an action cam.
That impression is boosted when
grabbing frames from 5K video,
which due to the oceans of resolution
available still come out at 14.7MP/16:9,
like you’re running a high-end SLR.
Also like an SLR, the burst function
for stills is impressive, augmented by
LiveBurst (from the HERO8) that
captures 1.5 seconds of the action
before and after you hit the button,
making sure you don’t miss the best
bit of the action.

This package so far adds up to a

powerful and competent device, but

GoPro have packed in yet more, with

Hindsight and Scheduled Capture

tools. The latter is brilliant for

time-lapse shots: just set and forget,

while the former adds real magic to

the mix, enabling you to capture up to

30 seconds of footage before you hit

the shutter button – a huge boon for

those of us who realise too late that

something awesomely video-worthy

just happened.

There’s more good news too, as the

occasionally buggy voice controls of

the HERO7 and HERO8 are now

improved. Although limited to 14 key

commands, the voice control in quiet

environments works perfectly,

although less well in noisier

situations, which are the times when

it really needs to work seamlessly.

Great leaps forward

As ever with a new GoPro edition, it’s

hard to not like the HERO9’s newly-

honed imaging abilities, and the

supporting software just keeps

getting better. GoPro has done one

thing very well here, and that’s

making the 9 seem much better than

the 8, which will obviously see a

significant price drop now the new,

more desirable model has arrived.

Unlike previous models though, the

step-up that the HERO9 brings is

across the board, and that front-

facing screen will make the HERO9

a no-brainer for those wanting to

capture properly-framed direct-to-

camera moments. The new horizon

levelling, smoothing technology

really does make a vast difference to

the quality of video you’ll capture

while moving, from mountain biking

to track days, surfing to snorkelling.

This is the new action cam to beat.

WE’RE IMPRESSED Massive specs on every

front; potent but easy to use; solid build quality.

WE’D IMPROVE Quite heavy for some uses;

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THE LAST WORD Beats rivals on nearly every

front; the total package for pros and amateurs.

VERDICT

Discover more of the best action cams at:

bit.ly/t3actcam

OCTOBER 2020 T3 69

GoPro HERO9 Black

Features include

Scheduled Capture,

which is great for

time-lapse shots

VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

The once-buggy voice

controls of previous

generations have been

improved, though they still

struggle out in the field.