The Hero7 Black wowed us with its stabilisation, however sizzling on its heels was the unbelievable DJI Osmo Action. It added a entrance display screen and held issues that bit steadier, however GoPro isn’t going anyplace, having stepped issues up with its Hypersmooth 2.0 Hero8 Black.

Combining 12MP decision with a spread of large angles, waterproofing, next-gen stabilisation and the neatest timelapse recording we’ve ever used, it’s a much-improved mini beast compared the Hero7 Black. That stated, does it have sufficient to take down the Osmo Action too and safeguard its GoPro’s place going into 2020?

Design: glad ft

Our HeroEight spotlight? Those folding ft. The digital camera’s new mounting system means it doesn’t want housing to securely clasp it onto a conventional GoPro mount. The ft pivot in to create a mount, and out of the underside of the digital camera like butterfly wings, magnetically clicking again into place in a flash.

On first impression, they may appear fragile, GoPro assured us thay are robust to crack, and the very fact ours survived a head/GoPro first fall off a motorbike, is a testomony to that truth.

More than only a boon for digital camera mounting comfort, with no housing, you possibly can swap out batteries and reminiscence playing cards in moments with out having to take away it from the mount. Unlike the GoPro Max, the HeroEight is waterproof as much as 33ft or 10m, so it’s good for a little bit of snorkelling or moist circumstances, and the water-sealed card slot is on the correct facet together with the battery.

The Hero8’s rubberised end doesn’t really feel super-premium, however it’s stable. Given that that is an motion cam, the very fact ours cleaned off extremely simply after being caked in mud will matter extra to anybody who desires to strap one and pave the muddy manner. 

Screen: Sharp however small

The Hero8 Black’s display screen is touch-sensitive and really responsive, however we want it was greater.

The DJI Osmo Action’s is each bigger and there’s a second show on the entrance for selfie video and photographs. On the plus, the Hero8 Black’s viewing angles are first rate and it’s as sharp and vibrant because it must be.

Honestly, we did not actually miss having a entrance display screen having come from the Osmo Action, plus, with GoPro’s upcoming Media Mod, Light Mod and Display Mod, we’ll be seeing an optionally available selfie display screen hit the market shortly.

Video: Hypersmooth 2.0

When you contemplate its dimension and, nicely, physics, the GoPro Hero8 Black is bonkers. You shake, it stays nonetheless and holds onto element like a champion, however it isn’t with out some minor quirks.

Right up till nightfall, outcomes look detailed and easy at as much as 4K decision 60fps, and its ultra-wide-angle will get the whole lot in shot. In the darkish although, use your telephone.

The Hero8 Black options 4 synthetic lenses – slim, large, wider and widest – regardless of the very fact it has just one digital camera module, cropping into the super-wide optical focal size. Then there’s HyperSmooth 2.0, which has three ranges of stabilisation. Boost is the large canine, cropping into your shot for mind-bendingly easy seize – the smoothest on any digital camera we’ve ever used. Clarity does endure a bit consequently although, so we usually left it at commonplace or excessive.

If you’re a fan of time-lapses, then TimeWarp 2.Zero will tickle you pink. Why 2.0? It now has auto pace detection and GoPro’s pace ramping means you possibly can faucet the display screen if you wish to decelerate the timelapse impact, preserving body charges constant, then pace it up once more. This slipping out and in of life on quick ahead creates gorgeous footage.

GoPro’s new seize presets imply anybody can get taking pictures with their Hero8 Black. They change body charges, decision and stabilisation presets to ensure you don’t waste house in your reminiscence card, however nonetheless prioritise the footage you’re after.

It additionally streams stay at 1080p, bettering the 720p decision of the Hero7 Black, and there’s a GPS inside too, so you possibly can geotag your adventures. As for photographs, high quality is sweet and the Hero8 Black can seize big, expansive landscapes. That stated, your smartphone is best if you happen to’re not on the lookout for ultrawide snaps.

What else?

As with older fashions, the GoPro HeroEight connects with iOS and Android gadgets by means of the GoPro app, Photos and movies auto switch to your telephone, so you possibly can simply share your Hero8 Black’s footage and these can, in flip, be auto backed as much as the cloud.

The GoPro app additionally provides you entry to primary edits too, so you possibly can set footage in opposition to music and apply themes to make shareable nuggets of pleasure.

As for the digital camera’s battery life, it lasts round 50 minutes, which is sweet for a day trip sporadically taking pictures brief clips on a single cost. If you intend on repeatedly taking pictures lengthy clips, undoubtedly get a spare or two. The Hero8 Black expenses by way of USB-C, the battery door is detachable, and you’ll shoot with it plugged into an influence financial institution which is ace.

GoPro Hero8 Black verdict

At £379, the GoPro Hero8 Black is something however low cost, however the expertise it delivers isn’t low cost both.

There are a few issues we’d have favored to have seen – an even bigger display screen and higher low gentle video seize. In addition, getting footage on and off the app was a bit fiddly when utilizing an Android 10 telephone.

That stated, the nuts and bolts of utilizing the HeroEight as an motion digital camera are precisely the place they should be. The promise of the upcoming mods which look set so as to add improved sound recording and a vlogging show to the combo are whetting our appetites properly too.

In flip, GoPro’s Hero-line could be very a lot nonetheless the motion cam to beat, and we will’t wait to see what’s on the HyperSmooth horizon from the OG of motion cams as we hurtle into 2020.