The Hero 12 finally went on sale today, admittedly it’s a pre-sale with the actual camera not hitting shelves or shipping until the 13th. However GoPro were pretty forthcoming with all the details about their latest flagship camera. So the question now is whether or not people will be upgrading. Well, in this article we’ll be looking at the good, the great and the terrible decisions that GoPro seem to have made and my thoughts on these changes.
THE GOOD:
Increased battery life.
So turning off wireless connections, hypersmooth, screens and voice control.
5.3K 60FPS can now shoot for up to 70 mins compared to 35 mins on the Hero 11
4K 120FPS can now shoot for 58 minutes compared to 28 mins on the Hero 11
Slight increases by 13 – 14 minutes in 4K 30FPS and 1080p 60FPS
A lot of people have been pretty impressed by this and GoPro claim to have reworked power management from the ground up. So with some other power saving changes made (more on that in a moment), this is a pretty impressive jump in battery life in some pretty impressive frame rates and resolution.
Max Lens Mod 2.0
4K 60FPS Hyperview in 177 degrees with horizon lock.
Again, something a lot of people were wanting. Now this Max Lens Mod 2.0 is a GoPro 12 exclusive which is strange to me. After all, the Hero 12 is using the same processor and sensor as the Hero 11. However it’s possible that this performance is only possible in the reworked power management so this could explain why the Max Lens Mod 2.0 is not backwards compatible.
New mounting fingers.
1/4 inch tripod mounting adapter now built into the mounting fingers. While this doesn’t seem like a huge upgrade, it will expand compatibility for the camera when using a lot of 3rd party mounts. So it’s a simple upgrade, but a good one.
Expanded 8:7 modes.
So even star trails now supports 8:7 modes. This adds a lot more options when editing your video footage as now you have the ability to reframe even more of your shots.
Night effects photo modes.
So now when you use the night effects option to record night effects video, a still photo will also be automatically generated showcasing your shot. So an excellent option when it comes to posting to social sites as you no longer have to get a screen grab, you’ll now get a separate photo of your night shot.
Hypersmooth 6.0
The new hypersmooth has improved the Auto boost function by processing 4X as much information. This means your footage is even smoother than before. Hopefully this will also solve the horrible panning issues that hypersmooth is well known for.
THE AWESOME:
Live Preview:
Preview while recording is back! Yes, for all the complainers out there, you can now preview your footage while recording. Handy for setting up shots if you’re filming solo as now you can monitor your shots and ensure that your camera angles are properly set up while recording.
Bluetooth Audio support:
Now you can use your Bluetooth headphones as a microphone. This is a pretty huge update as you no longer need to use the media mod for external audio. You can also control the camera via voice commands using your Bluetooth headset. This will be huge for moto vloggers. You can also record your Bluetooth audio and external audio as a separate track and record sound using the camera mics too. So this will really benefit the more professional creators who work with multiple audio tracks.
HDR video and GP LOG Video Mode:
HDR is going to give you fear better shots in different lighting conditions. The Gp LOG formats gives you the flattest recording option in 10bit for much better color grading in post production. GoPro will be releasing some LUT’s to support this
Improved navigation menu’s:
Menu’s have been improved and cleaned up, so now it’s much easier to adjust settings on your camera. There is also a built-in display specifically to let you know what footage has been uploaded to the cloud and what is still waiting to be uploaded.
TimeCode Sync:
So for those using multiple cameras or timecode supported devices who need to sync their cameras up, this is a huge advantage for professional creators.
New Sequence photo mode:
Before with a sequence of photo’s, image information was shared across the photo sequence. So in timelapse photo modes, there was no sudden jumps in color or lighting during the timelapse sequence. However this meant that if you wanted to grab an individual photo from a sequence, you may not have been getting the optimal color and lighting for that one shot. So with the new sequence mode, each photo is taken individually and color and light corrections are applied individually.
THE BAD!
NO GPS SUPPORT ON BOARD!
Gyro data is still there, but no GPS. So likely you’ll need to use the app or a new remote to record GPS data. This is pretty much what we’ve seen from the competition who also didn’t have GPS support built in. Instead GPS data had to be logged via the camera app or a GPS remote. However the results have been less than optimal. I feel that this change was made to reduce overheating (no longer logging GPS data while the camera is recording) and increase camera runtimes. There is a new FCC application for a new remote, so we’ll see what that brings. Hopefully with the new Bluetooth 5.2 on board, range and connection won’t be an issue.
So my overall opinion on the camera is this. The Hero 12 has some very interesting new features, however the only hardware change is the Bluetooth upgrade and the removal of the GPS chip. For someone who is an avid aviator, the removal of GPS is a very big blow. On the other hand, I use a Bluetooth aviation headset, so the ability to record ATC and cockpit talk while the camera is mounted outside the airplane is compelling. In fact I predict a lot of people will want to ditch their media mods and use Bluetooth mics…. and then go back to using a media mod when they realize how terrible Bluetooth microphones sound.
I ordered a GoPro Hero 12 due to the fact I want to give viewers of my website and channel an in depth review. However if I wasn’t a creator… I’m honestly not sure I would have purchased one. A lot of my viewers seem to feel the same way. Maybe when the camera arrives I’ll change my mind, but as of right now, I’m just not feeling it…
Are you looking forward to buying the GoPro Hero 11… I mean… GoPro Hero 12… when it’s released in the next 2 weeks? Well GoPro are betting big on this one… by making this their smallest update yet.
Let’s take a quick look at the specs of the Hero 10, Hero 11, and the alleged specs of the Hero 12.
GoPro Hero 10
GoPro Hero 11
GoPro Hero 12
5.3k 60FPS
5.3k 60FPS
5.3k 60FPS
8 Bit
10 bit
10 bit
1/2.3″ CMOS
1/1.9″ CMOS
1/1.9″ CMOS
Timelapse 4K
Timelapse 5.3K
Timelapse 5.3K
Rear Display 2.27″ Touch LCD
Rear Display 2.27″ Touch LCD
Rear Display 2.27″ Touch LCD
Front Display 1.4″ Color LCD
Front Display 1.4″ Color LCD
Front Display 1.4″ Color LCD
HDR Video
Aspect Ratio 16:9 4:3
Aspect Ratio 16:9 4:3 8:7
Aspect Ratio 16:9 4:3 8:7
Max Lens Mod
Max Lens Mod
Max Lens Mod 2.0
Hypersmooth 4.0
Hypersmooth 5.0
Hypersmooth 6.0
As you can see, on paper, all 3 models are pretty similar. The main difference between the Hero 10 and Hero 11 was that the Hero 11 had a taller sensor with allowed for an 8:7 shooting aspect ratio. There was an increase to 10bit color and some built in camera effects (night trails, light painting etc). While the taller 8:7 sensor could be considered a significant hardware upgrade, I’m not convinced that the other features (in camera effects, 10bit color) couldn’t have been implemented into the Hero 10 with a firmware upgrade.
Now we have the Hero 12. Which on paper, seems to be a Hero 11 in every single regard. This is a huge costs savings for GoPro as it means they haven’t had to spend time and money with developing, testing or implementing new hardware features. In fact, just about everything “new” with the camera would be on the software side of things. There will be one or two new accessories no doubt (the Max Lens Mod 2.0 has all but been confirmed) and the Hero 12 will have HDR video shooting capabilities (the spec sheet also claims LOG, however the packaging doesn’t mention this at all).
Top 5 reasons why all of the above actually GOOD for the end user!
1: Due to the time saved by NOT investing in new hardware and testing, GoPro have had the time to build upon a stable and proven platform. This means that the GoPro Hero 12 may be GoPro’s most reliable and stable camera yet.
2: Even though there’s no major hardware changes, there still could be other changes under the hood, for instance new thermal compounds and materials could help run the camera even cooler as could a redesigned PCB.
3: Professional users have been requesting LOG for a long time, now they may finally get it. Prosumer will finally be able to avail of HDR video.
4: GoPro will have new accessories for the new model. A Max Lens Mod 2.0 has been confirmed (and advertising seems to suggest it may even offer nightlapse capture). A new remote is also on the way according to the FCC filing.
5: Those who have invested in previous model cameras will find that for the most part, their accessories still work and are supported by the Hero 12 (batteries, cases, selfie sticks etc), so no need to invest in newer accessories if you don’t want to.
Top 5 reasons why all of the above is actually BAD for the end user!
1: No new obvious hardware innovation from GoPro. This may be the “slightest” update of their camera yet. This does kinda make you feel a bit “ripped off”. It’s hard to justify an investment in the latest Hero 11… I mean…. Hero 12.
2: GoPro used to set the bar and they set it high. With these incremental updates, the competition is just edging closer and closer. This makes it hard to justify staying with GoPro regardless of whether you’re a loyal fan or a casual user. We’ve seen the Osmo Action 4 release with a larger sensor which may offer better low light capabilities. GoPro seem content with giving users a recycled camera so to speak.
3: You really can’t help but feel that all of these “new” features of the Hero 12 could have just been implemented into the Hero 11 with a firmware update, after all, it’s the exact same camera. Some blue sparkles on the camera housing doesn’t mean a darn thing.
4: If GoPro have been saving time and money by turning a Hero 11 into a Hero 12, couldn’t they have put the time and money into improving the GoPro app? What’s it been? 2 years and we still can’t make a Multi Clip Edit in 5.3K without black clips appearing in our final edit?
5: If this new camera really is a Hero 11 with a locked out firmware upgrade…. Will future camera’s follow this trend When do we get a subscription model basis of “You can activate Hypersmooth 9.0 and 8K resolution for just $20 a month”. You can scoff at that if you want, but in the back of your mind… you know BMW has done it with their “heated seats”, Tesla has done it with their FSD … what makes you think GoPro won’t try this? After all, they admit the saving grace of their company has been their GoPro Plus subscription…
So at the end of the day, the GoPro Hero 12 may be GoPro’s biggest gamble yet. In short, by not investing (seemingly) in any significant new hardware, they have potentially saved time and costs on research and testing with their latest model camera. So to me it seems they have taken the GoPro Hero 11, written a “12” on the side of it and have passed it off as a brand new camera. If this works, then GoPro stand to make a nice profit from the sale of an old camera, as a new model camera. Investors will be impressed for sure.
However it may also blow up in GoPro’s face. Even before the camera announcement, people (myself included) were excited by the prospect of a significant GoPro hardware upgrade. Not only has that rug been pulled out from under our feet, but when the official specs were finally leaked, it seems a lot of people (myself included) were seriously underwhelmed. A lot of people are under the impression that the GoPro Hero 12 is just a re-dressed GoPro Hero 11. No matter what extra software tricks are up the camera’s sleeve, the incentive to buy just isn’t there. So GoPro may just learn the hard way why it’s not a good idea to quit impressing their customers and lack of sales will hit GoPro where it really hurts.
Now all of the above is pure speculation, the GoPro Hero 12 may have some serious tricks up its sleeve and be able to knock our socks off. GoPro may have spent the last year winding back and ready to deliver a serious clout in about 2 week’s time when the camera is finally released. All the naysayers may end up eating their own words in spectacular fashion……… however… as of right now…. It just doesn’t feel like that’s likely.
The GoPro Hero 12 details have finally come and here’s the summery of the “real” leaks about the Hero 12. I’ll be sharing my feelings about this in a YouTube video later on. In the meantime, here’s the summery below.
The GoPro Hero 12 will have the same resolution (5.3K video, 27MP photo)
Battery life at 5.3K 60FPS will be 70 minutes (so 9 minutes longer than current)
Battery life at 5.3K 30FPS will be 1.5 hours
Battery life at 1080P 30FPS will be 2.5 hours (150 minutes compared to previous model 137 minutes)
The camera will have a HDR video mode in 5.3K. Unknown if this is present in all resolutions and frame rates
LOG Video Option available
Hypersmooth 6.0
Same size rear screen as previous models.
Release date is September 13th.
Battery life seems to be the main touted upgrade, but there is still an unconfirmed rumor that there will be new accessories.
There now follow addition information that was confirmed by Nick Woodman during August investors relations call (in case you missed it).
New version of “Quik for desktop” to be released in Q4 of this year.
New desktop version of Quik will have cloud access and synced edits across platforms (assuming original footage has been uploaded to the cloud first?)
A “slate of new hardware and software” this year (so maybe an additional GoPro model before Christmas? Is this why no major hardware work on the Hero 11… I mean… Hero 12?)
A new “entry level GoPro” Mid 2024.
A new “premium” subscription tier to be introduced. Only thing confirmed about this is that it will allow you to use images from any camera for editing.
So as you may have seen, there are some leaks of the GoPro Hero 12 going around. Now before you think this is another piece of “click bait” hopping on the bandwagon of rumor, I assure you it’s not. In fact in this post, I’m going to give you a healthy dose of reality and filter out some of the outlandish claims regarding the Hero 12.
In case you’re not familiar with the leak, a twitter account under the name “tech_insights4U” leaked 2 images of the supposed GoPro Hero 12. That’s it, that’s the only leak there is. Here are the images in question.:
Now understand, those are the only two leaks. There were no claims made regarding hardware, specs, capabilities, battery life or new features. The reason I’m hammering on about this will become clear shortly I assure you.
So what do these “leaks” tell us about the GoPro Hero 12?
Well first and foremost, “IF” these leaks are legitimate, we learn only 3 things about the GoPro Hero 12.
1: In the first picture, we can see that on the side of the device, it’s clearly written 1″ sensor.
2: In the 2nd picture, we can see that on the rear screen, the camera has been set to “Ultra Slo-Mo” with a resolution and frame rate of 4K 240FPS. This essentially doubles the current slow motion resolution capability of the Hero 10 and Hero 11 (as both do Ultra Slo-Mo at 2.7K 240FPS).
3: We can see in the 2nd picture that GoPro have increased the rear screen size by removing the rear “GoPro” logo on the back and removing most of the border. So this screen looks bigger than previous models. The camera dimensions themselves look untouched though.
So why is this important?
Well many websites are showing these leaked images, however they are also adding in their own (unsupported) claims regarding the capabilities of the camera. It’s all unverified fantasy and unfortunately for most readers, it’s the same type of claim that has been hovering around the internet since the release of the GoPro Hero 4. It seems that with every model coming out, the most original thing people can do is keep “Doubling” the specs of the previous model. So when the 5 was being released, people claimed it would film 8k. When the 6 was released, people claimed it would film 8K. When the 7 was released… well I think you can see how this goes…
So what are DemonView’s thoughts on the Hero 12?
Here’s my honest thoughts on the “leaked” GoPro Hero 12 images that are doing the rounds. I’m highly skeptical of some claims for the following reasons:
A: The 8K rumor seems to be an addendum to the images made up by a 3rd party. So one party published the “leaked” pictures, but another party republished them and added in the 8K rumor. Nothing in the photo’s indicates 8K, so that one can be put to bed. However, it seems every site out there is now making the 8K claim and it’s just getting tired and annoying. There is no, I repeat, NO… ZERO… indication that the camera will be recording in 8K.
My Verdict? The camera is not going to be 8K in my opinion. People have a hard enough time trying to edit in 4K (and most people are using budget mobile phones for crying out loud). There isn’t even that many 8K televisions or monitors that people can afford. So why even delve into this market? There would be an outcry from users claiming “I can’t edit on my $200, 8 year old, phone”. Folks, 8K is not happening, deal with it!
B: The 1″ sensor claim on the side of the camera. GoPro have kept the camera model on that side of the camera from at least the Hero 8. So Hero 8, Hero 9, Hero 10, Hero 11 all have the model number written on that side. I find it doubtful this would change to write the words “1 inch sensor” instead of “12”. Now it may change if GoPro are really trying to push the advantage of a 1″ sensor, but why change this numbering position after 4 generations?
My Verdict? It’s possible…. as you may know the Insta models have an optional 1″ sensor. The new Osmo has a sensor that’s pretty close to 1″. However with larger sensors, the focal length needs to change so they aren’t good for shots where you need to be close to the subject (such as Vlogging). So a 1″ sensor may alienate a lot of GoPro users who vlog if this holds true.
C: 240FPS in 4K? Quite the frame rate for that resolution.
My Verdict? That one may be a reality. I feel GoPro will push more use out of the Gp2 chip since it’s so new. 4K slow motion seems like a logical step for those wanting high resolution slow motion footage.
D: The device has a larger rear screen.
My Verdict? Yes, that’s entirely possible. GoPro users have complained for a while about finicky rear displays. In the case of certain models, yes, the display was…………. well……….. terrible. In other later models, it was excellent, however certain people still had issues selecting modes or settings they wanted. A larger rear display would allow for further separation between choices making accidently pressing or selecting the wrong setting much harder to do.
E: The twitter account in question really doesn’t have a history of leaks. They have very few posts and the posts they did have were phone related. It’s also a little early for leaks, I really wouldn’t have expected a leak until mid or late August.
My Verdict? They are possibly real shots. The fact that they are understated with no huge claims being made, makes this seem like they are on the level.
So what’s DemonView’s overall verdict on this one?
There are no claims as to what the camera can do other than a 1″ sensor, 4k 240FPS and a slightly larger rear screen. Testers may already have their hands on units and someone shared a few photo’s they took of the pre-release models. This could also be a very vague “controlled” release by GoPro themselves. There have been wildly incorrect misinformation in the past about upcoming releases, but these are usually easy to dismiss based on bad photoshopping with illogical design choices. In this case nothing is being said or claimed, just 2 photo’s of the GoPro Hero 12 and for me, it seems quite likely they are legit.
However, unless the low light capability of the Hero 12 is something stunning, the question will be if a slightly larger rear screen and higher resolution slow motion will be enough to make people upgrade their current models. Right now, if this is all that’s on offer… I’m not exactly blown away with excitement just yet. So GoPro still need to pull something truly special out of their hat to really make me want one. Maybe the low light performance will do that, but at the moment, I’m on the fence.
It was once said that everything looks better in slow motion. I don’t exactly disagree. Everything does seem to look awesome and better in slow motion. The ability to slow down time and highlight an exciting moment is a must in anyone’s filming toolbox. However what about fast motion video? Or High Frame rate video as it’s sometimes referred to? High frame rate video can also highlight an exciting moment in real time by making the video as crisp and clear as possible so you see every single action moment in perfect clarity. The thing is though, slow motion video and high frame rate video are the exact same thing….. Confused yet? Well don’t worry, because in this article, we’re going to look at the differences between slow motion and high frame rate video.
Now before we get into the nitty gritty, I’d also like to announce that since my YouTube channel is coming up to the milestone of nearly 2K subscribers, there’s going to be a giveaway to celebrate! This will be some exclusive DemonView swag and what could possibly be the greatest piece of technology in the world…. possibly, I don’t know, I’m still reviewing this hardware, but the lucky winner will be getting their hands on the review model. So be on look out for that when the channel hits 2K subscribers, this will be a fun cool giveaway and I’ll be announcing the details of the giveaway when we hit 2K! (if you don’t want to wait, go to my YouTube channel, hit like and subscribe now to get us to that mark sooner!).
I assure you, the prize is not an empty box!
Ok, on with the article. You’ve probably all heard of slow motion video. You know the types of shots, where things slow right down to ½, ¼, 1/8 normal speed and really highlights an epic moment or fun scene in a video. It can look stunning and honestly, it can be a lot of fun to film slow motion video. So how is it accomplished. Well this one is fairly simple and involves some very simple math.
When you’re watching what I’d refer to as a “normal speed” video. You’re watching a video that’s recorded at 30 Frames per second and then played back at 30 frames per second. This means that for every second of video recorded, there are 30 individual pictures that make up that frame.
When it comes to slow motion video though, you actually film at a much higher frame rate such as 60 frames per second. However you would then edit the video so that it plays back at 30 frames per second. This will result in you having ½ speed slow motion.
If you recorded at 90 frames per second and play back at 30fps, this gives you 1/3 speed slow motion.
Recording at 120FPS and playing back at 30 FPS, this gives you ¼ speed slow motion.
And finally, recording at 240FPS and playing back at 30FPS gives you 1/8 speed slow motion.
Now the reason we film in a higher frame rate for a slow motion shot is that if you filmed at the normal 30 frames per second and then tried to slow the footage down to ¼ speed, you would then end up with 7.5 frames per second. This would look unnatural, more like a slow paced slide show rather than smooth video. You really want that playback video to be a minimum of 24 or 30 frames per second upon playback so the video looks smooth and natural.
And THAT is the very simple math explained.
The math is much more simple than this!
So why not shoot at 240FPS all the time and then just slow down the parts you want? Well there are a couple of reasons for this.
1: You’re creating some really large files when you shoot in a higher frame rate. I mean if you record at 30 frames per second, you have a normal file size. If you record at 240frames per second, then you’re essentially creating a files size 8x larger. So you could end up running yourself out of SD card space due to the amount of information you’re capturing.
2: It’s a lot more strain on the camera to shoot at such a high frame rate, so this is going to require more battery power and drain your battery faster.
3: Since your camera is working harder, it’s going to heat up a lot faster too and no one wants their camera to overheat.
4: The higher the frame rate you use, the less time there is for light to hit the sensor of your camera, so higher frame rates require even more lighting. To low a light and too high a frame rate, and you’ll end up with a lot of ISO noise in your footage.
So when it comes to shooting slow motion video, it’s always best to do it in short bursts. This not only combats all the above listed points, but it also speeds up your editing process as now you don’t have gigs worth of data to sort though just to find the shot you want.
Now that’s the basic explanation of slow motion. So what about High Frame rate video? Well high frame rate video is something that you may have seen in a lot of TV shows or movies, but didn’t know what it was called. For instance in scenes of fast action, where you really want clear details shown during an action scene to ramp up the feeling of speed, you’d film in a higher frame rate to eliminate motion blur.
So if I film a water hose spraying water at 30FPS, you’re going to see the water spraying and that’s fine. However, if I film the same scene in a high frame rate, not only do you see the water spraying, you also see the individual water droplets in the spray. This is because at a much higher frame rate, you’re eliminating motion blur, and now, every single detail looks crystal clear.
So when you watch an action movie and see two people fighting, or see some bullet strikes hitting the ground, this is usually filmed in a much higher frame rate than 30FPS.
Now I know what you’re thinking, this sounds the exact same as slow motion, you’re shooting at a high frame rate! Well, you’re right, it’s the exact same thing! The difference is that you’re recording in a high frame rate, but you’re also going to play back at the same frame rate the video was recorded in.
So if you record at 60 Frame per second, you’re going to play back the file at 60 frames per second.
If you recorded at 120 frames pers seconds, you’re going to play back the file at 120 frames per second.
This means that you don’t get a slow motion effect since you’re playing back the file at the exact same speed it was recorded at. So your speed stays at “normal” speed. You’re just getting a much sharper, clearer image.
And that’s it! That’s the simple difference between slow motion video and high frame rate video. How they are essentially the same thing while being filmed, but the difference is how it’s played back (or rendered if you’re doing an edit).
So when should you use slow motion vs high frame rate video?
Well that’s honestly an artistic choice for you, the creator. Slow motion is good for highlighting a very specific piece of action. Like the scoring of a goal, creating a fire effect, something that only happens for an instant, but you then want to make that instant last a lot longer on film.
With High Frame rate, think of a much longer action set piece, a fight scene, a motocross bike race. Something where there is a lot of consistent action going on and is very high motion and you don’t want blurring and most important, where you don’t want to break the pace by having something in slow motion.
A good example would be a boxing match for instance. You’re film in a high frame rate to highlight the speed at which each opponent throws a punch. Using high Frame rate is excellent for this. However if you were to shoot this in slow motion, you wouldn’t end up with an exciting fast fight. You’d end up with everything being slow……. and boring… and dragging on for ages. However, you could combine the two….
Slow motion, professional stunt actors and lighting also helps make a scene look cinematic…. but ya know, mainly slow motion…..
So film the fight in a high frame rate video, but when someone lands that knock out punch, then you can slow down that one single punch to slow motion. And remember, you can do this since filming in high frame rate and slow motion are the exact same thing! It’s just that one single punch scene that you’re going to slow down to play back at 30 frames per second…
However, remember that filming in high frame rates are going to put a lot of strain on your camera, drain your battery and fill up your SD card. So it’s good to plan things out in advance, know when to use high frame rates and when not to. Do that and you’ll soon be a master cinematographer when it comes to using higher frame rates.
And there you go! The difference between high frame rate and slow motion video, why they are both the same thing and yet completely different! Hopefully you found this article helpful and you’re now on the road to being a master cinematographer.
So thanks again for watching, come back soon and check for the announcement of DemonView’s upcoming giveaway! You never know, you could be the winner (and lets face it, the odds are WAAAAY better than winning the lotto!).
We’ve reached that time of year again where I’m going to lay out my own personal predictions for the GoPro Hero 12 camera..). This is not simple “doubling” of the hardware specs from previous models like you see on some other site. These are my predictions based upon GoPro’s past release strategies and what I think we’re really likely to see from the GoPro Hero 12 as a result. So on with my predictions.
Could the Hero 12 have the same form factor as previous models?
So what has been GoPro’s hardware release strategy entailed in the past?
Well, if you’ve paid attention to the differences between their hardware models, you’d know that GoPro have never tried to radically re-invent the wheel. Instead, they’ve always employed more of a “incremental” change strategy. One that maintains the technical hardware edge on their competition without having to radically increase their camera price point. So, this works out well for GoPro as they are playing the long game, and this works well for the consumer as you’re always paying a sub $500 price for the latest hardware offering. With that in mind, let’s talk camera resolution.
Will the GoPro 12 have 8K capability?
No, I seriously doubt it. If you look at consumer displays at the moment, 8K televisions don’t have a huge market hold. The expense is just something that a lot of people can afford, there isn’t that much content available in the 8K corner as of yet.
This is the cheapest 8K television I’ve found and it still costs nearly 5k!
You also have to realize that editing 8K is not something the average consumer has the horsepower to do. A lot of consumers have difficulty editing in 4K, let alone the current 5.3K that the top GoPro models offer (and combine that with the 10-bit color of the Hero 11, and things get even more interesting). Also keep in mind, the majority of GoPro owners aren’t just editing their clips on their mobile devices, they are using cheap budget mobile devices to do so. It still amazes me how many people have paid less for their phone than they’ve paid for their GoPro camera, and yet they still expect to edit 20-minute clips in 5.3K on their phone!
The Google Pixel 7 is no slouch, but it’s still a mid range cell phone.
Also keep in mind, GoPro’s “incremental” strategy. So, GoPro aren’t going to jump from 5.3K to 8K in my opinion. I think it’s more likely that the next GoPro model will get a boost in resolution up to 5.7K or 6K maximum, not because it’s needed, but because the consumer expects it. Having said that, if GoPro maintain 5.3K max resolution for the 3rd generation in a row, then I’d expect a jump in frame rates as a result.
What Resolution and Frame Rates will the GoPro 12 likely support.
That’s a controversial question for sure. We’ve seen GoPro actually drop support for certain resolutions and frame ration combinations. (2.7K 30FPS anyone?) This is likely due to internal constraints on the camera architecture and the camera only being able to handle so many different shooting modes. It’s also a push by GoPro to make users start adopting more current shooting resolutions and frame rates instead of sticking to old, outdated frame rates. It could be likely that the next resolution on the chopping block is 1080P. After all, with more and more 4K televisions and monitors our there (and with cheaper price points these days), that we’ll say goodbye to 1080P shooting modes.
4K displays are just about everywhere these days due to the lowering costs.
Don’t get me wrong, we may still have 1080P, but only with certain frame rate options. So, we could be looking at 1080P 60FPS minimum. This is simply due to the amount of budget mobile devices out there and having to give such users the ability to edit some sort of GoPro footage. 2.7K will still be available, after all, this resolution is needed for the Max Lens Mod, and given that mods popularity, dropping support for it would be a mistake….. unless…. GoPro offer “The Max Lens Mod 2”.
More on that one later….
One area GoPro could improve upon is their slow-motion shots. Although 240FPS seems great, some camera phones can shoot (in small bursts) software enhanced 960 frames per second. However, I can’t see GoPro offering such a slow motion burst as of yet, so more likely is that 4K may get a boost up to 240FPS while other shooting speeds stay more or less where they are.
Will there be new mods for the GoPro Hero 12?
We’d all love for there to be new mods for the Hero 12. Although the current mods work very well, there has been some slight issues with them. The Media Mod can be time consuming to disassemble when trying to access the camera’s SD card or battery. The Max Lens mod can only support 2.7K resolution (and no, this is not something that can be changed by a firmware update, this is a physical limitation caused by the optics of the device, the Max Lens mod can only focus it’s FOV on a 2.7K area of the sensor).
GoPro’s current line of camera mods. An update is needed at this point.
So it may be possible that there could be a Max Lens Mod 2 that has different optics that could focus it’s image on a 4k area of the sensor. However… this mod would not work on the Hero 11, Hero 10 or Hero 9 due to it’s physical sensor size. Also, GoPro may not want to deal with hundreds of incoming consumer complaints and item returns from users purchasing the Max Lens Mod 2 and expecting it to work with their older cameras. So, while we’re due an update to the Max Lens Mod……. It may not be on the cards right now.
The Media Mod 2. Something else we’d all love to see and I’ve already listed why. However, this also has the same problem as above. Any new features it introduces, likely wouldn’t work on previous GoPro models and this translates to the same consumer complaints and item returns. However, in my opinion, an updated design to the media mod is badly needed.
Now that I’ve said the above, I will have to backtrack on it if you consider one additional factor. The Max Lens Mod 2 and Media Mod 2 could stand a “possibility” of being made… but only if there’s a camera redesign….
Will the GoPro Hero 12 be redesigned?
It’s likely. If you look at GoPro’s previous design history, they’ve changed their camera design every 2 to 3 generations. Well, the Hero 12 is in the time frame for a camera redesign. Again, nothing radical, I’d expect the screen and button layouts to be the same, however changing a few aspects (dimensions, port locations, battery door compartments) could result in a camera with better thermal processing and heat dissipation.
IF the camera gets redesigned, then the probability of a Max Lens Mod 2 and Media Mod 2 would be on the table. That’s a big “if” though. You see when the GoPro Hero 12 is released, it might make more sense for GoPro to keep the current design. That way the current Max Lens Mod and Media Mod, camera cases and accessories will fit all 3 models sold on GoPro.com (The Hero 10, Hero 11 and Hero 12). This would help GoPro reduce inventory of these mods, inventory of batteries, inventory of cases (which is what you want to do before releasing a camera redesign). So financially, it may make more sense for GoPro to keep the current form factor and dimensions. However, I’d personally love to see a new camera design, but again, incremental changes, not radical changes seem to be the GoPro way.
What about a detachable rear screen that’s also a remote/wireless charging/Max 2?
No No And No.
A detachable rear screen would need to have some sort of set of contacts on the back in order to communicate with the GoPro. This in turn would affect how waterproof the GoPro would be. If used for action sports, it could accidentally detach from the camera and be lost. Also most users already have a portable display device that’s completely wireless and it’s called their Mobile Phone. This idea of a detachable rear screen was dreamt up quite some time ago, keeps popping up and is as ill thought out now as it was then.
Wireless charging? Doubtful. After all, GoPro sells batteries and battery chargers. Probably a nice little earner for them, so why mess with that? Also we’ve seen what happens when GoPro offers a camera with a “built in” battery. Since wireless charging can take some time (and uses up valuable battery real estate) I don’t think this is likely to happen at all.
At less than $500, the GoPro Max is actually good value for 360 video shooting.
Will there be a GoPro Max 2? Everyone seems to want this… but again, the issue is where to go with such a camera? Another sign that a new Max isn’t coming anytime soon is GoPro introducing an Enduro variation battery for the GoPro Max. Remember what I said about phasing out inventory before introducing a new model? Well in this case, GoPro have created new battery inventory.
The GoPro Max now enjoys a performance boost thanks to the new Enduro battery.
Also, another sign is that there was mention that the GoPro Labs firmware for the Hero Max was going to have some updates and GoPro do seem to be focusing on this. Usually only the latest camera’s get labs updates and with the Max being so old, unlocking additional features is a sign that there’s no replacement coming anytime soon.
So what else can we expect from GoPro this year?
Well what we can look forward to is new software. Users have been complaining for years about a lack of a desktop software suite for their camera’s. GoPro currently offer and support GoPro Player (with ReelSteady as an optional extra) and a webcam app for desktop. That’s it. Now this is hardly surprising as when GoPro did offer “Quik for desktop” it wasn’t widely used, it also wasn’t very stable, and they were spending more money trying to maintain this platform than it was generating. So it made no financial sense whatsoever for GoPro to keep offering “Quik for desktop”.
However, now that the GoPro plus subscription has been a major success for GoPro, it has made them realize the value of offering a “paid” desktop software solution. So just like the mobile app, this may have free basic services for the everyday users, but GoPro Plus subscribers would have full access to much more features (music, themes, cloud account access, the ability to sync edits across multiple platforms etc.).
GoPro could even sell it as an add on (like they do with ReelSteady) to generate more income. That makes a lot of sense. Rather than just spend money on the development and support of a desktop app that works for free for GoPro plus subscribers. Charge an extra $10 a month to GoPro plus subscribers for a desktop software version of Quik also.
Having said that though, GoPro do have 2 things working against them when it comes to desktop software.
1: Their software department is actually quite small. As a result, their mobile app suffers from a myriad of issues and there are endless complaints about reliability, connection issues, black screens during renders…… so stretching that software department out even more to cover the creation of a desktop solution (that also has to integrate cloud and cross platform synchronization) may just be too much to ask of GoPro for this year. We may not see anything until next year from this. Then when it does get released…….. that’s when you’ll start seeing user complaints regarding software not working on their desktop…
2: Windows users can already use Android apps in a Windows environment. While this may not be the smoothest of experiences, it can be easily done. So, if GoPro get too greedy with their desktop offering, people may just opt to keep using their mobile version or other free video editing programs. This would potentially cost GoPro quite a lot of money in lost revenue. It could even cost them more money if the software doesn’t perform.
What would you suggest to GoPro for the Hero 12?
GoPro has a lot of things to consider, but I think they need to Go Bold. Give us a camera design with a better media mod that’s quick and simple to remove. Even if it’s not the “traditional” media mod design. Frankly something that just clips onto the camera in place of the side door would do.
Don’t make the same mistake you did with the Hero 11 Mini, don’t give us a built-in battery. That’s been quite the issue from what I’ve read. Having a swapable battery just makes a lot more sense.
The Hero 11 Mini is small, light and versatile.
You can give us Built in Memory though! Yeah, frankly 512GB of memory built in would be sufficient. It would also solve a lot of issues that I see. People will think nothing of paying $450 for an action camera, but then try to cheap out by spending $10 on an SD card. These cards are usually far too slow for the camera, are just not compatible with the camera (Sandisk ULTRA, I’m looking at you) or badly formatted to begin with. This results in camera freezing, lock ups, and shutdowns. So fix that problem now! Stop having users send back their cameras to GoPro when it’s a simple issue of using an incorrect SD card. Have a built-in storage medium and the ability to perform a “FULL” format should an issue occur.
Any last words on what to expect from the Hero 12?
Yes, likely there will be improvements on the firmware side. The Hero 11 can “almost” shoot in a flat LOG color profile, the Hero 12 may offer this.
The Hero 11 had some great fun night presets built in (star trails, light painting, vehicle lights). The Hero 12 may improve upon this (as it doesn’t require additional hardware, it’s a software process). With built in memory, you could even have “reverse time” clip options. So honestly, do expect there to be one or two new software based video or photo effect options.
You can also expect GoPro to claim an update to Hypersmooth and Timewarp options. Whether it solves any of the past problems (jerky or unwanted pans) is another thing. Maybe it’s time to look at Hypersmooth or Timewarp presets which could disable or limit horizontal panning.
And talking about presets, no, there’s not going to be re-nameable presets offered this time around either.
So, until the release of the GoPro Hero 12 in September, we’re all going to just have to wait with baited breath to see what finally gets released. In the meantime, I plan to fully enjoy the summer filming on my Hero 10 and Hero 11 and updating Google Street View with my Hero Fusion.
Until next time
Cheerio!
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If you’re looking to up your GoPro game, then you need a gamechanger of a lens. This is where using a CPL filter comes in quite handy. So learn the secrets of using a CPL filter and why you should be using one. This is an article you can’t afford to miss out on. Click Here To Read…..
Seriously folks, it bugs me to no end to be fielding questions or seeing people on the GoPro Forums complaining about “Why won’t Quik for desktop work?” or “I can’t get GPS stickers working on Quik for desktop with my brand-new GoPro Hero 11!”. It’s got to stop folks, it really does.
Quik for desktop, stop bloody using it!
Look, the simple fact is that Quik for desktop was abandoned by GoPro over 4 years ago at this point. The last camera it fully supported was the GoPro Hero 7. This means that in the year 2023, NO ONE should be using this software. What is the point of trying to use old, out of date, unsupported, discontinued that just plain doesn’t work at this point? If you are still trying to use this software, here’s the things you should know:
1: It won’t support GPS stickers on the GoPro Hero 8 or later. These GoPro’s were made after Quik for desktop was discontinued and these later cameras all store their GPS data in a completely different format. So Quik for desktop won’t be able to read GPS data for the Hero 8, Hero 9, Hero 10, Hero11 or Hero Max (or Hero Fusion for that matter as Quik for desktop never supported 360 media of any kind).
2: It likely won’t offload media from your GoPro Hero 8, Hero 9, Hero 10 or Hero 11. These GoPro’s were all made after Quik for desktop was discontinued and they use newer USB drivers that Quik for desktop was never designed to work with.
3: You’re likely to see the following error upon start-up “We have encountered an issue loading music, please restart application and try again“. This is because GoPro Quik for desktop music library had an expiry date of 2018 or 2019 (I believe, I’m not installing it just to find out). So therefore, if you try to install GoPro Quik for desktop now, the music licenses have all expired and Quik for desktop will just refuse to load.
4: Even if it somehow does load, GoPro Quik for desktop was never designed to support HEVC video and you’re likely to have playback and editing issues.
5: It’s not going to support your latest graphics cards, latest operating system or any of the hundreds of patches that your system has received since GoPro Quik for desktop was discontinued. So therefore, it’s likely to be prone to crashing and freezing.
Now, I do partially blame GoPro for this whole fiasco with Quik. You see, GoPro currently supports Quik for Android and iOS. It’s listed right at the top of GoPro.com under “apps”. However, problems arise when users wonder if there’s a “Quik” version for their PC or Mac, they do a search for “Quik for PC” and what do you know, suddenly a whole bunch of sites offer downloads for Quik for desktop. To make matters worse, even in the GoPro support forums, GoPro have very (unhelpfully) included a link to GoPro Quik for desktop under the title “Legacy software” and most users have no idea that “Legacy software” means “Old, out of date, discontinued, unsupported, software” and immediately go and download this software. They are then faced with the problem that Quik for desktop won’t work and won’t support their camera.
So what’s the solution?
Well, there’s good news on that front! There are many different free video editing software suites out there that users can choose from. For instance, among professional editors, the free version of DaVinci Resolve seems to be the most popular choice.
However, for those of you out there who prefer something much simpler, like a classic “Drag and drop” software suite, then there’s the open-source editor OpenShot.
This is actually very easy to use beginner software that’s also amazingly powerful and allows you to create stunning movies with very little editing experience or knowledge.
Then there’s the promise from GoPro themselves that there will be a new version of Quik for desktop being released this year. Of course, exactly “When” this year remains to be seen and I’m going to predict it will be the later quarter of the year.
In the meantime, if you really are desperate to edit video’s using “Quik” on a desktop PC. Then I suggest you buy a USB-C to HDMI cable, plug it into your phone (providing it supports this feature) and plug the HDMI cable into your monitor. Then just pair a Bluetooth mouse to your phone and edit away. Or if you have a Samsung phone (and the model supports it), download Samsung Dex for your PC and connect your phone to Windows. You can then run your Samsung apps (including Quik for Android) in a Windows emulation screen.
In the meantime, please for the love of all that’s holy, stop stop stop stop stop trying to use Quik for desktop. It’s old, outdated, unsupported, discontinued software that NO ONE should be using.
With it being so close to 2023, I decided to share a bit of news early with my readers and YouTube followers. So, for those of you who have just bought a brand-new GoPro or received one for Christmas. I have now created a playlist on my YouTube channel specifically for you guys. We go all the way from Unboxing and Setup (Hero 10 and Hero 11) to troubleshooting common issues, reviewing some accessories and reviewing the GoPro Plus Subscription service. Make sure you check out that Playlist as it contains information that you NEED to know!
The essential GoPro Playlist for New Owners!
Also since tomorrow is the 1st of January 2023, I have a brand-new video premiering tomorrow. In this video I list the top 5 accessories that I use with my GoPro as well as the one accessory that I NEVER use (and it just sits on my shelf). You can check out that video when it premiers tomorrow!
If you’re interested in GoPro Accessories, you’re GOING to want to watch this video!
And finally, for those of you out there who may want me to review things, send me a greetings card or even a St Patrick’s day card, there’s now a mailbox for that!
DemonView LLC
3055 NW YEON AVE
PMB #12
PORTLAND
OR
97210
I’ll pretty much review anything that viewers send me, but please, no perishable goods, no liquids, nothing that makes a “ticking” sound… I reserve the right to give away review items, donate them to charity or bin them if they are unsuitable for the forementioned purposes. If you want the item back, then include a prepaid return envelope or label.
So, with that, I hope you all had a great holiday and are looking forward to what 2023 will bring!
In this latest video, to escape the wildfire smoke of Portland, MerryMunks and I flew to Central Oregon to land at a pretty remote location. Enjoy the sights and the soundtrack for this amazing flight! This video shows the power of using YouTube Creators licensed music in your videos as it really does level up your video game. The track featured “New Cydonia” by the awesome artist Starcadian.
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