**Pros:
**– Excellent video quality with great video stabilisation
– Captured footage can be repurposed for different platforms
– Now comes with interchangeable lenses and filters
– The new attachments are well thought out
– Magnetic Latch Mount is a great addition
– Shock-proof build with 33 metres water resistance, easy to use
– Improved battery backup
– Support for Wi-Fi 6 for faster wireless file transfer
**Cons:
**– No real change in processing hardware
– Low-light performance needs further improvement
– Gets hot rather quickly
Price: Rs 44,990 (at launch), Rs 37,990 (currently)
Rating: 4.25/5
The most famous action camera in the world needs no introduction, especially its 13th coming. Typically, when a new camera is released, the prime focus of the review is around its performance as one expects newer processing hardware and sensors. The GoPro Hero 13 Black is a bit of an aberration. Spoiler alert: the performance is quite similar to its predecessor, the GoPro Hero 12 Black.
The narrative here is more about the add-ons and accessories. It sounds weird when the support cast gets more attention than the Hero (pun intended), and we thought so too. But the attachments lend the GoPro not just new capabilities but a new direction too. Dare I say, GoPro now seems to have taken the DSLR route with detachable lenses and filters. But wouldn’t that dilute the key trait of any GoPro – simplicity? Read on to know.
For starters, it would be a good idea to first read our
GoPro Hero 12 Black review, as the 13 shares a lot of features with it and even the image and video quality is comparable. We will only briefly touch upon those similarities in this review and focus more on the new additions and changes. So I implore you to read that review before proceeding further with this one.
What remains the same in the GoPro Hero 13 Black as compared to its predecessor?
The GoPro Hero 13 Black continues to use the same sensor present in the last two generations of the company’s action cameras. It also has the same GP2 processor used in the 12. So, on paper, the Hero 13 Black is as capable and powerful as its predecessor. This would have been considered sacrilege in the world of smartphones but is acceptable in this domain as long as it gets the job done without a stutter. And to its credit, it does.
The older processor may have been pushed to the limits by now but did not seem inadequate in any task I assigned the camera. The company has stuck to its HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilisation too, which was brilliant and hard to beat in less than 12 months anyway. All the key features like Horizon Lock, different shooting modes, aspect ratios and of course, support for third party Bluetooth earphones/headphones to record audio or issue voice commands have been carried forward.
All the accessories and attachments that could be used with the Hero 12 Black can be used with the 13 too barring one – the battery. I will talk about it in a bit. Given the similarities in hardware, between the two cameras, the performance is similar too. It captures some excellent videos and stills in proper lighting, and the video stabilisation is still arguably the best in the business. Low light captures remain far from impressive and need further improvement, and probably need a newer sensor to get there.
The camera heats up rather quickly. Though it did not hang or misbehave, the Hero 13 Black did get quite hot after recording a 5-minute time lapse video. By now you may be wondering if most of the things are the same, why bother with the GoPro Hero 13 Black at all, right? That’s exactly what we will discuss from this point onwards.
What’s new in the GoPro Hero 13 Black?
Interchangeable lenses and filters
The biggest change in the GoPro Hero 13 Black is the new set of detachable lenses or Lens Mods as the company likes to call them. Some may argue that this isn’t entirely new, and it would be a fair argument given the existence of the Max Lens Mod before. But things are more streamlined now and you have more than one lens option, now collectively called HB-series lenses, in addition to four ND filters. Expect more such lens mods in the future as the company seems to be taking this direction going ahead.
In addition to the standard lens, you now have the Ultra Wide Lens Mod (pretty much a renamed Max Lens Mod) that offers 36 per cent wider and 48 per cent taller (177-degrees) FOV than the standard lens and also lets you shoot in a square 1:1 ratio. The multi-platform content creators will love this as it gives them the flexibility to shoot in that aspect ratio and repurpose the content for different platforms like Instagram, YouTube Shorts or standard YouTube video. It gives the creators even more flexibility than the 8:7 ratio provided by the standard lens.
The next one is my favourite from the current lot – the Macro Lens Mod. It does exactly what its name suggests, but what’s cool about it is the adjustable focus ring around it that lets you manually adjust the focusing distance between 11 cm to 75 cm. It lets you capture some impressive close-up stills and videos. The focus ring gives you a mini-DSLR feel about it. Then there’s an Anamorphic Lens Mod that’s expected next year to let you record in a cinematic 21:9 ratio with lens flare and stuff. We will talk more about it when it’s here.
If you like motion blur in your videos, GoPro now offers a set of four ND (neutral density) filters for you to choose from. The Hero 13 Black automatically detects each filter when attached and also suggests a different filter for better results depending on the lighting and frame. More experienced users can feel free to play around with the shutter speed and exposure settings to get the desired result with each of the filters.
The best part about these Lens Mods and filters is you can simply twist and attach them and start shooting. The camera automatically detects them and adjusts the settings. If you switch back to the default lens or a different one, your settings for those would be restored the moment you attach it. This is an excellent implementation. Also, all the Lens Mods and ND filters are scratch-resistant and waterproof when mounted on the camera, and also come with a hydrophobic coating to repel water.
We will share samples of our captured footage in various modes using different lenses and filters in a follow up article soon once we are done upgrading our backend. In that, we will also talk about various things you can do with the GoPro Hero 13 Black.
New shooting modes and magnetic attachments
New lenses also bring with them new shooting modes, some of which I have already touched upon in the previous section. But the camera itself now lets you shoot slow motion videos in higher resolution with higher frames per second (fps). You can shoot 720p videos at up to 400 fps, 900p videos at 360 fps and even 5.3K videos at up to 120 fps. However, there is a cap on the duration of the clips. While you can record the first two for 15 seconds, you can only record 5-second clips when shooting in slo-mo at 5.3K. This is probably a processor induced limitation.
Another cool and handy addition is the Magnetic Latch Mount that lets you quickly switch between different mounting setups without the need for screws or other tools. It is a completely screw-less design and all you need to do is snap it in place magnetically with its dual latches. It attaches firmly and feels as reassuring as the regular mount which is still available. To release the magnetic mount, you just need to pinch the dual latches at the same time.
It is a great option to have if you have multiple GoPro accessories and frequently switch between them. However, the company only bundles one magnetic mount in the camera bundle and you will need to purchase more separately.
New battery
GoPro now uses a new and higher capacity 1900 mAh Enduro battery with the Hero 13 Black. The good part is it delivers better battery backup as compared to the 1720 mAh Enduro battery that powers the last two generations of GoPro cameras. The bad news is it only works with the Hero 13 Black and the older batteries cannot be used with this one as the company has changed the pin alignment.
One cannot put a definite battery backup figure as it varies depending on the ambient temperature and usage; the battery lasts longer in colder environments. Your mileage will vary depending on where and how you plan to use it. During my usage it lasted over a day when shooting short clips every now and then mostly in 4K/60 or 5.3K/60 mode along with dozens of photos at the highest setting. It certainly seemed to last longer than the Hero 12 that I have used extensively.
Other changes
The design sees a subtle change, though nothing major. The grainy/speckled exterior of the Hero 12 has been reset to a smooth black matte finish on the 13. The vertical lines below the camera lens adds a bit more character to the design. The GPS module is back, and we wonder why. During the Hero 12 launch, we were informed that it was removed because it was hardly being used. But a useful addition is that of Wi-Fi 6 which lets you transfer your files faster wirelessly to the synced device.
GoPro Hero 13 Black: Price and verdict
The GoPro Hero 13 Black launched at Rs 44,990 in India, but one can now buy it for Rs 37,990 with two years warranty. That is pretty much what the Hero 12 Black was selling for not long ago. So it’s a no-brainer which of the two one needs to choose if buying a new GoPro. The Hero 13 Black retains all the goodness of its predecessor, adds a few more tricks and a lot more possibilities courtesy of the lens mods and filters. Having said that, if you already own a Hero 11 or 12, I don’t see a reason to upgrade unless you need one of the new lens mods that only work with the 13.
The other obvious question that comes to mind with all these new attachments and mods is whether things have become too complicated for a novice or an average user with this new direction. The answer is it is only as complicated as you want it to be. None of the lens mods or filters come bundled in the standard package and need to be purchased separately. If you are not interested, don’t bother with them and you still get a simple and highly competent action camera with excellent video quality and stabilisation without paying a big premium over its predecessor.
If you feel you are never going to need those mods, you can opt for the GoPro Hero 12 Black that now sells for a shade under 30K. It is still a great action camera and has the same processor and sensor as the 13 and also supports most of its features. Despite that, we would suggest you pay the extra premium and opt for the 13 as it would be a lot more future-proof.
