With many ready to forget the year 2020, a year that’s been anything but productive, Australians from all over are looking towards the coming summer season for a bit of R&R, fun and maybe even a bit of adventure – the perfect time to test the boundaries of the all-new GoPro HERO9 Black!
Featuring ‘more everything’, the new HERO9 offers more power, more clarity and more stability. It’s packed full of features that will have any camera enthusiast or buddying adventurer alike shaking at the knees, due to the sheer capabilities of this new bite-sized camera.
At a glance, the Hero 9 delivers on its word of an ‘update’ to the HERO 8. You can expect a new sensor that delivers 5K video and 20-megapixel photos, next-generation HyperSmooth 3.0 video stabilisation with in-camera horizon levelling, a new front-facing display (a blessing for influencers near and far), a larger rear display and 30% more battery life… and that’s just scratching the surface.
“HERO9 Black reflects our commitment to delivering what our customers have been asking for, including more value for their money,” says Nicholas Woodman, GoPro’s founder and CEO.
“HERO9 Black is a beast of a product. And, reducing as much plastic as possible from our business is a priority for us. We’re excited to package HERO9 Black in a high-value travel case instead of traditional wasteful packaging, and we’re committed to doing the same with the rest of our cameras by the end of 2021.”
The team here at Man of Style has been fortunate enough to get our hands on the new GoPro HERO9 Black, and although testing of the new unit has been somewhat limited due to state restrictions, we’ve penned our initial thoughts ahead of an exciting summer ahead.
More resolution
The first thing we noticed with the new GoPro HERO9 is just how stunning its 5K video is, which seems to maintain amazing detail even when zooming in and capturing 14.7MP frame grabs. If you need to drop it down a notch, it also records in 4K, 2.7K, 1440p and 1080p.
The HERO9 is also a serious camera for still photography, offering crisp, pro-quality 20MP photos that’ll have your mates thinking you’ve used a DSLR to get that special shot.
And if you need to slow things down, HERO9 also captures up to 240 frames per second for astonishing 8x slo-mo – a fun and handy feature for those looking to change up their video sequencing.
More screens
A blessing for many bloggers, YouTubers and TikTok fiends, the HERO9 features a new front display screen which serves up a live preview, allowing you to up your selfie game – while the large rear touch screen delivers intuitive control.
More stability
Whoever has owned a GoPro HERO8 knows just how handy the HyperSmooth function is, especially when filming in shaky circumstances. New and improved, HERO9 comes with HyperSmooth 3.0 – now featuring in-camera horizon levelling. It is officially GoPro’s most advanced stabilisation ever, making it a huge drawcard for GoPro users looking to update their gear.
More acceleration
If you find yourself utilising your GoPro’s TimeWarp function – a feature that allows you to capture super stabilised time-lapse videos while you move about a scene – you can now record mesmerising time-lapse videos with TimeWarp 3.0.
Go all out or tap Speed Ramp to slow the action while recording, which makes it a fun feature to use.
Longer battery life
For GoPro enthusiasts, you’ll be happy to know that with the new HERO9, you can expect up to 30% longer battery life thanks to a larger 1720mAh battery. Not only does this allow you to shoot more without having to swap out batteries, but it packs enough juice to power your camera through any condition, hot or cold.
HindSight
Designed so that you’ll never miss a moment again, HindSight is a powerful new feature that captures video from 30 seconds before you press record – and everything after – until you stop recording., making it perfect for those moments you might have thought you missed to capture.
Expandable Mods
The team at GoPro wants you to have options when filming your masterpiece, and with the all-new expandable mods, you’ve got plenty of them with the HERO9 Black. Want a lens that gives you horizon locked footage and unbreakable stabilisation? Get the Max Lens Mod. Want to illuminate your subject? Light Mod is for you. Want mics and even more connectivity? Just add Media Mod and customize your rig.
Rugged + Waterproof
If you have ever owned a GoPro, you know that they are built to withstand life’s greatest adventures. With the new HERO9, GoPro wants you to shoot in the gnarliest conditions imaginable because the HERO9 Black can take it. It’s tough as nails, and waterproof down to 33ft right out of the box.
What’s in the box
- HERO9 Black Camera
- Carrying Case
- Rechargeable Battery
- Curved Adhesive Mount
- Mounting Buckle + Thumb Screw
- USB-C Cable
And if you’re still not convinced, just check out the epic video below to see how some of the world’s best creatives are putting their GoPro to use…
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The GoPro HERO9 Black is available in Australia for an RRP of $699.95, or $559.95 with a 1-year subscription to GoPro.com. To find out more about the new unit, visit the GoPro website here.