Beleaguered action-cam maker GoPro came out swinging this morning with a new line-up of cameras led by the $399.99 GoPro Hero7 Black.
GoPro Hero7 Black
GoPro
As expected, the Hero7 Black shoots 4K at up to 60p, but the marquee feature this time around is video stabilization, with GoPro’s new HyperSmooth system eliminating the jitters from handheld or device-mounted camerawork. Also included for the first time is TimeWarp Video, which speeds up video imagery via a stabilized time-lapse effect, perfect for turning long walks and other traveling shots into time-compressed journeys.
The Hero7 Black also offers something of a holy grail for on-the-go content creators — a live-streaming option for sharing video in real time on Facebook, Twitch, YouTube and Vimeo.
Other new features in the Hero7 Black include SuperPhoto for automated local tone-mapping and noise reduction in still-photo mode, face-detection and other advanced image-recognition features, Portrait Mode for Instagram- and Snapchat-friendly vertical capture, Enhanced Audio for increased dynamic range and reduced noise from vibrations, a simplified user interface, and slow-motion shooting at up to 1080p/240.
The Hero7 Black will be the obvious choice for pro users. The $299.99 GoPro Hero7 Silver is limited to shooting 4K at 30p or 1080p/60, and the $199.99 GoPro Hero7 White has no 4K capability at all. Furthermore, only the Hero7 Black offers the key HyperSmooth and live-streaming options.
And, along with the $699.99 360-degree Fusion camera, that’s the entire GoPro line-up — previous years’ cameras, including the compact, cube-shaped Session, have been discontinued.
The Hero7 cameras are available for pre-order today and is scheduled to ship in the U.S. on September 30 after an international rollout beginning September 27.
GoPro took a big hit earlier this year, when it abruptly cut the price of its flagship Hero6 Black from $499.99 to $399.99, exited the low-margin drone business, and cut staff by about 20%.
GoPro: www.gopro.com
