GoPro puts out a new action camera every year. These cameras are known for their excellent footage stabilization and strong built quality. Although these devices are much smaller than a regular DSLR, they very powerful and are capable of shooting videos even at 4K. GoPros are a convenient tool for vloggers, YouTubers and for filming action sports adventures. Today, we are going to compare the three latest flagship models available in the GoPro Hero series, namely the Hero 7, Hero 8 and Hero 9.
GoPro Hero 7 (Black)
Although the GoPro 7 is a little outdated it still a very powerful action camera. It uses a Hypersmooth Video Stabilization Technology to analyse and correct the camera movements, but unlike the Hero 8 or 9, it cannot record in 4K or 1440p resolution at higher frame rates like 120 or above. However, the camera is remarkably good for regular vlogging and can take great quality 12MP pictures due to the Super Photo Feature, which identifies the best HDR settings depending on the kind of environment you are shooting. In fact, it does a better job than most other cameras in terms of balancing the contrast and colour saturation. The Time Warp video recording feature allows you to capture stable time-lapse videos.
Just like its competitor GoPros, it also has a pretty rugged design and can stay waterproof up to 33 feet underwater making it a great budget choice for kite surfers, kayakers and divers as well, however, it is recommended not to use it much under saltwater. The voice control feature lets you start and stop voice recording at command which is great if you are using a selfie stick to record. It also has an excellent battery life which can last for almost an hour during a full HD 60fps recording. However, it does not deliver the best performance when it comes to low light scenarios compared to its successors (Hero 8, 9).
The GoPro Hero 7 may not be the best action camera that you can purchase, but it definitely offers a good value for money and considering the reduced price, you should definitely give it a try.
GoPro Hero 8 (Black)
It comes with an improved Hypersmooth 2.0 technology that provides you with 3 levels of stabilization, you can choose anyone from On, High or Boost settings. You can record time-lapse videos for longer periods with stabilization to prevent any sort of shaking on your footage. The Time Warp 2.0 feature will automatically adjust your recording based on motion and lighting. It also has a better Live Burst feature which allows you to take 1.5 seconds before and after recording so that you can choose the best single frame for a photo or video. The Hero 8 records 4K and 2.7K videos at 60 fps and can go as high as up to 240 fps at lower resolutions along with a maximum bit rate of 100 Mb/s. Similar to the Hero 7 it is well resistant against mud, dust or snow and can stay waterproof at up to 33ft (10m) underwater.
Additionally, the camera comes with a new Night Lapse mode that can record awesome time-lapse videos at night and a Webcam Mode that lets you broadcast 1080p HD videos when you connect it to a computer. When it comes to body, it is pretty compact, has a higher level of durability and is also slightly smaller than the Hero 7. The Hero 8’s improved audio input, battery life, Time Warp, Live Burst and Hypersmooth feature in combination with HDR makes it a better choice overall than its predecessor GoPros.
The Hero 8 is a step above the Hero 7 with some noticeable enhancements and added capabilities. While both the cameras deliver 4K quality videos the better stabilization and higher frame rates present in the Hero 8 makes it a definite winner against the older Hero 7.
GoPro Hero 9
This is the latest addition to the GoPro Series and is superior to both Hero 7 and 8. It is right now the best action camera available in the market in terms of battery life, high resolution videos and photographs. Just like the previous version too it is waterproof up to 33 feet or 10m underwater and had a solid design to cope up with hard conditions. Hero 9 has a 23.6 MP sensor that lets you shoot videos at stunning 5K 30fps resolution with HyperSmooth 3.0 stabilization. You can capture higher resolution images and take better photos/videos during low light situations in comparison to the Hero 8. The camera is also capable of picking up 14.7 MP photos from video recordings which means you get good quality stills from the moments in action.
The GoPro Hero 9 brings in some additional tweaks alongside the ones already available in the Hero 8. A Hindsight feature that records 30 seconds prior to the moment you hit record, a Scheduled Capture that lets you set up the start time for your shot in advance and Duration Capture to let select the time limit after which the GoPro automatically stops recording.
There are also some improvements in the Hero 9 in terms of design, like the new front facing LCD screen, removable lens covers (which was absent in the previous Hero 8) and a larger rear display. Although, it is a little bigger and more expensive than the previous models, its excellent stabilization (Hypersmooth 3.0), time lapse mode and better battery life makes it worth a buy.
The new GoPro Hero 9 delivers the best-in-class performance in terms of video, audio and image quality and could be considered for an upgrade from the previous models if it suits your budget.
Conclusion
It is clear that the Hero 9 is the superior option among the three GoPros, in fact the best action camera ever produced by the company. However, if you have a little tighter budget you may choose to go with the GoPro Hero 7 or Hero 8, which are a little old but are better than most other action cameras available in the market.
