RZUSA - Standard - GoPro Hero 7
Do You Like GoPro Hero 7?
The Hero 7 might not come with a host of new
shooting modes or imaging improvements, but it does come with a few key tweaks
that make it exciting to new and old users alike. The upgrade in stability
alone will save hours of potential memories from the trash can. SuperPhoto
makes the GoPro a more robust choice for stills, and the addition of live
streaming is a plus for everyone. We’d always love to see significant bumps in
the battery life, but given the Hero 7 launches at the same price as the Hero
6, it basically means the best GoPro just got better without impacting your
pocket. Upgraders might want to consider if there’s enough new here for you,
but for everyone else, the Hero 7 improves on an already winning formula.
The first, and in my opinion the best,
update to the Hero 7 Black is improved stabilization (which GoPro calls
HyperSmooth). Sony introduced optical stabilization to its action cameras in fall 2016; GoPro followed suit with the Hero 5 soon
after. The big difference was that GoPro used electronic stabilization (EIS)
rather than optical. That difference is important, as optical stabilization
happens at the source (the lens), whereas EIS is done in-camera. Purists tend
to prefer anything that doesn't alter the image once captured. This was borne
out, but the fact that the Hero 5's stabilization was better than none, but
still caused visible artifacts (Jell-o effect), usually around the edges of the
scene.
Things improved with the Hero 6, but there were still some
issues, usually when you make sharp movements (a common occurrence with an
action camera of course). Enter the Hero 7. The bad news (sorry, purists) is
that GoPro is sticking with EIS. The good news is that it's a solid improvement
from the Hero 6 and light years better than the Hero 5. GoPro (predictably)
claims that EIS has advantages over OIS: lens movement has a physical hard rail
it can't go beyond. With EIS, the software has more leeway.
The Hero 7's stabilization works by
using the predictive smarts of the GoPro's GP1 processor.
The camera preempts your swerves and keeps the image free from dreaded jerks
and jitters. Without a doubt, it is much improved and something that will save
hours of footage from hitting the trash folder. I tested the Hero 6
side-by-side with the Hero 7 in a number of situations (walking, skateboarding
etc.), and the Hero 6 is prone to occasional jerks that feel like
overcorrecting and some general jittering.
These same movements don't appear in the
Hero 7, but there is still some natural movement, which you wouldn't find with
a gimbal (this is a positive or a negative depending on the "look"
you want). Ultimately, movement is expected if you're being active; a gimbal
can smooth things out in a way that's not natural. With both cameras mounted on
a skateboard, riding on slightly bumpy concrete, the Hero 6 had noticeable
"rumble," the Hero 7 still had some (thanks,
physics) but the resulting video is much easier to watch.
Why is this my favorite new feature?
Because this one thing -- shaky footage -- is really the deal-breaker between
an OK shot you might share with friends, and something that looks smooth and
ready for the world. There are some more specific benefits, too. I've long
wanted to be able to do something simple: walk with a GoPro and wear a lapel
mic. It's a basic task, but something the camera wasn't really designed for.
With the Hero 7, for the first time, I think they've cracked it. You might not
want to do this exact thing, but the fact that
you can is a good indicator that things have improved here.
What all this does is make the GoPro much more versatile. If you
can grab a smooth establishing shot just with the GoPro in a grip, you no
longer need to fumble around with gimbals (or carry them with you). Given that
you can turn the GoPro on and start recording with one touch, you can be a lot
more spontaneous, with the odds of ending up with something usable much
improved.
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