Gopro hero max
GoPro Max review | Digital Camera World
Digital Camera World Verdict
We went into reviewing the GoPro Max thinking it was a 360-degree action cam for enthusiasts; we’ve come out realizing everyone could benefit from having one. Hit record and forget about framing (within reason), then edit your footage in the app. The GoPro Max builds on the Insta 360 One X’s success with better quality capture and microphones, doubling up as a vlogging cam and an action cam too. We would have loved 4K single-camera capture and the app experience could use some work, but given everything the Max can do, it’s still a sensational step towards what could be the future of film making.
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Pros
- +
Creates great-looking, dynamic clips
- +
Multi-function capabilities
- +
Solid app experience
Cons
- -
No traditional 4K video capture
- -
No PC editing app (as of Nov 2019)
- -
App experience needs work
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The GoPro Max, like the Insta 360 One X , is special. Replacing the GoPro Fusion, GoPro’s first-gen 360 camera , the Max makes recording in every direction something that anyone can benefit from.
Thanks to the improved GoPro app, you can now edit across 360-degree scenes on your smartphone, zooming in and out and keyframing, so you needn’t lug a VR headset around to get the most out of your omnidirectional clips.
- GoPro Max at Sweetwater Sound for $499.99
The Max is definitely no one-trick pony though, doubling up as a traditional action cam just like the GoPro Hero 8 Black . Like the DJI Osmo Action , it’s also a solid selfie vlogging cam, with the rear camera and screen capable of working in tandem, and there are six microphones on it as well for a fuller, directional audio capture. In turn, it isn’t trying to be the best action camera , but rather, the only camera you’d want to take with you on an adventure.
• Update: In 2021, two years after its launch, the GoPro Max is still a very compelling 360 camera, but its chief rival, Insta360 has been busy. The Insta360 One X2 is a new and updated version of the original shirt-pocket One X and even more brilliant, while the Insta360 One R Twin Edition fixes one of our complaints about the GoPro Max – no 4K 'action cam' mode – with a modular design that lets you swap out the 360 module for a regular 4K camera module. There's even a 1-inch mod sold separately for a step up in sensor size and image quality. Exciting times!
This all sounds great, but after a month with it, does the GoPro Max end up being a Jack of all trades and a master of none? And can it join the best GoPro hall of fame?
See also GoPro Max vs Hero 8 • GoPro Hero 8 vs 9
Design and screen
(Image credit: Basil Kronfli/Digital Camera World)
Just like the Hero8 Black and Hero7 Black before it, the Max has a matte rubberized body.
This time, there’s a lens on either side, though a screen on just one, and this GoPro features no less than six microphones dotted across its body. The touch-sensitive LCD display is 16:9 and 1.7-inches. It’s responsive, and gets bright too, perfect for indoor and outdoor use.
At the top of the Max is a record button which can fire up a customizable recording preset from cold. To the left is a power/mode button that switches on the camera and cycles through shooting modes, and there’s a battery flap too, which is where you’ll find the microSD card slot and USB-C port.
As introduced across the Hero8 line, ingenious flip-out mounting feet pop out of the base of the Max, reducing the need for housing.
(Image credit: Basil Kronfli/Digital Camera World)
The GoPro Max is bigger than the Hero8 Black, so doesn’t support the same GoPro mods. That said, the Max already has a selfie screen, and with those six mics, its standalone audio is decent, so there’s less need for external solutions.
Another point to note; the Max’s lenses aren’t quite as scratch-resistant as those of the Hero8 Black, who’s glass GoPro has called its toughest to date. In addition, unlike the Hero7, the lenses aren’t protected by removable glass either - so try not to scuff this camera up too much if you pick one up. On the plus side, in the box, you’ll find some rubber lens guards for when the camera isn’t in use.
All this isn’t to say the GoPro Max isn’t durable in its own right; it’s waterproof up to 5m, and if you know you’re going to be throwing some rough and tumble its way, you can wedge some half-orb lens-guards onto either side, though these do impact the quality of video captured.
Video footage shot with the GoPro Max
360 video
Replacing the GoPro Fusion, the Max is a 360-degree camera, shooting 5.6K footage in all directions. Rather than compare it to the Fusion, though, it makes more sense to compare it to the Insta 360 One X, its main rival, which is slightly pricier in the UK, but slightly cheaper in the US.
The GoPro Max is squatter, making it shorter, so is more ergonomic to use as an action camera, however, it’s thicker too. This likely has something to do with the first difference in footage quality - the stitch-line. The GoPro Max has a more visible line than the Insta 360. That said, everything else when it comes to video quality, however, leans in the GoPro Max’s favour.
The 5.6K footage captured gives scope for comfortable 720p-grade capture with a fair bit of cropping in. Colours are richer than those captured by the Insta 360 One X, and while there’s no HDR mode on the Max, we didn’t miss it.
Video footage shot with the GoPro Max
The great thing about 360-degree capture is that stabilization looks sensationally steady, and the GoPro Max’s footage is a testament to that fact. When light is abundant, it looks like the camera is floating on a gimbal or drone.
As with all 360-degree cameras, detail is stronger in the centre of each lens, and weakest towards the stitch-line.
In turn, while you can be relaxed with your framing, you’ll want to be mindful of that fact.
Additionally, when faced with intricate backlit detail around the edges of each camera’s field of view, chromatic aberration can creep in, with purple fringing being very noticeable in the branches in the footage above. The footage from the forest was the worst fringing we experienced in around a month with the camera though, with most cityscapes and country scenes handled beautifully.
When the lights drop, that’s when judder creeps in with every footstep - so you’ll definitely want to tread lightly when capturing night-time content.
While the GoPro Max won’t be able to handle pitch-black scenes, you can see how it handles walking through city streets with plenty of light pollution below - perfectly usable footage for social sharing, though not something we’d drop into a feature-film; at least not straight out of the camera.
Video footage shot with the GoPro Max
Rounding off 360-capture is Max TimeWarp, a timelapse mode which can be edited in much the same way as the GoPro Max’s standard footage, but has all the impact of pans, zooms and tilts with the added bonus of compressed time.
Action and vlogging
(Image credit: Basil Kronfli/Digital Camera World)
When using it as a traditional action camera, the GoPro Max can’t quite stack up to a standalone Hero8 Black, with its resolution capping out at 1080p 16:9, or 1440p 4:3.
On the plus, it does offer a lot of versatility, shooting across four digital focal lengths: 13mm, 16mm, 19mm and 27mm. It also has smart horizon levelling. When fired up, content is always facing the right way. We literally threw the camera in the air, spinning it in the process and the picture didn’t even tilt. This is great for vlogging, helping footage captured look incredibly gimble-esque.
Advanced users will also benefit from ProTune, giving you control over the video’s bitrate, shutter speed, white balance, and more, so despite not having a cinematic look out of the camera, capture is nicely customizable.
Despite its resolution, single-lens footage looks strong, with respectable clarity for Full HD content.
While less rugged than a traditional GoPro, the Max is still able to handle action with waterproofing, sensational stabilization and a GPS on-board. The PowerPano feature grabs instant ultra-wide 6MP panoramas, which look great, and traditional 4:3 photographs are shot at 5MP - poor indoors and at night, decent in well-lit environments.
GoPro app
Just like the Hero8 Black, the Max pairs with the Android and iOS GoPro app. When editing 360-degree footage with it, you can transform kaleidoscope-style video into something that looks great on a flat-screen.
Using keyframes, the app processes out footage that smoothly pans and zooms across your video, making incidental, unintentional capture look seriously special. That said, the iOS app is more fully-featured and reliable than the Android app, with more control over transitions and a more stable phone-to-camera connection.
The app, in fact was probably the least enjoyable aspect of the whole GoPro Max experience.
When editing, we would have loved horizon levelling to help keep everything level, not to mention object tracking so that the keyframing process could have been a bit more automated.
More of a bugbear, the Android app saves files within it - not in a standard file-system. 360-degree footage can’t be batch shared, so in order to access our files from the phone - as we’d deleted them from the camera to free-up space - we needed to sign up for GoPro’s cloud service and upload them, then download them to our PC. This whole process took hours and could have been avoided with simpler file management.
GoPro’s optimisation for Apple products extends to computers, with GoPro’s desktop software only supporting 360-degree edits for Mac OS. If you’re a Windows user, you’ll have to make do with GoPro Quik, download the 360-degree footage and edit it in Premiere Pro after installing a plugin, or us the mobile app.
Battery and connections
(Image credit: Basil Kronfli/Digital Camera World)
As for the battery life, the GoPro Max’s 1600mAh capacity has you covered for a day of 360-degree shooting, vlogging and smartphone pairing provided you’re shooting short clips - a few 1-2 minutes every hour or so.
For any more sustained use, pack a spare or a USB-C power bank.
The GoPro Max’s sound recording is impressive, grabbing what GoPro calls spherical audio. That said, its mics are sensitive and if you’re holding the camera, you may well be covering or rubbing one. In turn, vloggers should invest in a selfie stick rather than hand-holding the camera to be safe.
The Max also supports voice control which works well - another one-up over the Insta 360 One X, and features a GPS too. With WiFi onboard, the camera doesn’t just connect to your phone, it also connects to the net and is able to livestream at up to 1080p directly to YouTube, just like the Hero8 Black.
Verdict
(Image credit: Basil Kronfli/Digital Camera World)
It’s impossible to not be impressed with the GoPro Max. GoPro has given 360-degree footage a new lease of life, building on what the Insta 360 One X achieved last year – and adding an action camera element to the mix, amongst other features.
While we would have loved 4K single-camera capture, and the app experience needs some work, the GoPro Max is still a fantastic tool and a solid win for GoPro and content creators everywhere.
Read more:
• The best 360 cameras
• The best cameras for live streaming
• Best action cameras
GoPro Max: Price Comparison
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Basil Kronfli is a freelance technology journalist and content creator with a number of specialisms. He started his career at Canon Europe, before joining Phone Arena and Recombu as a tech writer and editor. From there, he headed up and runs Tech[edit], a technology YouTube channel, and has worked alongside this role at Future as a Senior Producer, sharpening his considerable video production skills.
His technical expertise has been called on numerous times by mainstream media, with appearances and interviews on outlets like Sky News, and he provides Digital Camera World with insight and reviews on camera phones, video editing software and laptops, on-camera monitors, camera sliders, microphones and much more.
GoPro Max review: we put the 360-degree action cam through its paces
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By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Joining GoPro’s HERO action camera range comes the dual-lens, 360-degree GoPro Max. Will combining jaw-dropping 360-degree shots with proven technologies such as HyperSmooth stabilization and handheld TimeWarp sequences from the HERO range prove to be a winning recipe?
The GoPro Max now succeeds its 360-degree forerunner, the Fusion, in the GoPro range, but its latest 360-degree offering is not alone in the 360 marketplace.
So, is the Max a superior option over the Rylo 360, the Insta360 One X and Kodak’s Pixpro SP360’s 4K? Read on for our thoughts. Alternatively, see how all the HEROs compare in our guide to the best GoPro, or get the low-down on the latest flagship model in our GoPro HERO 10 Black review (released September 2021).
- Check out the world’s best action cameras...
- ...Or the best cheap action cameras you can buy
GoPro Max review: release date and price
Released on October 25, 2019, the GoPro Max has an MSRP of $499.99 (or $399.98 when you opt for the one-year subscription to GoPro, which costs an additional $49.99). That's quite a hefty sum for most people, especially those who won't really utilize its 360-degree format, which is the main selling point here.
In comparison, the newly-released GoPro Hero9 Black is $50 less at $349.98 with subscription or $449.99 without.
If it's the 360-degree shooting format you're after, then the GoPro Max is definitely worth that $50 price difference.
Otherwise, you might want to consider the Hero9 or the Hero8, which is even cheaper.
Despite sporting twin offset lenses (one front-facing, one rear-facing) and different dimensions, the GoPro Max shares a number of design elements with the Hero8 Black. Like its more conventional peer, the Max attaches to mounts and accessories via two metal fingers that fold out from its base and neatly tuck away when not in use. Its rubberized finish and rounded edges are also reminiscent of the Hero 8 and help give the camera a sturdy feel and prevent any potential slippage.
At 64W x 69H x 25D mm, the Max is bigger than most traditional action cameras – it’s essentially the same width and depth as the Hero8, only 20mm taller. It weighs 154g, which feels a little hefty despite being 66g lighter than its predecessor, the GoPro Fusion.
(Image credit: GoPro)
It’s easy to cycle between the Max’s three main shooting modes: Video, Photo and Timelapse. You only need to press a physical button on the camera body.
Tapping an icon on the touchscreen, on the other hand, let you toggle between shooting with either both lenses in 360 or just one for more standard footage.
You can choose to view the action as seen through the front or rear lens via the touchscreen. While the Hero8 Black took some flak for the lack of a front-facing screen as standard (you can upgrade to a second display, but you’d need to shell out for the additional Media and Display Mods for it), this feature makes using the Max a far better (albeit also expensive) proposition for blogging. That’s in addition to its primary function of creating 360-degree footage.
The touchscreen is an essential tool for shooting conventional video and stills. But, when creating 360 content, by far the most useful view is made up of what both lenses are capturing simultaneously. The only way to see this live, stitched together, 360-degree view is by pairing the Max with your smartphone via the GoPro app, which also lets you to operate the camera remotely.
GoPro Max review: features and usability
Just as the GoPro Max’s exterior shares design aspects with the Hero 8 Black, the camera uses the same operational interface as well. Beyond the additional 360-degree elements, both cameras use the same easy to use system of taps and swipes via the touchscreen, although the smaller display on the Max makes navigation slightly more finicky. Both cameras also respond to voice commands, which is really handy when you don’t have a free hand or are wearing gloves.
Operating the camera is simple enough, but wrapping your head around how to best make use of the Max’s main function of creating 360-degree footage takes more practice. The 360-degree app view is invaluable for helping you visualize your shots to begin with. Once you get the idea, you’re then better able to picture your footage using the touchscreen view.
The app’s other major function is to allow you to view and edit your content, which you can download in full 360-degree format onto your phone.
From there, you can use the in-app software to extract standard stills and video from your raw 360 footage or get really creative with kaleidoscopic sequences and videos with shifting POVs. The powerful functionality within the app really is impressive, fun to use and better anything else currently on the market.
GoPro Max review: spec
• Weight: 154g
• Dimensions: 63W x 69H x 25D (mm)
• 360 video: 6K source/5.6K stitched
• Conventional video: 1440p60 (4:3), 1080p60 (16:9)
• Photo: Spherical: 18MP, Hero: 5.5MP, PowerPano: 6.2MP
• Digital lenses: Max SuperView, Wide, Linear and Narrow
• Audio: Premium 360, Stereo
• Microphones: Six
• Connectivity: Wifi, Bluetooth
• App: GoPro with Reframe
• SoC: GP1 chip
• Battery: Removable 1600mAH Lithium-Ion
• TimeWarp: 2x, 5x, 10x, 15x, 30x recording speeds
• Time-lapse: 0.
5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30 second and 1, 2, 5 and 30 minute intervals
• Touchscreen: Intuitive 1in LCD
• Waterproofing: 5m without a case
• GPS: Yes
• Voice control: Yes
• Stabilisation: HyperSmooth
• Live Streaming: Yes, via app
• Other: Portrait mode, auto orientation
(Image credit: GoPro)
GoPro Max review: video and stills
While the GoPro Max’s 360-degree capabilities give you the ability to create some truly stunning content, it’s not without its limitations. Like all 360 cameras, the image stitching is noticeable since the camera can’t see the distance between the two lenses. The image exposure can also vary between each lens, resulting in one view being darker or lighter than the other.
The Max’s 360 video resolution of 5.6K stitched is almost identical to that of its 360 rivals, the Rylo 360 and the Insta360 One X (which all beat the Kodak Pixpro SP360’s 4K).
However, when shooting standard video at its maximum full-frame (16:9), the highest resolution of 1080p at 60fps is way below the 4K60 you’ll find on the Hero8 Black as well as many action cameras on the market. Similarly, when taking single-lens stills, the Max’s top resolution of 5.5MP is also way below than those of the traditional action cameras out there, though the PowerPano function allows you to take 6.3MP panoramic photos with auto horizon leveling – also a feature you won’t find elsewhere on GoPro’s cameras.
Just like the Hero 8 Black, the Max’s TimeWarp function allows you to create really cool moving time-lapsed footage – perfect for showing travel over a distance at warp speed. TimeLapse mode, on the other hand, makes it easy to create static time-lapsed video sequences.
The Max comes equipped with GoPro’s stabilization software – HyperSmooth, which hugely reduces camera shake and vibration. This is the most advanced version of it yet, appropriately called Max HyperSmooth.
It’s as smooth as the Boost mode on the Hero 8 Black, but without the cropping that mode requires. It also uses the round lenses for clever horizon leveling, keeping everything really watchable.
GoPro Max review: samples
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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)GoPro Max review: verdict
There’s no denying that the GoPro Max is a seriously capable piece of kit that allows you to get seriously creative with your photos and video and produce some outstanding results. As a complete package, it’s better than the rival 360-degree cameras available, though the Rylo 360 and the Insta360 One X are both significantly cheaper and boast unique features.
We’ve tested the Max in some demanding conditions – not least exposing it to the force of 8-foot saltwater waves in the middle of a British winter, and it has proved to be just as bombproof as its Heroic peer.
Given the physical positioning of the offset lenses on each face of the Max, there’s no way to avoid the glitches that appear on the stitched images taken simultaneously – which looks very obvious on objects close to the camera.
It’s also a pity the camera’s conventional resolution rates aren’t higher, but if you want cutting edge 180-degree content, you’re unlikely to choose a 360 camera in the first place.
Overall, we think that the GoPro Max is the best 360-degree action camera on the market and is way ahead of its forerunner – the GoPro Fusion. However, while it certainly gives interesting results, we’re not completely sold on the 360 format, which is still somewhat gimmicky and arguably less useful than what you get from a traditional action camera.
GOPRO MAX OVERVIEW
Good quality spherical video is no longer surprising. Because GoPro in the niche of extreme optics with all-round coverage, as always, is ahead of the rest.
The new Max camera was so much better than the Fusion prototype that it became a personal name rather than a serial number.
Appearance, design, dimensions
The main feature of GoPro Max is the possibility of spherical shooting.
It is easy to distinguish it from the 8th and 9th models by the presence of two cameras that look in opposite directions. The situation is similar with microphone openings. Otherwise, the design of the maximum “gouproshka” does not stand out against the background of the model range: the advanced filling is framed by a compact, discreet black case.
The size of the hero of the review - GoPro Max allows you to carry the camera in a jacket pocket. They are 64x69x24 mm, weight - 154 grams. In terms of dimensions and weight, the maximum speed is between the 8th and 9th. Flip-out "lugs", designed to connect a tripod, are hidden in the lower part of the case. They extend like the landing gear of an airplane. The design of the case includes a rubberized soft-touch coating, which contributes to a secure grip. The minimalistic design is not spoiled by an excess of controls. There are only 2 buttons on the case:
- turn on and switch shooting mode;
- start and end recording.
Another new one: GoPro HERO 9: a complete review of the cool action camera of 2020
Shooting quality
The camera is capable of shooting spherical videos with a frame size of 4096 × 1344 and a frequency of 24-30 fps. In the usual "flat" mode, options are possible: 1440p or 1080p with frequencies of 24-60 fps. Resolution for live broadcasts - 1080p. Advanced optics make it possible to take spherical photos at 16.6 megapixels, in HERO mode - at 5.5 megapixels. These are the characteristics of GoPro Max cameras.
Anti-shake mode allows you to get the best shots on the move. You can easily shoot on the go, on the run, on the fly. Moreover, the camera was originally designed with the expectation that due to electronic stabilization, the quality of the footage would not decrease. And because of it, the viewing angle does not narrow, the resolution of the optics does not fall.
Shooting with GoPro is a pleasure, no need to hold the camera in a certain position.
Stabilization mode is contraindicated only for shooting with a tripod. The useful features of the model also include the alignment of the horizon. Judging by the reviews, the horizon does not collapse, even if the lens is suddenly turned around the axis by 180 degrees.
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Features
- Photographing.
- Shooting video in normal/spherical mode.
- Ability to record Timelapse. You can speed up, slow down the video, focus on spectacular shots.
- Attaches to a safety helmet, bicycle handlebars, various surfaces.
- Voice control. You can give a command to take a photo, stop the video, etc. The camera understands up to 14 phrases.
- Wi-Fi adapter is a connection with a smartphone at a distance of up to 70 meters. You can automatically send the footage to the cloud.
- Ability to send content to the Internet without the help of a PC.
- Numerous branded accessories available.
In addition to the functionality of GoPro Max, proprietary software designed for video processing deserves a separate review. For editing, you need to set key points on the smartphone display, the application will automatically make smooth transitions between them. Any video can be adjusted to the wishes of social networks: publish a square or vertical video with a suitable aspect ratio.
Interesting article: How to use your smartphone as a webcam: 3 ways to help
Lenses
The GoPro Max has two lenses. When taking a photo or shooting a video, you can use one of them or both at the same time. In height they are located on the same level, but shifted to the left/right edges of the case. Here are the characteristics of the GoPro Max lenses in comparison with the 8th and 9th HERO cameras:
From Fusion, the maximum speed inherited the same ultra-wide-angle lenses, but in the new camera the manufacturer was able to realize a more successful engineering solution./i.s3.glbimg.com/v1/AUTH_08fbf48bc0524877943fe86e43087e7a/internal_photos/bs/2019/4/p/LIFIgBRG29zHw1t7qsMQ/gopro-hero8-black-und-max-offizielle-renderbilder-geleakt.jpg)
Lenses are hemispherical, they noticeably protrude beyond the contours of the body. Hence the relevance of protection against physical damage: chips, scratches, etc.
The manufacturer took care of the presence of protective accessories in the kit: plastic caps and transparent lenses. The first ones are needed for protection during transportation, the second ones protect the optics from damage during extreme shooting, for example, on a bike ride with friends. Lenses do not protect if the camera works underwater, with them the immersion limit remains the same - 5 meters.
About choosing an action camera: How to choose an action camera using the top 3 models of 2019 as an example
Battery and power
GoPro Max is powered by a 1600 mAh battery. When fully charged, it lasts for 1.5-2 hours of operation, depending on the air temperature and the settings at which the shooting is being carried out.
USB-C cable included. It can be connected to a Supercharger adapter or equivalent.
An alternative option is charging from a PC or laptop. The battery is fully charged in 2-4 hours depending on the power source. You need to power up the battery after turning off the camera, its display should not glow.
The charging process is accompanied by an indication that stops when the battery is 100% ready for use. The manufacturer does not recommend charging the gopro in winter immediately after shooting on the street: you must first let it warm up.
In conclusion of the review of the GoPro Max camera, it is worth noting the role of the operator in its use. The device allows you to record 360 degrees of action in digital without any problems. The role of the operator in the shooting process is reduced to a minimum. With further processing of the footage, he can submit it from the most advantageous angle. A blogger shooting in spherical mode will always be in the frame.
Charging guide: A detailed guide in 3 points, how much time and how to properly charge an action camera
According to the assurances of the lucky ones who managed to get the new models to test, both cameras are many times superior to their predecessors in all characteristics and capabilities.
Let's take a closer look at the GoPro Hero8 Black
At first glance, the changes in the design of GoPro 8 are not very noticeable compared to the 7 series, but if you look closely, you will notice changes in size: the new one has increased in height and width by 4mm and decreased in thickness by the same amount. It is also impossible not to notice the appearance of folding mounting rings, this feature eliminates the need to use a frame, which eliminates the hated blocking of the battery compartments, memory card and Type-C port.
Nothing has changed with the tightness in the eighth series, everything remains as it was before, the maximum depth is 10 meters.
One of the most obvious and welcome improvements is the new HyperSmooth 2.0 image stabilization algorithm. It is so good that it eliminates the need for a bulky steadicam and can work in all action camera modes. In addition, the function of adjusting the degree of stabilization allows you to turn it off, for example, for realism of the image, or increase the power until the vibration disappears completely.
Updated TimeWarp, time lapse in motion with stabilization, automatically adjusts the frequency of shots depending on the speed of movement, scene, lighting. And the ability to switch to real-time video with a touch of the touch screen allows you to make unique mixed shots.
For lovers of action photography, the new camera offers LiveBurst. You can now capture a 3-second video on your camera and choose one of 9 best ones from the GoPro app0 frames.
If we are talking about the GoPro application, then it is worth mentioning the horizon level selection and the preset video mode settings. The first will be useful when there is no way to level the horizon in hardware, and the second allows you to quickly select the best mode for a particular situation, and creating your own does not limit you in anything. In addition to this, a programmable button appeared on the screen, which makes it possible to fix the function that the user needs under the finger.
The microphones have been redesigned to be placed under the lens to more accurately pick up sound in front of the lens and eliminate much of the wind noise.
We didn’t forget about those who want to get studio-quality sound by adding a second connection method to the previously present version with the Type-C adapter, through the GoPro Media Mod frame with a built-in microphone, cold shoe mounts, HDMI and a 3.5 mini jack input for an external microphone.
Minor but important changes worth mentioning:
- improved Super photo;
- HDR photo, no motion blur;
- live streaming in 1080p;
- night timelapse;
- RAW format in all photo modes.
A few words about the new GoPro Max spherical camera.
The first noticeable change is the touch screen, which is in demand by all users of spherical cameras. On it you can preview footage, live images and manage all camera settings.
Serious changes have also been made to the form factor - the size and weight have been reduced to 64 x 69 x 24mm and 154 grams, respectively. GoPro MAX has become more like the grown GoPro Hero than the previous Fusion.
With the method of attaching to accessories, they did the same as on Hero8 Black by adding folding rings.
As for the maximum video resolution and frame rate, the new camera is 5.6K at 30fps (360 mode) and 1440p/1080p 60fps (Hero mode, front camera only). One gets the feeling that there is nothing special here, but as you know, in practice, these numbers are not so important, since there are many factors that affect the quality of the picture, such as bitrate or software processing of material, and as you know, GoPro is doing well with this.
The highlight of the GoPro Max is
- HyperSmooth stabilization with the same performance as the GoPro Hero8 Black;
- Max TimeWarp timelapse mode in motion with stabilization, in fact again the same as Hero8;
- PowerPano 270 degree panoramic photos.
This camera has also done a lot of work to improve the sound quality. The GoPro Max comes with 6 microphones for positional surround sound.
