Precisely one year ago, GoPro announced the Hero9 Black action camera. Today, GoPro has announced its successor, the Hero10 Black. While GoPro’s latest action camera looks familiar, a new GP2 chip inside results in significantly improved performance.
With its GP2 chip, the Hero10 Black features double the performance frame rates compared to 2020’s Hero9 Black. The increased processing power has other benefits. The Hero10 can upload a video to your phone or the cloud 30 percent faster than the Hero9. The Hero10 can plug directly into your smartphone for even faster uploads through GoPro’s Quik app, something not possible on the Hero9. The Hero9 introduced a front screen, although it was limited by poor framerate. Thanks to the GP2, the front display now runs at 30 frames per second despite being the same display.
Increased processing power gets more out of the 23.6MP image sensor. The Hero9 allowed users to pull 12MP still images from 4K 4:3 video. The Hero10 instead grabs 19.6MP stills from 5.3K 4:3 video. The Hero9 was limited to 5K 16:9 video, where the Hero10 records 5.3K 16:9 video, resulting in an additional megapixel when grabbing stills.
The GP2 chip helps with video framerates as well, which is perhaps the biggest boost offered by the increased processing power. The Hero10 Black records 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p and 2.7K/240p video. The Hero9 recorded 5K/30p, 4K/60p and FHD video at 240 frames per second.
Video is not only higher quality and faster, but it’s also more stable thanks to the inclusion of new HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilization software. The GoPro Hero10 includes three levels for its stabilization: off, standard, and boost. Boost results in cropping but promises the most stable footage possible. Standard doesn’t crop but won’t be quite as smooth as the boost setting.
The Hero10 uses the same batteries as the Hero9, but with higher-res video at faster frame rates, it does drain faster, per The Verge. During hands-on time, reviewer Becca Farsace investigated GoPro’s claims of improved tone mapping and noise reduction from the GP2 chip. Farsace found that low-light performance is improved.
While the GoPro Hero10 Black is available now for $499 ($399 with an annual GoPro subscription), some new features are being added on November 16, including Max lens mod support, additional resolutions, 24fps at all resolutions and GoPro’s SuperView lens at 5.3K at 30, 25 and 24fps. For more information, visit GoPro.
The lens, already available for Sony E mount, is 104mm (4.1″) long and weighs 421g (14.9oz).
Its optical formula is made up of 11 elements in 9 groups, including two aspherical, one ED and two high refractive index lenses. It features an 11-blade aperture diaphragm. It uses a stepper motor to drive an internal focus design.
Minimum focus distantce is 0.5m (19.7″) and it accepts 62mm threaded filters.
The company says it will be available soon at a price of $228.
Buy now:
The Panasonic Lumix S5II launched the second generation of Panasonic’s full-frame mirrorless camera system and was the first Panasonic to feature phase detect autofocus. As our review reveals, it’s a heck of an all-around camera for both still and video shooters.
The latest Lumix puts a Four Thirds sensor in a full-frame body with boosted AF and a wealth of stills and video capabilities to create a Swiss Army Knife of a Micro Four Thirds camera.
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The Nikon Zf is a 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera with classic looks that brings significant improvements to Nikon’s mid-price cameras. We just shot a sample reel to get a better feel for its video features and have added our impressions to the review.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? This price point gives you access to some of the most all-round capable cameras available. Excellent image quality, powerful autofocus and great looking video are the least you can expect. We’ve picked the models that really stand out.
What’s the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we’ve rounded-up several great cameras for travel and recommended the best.
If you want a compact camera that produces great quality photos without the hassle of changing lenses, there are plenty of choices available for every budget. Read on to find out which portable enthusiast compacts are our favorites.
‘What’s the best mirrorless camera?’ We’re glad you asked.
Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a ‘best’ option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.
Viltrox has announced the new AF 40mm F2.5 Z lens for full-frame Nikon Z-mount cameras. The lightweight prime lens provides a normal field of view, roughly approximating the perspective of human vision.
Optically, the AF 40mm F2.5 Z features an internal focus design built around ten elements in six groups. This includes one ED lens, one aspherical lens, three high-refractive index lenses, a high-definition nano-multilayer coating, and a front lens element that includes an anti-fouling coating. The close focus distance is 0.34m (13″).
Image: Viltrox
The lens includes a 52mm filter thread and features a 7-bladed aperture.
The AF 40mm F2.5 Z weighs a relatively lightweight 180g (6.3oz). A stepper motor drives autofocus, and Viltrox says the lens is compatible with face and eye recognition systems. It also says the lens should be suitable for shooting video thanks to low distortion and minimal focus breathing.
On the tech side of things, Viltrox says the lens supports full EXIF transmission to the camera, and it includes a USB interface to support future firmware upgrades.
Viltrox says the AF 40mm F2.5 Z will be available “as soon as April.” It has a suggested retail price of $158.
Sample gallery
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Viltrox AF 40mm F2.5 Z specifications
Principal specifications
Lens type
Prime lens
Max Format size
35mm FF
Focal length
40 mm
Image stabilization
No
Lens mount
Nikon Z
Aperture
Maximum aperture
F2.5
Minimum aperture
F16
Aperture ring
No
Number of diaphragm blades
7
Optics
Elements
10
Groups
6
Special elements / coatings
1 ED element, 1 aspherical element, 3 high refractive index elements, nano-multilayer coating
Chinese lens maker 7Artisans has announced the AF 27mm F2.8 prime lens for APS-C cameras using the Sony E-Mount.
The 27mm focal length gives a fractionally wide-angle ∼41mm equivalent field of view, while the semi-fast F2.8 maximum aperture should give some control over depth-of-field and better low-light performance than a kit zoom.
The compact prime consists of six elements in five groups. It uses a stepper motor and internal focus design, which is potentially promising in terms of autofocus speed. Unusually for a modern lens, it makes no use of aspherical, ED or other special glass, and features just six aperture blades.
The 48mm (1.9″) long, 173g (5.0oz) lens features a USB 3.0 socket on its side, allowing firmware updates. It has a minimum focus distance of 0.3m (11.8″) and accepts 52mm threaded filters. It is available immediately at a recommended price of $129.
The Panasonic Lumix S5II launched the second generation of Panasonic’s full-frame mirrorless camera system and was the first Panasonic to feature phase detect autofocus. As our review reveals, it’s a heck of an all-around camera for both still and video shooters.
The latest Lumix puts a Four Thirds sensor in a full-frame body with boosted AF and a wealth of stills and video capabilities to create a Swiss Army Knife of a Micro Four Thirds camera.
The fourth camera in Leica’s SL series of full-frame mirrorless cameras sees the 60MP BSI sensor from the Q3 and M11 models arrive with a significant interface redesign.
The Fujifilm X100VI is the sixth iteration of Fujifilm’s classically-styled large sensor compact. A 40MP X-Trans sensor, in-body stabilization and 6.2K video are among the updates.
The Nikon Zf is a 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera with classic looks that brings significant improvements to Nikon’s mid-price cameras. We just shot a sample reel to get a better feel for its video features and have added our impressions to the review.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? This price point gives you access to some of the most all-round capable cameras available. Excellent image quality, powerful autofocus and great looking video are the least you can expect. We’ve picked the models that really stand out.
What’s the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we’ve rounded-up several great cameras for travel and recommended the best.
If you want a compact camera that produces great quality photos without the hassle of changing lenses, there are plenty of choices available for every budget. Read on to find out which portable enthusiast compacts are our favorites.
‘What’s the best mirrorless camera?’ We’re glad you asked.
Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a ‘best’ option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.
