Join Casey Neistat on a quick GoPro comparison trip to the pier where he evaluates the HERO5 Black and Session cameras along with its predecessors.
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In the comparison video you’ll see that the HERO4 Black has a slightly larger sensor. it may just be a tweak in the new software but the HERO5 does appear to have a slightly increase in dynamic range. The HERO5 Black also has the ability to capture RAW and WDR images, and your GPS location.
The most distinguishable difference in the new HERO cam is video stabilization – EIS mode. GoPro told Ace+ Media that this feature on both the HERO5 Black and the HERO5 Session is the main game changer against other action cams out in the market. It’s designed to smooth out the jerkiness you can get with wobbly footage.
The GoPro Hero5 Black and the Hero5 Session both offer simple one-button control as we mentioned, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in, advanced wind noise reduction and video stabilisation. They are also both waterproof up to 10-metres without housing and they will both allow for auto upload to the cloud with GoPro’s Plus subscription.
Additionally, the two devices also have voice control functionality. They will respond to 12 specific commands, such as “GoPro Take a Photo” or “GoPro Stop Recording” and they will both understand these commands in seven languages, with more coming.
Big plus features added to Protune
The Black line offers Protune options for video. The HERO5 adds three new Protune options that can be very useful:
- Manual exposure where you can set the shutter speed
- Raw audio track option that creates a higher-quality WAV file
- Audio mode that reduces the effects of wind noise
In comparison to the other cameras, we found the HERO5 Black images to be a bit sharper, cleaner, and brighter. It’s not a huge difference, and it still doesn’t rival a good stills camera or current-generation smartphone, but there is a noticeable improvement. And the automatic white balance is better – the HERO4 Black always tended towards being too cool.
HERO5 shoots in RAW and WDR
The other is a new RAW image format. It has the file extension GPR. Shooting in RAW mode has both advantages and disadvantages. Albeit to realize that potential quality improvement you need to be processing the images in something like Lightroom.
