GoPro Hero 9 Black: 9 things we want to see in the next flagship action camera

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• GoPro Hero 9 Black: 9 things we want to see in the next flagship action camera

We're approaching September 2020, which means it's almost time for a new GoPro Hero 9 Black, at least based on GoPro's previous release schedule. GoPro has released a new flagship action camera every September or October for the past decade, so it would be a surprise if a Hero 9 Black didn't arrive at a similar time this year. Again, this is not a normal year. There have been very few GoPro Hero 9 Black rumors online, but we're still hoping to be here before the end of the year. After all, a product that could be this camera was included in a GoPro FCC filing back in May. With many of us more eager than ever to get out and be active, especially with other avenues of entertainment severely restricted in most countries, now would be a great time to introduce a more versatile version of our camera. Iconic Action With hope in our hearts and the GoPro Hero 9 Black on our minds, our camera team has come together to outline what we think are realistic, and in some cases almost dead-certified, changes to the next GoPro Hero Black. .

GoPro Hero 9 Black: 9 new features we want to see

1. 4K slow motion mode

The GoPro Hero 8 Black didn't have any high-profile new capture modes, so it's time to take the next step. Shooting 4K at 120 frames per second is the obvious next step. A GoPro is better suited to focusing on high frame rate modes than any phone or mirrorless camera because the action is its natural environment. Such a 4K frame rate is also possible despite the fact that the GoPro Hero 9 Black retains the same camera sensor as the Hero 8 Black. Your Sony IMX277 is already capable of rendering 119.88 fps at a resolution of 3840 x 2160, according to Sony's specifications.

(Image credit: GoPro) Of course, 120fps at 4K will probably only be useful in good lighting. High frame rates require fast shutter speeds, so the GoPro Hero 9 Black will need to increase its ISO sensitivity more than it would when shooting at, say, 30 frames per second. Today we see the same effect when using the Hero 120 Black's 240fps and 8fps modes at 1080p. But it's still a mode we'd love to see on the Hero 9 Black for sunny day shooting.

2. A new CMOS sensor

The best way for GoPro to improve the native low-light sensitivity of the Hero 9 Black is to use a larger sensor. To date, all Black series GoPros have 1/2.3-inch sensors. They are small, in fact, even smaller than those of the best camera phones. But is there room for something bigger? Many have been waiting for a GoPro with a 1-inch sensor since the Sony RX0 arrived in 2017, and they've shown that you can fit such a chip into a small action camera. However, we don't think the Hero 9 Black has one. This would mean a considerably higher price tag and would mean a radical overhaul of the internal design of the camera. This doesn't mean that GoPro will use the same Sony IMX277 12MP as every high-end GoPro since 6's Hero 2017 Black. There are other options.

(Image credit: DJI) DJI Osmo Action (above) uses the Sony IMX377. Mokacam's crowdfunded Alpha3 uses the Sony IMX577. There's also a newer option, the Sony IMX677, whose specs were released in 2019. It's the same size as the current GoPro sensor, 1/2.3-inch, but with a higher 23MP resolution. Higher resolution is good news for stills, and potentially for sharper images in the more cropped fields of view that GoPro offers. Shooting in low light is a potential headache, but the IMX677 does support pixel binning, which could solve this problem with the right implementation. The Sony IMX277 has served GoPro very well. And the amount that GoPro has extracted is incredible, but surely it's time to move on given that this sensor is almost four years old.

3. Faster operation

If the Hero 9 Black is going to get true 4K slow motion video and a potentially higher resolution sensor, it also needs a faster processor with a more powerful Image Signal Processor (ISP). It's about time to change here, because GoPro cameras use the GP1 processor since the GoPro Hero 6 Black. We expect it to be called, no surprise here, GP2.

(Image credit: GoPro) Enabling more advanced capture modes may be your primary task, but we'd also like to see a much faster startup and more responsive menu system. Ideally, a GoPro that seems as fast and instant to use as the phone in your pocket. And it also only needs to turn off completely when manually turned off or not used for a long period.

5. A larger edge-to-edge screen

There is a definite improvement to be made to the rear window of the GoPro Hero 8 Black. It has thick edges and was shown off last year by DJI Osmo Action. The latest GoPro has a 2-inch, 480x320 pixel screen, the DJI 2.25-inch 640x360. A larger, sharper screen would make the menu system easier to navigate and would be a better composition tool.

(Image credit: Future) This one is obvious. A 2,55-inch LCD screen is about the largest possible size. Both of the current display controllers for the GoPro Hero 8 Black are made by Sitronix. Its progressive model, according to the Sitronix catalog, would mean a move to 854x480 pixels, a color bump to 16,7 million shades, and a change in aspect ratio from 3:2 to 16:9. It fits much better than the current display driver, since the preview image for video on the Hero 8 Black does not even fill the already small space provided by the screen.

5. Front color screen with touch shutter

The DJI Osmo Action's front screen also makes the GoPro Hero 8 Black look a bit underspecified, especially to vloggers. We've got a small pad-sized screen on the Hero 8 Black, but it's a simple monochrome display that shows the current shooting mode and battery life. A color LCD screen would be too small and possibly poorly shaped for full image composition. But this would allow you to check that the top and bottom of the frame don't cut anyone's head off.

(Image credit: Future) A front-facing touchscreen would also offer more comfortable shooting controls, as the physical shutter button on the GoPro Hero 8 Black can sometimes feel a bit stiff if you're not holding it like a compact micro camera. There are issues GoPro needs to fix here. One of the strengths of today's monochrome display is that it's viewable in the brightest sunlight. A normal LCD screen needs a strong backlight to compete with a lot of ambient light. And GoPro needs to be careful with its touchscreen implementation to avoid accidental triggers, preferably without relegating front-facing touch control to a stealth mode in setups few will take the time to find. In this sense, a new front screen is something of an outside gamble for the Hero 9 Black.

6. Hypersmooth 3.0

GoPro cameras already have excellent electronic stabilization. This is where power is removed from the sensor and the information from the spare image is used to smooth motion transitions and eliminate judder. However, we can expect much more in the future. GoPro acquired ReelSteady, which is a great motion smoothing plugin for After Effects, in May 2020.

(Image credit: GoPro) Features related to ReelSteady are now available on GoPro Labs, a beta program that allows you to test unfinished features when used by GoPro. Currently, the beta firmware "improve rolling shutter fix" to improve the performance of footage when used with the plugin. But it seems inevitable that GoPro will incorporate ReelSteady's stabilization algorithms into GoPro's core feature set. Currently, you can buy a standalone version of this feature, ReelSteady Go, for $99 (about $80 / AU$140). We hope to see it merge with GoPro's mobile and desktop apps, at some point. GoPro doesn't want to upset those who bought the ReelSteady Go too much, although it may be supplied with the GoPro Hero 9 Black, but it's still a paid add-on for owners of older models. More processor power for the Hero 9 Black should also allow GoPro to come close to the stabilization offered by the ReelSteady desktop plug-in, on-camera only. There's no magical difference between the two, but more advanced algorithms are likely to require more CPU, limiting what a camera can do on the fly.

7. Ultra-long time lapse

GoPro Labs also suggests some other features that we can see in the Hero 9 Black, the ones related to the loosening of some restrictions. For example, Labs custom firmware allows you to take time-lapse video up to 50 days and customize how it works. You can, for example, set it to capture only at certain times of the day.

(Image credit: GoPro) The firmware also allows you to schedule future shots, like setting a wake-up alarm. Few are likely to need these features, but they could prove extremely useful for those who are really into their GoPro cameras. They would make capturing some creative shots so much easier, with less preparation and editing.

8. Body camera mode

Taking another Labs index a bit further, we can see a 'body camera' mode added to the Hero 9 Black. Several of the prerequisite components are present in the beta firmware. For example, it increases the maximum video size from 4 GB to 12 GB, the original being the file size limit of the FAT32 format traditionally used by SD cards.

(Image credit: Future) You can add overlays, for things like time and date, camera name, and speed of movement. And the capture can be linked to changes in movement or speed. GoPros are already in use as body and dash cameras, but these extra tips from intelligence and customization suggest that GoPro is at least considering bundling them in a separate mode. This is something we'd love to see, given the growing popularity of body cameras.

9. Returning the lens cap

Our last request is simple. Many GoPro users didn't like that the Hero 8 Black removed the ability to change its glass cover. We would like you to come back. This feature saved a lot of grief in previous versions, when you could replace a broken glass lens component for just $19.99 (about $16 / AU$29). That's a minuscule expense in the context of the full price of a GoPro.

(Image credit: GoPro) Why did GoPro do it? The cynic would say that this means more of us will update more often. Or that GoPro wants us to sign up for GoPro Plus, the cloud storage and insurance plan at $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$5.83 per month that allows you to replace a damaged GoPro up to 'twice a year. All of that is probably true too, but the GoPro Hero 8 Black probably wouldn't have shrunk as much as it did without ditching the removable lens hood. Today's best deals for the GoPro Hero 8 Black GoPro - HERO8 Black Live...