GoPro - HERO13 Black

Another endorsement for GoPro. Have a 13, works great. Red filter needed.

Are you specifically referring to the entry-level Hero camera released this year or GoPro's flagship Hero Black series? If the former, I'd probably steer clear. If the latter, hell yea - GoPros are awesome.

Basic summary is the X5 is out for obvious reasons (curved lenses don't work great underwater), the Action 5 tends to overdo the "blue" correction and isn't always accurate to the real colors, and sometimes loses sharpness in some scenarios. The AcePro's colors are better, but the highlights tend to be quite soft which removes some of the punch from the image. It also loses sharpness in some scenarios. The GoPro tends to have the most accurate colors and the best overall sharpness in these tests.

Go for the 12 Black from the Hero 4. It’s got way better stabilization, longer battery life, and sharper video. If you’re comparing, the 12 is more battery-efficient and handles bright lighting better, which is great for both water and stainless steel surfaces compared to the 11. Yeah, the Hero 13 has slightly better low-light performance, but unless he’s filming at night, it’s not really worth the extra cost really. If you’re getting two GoPros, I’d go for two Hero 12s to keep the video quality consistent. One can be overhead for cooking and the other gets close-ups? or for fishing, one can be chest-mounted while the other is set up for wide shots. [10 Best Action Cameras to Invest in 2025: Full Guide and Review](https://alaskanarrows.com/10-best-action-cameras-to-invest-in-2025/) would be useful too. But if you want a more budget-friendly option, a Hero 12 + Hero 11 Mini is a good combo—same great video, but the Mini is lighter and easier to mount so he can be creative with it ya know . For accessories, is he editing on his phone or laptop? That might affect which accessories are worth grabbing too but a suction cup or magnet mount for kitchen shots, and a Floaty Case or Waterproof Dome for underwater footage. Tldr: 12 black is the best, get two of them and a floaty case plus suction cup as accessories

I’m amazed at how effective the gaslighting has been from Insta360 and DJI. Hero13 is hands-down the best daylight action camera that exists today, and people are asking questions like “is it any good?”

What makes you say the battery life on the 13 is poor? Here’s mine shooting in 4K for well over 2 hours with no airflow https://www.reddit.com/user/All-Sorts-of-Stuff/comments/1gl7o5u/hero13_desktop_testing_records_4k_video_for_2/

That Osmo battery life quote is from before the bitrate fix - I’ll take 2.5 hours of good footage over 4 hours of muddy video

Hero13 beats Action5 on color science, resolution, aspect ratio, framerate, bitrate, stabilization, accessories… outside of low light performance, I’d say it dominates. A 4:3 image sensor with a max 4K resolution just doesn’t compare to the flexibility of 5.3K 8:7

Googling and surfing Reddit for reviews, seeing so much hate and under-appreciation I've decided to expand a little on my personal experience of what is essentially a great action cam with a simplified use and form factor... Bought the Hero 4K this month mainly for a MTB enduro event, mounting it to my Giro Fixture helmet on the front under the visor (not on the visor itself as its wobbly). Remember this mounting method as it'll make sense further down the review For what it's worth, when clips are ported directly from SD to your PC, the footage is entirely usable. It behaves exactly how a non-stabalized action camera would - bit shaky, standard field of view, nothing noteworthy or exemplary. The Gopro Quik app and its accompaning auto stabilization feature is absolute joke though. I would say it is akin to the early 2010s Youtube stabilization feature, which makes any clip that isn't a walking vlog unusable. I could try to stabilize clips on the PC using aftermarket software but I can't be bothered - like the cam purpose, the user wouldn't want to go the extra mile. The FOV is more than usable, the mild shakiness is tolerable and has a nice 2017 (start of mtb vlog era) to it which I don't mind at all, especially since I only use helmet cam and not chesty. If you look at Jack Moir on the big Y-tube, he has some new videos using this Hero 4K and even at warp speed, its usable footage. For the size, weight, simplicity and overall value the Hero 4K can't be beat. I was considering the Dji Osmo 3 and Insta360 Go3 but both cost at least 2x the price of this and were also 2x the weight and bulk. If you're not using a chesty, and only helmet mounted, you'd find this a strap on and go mini cam that serves its own niche pretty well.

Additional note 1: Gopro 2024 4K doesn't support bluetooth external mic but I found that the inbuilt mic combined with a dead cat muff is more than sufficient. Again, nothing magical but totally usable and not garbage. Additional note 2: At the battery saver 1080p setting this camera will last a respectable 12-20 hours if you use the quick capture (record from power-off) feature and record short, 1 to 3 minute snippets - like most of us do out on the trail. Under warm trail conditions* 30 deg C. Additional note 3: The touchscreen on this Hero 4K is much more sensitive and usable compared to the flagship Hero cameras. Don't know why, but its close to Dji's level of usability. Additional note 3.5: This review is educational, and it is essentially a comparision to other action cams with similar form factor and purpose - e.g Go3 (bulky), Osmo 2 (outdated hardware), 11 Mini (not reliable), Session 5 (old), all of which have their major pros and cons.

Yes, me too. $350 kit. First GoPro ever and it’s amazing. My basis of comparison is my iPhone 16 Pro, which is also great but the GoPro is perfect for action situations. I don’t understand people moaning and groaning about a $350 device.

Go pro. I had the DJI it sucked. Just awful. Spend the money to get good photos. Also make sure to not only focus on the puctures, you miss so much trying to capture an image that you ignore the actual experience. Set the camera down and dive, see the reactions of the wildlife, watch the sun get blocked out when you are surrounded by a school of fish, move with the waves and see what the coral hides, entire eco systems will be missed by you trying to get a good photo. Create experiences and memories, put the camera down and start living.

I just went down the rabbit hole looking into a new cam. I think 1) GoPro is the biggest, and it’s popular to reject the “me too” and “everyone has one”. 2) a few generations ago they were pretty glitchy, freezing, overheating, and a lot of people got soured on the brand. I do believe these issues are better now, but it’s hard for a brand name to recover from design and QC problems. And 3) I have read that DJI and Insta360 do a lot more new style marketing where they support influencers and GoPro doesn’t. Can’t confirm or deny but based on what we see and hear I believe it. Objectively researching all three- as someone who prioritizes image clarity, color depth, and ability to edit and grade the footage- I just ordered a 13 and feel great about the choice (at the current sale price). Might also get a 14 if they drop in Sept and are way improved, rumors are they will have a new processor chip and may have better codec and battery life, but all speculation…

Anything from GP11 till 13 would do just fine. All are waterproof and in general good action cameras. They are great for shots during daylight and night lapses, but not fantastic for low light shooting. In general 13 would be the best, and with all technology, buying the latest version future proofs your camera. I got a GP11 a couple of years back to go on a snorkelling holiday and i still use it. If you can get your hands on a good priced one then go for it. There will be minor benefits if you get a more modern one but I dont think i can give you a full rundown. Let me know if you have more specific questions

Because they're like the Apple of action cameras. They make amazing products and then just have weird flaws and people are either used to them or despise them. For example, the cameras overheat badly. Look at the bones, that thing gets maybe 5 minutes of stationary runtime and disassembling it to put it in a better case is nearly impossible to do without destroying it. Many people also just prefer how other cams look. I think the osmo Action 5 does better in darkness, for example. All this to say I do use a 13 and I'm going to buy a media mod for it because I like the camera and the subscription is decently cheap to act effectively as a log of all of my bike rides ever. $50/yr to stick a terrabyte of 4k LOG into the cloud every month is worth it.

Get the creator edition 13 it has all the bells and whistles. Thing is absolutely sweeet!! The little housing/case for the camera has an upgraded microphone and it has a track for a little light that comes with it. Stand with built in battery. Frickin order this thing if you have the cash it’s sick!! :). Enjoy it is so fun getting a new camera as I am sure you know, or WILL! Haha

Naa the creator edition is the 13 but it comes with the “media mod” case that upgrades the mic, stand with battery, rechargeable light, mounts, etc. it’s sweet! :)

One big complaint here (been using GoPro13 for about 7 months now)... It overheats so, so easily. :(

Absolutely 💯 is. I have both the 11 and 13. Gopro finally upgraded the heatsink on the 13, which is the biggest reason I bought it.

He's a DJI shill. He literally spams every topic comparing the cameras with 'DJI is better because' and will never admit to a single advantage the gp13 actually has over the action 5. Had to put him in his place in a separate topic. Just ignore him, he's full of shit BTW you missed one very good reason for filming in 5.3k. You can throw in on a 4k timeline during the edit and the downsampled 5.3k clip will be much better looking than if it was native 4k. Gopro users (like myself, I film everything in 5.3k and throw it in my 4k timeline before uploading to YouTube) do it all the time and it looks really good https://camerajabber.com/tutorials/what-is-downsampling-in-video-how-to-do-it/#:\~:text=By%20filming%20in%208K%20and,filming%20originally%20in%20Full%20HD.

I just had to buy a new GoPro 13 just because my GoPro 9 died off for no reason, red light of death. It won’t charge and turn on, it happens for sudden. Now I realize that Insta360 X5 could do much more angles so I gave GoPro away and try Insta360 for a first time

my opinion is: either buy the 13 (it will be supported longer) or if you want to save money and dont need the new features the 13 have, buy the 11 - just for the GPS the 11 usually have nice discount truth be told, you cannot go wrong, whatever you choose, 11, 12, 13, or dji action 4 or 5 they are all 90% the same and the rest are small differences, that you either know you need/want or dont care EDIT - both capcut and davinci resolve has free version that is sufficient for most users (and has better features than quick)

so again gopro 13 or dji action 5 - pick one you like more main advantage of dji is low light performance the gopro has burst slow motion (400fps) interchangeable lenses and better ecosystem of replacement parts and accessories (most can be adapted to dji) I would choose gopro 13, but I already have 10 and many accessories and am used to way they work

they are all 90% the same (this includes older models) with similar advantages and drawbacks (compared to other camera types) unless you compare them side by side, the results will be more than good enough, no matter which you choose gopro has slight disadvantage in low light - but its action camera, low light isn't what its designed for or its intended use on the other hand it has advantage in the new lenses (even thou I think they are a gimmick) its up to you what among the little detail differences is import to you dji action 5 seems like the best option right now, but DJI had (has) its own problems (like release with limited bitrate) personal I hate the way dji is controlled (but that might be because I am long time gopro user) just pick the you one like and you can buy cheapest and dont forget to consider older models, gopro 11 was sold on sale for 100€ and its perfectly comparable to the 13 or action 5

I think saying the Insta360 has terrible image quality is really just a flat out misstatement. The Ace Pro 2 has a log profile, but I agree with you on the 10 bit. No one else is doing 8k and the detail from that footage is amazing. Their pure video mood does great in lower lighting conditions. I have had every GoPro from the 3 onwards, but in 85% of the situations I shoot, the footage is better on my Ace Pro than my Hero 13. GoPro’s auto detect lens system is cool, but low light footage is still a joke. The anamorphic lens still isn’t on the market, there will never be a version of Quik for Windows, the company is doing layoffs, twice delayed their Max 2 camera which is now 5 years old and Insta360 has released 6 separate 360 cams in that same time frame. Fast charging is nowhere in sight despite both DJI and Insta360 having it for a while now. I still love my Hero 13 and GoPro as a company but their stock is over a buck and in danger of being delisted, financials are dire, market share and revenues are declining in relation to their competition and they seem behind the curve when it comes to innovation instead of leading it. It’s really a sad state of affairs.

You should send it back to Insta360 if it’s shutting down. I don’t have similar problems with my x3. If the footage looks like it’s from 2005, then you likely have one of two problems. The first is that you are filming in a resolution of less than 5.7k or you are reframing your video and expecting the reframe to be 5.7k quality. Reframes are generally somewhere between 720p and 1080p depending on the FOV so that is in line with cameras from more than a decade ago. It’s 5.7k over the entire 360 degrees so any reframes are just a portion of that. The X4 might be a better bet for you since it’s shooting in 8k or 33 megapixels while the X3 is shooting in about 18 megapixels. If you are looking for 4k reframes in a consumer 360 camera, there is nothing out there or in the immediate pipeline that can do it yet. When it comes to non-360 action cameras like the Ace Pro, it does shoot in 8k now. That’s 33 megapixels of video in fantastic quality - DJI can’t do it and neither can GoPro. You can crop your 8k Ace Pro video in post to a quarter of the resolution and still end up with a full 4k resolution crop. No other action camera can do that right now. I still love my GoPros but they are becoming less and less of my workflow as Insta360 and DJI are coming up with cameras that have better sensors, better low light footage, fast charging, less overheating and better designs like the flip up screen on the Ace Pro. I use whatever tool works best for my workflow and right now the Ace Pro and Action 5 are proving to be better cameras for what and how I shoot than the Hero 13. I am intrigued about the anamorphic lens for the Hero 13, but it was announced almost 3 months ago and there is still no clue when it’s going to be released. I can’t shoot footage and create content on hardware that isn’t available. Insta360 has released 6 separate 360 cameras since GoPro released the Max and my guess is that GoPro shelved the Max 2 for another year because they weren’t going to have 8k while the X4 has it and has been out for almost 8 months now. If GoPro doesn’t get their act together, more people like me who buy several cameras a year are going to move away from them and move to their competitors. I wish it wasn’t the case, but laying off developers and engineers means your product pipeline probably will be advancing at an even slower rate than it is now. I hope I am wrong and GoPro comes back strong but they are failing now and have been for some time.

I got the gopro 13. I AM SUPER EXCITED. thank you guys.

The bitrates are comparable between the Action 5 and Hero 13, both max out at 120mps. Colors are subjective. The footage I’ve seen look good, but it’s hard to tell over YouTube, due to their compression. As for the sharpness, you can turn those down. I just don’t think any action camera has a definitive advantage as GoPro had in the past.

I don’t have a preferred brand. I had the Hero 5, 7, and 11. I decided this time to try something different. I can totally acknowledge that the Hero 13 maybe better than its predecessors. I don’t think you can go wrong with either camera for the average user.

Hi bud I have the perfect option for you, https://www.costco.com/dji-osmo-action-4-action-camera-bundle.product.4000319967.html 199$ for the camera that won’t overheat , has a memory card. And includes a tripod. If you want to take things a step further you can order the DJI mic2. It pairs via Bluetooth to the action 4 camera completely wireless. I own a GoPro 13 black and a DJI. For the situation you described I feel like this is the best. Your total would be 300$ with the action 4 camera and the mic 2, for wireless interviews etc. [dji action 4 with mic2 on motorcycle](https://youtu.be/bHYYYZFwfQI?feature=shared) I moto vlog with it. For your application you’d set the camera up on the tripod then interview people with the mic2 as input. The action 4 will last about 130 minutes in 4k 30. [dji mic 2](https://a.co/d/dnGdDfw) Again , action 4 combo 199$ Mic2 99$ All accessories included even tripod stand .

Hi, I’d be happy to help. I have the entire action range and GoPro 13 etc. Couple tweaks for the action 4 is always film in 4:3, not 16:9, also set your white balance manually, if sunny use 5600k. I’ll post some videos of my action 4 and can totally help with any setting suggestions if you like my footage. Additionally I have the action 5 and GoPro 13 if you either return exchange I can still help. [DJI action 4 manual settings video test](https://youtu.be/b5FI-nYrAvQ?feature=shared) [same roads, DJI action 5 test](https://youtu.be/WH3UN2RFo7s?feature=shared) [GoPro 13 black in 5.3k](https://youtu.be/v5zUyY4Efeg?feature=shared)

My 2 cents - I own the DJI action 4/5and GoPro 13 Black. Here’s a link to every camera video. I’m a unsponsored photographer these are just links for your visual comparisons. Make sure to enable 4k on YouTube ⚙️👍 GoPro 13b is best during the day. [GoPro 13 black motorcycle day then night at end](https://youtu.be/qHXBAJjpo4U?feature=shared) Action 5 is best at night. [action 5 night motorcycle](https://youtu.be/y7ENSoDiaUg?feature=shared) [action 5 day motorcycle](https://youtu.be/WH3UN2RFo7s?feature=shared) [action 5 day cloudy motorcycle](https://youtu.be/O9y8XCendOo?feature=shared) Action 4 is best value. (199$) combo [action 4 motorcycle](https://youtu.be/NdpoOb0Vr1Y?feature=shared) Thanks for watching, if any specific questions I can post any video you’d like related to the 4, 5 or 13 black. To answer your question, I’ve always had just GoPros and Nikons. Now I have GoPro, DJI, & Nikon. So while I wouldn’t say GoPro slipped, I just need some of the innovative features on the DJI. (Mic2 compatibility, night mode, fast charging) for instance, if my action 5 batteries is low, I can literally be at 80% recharge off my motorcycles usb in the time it takes to refuel and stretch my legs a bit. (80% fast charge in 18 minutes. My GoPro will fast charge in about an hour, full charge advertised at 2-3 hours 😭) This subreddit actually makes fun of the charging issue officially, on the page look at the top, it will list the number of Reddit users on the subreddit as like.. .. “28 users are charging their batteries”

Hi, use davinci resolve. It’s free to export 4k, I have a mac and pc, works on both. GoPro is a dog shit company for taking money for the Quik app in the premium membership subscription , then never delivering the product. A true bait and switch. GoPro officially said they will not release a Quik program , in the 11th month of the year they promised to do so. Criminal after taking everyone’s money. They didn’t release the software because they had to layoff their US based employees before it was released. I have a GoPro 13 and action 5. Here’s the action 5 at night, the go pro could never get close. [action 5 at night](https://youtu.be/y7ENSoDiaUg?feature=shared) Basically if you don’t already own a GoPro don’t buy one. The action 5 is better. Or if you want value the action 4 bundle is 199$ at Costco….it outperforms my 13black in evening or night.

Hi, use davinci resolve. It’s free to export 4k, I have a mac and pc, works on both. GoPro is a dog shit company for taking money for the Quik app in the premium membership subscription , then never delivering the product. A true bait and switch. GoPro officially said they will not release a Quik program , in the 11th month of the year they promised to do so. Criminal after taking everyone’s money. They didn’t release the software because they had to layoff their US based employees before it was released. I have a GoPro 13 and action 5. Here’s the action 5 at night, the go pro could never get close. [action 5 at night](https://youtu.be/y7ENSoDiaUg?feature=shared) Basically if you don’t already own a GoPro don’t buy one. The action 5 is better. Or if you want value the action 4 bundle is 199$ at Costco….it outperforms my 13black in evening or night.

Hi friend. I motovlog with my motorcycles so very similar. I’ll share my experiences. 1. Honestly super easy, I use a 512 gig card and two batteries, the card is good for about 9 hours, the two batteries about 3 hours. For extended run times I simply remove the battery and use a power bank in my pocket / Velcro on the bike with a usb c cable. To edit you’ll use da Vinci resolve free, on pc, and Quik on your phone. 2. No, you can make a reel in about 2 minutes with Quik. I first make the video in da Vinci resolve, then I make a reel after for YouTube shorts in Quik. 3. The recommended mount is a PGY tech super clamp mount. This will go on your handlebars front or rear pov or your seat for rear facing. 4. For camera, get the GoPro 13 bundle at Costco. Here’s what my videos look like, think similar for you mine just has an engine (ha). Quik camera settings. You’ll do 4k 30fps superview, iso 100-800, exposure -0.5. [my motovlog channel - GoPro 13 Vespa demoing these settings ](https://youtu.be/ialAD5lKksA?feature=shared) Reach out here or on YouTube anytime I’ll answer super quick, I leave my phone on by my desk. My longest recorded bike ride was over 4 hours, camera plugged into power bank, no issues. My final tidbit, someone mentioned the insta 360 x4. I own this camera also and I do not recommend it for your use case. It’s great for like 30 second to 2 minute videos but editing beyond that is an absolute nightmare. A 256 gb card gets 2.3 hours of recording time, so my longest ride would have been about 512 gigs total. To sit down and edit this would be a weekend event(not fun for me). I dislike the reframing versus the GoPro on my helmet and backup camera on my handlebars facing me, but to each their own. I’m not saying don’t get it, I honestly would still need a regular pov action cam in addition to the x4 though. One COOL tidbit about the x4 is simply multi cam mode, it will record like a “picture in picture” of your two views in front of you and behind, though keep in mind this is all at lower quality than either a GoPro 13 or a DJI action 5, as the insta 360 has only a half inch sensor. If you use it beyond sunny days the quality drops dramatically Here’s an example of my insta 369 using multi cam mode, notice the quality is much less than even a GoPro 10. [insta 360 x4 bike Picture in Picture multi cam mode](https://youtu.be/PDqeC795ONY?feature=shared)

I like my GoPro 13, my GoPro 10 broke and they replaced it with a 13 through my subscription. Only issue is the replacement took an actual month, a MONTH, and countless emails between support, honestly about 24 emails. As a direct comparison, my DJI drone broke and DJI replaced it via NEXT DAY AIR, after 2 emails. I literally had a claim submitted the night before and got my replacement the next afternoon. I have tracking numbers for both as proof. 30 days versus 1 day replacement times.

The only reason to go with the Hero 13 would be if you actually needed the lens mods, the small resolution bump to 5.3K orbital you use gopro labs and need some of the features available in labs that aren't on other cameras. I've owned it 9 different models of GoPro but didn't bother picking up the 13 myself. Because of how meh it was compared to the competition. GoPro has shit the bed the last 2 years on improvements including bugs/overheating

Not sure who advised you to get the 12 instead of the 13 but if you can return and change to the 13 do that'll. Every mount is compatible literally everything you buy for it will work. It's just the lens mods for the 13 won't work on the 12 or before, but you didn't have one so that was no issue

They have competition. Mainly insta360 and DJI from what I've seen. DJI seems to sponsor a LOOOOTTT of YouTubers so I don't trust those reviews. Insta360's low light capability seems impressive and obviously they have better 360 cams. I don't hate gopro but I do hate that the main selling point of the 13 was "purchase more lenses". And the quik app is kinda annoying. I wish GoPro would make another Session with in-camera stabilization That said I have a new 12 and loving it. My 8 is having problems after 3 years of lots of use

Battery life: 10, however it's settings dependent, film with proper settings and film properly, a single battery can last you the entire day. Go around filming hours of "nothing burger footage", not only do you have an editing nightmare on your hands, but depending on settings, you may get less than an hour. Usually using proper settings and proper filming technique, my battery could run for nearly 2 hours non stop (but I would never shoot that way as that would be insane). Stabilization: 10, GoPro won technical emmy awards for their stabilization, who am I to argue? Water Resistance: 10, The camera is waterproof if you close the doors properly and haven't bent the doors like some people have. Resolution: 10, the camera records in 5.3K. You need a beefy system to edit it, but we're rating the camera, not your editing system. Frame Rate: 9, There are numerous frame rates available, and you need to select the proper one for the filming you're doing. I give the Hero 12 a 9 out of 10 as the Hero 13 improved the frame rates with burst slow motion options. Your friends likely read some online hysteria about GoPro's without any proper 1st hand experience or knowledge of them. The fact is they are a hugely popular model and this means that professionals and amateurs get to use them. Professionals have no issues, amateurs who don't bother to actually learn about their camera, may have issues if they aren't willing to learn how to avoid issues (terrible cheap SD cards being used, trying to film a static scene using action settings etc).

The Hero 13 supports a new and improved cold weather battery. It also has the taller 8:7 sensor, 10 bit color, HLG HDR and "in camera" night video effects which may prove to be useful considering your remote location.

GoPro's are quite good camera's for this, however you need to know how to set your camera up properly. "Interviewing" people isn't exactly an "Action" environment so therefore you need to set your camera up with the correct settings for a "non action" environment, it's literally that simple. Get yourself either a GoPro Hero 12 or 13, some spare batteries or the Volta and the media mod. If you're filming 3 to 5 minutes at a time, overheating with a properly setup camera will never be an issue.

A free camera is always worth it as there has been 0 investment. However the Hero 8 is old, the batteries are old, it has a non removable front lens protector and the batteries do not work in cold weather. The Hero 13 is a brilliant camera (I've actually bought 2 of them). The interchangeable lens options (macro, anamorphic, automatic ND filter setup) just makes it a powerhouse of a camera.

Overheating is caused by using poor settings choices for the filming type being done. Set up your camera properly for the filming type and it won't overheat. There's no difference in low light between the Hero 10, 11, 12 and 13 since they all use the same sensor. The only difference is the amount of "Denoise" being selectable (or being able to disable it completely using labs) which means better opportunity to denoise in post. Frankly using the labs and post processing will get you better low light results with a Hero camera [https://snokefilm.no/labs/gopro-11-labs-max-video-quality](https://snokefilm.no/labs/gopro-11-labs-max-video-quality)

I would get two GoPro Hero 13s, especially considering the fact you may want to use them for cooking videos. The HLG HDR option is going to make the videos look great if you don't have a lot of time for processing in post. For close up shots, the Macro Lens mod will enable to get crisp clear shots at about 4 inches from the subject. The magnetic mount option will enable you to quickly move between mounts. If you're getting two the same, then technically, you cut down on expense as you can interchange batteries, accessories, lenses, mounts etc. between the two cameras.

A: GoPro only recently released a version of "Quik" for desktop this year. it was actually a copy of their "Quik" for mobile app but with a lot LESS functionality. Due to fact very few people even bothered using it (why bother if the mobile app offered more functionality) GoPro decided not to continue throwing money at developing an app no one was using. B: People who edit using a desktop tend to want professional editing and this is why many use paid programs like Premier Pro or free professional quality editing programs like DaVinci Resolve. Not sure why you think the Hero 13 is not having "compatible features in areas" as that statement makes no sense. I have used the Hero 4, Hero 6, Hero 8, Hero Fusion, Hero Max, Hero 9, Hero 10, Hero 11, Hero 12 and Hero 13. I can say without a doubt that the Hero 13 is my favorite of these so far due to the amount of features it offers and the new lens options. If I had to choose between the Hero 12 and Hero 13, I'd choose the 13 with no hesitation.

For out and about "hands free" livestreaming, the Hero 13 has both upgraded Bluetooth (for camera control) and upgraded WiFi (for livestreaming/file transfer etc). Livestreaming results though will be limited by your hotspot/phone bandwidth and cell tower distance/speed as well as your internet plan (which if mobile, could be limited or restricted after a certain transfer allowance is met).

Former GoPro fan here. I would go with GoPro13 over the Action 5 Pro. I bought both and returned the Action. I' really wanted to like the Action but the low fixed bitrate was noticable. My former GoPros can all take a beating, they can handle it. I've driven over them with my truck and not a single mark on them.

DO NOT get an 11 mini for filming ANYTHING either stationary (blog stuff), or in high heat! I LOVE my 11 minis (yes, I have several) but they are not meant to be used as a stationary camera! I use them for FPV drones and they work great. If there isn't air moving over them they WILL overheat in hot climates. Personally, I love my 13. Yes, it's pricy, but it just works. It has built-in GPS, so I can track it if I lose it, and it doesn't overheat... Ever. That, combined with my gopro subscription ($50 year) allows for unlimited cloud storage of GoPro files and $99 "no questions asked" replacement for when I break stuff.

I run a YouTube channel as well. I film long form with a gp13 and gp10 but for shorts I use my iPhone16

What do you mean “When cam and phone are close contents get uploaded to phone and google photos”? I’d recommend the GoPro Hero 13 — I used it on a recent trip at the pool and beach, even in the sand, without any worry about damage. It’s a rugged camera, though I should add I’m a careful user — I wasn’t slamming it against rocks or anything like that. Also, if you have a GoPro subscription, you can connect it to WiFi and it’ll automatically upload your footage to the GoPro Cloud in the background.

I love my Gopro Hero 13. [Here's](https://youtu.be/y0Wqx267N5A?si=tMPk3KjqG0fSiKcY) a sample of it with the anamorphic lens and media mod.

Exactly! Especially after the "fake" reviews on YT where the person was sponsored and given a review manual with dos and don'ts and ways to favor their camera over GoPro. Or the (now over?) cease producton on the AP2 that few know about. The Hero 13 can do 10 bit HLG HDR in camera...and it is quite an improvement (if your display can show it). The magnetic latches and power/signal door are nice as well. The latter can be used on the 9 onward. The former, potentially on earlier cams if a new finger plate becomes available. The new lenses are v good. They 9:16 for IG / Tik is great. DJI and Insta don't have most of this, and look worse in action use which is generally daylit or nightlit. DJI has had data mining complaints, mostly on the drones but who knows if that extends to the cameras. And Insta...well...geez what they do...and from before their first camera came out....oof. And...with all the fake "reviews" out there...only one of the action cameras can focus close...GoPro. So many of the rivals can look meh at vlog distance, but behind them is noticebly clearer....cuz the lens in its range. Sorta the reverse of isolation from a full frame camera...

I honestly regret buying a GoPro. I can't believe I've wasted so much money on it. It can't even record something for more than 10 minutes about turning off before it gets too hot. Also, I can't upload anything without it turning off after 5 minutes because it once again gets too hot. Let alone how many steps it takes for the auto upload to take place anyway, it's just ridiculous. I film bartending videos in an air-conditioned room, so it's got nothing to do with me being outside in the sun. It should be the most simplest thing to record ever; however, the GoPro just can't hack it. I bought it brand-new GoPro 13 in January and the support I'm getting from the company is absolutely trash...

I have 2-10s, 5-11's, a 12, and a 13. My 13 is acting like a 13 year old child. 🤣 It doesn't listen to the voice commands and in general doesn't cooperate. The 11s & 12 work great. High quality and very dependable. I love using GoPro Labs for customizing the functions and controls.

Get the Hero 13 if you value: • The highest resolution (Hero 13’s max resolution is 5.3k vs. Action 5’s 4K) • Real, non-AI generated burst slow-mo • High bitrate recording • True LOG footage • Easy-to-use lens accessories • Better customer support Get the Action 5 if you value: • Lower price • Much longer battery life (because of lower bitrate encoding) • Better thermal performance in extreme heat (because of lower bitrate encoding) • “900 FPS” burst slow-mo (as long as you don’t mind that 73% of the frames are AI generated) From a color standpoint, neither is “better” than the other, but they look very different. This is subjective and can easily be changed in post. If you’ll be shooting in low light, use something else entirely because neither do well in low-light (although the Action 5 is slightly better, it is still nowhere near as good as an iPhone 10 or above).

The GoPro has sharper picture and will record higher quality video but you will need lights for filming in darker conditions as it doesn't handle low-light well. The Osmo handles low-light a bit better but the image quality is much softer and less detailed than the GoPro.

For me, I’d say the best options for food focused video are (assuming mostly filming indoors): 1) Upgrade your smartphone to the newest 2) Pocket 3 3) GoPro 13 with Macro (I actually tried out some food POV shots [in my review of this accessory](https://youtu.be/ED7N2WlS_HI?si=GfIUEaNT0Ol5VICy) with mix success)

I just bought my first go pro and I'm loving it. I had seen them back in the day and thought they were really cool, and I finally decided to buy one, no regrets. I will tell you this: I'm glad I bought the GoPro hero 13 because it's rugged and waterproof and has really great filming options. When you hold it in the hand, you can tell you have a nice piece of hardware that will be able to withstand everything you can throw at it. I'm not sure you will have this same feeling buying a cheap alternative, maybe it feels cheap in the hand. Had my go pro 4 days now and really really glad I spent the extra money. I'm even starting to look at lenses.

Both work well under water. Just remember to get the dive housing.

Whatever you decide I need to clarify few things regarding GoPro Hero 13. First, I'm not sure about overheating but for the three weeks in hot and humid climate I used camera not even once it overheated. My Pixel phone did while taking pictures! For those 3 weeks I bought 4 batteries and with GPS on, 5.3, HDR, Linear profile I had to swap them maybe few times (obviously it depends how often and how much I recorded, but total size was about 260GB on SD card) My experience with GoPro support is terrible which is still slightly better then Google support.

Hero 13 10 bit LOG Ace Pro 2 8 bits LOG You decided

Except for safari, GP13 is very good A good alternative could also be a 360 camera, especially for things like cage shark diving. I personally think Insta360 is better than GoPro for 3d cams

DJI seem to copy everything that other companies do (I remember when they blatantly ripped off all the features of the incredible 3DR Solo drone, and then ran them out of the market), and in a hilarious move, they followed GoPro's move of removing the heat-producing GPS chip. Now the HERO13 Black has GPS back in, so that's quite funny. I haven't used a da jiang innovations camera, but I do love all the new lenses for the HERO13. The Macro lens with the focus ring and Focus Peaking is nothing short of amazing, and the Ultra Wide is the widest lens of any action camera. It can also shoot 5.3K in 120 frames per second, which is crazy good, because I love slo-mo.

Longtime GoPro user here. I only ever used the app for sending content to the GoPro cloud storage service, and lately, using it as a much easier way to submit shots for GoPro Awards ($500 for photos, $1,000 for videos, if you're a GoPro Subscriber. Half that if you're not). Now that the GoPro camera itself can send content directly to the cloud when connected to WiFi Internet, I can still submit for awards via the Quik App on mobile. You'll find people having annoyances with software with other brands, too. I would consider the HERO13, because of the new lens system. It really is unique among all action cameras.

I always shoot at 60fps on a HERO13 and never have an issue, unless the camera is stationary and doesn't have good airflow. In that case I'll ensure it has shade, and will remove the battery door to allow heat dissipation. Any waterproof device overheats easily. iPhones, Android phones, any action camera. You just have to use logic and ensure adequate ventilation.

I’ve seen the difference. Over-saturated, over-sharpened, over-processed. No thanks

I REEAALLLY wanted to get the Action 5 Because GoPo has been FF-ing’ up that last 8 years or so. My GoPro 11 looks far better than the GoPro 13. I couldn’t believe that the image quality has basically stated the same since the GoPro 8. That one is my favorite. Small form factor, bad ass 4K footage. Only downside low battery life. So I changed to the GoPro 11 with Enduro Batteries. Game Changer. The ONLY reason I considered leaving GoPro was because I use my DJI Mics and the GoPro mic is not that good. BUT it has NO good Bluetooth audio when connected to the DJI. Just terrible. So I’m stuck recording separately audio and video. Such a damn hassle to find the matching videos and audio post processing. If DJI would have better video quality I’d buy it in a heartbeat along with the DJI mini mics, using Bluetooth. Man both companies are really FF-ing’ up. I’m hoping the new GoPro 14 has good Bluetooth audio so I can upgrade.

I film and make hiking videos and have a ton of cameras. I do not like iPhone footage. Looks too sharpened and saturated to me. I used a GoPro for years. My current one is a GoPro Hero 11 Black and I absolutely love it. The 9 & 10 were buggy. The 8 was solid but the 11 is so much better. The 12 and 13 don’t have enough upgrades to justify. For better footage, set the field of view to linear. Gets rid of the fisheye look. Set sharpness and saturation each to -2. Set color profile to natural. Get smooth, steady shots and don’t swing it around like crazy. It’s a great starting point. Once you get the settings dialed in, you just need to press record for 99% of shots. So it’s easy to use. It’s durable and waterproof and small also. I don’t mount it to anything (unless I’m climbing or rappelling). I got a cheap tripod/extension handle off Amazon and just carry it. You won’t want all your footage to just be a straight ahead shot anyway. I just bought an action 4 but the verdict’s still out on that. If I were to recommend one camera it would be the DJI osmo pocket 3. I absolutely love it. But it’s pricey and if you’re starting out the GoPro will do good enough.

I think the Hero 13 is also a more future proof camera purely because it offers that 5.3K resolution. Back in the day I purchased a hero 3 black, which also offered 4K resolution already. (Framerate was not great I recon, but it was there) Back then we still thought 4K resolution was a nice to have and also mostly used to crop to our 1080p footage, which was the norm then. Now 10 years later I’m super happy to have 4K footage from 2014. Same will be the case for 5.3K. Right now it’s “gimmicky” for a lot of people, or used to crop to 4K. But sooner than later 5.3K becomes the norm in a few years just as 4K is today, and you’ll be happy to have 5.3K footage from 2024! If you plan on using it for many years, I think this is a great argument for going with the GoPro. And it’s a solid brand as well, been super happy with my camera’s over the years, never had any issues. Good luck on your decision!

They're just slow in terms of progression on the market. Don't get me wrong I love em I've had a session 5 for 4 years and it's done me wonders for whitewater kayaking, it's light small, alright quality and does what an action cam should do. I recently bought the hero 13 from costco (2 days ago) for £300 2 batteries and other bits of stuff, and am thrilled with it. But then again, the argument could be made what really changed from the 13, it has a new magnetic door thingy, and slightly better battery life, with the enduro batteries. Compared that to the improvements dji or insta make, that's where the hate comes from imo. The reality is, everyone has a brand they like they're all really good, and it depends on what you need/ want, for me a gopro is best, but for someone who is hiking and wants cool footage an insta360 x4 or 5 may be a better option. It does just boil down to each and every person's option tbh. And the hate isn't on the camera but the lack of improvement between generations imo, especially considering what each new gopro is like £150 more on release.

I have used GoPros and gotten good footage from them, especially if you're talking about snorkelling/shallow water where you still have good color information without the use of extra lights. I've not used the DJI Osmo or Insta 360 action cams, but I've heard good things (especially about the Osmo) about their color science and producing a better overall image quality. The new GoPro 13 has some nice official accessories (ultra-wide angle and macro wet lenses) and has sort of an "auto-video" creator that uses AI to cut up your videos if you don't want to edit. If you're going to edit yourself, then it's obviously not much of an advantage. Even though these action cams are waterproof to a certain depth, I'd still recommend getting an underwater housing (around $50 for a GoPro). If you rinse it well in freshwater after every time you use it, you might not have any issues without the housing, but I would rather spend the $50 and make sure I'm not getting salt water on my camera (the salt can cause buttons to stick and other issues over time if not cleaned thoroughly). Another good option is to get something like a DiveVolk housing for your smartphone and just use that - then you don't need to buy an extra camera if you don't plan on using it for anything other than your vacation videos.

I own both 11 and 13. 11 does everything great like 13. If you can afford it, go for 13. It’s more future proof, but you can also get two 11 for the price of one 13.

I went out of the GoPro path, but came right back (first GoPro was Mark 3). Hero 9 is too old. You need 11 to level up, and it’s really cheap right now. 11 was a huge update. I skipped 12, and I don’t see so many advantages since I bought 13. I’m not disappointed, but the end result looks exactly the same. Maybe I’ll buy the overpriced Ultra Wide lens (I shoot downhill mountain biking).

For me, the advantages of the GoPro are its 8:7 sensor, compared to the Ace Pro 2's 4:3 sensor, where vertical images lose information from the top and bottom of the frame. I use the GoPro to record POV videos in first person by mounting it on my head, and it's almost unnoticeable. The Ace Pro is very large and heavy, and when you mount it on your head, your neck and forehead start to hurt after just a few minutes. The GoPro integrates its mount into the camera body and gives you the option to add a magnetic mount. On the Ace Pro, there is no integrated mount; you are forced to use the magnetic mount, which makes it even taller, larger, and heavier. Even though the processor and sensor of the GoPro 13 are the same as those of the GoPro 11, the image quality and detail during the day are better on the GoPro than on the Ace Pro 2. GoPro offers the best cloud service, and it’s unlimited.

I just got this exact setup using work points for being at my work for 5 years. But the hero13 is ASS. I "upgraded" from a hero4. With this "upgrade" I dont have issues if cam is actually recording or if it can even turn on, I have to do a battery pull at that point and rare. The downgrade is the mic options. I cant use a wired mic without using the bid ass media mod. My brother gave me his because he didnt want to use that monstrosity. Attached to a helmet is just fricken obnoxious. I own gopro stock for like 5 years now and its no surprise that this company is absolute ass. I shouldnt have bought the 13 but here I am stuck with this large innovative garbage.

Quality relies on a lot of things. The most important will be compression. If you want to watch something high quality while streaming, they need a really good service to make sure it loads properly. Or you should download it and then view rather than streaming it. Streaming services will compress the videos you upload to save space. If they can fit a 200mb clip into a 125mb compressed format they will. The videos you take on your phone are stored locally, no streaming needed, and thus no second layer of compression. Your phone also has a ton of processing it does that the action camera might not do. There's many contributing factors and resolution is actually near the bottom of the list. Resolution is a bad metric to use. Far more important is the recording codec, bit rate, and colour space. For example 12 bit colour will appear much more detailed and "high quality" than 8 bit colour, even if the 12 bit is 720p and the 8 bit is 4k resolution. In some cases, the videos will be intended for editing and then rendering in a different codec than their native format. Or they will have a few options, like a codec meant for good enough right now video and a codec that has more data and needs to be edited and processed. Any decent camera store or manufacturer will have the "white papers" for their cameras, the technical specifications where it says what the recording codec is. If it just says "high quality" it's probably crap meant for customers who just want to press a button and make it work. Like with the Gopro Hero 13 it has Video Compression Standard H.265 (HEVC) Color Video Bit Depth 8-bit 10-bit (4K and higher) So as you can see this one makes the decision of pairing higher quality bit depth for thr 4k resolution. It's not just more pixels but better pixels. That's the kind of thing to look for, because the image quality will vary based on which resolution and framerate you pick. So if you need a super slow motion 240fps video, the Gopro13 will achieve that by compressing the video quality. This is why you shouldn't always record at higher framerates. Some vloggers do it because they always want the option of speed ramping their video if something interesting happens, but with this camera you'd be sacrificing quality even before mentioning that faster framerates need more light so there will be added noise in the image.

For diving, among this generation cameras (GoPro Hero 13, DJI Action 5, Insta360 Ace Pro 2), there's really no competition. DJI Action 5 is the best. For underwater shots, low light performance is the most important, because virtually all shots are low light. DJI is miles ahead of GoPro in low light performance. There are many comparison videos online (most of them aren't about scuba, but low light is low light). The Ace Pro 2 is probably fine, too, but it doesn't have 10-bit or log encoding, which are helpful if you are colour correcting your videos, and you really should with dive videos.

If gopro: i would get the 13 due to the changes to the battery and lense mount.

There are 13 iterations and they still can’t fix the freezes or the device shutting down. Like come on, what am I paying for? And this point I would rather use a phone with attachments.

With the GoPro Hero 13 Black vs DJI Action 5, it’s not all black and white. If you watch the videos, they compare the cameras 4K to 4K which isn’t realistic because the GoPro Hero 13 can film up to 5.3k which is a big jump. They knock the resolution down to 4K so it’s “Fair” but it’s really not. And a lot of the DJI videos are actually promo videos or paid sponsorships. I have a 13 black, and it is truly an amazing camera I love it so much

They are at the same level. GoPro still has it‘s reliability issues, but it‘s nowhere near as bad as it was with the Hero 10. DJI made a huge step with the Osmo Action 4 and 5. Both the GoPro 13 and the Osmo Action 5 can deliver everything you asked for.

Welcome to the GoPro world! If you want to buy used, get a GoPro Hero 13. Used/pre-owned get a Hero 11 (the 12 had some unfavorable updates). If you find some good deals, the GoPro Hero 9 is the oldest of the "modern" family of GoPro cameras. GoPro releases a new model every ~1 year and the updates have been great. Some people may complain that a new model isn't "significantly better" than the previous model to a degree of warranting an upgrade, but I'm fine with that, they just want to push the best tech currently possible. The camera itself is waterproof but you'll need to rinse it after submerging in salt water. I have surfed quite a few times with my Hero 9 and Hero 13 and I've had no problems. The gopro is submersible to a certain range so you'll want to check that first but if you're just surface snorkeling you'll be just fine. The GoPro is perfectly capable without any extra lenses but personally I recommend the UltraWide lens mod if you do get anything. On the stock lens the newer cameras have linear, wide, superwide, and hyperview already. You'll want to get the "The Handler", a GoPro handle that floats in water in case you let go of it. Other than that you'll need a good SD card and you're all set - needs to be one from the approved list on the GoPro website (but not necessarily bought directly from there). MicroSD cards need to have high quality reading/writing speeds to avoid video corruption. Feel free to send me a message and I can give you a lot more information or we can work out a call or something. I have a lot of experience and I really love my GoPro :)

I've had every version since the beginning. And I'm not going to say they are perfect; battery life has always been an issue. The odd random crash. The 12 and 13 made decent improvements. But the influencer effect is definitely out there, every video I see from a sponsored influencer is comparing it to a GoPro, and they deliberately set the GoPro up to give its worst performance. you call them out on it and they get all butthurt and defensive, so you know they are full of shit. I own two insta360 x models and a go3 as well, and I can tell you the image quality is no different if you set them up correctly, the battery life on the insta's isn't that great either, and one thing that really bugs me is the time between pressing record and the insta actually doing anything, my gropro is recording and I'm still waiting for the insta to start. And they do crash, and they also overheat. It could be that I'm in Australia, but I've mounted my Insta in my car to record random stupidity and then find it's off and recorded a minute or two before dying. Just Google Insta overheating, and it's an issue they are 100% trying to hide. You mention it as an influencer, and you'll never get a free camera again. And the biggest reason to avoid the Insta cameras is lens damage. The X5 just got a replaceable lens, and they carry on like this is genre-changing. Yeah, welcome to 2020 when GoPro did that. I won't be getting an X5 or AcePro, I will be getting a GoPro 14 as soon as it's announced.

Another perspective. I am both a pro and an amateur. I used GoPros for the longest time since the early days. But the last number of releases have been quite lackluster. They had a number of missteps including playing in the drone space that failed (because Gopro wanted a huge cut, which DJI was not receptive to) and then the 360 space that also did not bear fruit. They then cut r&d spending significantly and pushed its subscription model to improve its bottom line. The bad news is that its competition caught up to them within its only core competency and they also filled in those other spaces they tried to compete in and failed and spent hundreds of millions doing so (like its Karma drone). I still shoot Gopros when the job would best suit its strengths including bit depth and gradability with other footage and shooting in relatively well lit spaces. But for amateur stuff including moto vlogging, I have completely transitioned to Insta360. Gopro doesn’t have a current 360 camera and its low light performance with the H13 is a 3/10 if you compare it to its peers which are closer to say a 7/10. I also have a single remote that can trigger both the 360 and action cams as they are from the same brand. Lastly, the Insta360 desktop app is stable. Can batch edits and exports while I continue to edit other clips at the same time. It can also overlay gps stats and manage in-outs/timelapse/motion blur/etc. I can also keyframe and manage my 360 clips. Yes, I can also do this entirely with plugins in creative cloud, and I still finish my projects in Premiere, but the options that say Insta360 offers is quite compelling to a content creator. Pros are such a small sliver of the overall market compared to everyday consumers. Why would Gopro make some of these decisions that seemingly go backwards. Maybe they are cost cutting further like when they previously cut r&d. Gopro might be able to turn this around, but it will be an uphill battle for sure. It did not start this way. I slowly ventured over to the competition and as it became better, I transitioned further and further. I feel it is similar to myself as a pro shooting on Nikon and trying Sony when they jumped into the market. It started as a camera body here and a kit lens there, but they got better and Nikon did not and I eventually fully transitioned to Sony and by that time they were just as good as the old players.

I tried both, I’m selling the Dji action 5, photo quality is just better on the Go Pro 13. I like the linear feature for vlogging. Plus the cool macro lens. I’m tired of everyone pushing Dji products on YouTube. Have you looked at the company on Wiki. Might think twice and support a US company.

I've had my hero 4 since it came out. And its a great camera, never heated up the only reason I bought the 13 is because I can't find any batteries that are new for the 4. Well, when ever I try to video anything in 60fps the damn thing overheats and either freezes or turns off. I never had that problem with the 4. That and they got lazy with innovation and let dji take their lunch. Oh and how the hell is it possible that the 13 has worse low light video than the 4?!?! Smh

I had the same decision to make a couple of months ago. Since I fly FPV and do cinematics I wanted the best Picture Quality. After waiting that all the sponsored reviews for the A5 were done I watched some a coupe month after release and was shocked about the bad details due to the low Bitrate Some videos were shocking how bad the DJI looked (minute 11:20 https://youtu.be/NuJbZbMm2P8?si=qfWAyMYz0Mtywk7x). Gopro is far from perfect, especially the slow charging speed is annoying but at good lighting Gopro still stays the best. There was a new Firmware update at th A5 which bumped the Bitrate but now the battery claims are completely off. Other reasons for the Gopro are the Labs firmware. I created my main settings into multiple QR codes and don't need to fiddle with anything. The last Killer feature for me are the better color profile for color grading, the 8:7 aspect ratio and 5.3k. That gives me much more freedom when reframing shots.

I picked it up. I’m enjoying it more than my other GoPros by far. If it works for you - go for it. In the end it’s got to meet your needs. I needed a camera that had various options, could endure being tossed in a sling bag with minimal protection, endure some rugged handling, and offer enough hardware to clip it almost anywhere. With the Macro lens I can also offer up interesting shots on another level that I couldn’t before and it just meets all my needs. So yeah - go for it if it works for you. You’re always going to find positive and negative reviews. You’ve just got to discern how to weed through all the fluff and extract the facts.

A full size Gopro will definitely hold up better against crashes than a o4 unit. Im also assuming OP prefers analog for its latency New gopros like 12 and 13 are better in portrait because they have 8:7 resolution and its best for gyroflow data Dji action 5 has overall slightly better quality but not as good for portrait/gyroflow Gopro 8 apparently has best low light capability

I like Action 5 Pro for its combination of features - ease of use terrific video quality and the seamless integration with Wireless Mic 2. But for pure video quality, taking nothing else into account, GoPro Hero 13 still has the edge over it.

What you are seeing is heavy investment by DJI and Insta360 in influencer marketing - ie YouTubers, IG posts etc. GoPro as a company put less attention to what influencers include in their videos and posts than the other two competitors do. Insta360 and DJI do make good products, however GoPro still have the best image quality hands down. They are losing out on influencer marketing trends and have not successfully got the market excited about the new models. Hero 13 is a warmed over Hero 12 which was already a warmed over upgrade of Hero 11. DJI hit a home run with the integrated wireless mic system for Action 5 Pro. Image quality is not as good (I own and use both, direct experience) but the usability with that mic system makes me reach for the Action 5 more frequently than Hero 13. GoPro really needs to invest in new technology soon. Your Hero 13 is an awesome camera, enjoy it and don’t be put off by the influencers. They are paid to say what they say. Even if that just means a free camera (the phrase ‘no money has changed hands’ means there were freebies)

Just got a hero 13. It s a good camera. Known brand. Used it for 3 hours straight as a web cam, it worked fine and was slightly warm.

GoPro 11 Black is reasonably priced and it has both GPS & accelerometer. 12 doesn’t have GPS, 13 has both but is spendy. Love the clarity and resolution.

I have GoPro13 Black, DJI Osmo 5 Pro & Insta360 GO 3S. I like the footages of GoPro which has inbuilt GPS(You can't put cover for GPS to function) which captures telemetry data and the quality is very high. You get lots of accessories that are compatible. DJI takes excellent videos with no heating but colours look bit saturated. Both having excellent battery coverage. Insta360 GO is good as well.

I've got the GoPro Hero 13 and I use it on my bike in Saudi Arabia. I also use a Garmin bike computer, a DJI Neo Drone with a DJI RC-N3 remote controller. Out of all these products, the only one that has never overheated on my +45°C rides is the GoPro.

The HERO 13 no doubt

I'd recommend a GoPro (need underwater housing for it and the little stick). They're up to the 13 now, but even a 9 or 10 will deliver great results for that. No need to get into the inky endless abyss of underwater cameras quite yet

Same bundle is even $315 from Costco and I’m impressed with it, easy to mount on my GH5 underwater housing for wide angle

Thanks for the insight. I just bought a Hero 13, but I would really like to shoot at night. Do I need to get a DJI?

The camera works fine, but there's always people who just love to complain, I have the 8, 10 and 13 all works just fine. I love it. This is more like a Sony vs canon. Both cameras for a professional photographer will have the same thing: manual mode.

My Hero 13 over heats every warm day while filming baseball games. Useless in the southeast on 88 degree days.

I can't get past the security concerns of side-loading the DJI camera app on my phone. Despite the lower performance in low-light conditions (I'd primarily be using it to get footage while I scuba dive), i feel like my only option is the GoPro Hero 13.

If your budget is approx. $200, then I would recommend buying a used Hero 8/9/10/11 instead. This will give you WAY more value for your money. Yes, the small Hero camera might be designed for beginners, but I honestly see no sence in it. The Hero Black is not that complicated to handle either, the image quality is better, and it offers way more options.

I currently have both a Hero 13 and an Action 5 at home. Generally, the Action 5 has a lot of advantages over the GoPro (way better low light performance, no overheating, higher battery capacity with fast charging, much shorter start-up time, ...). However, the image quality in daylight on the Hero 13 is WAY better. The image is sharper and contains much more details. If you compare the footage side by side and zoom in, it's a day and night difference. I'm not talking about how the camera reproduces colors. Colors can be easily modified in post processing. I'm talking about how much information and details are contained in the footage. It's sad, because I really like the advantages of the Action 5, but image quality is by far most important to me. That's why I will return the Action 5.

Beware if you're an android user, the Action 4 will not let you use the camera unless you download it's app to activate it first. However, their app isn't supported by Google Play, so you have to go directly to their website. For me, this was enough of a red flag that I returned the action 4 and a got a gopro instead.

Dont buy go pro for wepcam its great for outdoor not for streaming and even i tried 13 black it was shit quality

DJI and Insta360, to my knowledge. Specifically for the auto-editing features. One of the biggest letdowns for my otherwise great 13 Black

I returned mine, it kept overheating for nothing. Moving on an adventure, staying still inside air conditioning blasting the thing just overheated constantly. I tried messing with the settings and tech support but they said to send it back. I’m really disappointed and will be buying a competitor, the subscription situation was frustrating as well. Really was so excited to get it but yeah, it just struggled with the absolute bare bones basics.

Ace Pro 2 has design flaws.. It has better picture then X4 but not better then Hero 13 in 4K. Also 240fps slowmotion is far better with Hero 13. The price is also on the side of Gopro..

If you want a GoPro, get the Hero 12 Black. It’s a great camera and cheaper. The Hero 13 Black, IMO, is a 12 with some gimmicks. If you need lowlight capability, get the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro.

We use some GoPro 13 in our company for professional advertising videos, mostly B-roll footage though, and never had a single problem. No overheating, easy to color-grade and just reliable. The Insta360s and DJIs in my previous job - not so much. I guess they’re paying influencers heavily for advertising.

I got gp 13 black from the guy who is working San Francisco go pro $250 never used sealed box S/N is fine. I lucky being near tech people in Bay Area it’s a steal price

1) Generally people don't record for all 3 hours (though some do). While it is possible, most people do sections. Keep in mind: A lot of what you see on social media is "fudged" so riding through an area, backtracking because it's nice, re-riding with multiple cameras, then going back and getting the camera(s) is almost the norm. I can't imagine editing 3 hours of footage every road ride. You will also need to change the battery at least one time, if not twice. Storage will fill up quick. Crit races and racers might capture the entire thing, but those are generally 60 minutes or so and often packed with action. 2) Depends on how fancy you get with editing. That's really all there is to it. Adding things like "HiLight Tags"can help find everything if you do decide to record for 3 hours. 3) Most common for a GoPro is a 2-in-1 that holds your biking computer and the go pro. Most of the high-production folks also use a rear camera 4) To be honest, if you are doing bike-related content, the new standard is the Insta 360 x4. It takes the place of having two cameras. Ensures you won't miss a shot with 360 degree capture. High resolution. It has a slim/tall "aero" profile. Replaceable Lens. Good battery life. If you are going to use a GoPro, the 13 is where it's at. It's the best Action Camera right now. GoPro is way behind in this segment though. 360 degree cameras (aka the X3 and X4) have taken over road biking and motorcycle riding. Since they can capture "everything" around you.

GoPro Hero 13, battery life is significantly better than previous versions.

Really? I remember the GP9 was really, really bad. Constant problems with just hanging and nothing fixes it besides taking the battery out. Also couple of times I charged it to 100% and by the time I went to swim, so 30-40 minutes, it was already at 70% while being OFF. With the new GP2 ~~sensor~~ CPU things improved drastically, but still I wouldn't call it the most reliable camera in the world. Missed a super lucky video of my wife with an eagle ray because at that precise moment the 13 decided that the memory card was too slow (it wasn't) and it won't record. That happened a few other times this same snorkel session, albeit I didn't miss anything else epic. And then it just fixed itself and I didn't have this issue until the end of the day. Switched to another microSD for the next day of course. edit: wrong word

Disagree, I had action 4 and it was one of my worst purchase. Image quality was fizzy and needed a patch to fix. It still doesn't compare to GoPro at all. It has better software and navigation but image quality was too poor. I switched back to gopro this year and the hero 13 is amazing

I’ve already gone through the two batteries that came with my new Hero 13 four months ago. My newer Hero (the unnumbered one) is a piece of rubbish. It never stays connected with the app. There’s a firmware update I can’t install. It shuts off spontaneously. Customer support is atrocious. Just a series of questions - I prefer being asked all questions upfront. Then the “solutions” offered are ones I’ve already read online — and that don’t work. I’m told there is no way to escalate a support ticket. You stay offshore - demonstrating a degree of contempt by GoPro for its customers. Their terms and conditions require mandatory arbitration — but there’s a Small Claims Court exception. I live only a few miles from court and GoPro can be served in Hawaii. I gave their Legal Department seven days’ notice - and now they’ve promised to replace the Hero (unnumbered) with a new Hero 12. I was promised shipping confirmation on Wednesday - and it’s now Friday and nada. I’m an experienced (40+ years) pro photographer and I’m finished with GoPro.

IMHO GoPro 13 stay undefeated as an “action” camera but DJI is the best travel camera. The almost square sensor let you reframe better than the others, the higher resolution (for latter cropping), the higher bitrate (big difference in daylight image quality), better stabilization and color science (could be biased but the videos comes amazing they have been refining this for 13 generations), more accessories on the market, and no spyware software. But yes, DO NOT take your GoPro on your night stroll with you because you are going to be roasted by all the YouTubers hate machine.

The Mac/Windows software for the Max/Fusion was slow to roll out and buggy. They've been back and forth with other software such as Quik and the GoPro player. What puts GoPro ahead of other similar cameras is the 5k resolution and Labs firmware which allows the cameras to operate at their full capability. That said, despite only being 8-bit my Insta Ace Pro and Insta X3/X4 are fantastic in their respective categories. The Ace blows the GoPro 11/12 out of the water in poor lighting and it records rather large 4:3 HDR video at 60fps while the GoPro is limited to 30fps at 8:7 5k. All these cameras have their uses, the GoPro cameras will overheat far sooner than the Insta cameras but if you need consistent results for colour grading / gamuts then it's far easier to use a GoPro. The GoPro also has GPS (not the H12) while the Insta does not. So it's easier to pull and paint telemetry. GoPro has had the competition edge out some more modern quick connectors that they've now adapted. It's really a case of diversity within the field plus marketing. What sells GoPro is the marketing video. Putting the cameras in places where any action camera would look amazing, applying appropriate colour grading, frame interpolation etc. I'm shocked they didn't have a big video for the Hero 13 showcasing it but rather used smaller videos to demonstrate specific features such as the anamorphic lens, NDs, etc.

Yes. Best model GP has ever made. The questions of is it worth the price over a Gp11. Or are the DJI Action 5, Insta Ace 2 better value. Those are harder questions to answer. I would suggest watching some blind comparisons on Yt and see which you like the look of more.

DJI for just video quality GoPro for ecosystem with accessories Insta360 if you are a narcissist and want stuff to put on insta

GoPro 11s - 13s take really nice video. I'd use a red filter for ambient light filming in Hawaii. For photos, especially macro, a used TG5/TG6 + housing.

As others said any GoPro from 11-13 (I would even say starting with Gpro 9) would work. I would also recommend the gorpox Max (360) great for something like shark cage where you can re-fesme the video later....just keep in mind 360 is a pia dealing with file sizes and whatever you do don't scratch the lenses

Simple. 5.3k resolution. Allows you to crop in on videos and gives you the highest video quality. Sure Ace Pro 2 has 8k....at 30fps. 8K is just overkill and you won't get any decent looking slow motion out of 30fps. 5.3k is the sweet spot. If you want to do color correcting which the Ace Pro does automatically, you can easily tweak that in editing it's very simple. Until another action camera comes out with 5.3k resolution it's GoPro for me. Then hopefully the next GoPro will have 5.3k 120fps so we can get even higher quality slow motion. If you're shooting underwater get an AOI UWL-O3 lens attachment for it for increased clarity and ability to focus at closer range too.