HERO13 Black

The real answer you are looking for is the GoPro Hero 2024 (maybe it’s called the LIT Hero now) it’s super simple, cheap (compared to normal GoPro) shoots video, exports to phone/pc and is much lighter/smaller than the others. Edit: MAX2 is the best camera. Not best bang for buck.

I just bought a new 13 black. Camera itself is great although I wish it had a zoom function. The app for editing on the other hand is dogshit and makes me wish I considered other cameras more. The fact you have to pay a subscription to transfer videos etc from the camera to your phone, THROUGH THE APP CONNECTED TO THE PURCHASE OF YOUR CAMERA is utterly ridiculous.

If you’re leaning towards the GoPro side, get the Hero 12 or 13 Black Just be warned that GoPros are notorious for overheating if you’re just letting them sit and record long clips in 4K with no airflow. If you’re planning on doing stuff where you’re moving like biking or hiking then it’s fine but for stationary vlogging, it can be a bit of a literal headache If not those two, then consider the Insta360 Ace Pro. It’s got a flip-up screen which is huge if you’re planning on talking to the camera because you can actually see if your face is in the frame. It also handles low light way better than the GoPro, which usually turns into a grainy mess the second the sun starts to go down. More options on here like the Sony to narrow down your choices - [10 Best Action Cameras to Invest In](https://alaskanarrows.com/10-best-action-cameras-to-invest-in-2025/) Either way, make sure you save like $60 of that budget for a high-quality V30 SD card and an extra battery! Cheers

I have the 13 black and i don't think i need anything else for now. It has mostly all i need. But in terms of complaining, damn that app has bugs and laggs a lot. They really need to start improving it to make it more stable.

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…

I bought the 13 Black prior to a Disney trip along with the handle. I ended up using the older tripod handle from my previous GoPro and the size was the best part. I could stash the GoPro and handle into my fanny pack and pull it out within seconds to capture a video of my family doing whatever you do at Disney.  For your music endeavour, I would buy a real camera like a Sony alpha. A mirror less camera with a real mic will produce the best quality. 

I would steer clear of GoPro. I had a Hero 13 Black and sold it because it just didn’t stack up to these 2 cameras. I would say look at the DJI Action 5 or 6 or the Insta360 Ace Pro 2. Here is a video breaking them both down. If you really want to see what the Ace Pro 2 can do, watch the end of the video. Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs DJI Osmo Action 6 - Final Verdict [https://youtu.be/UGPrDHwLAh0](https://youtu.be/UGPrDHwLAh0)

I sold my Hero 13 and kept my ace pro 2 because the performance was that much better. then the osmo action 6 came out and I jumped at the chance to test it. Here is some of the action 6 with some ace pro 2 comparison at the end. [https://youtu.be/J\_uSzR3w72k](https://youtu.be/J_uSzR3w72k)

Does the Max2 not have a single lens mode like the original Max? Workflow would be the same if that's the case.

The Max2 has a single lens mode, so you can shoot as if it was a regular camera as well. It's only 4K vs the 5.3K of the 13 Black, but this way you can do both if you would like to.

I would go for a GoPro that has the Hindsight feature (GoPro 9 -13) as this allows you to grab footage of a catch without having to be recording continuously your whole time on the water

Literally every post now seems to mention low light. I've never had an issue with my GoPros and I've owned every GoPro Black since the 4. Sounds like your sports don't really need low light either, so not sure what the hesitation is. I own a few DJI products as well (drone, mic mini, Osmo mobile) but I'd get a GoPro over the DJI camera for sure.

Good luck on your ski trip with your Hero3! I still have my Hero2 and had to purchase new (aftermarket) batteries on Amazon last year as the original ones wouldn’t charge anymore. Glad I never got rid of it. Last year I purchased a Hero13 Black for motovlogging on my motorcycle. Now I have 2 GoPros to film forward and what’s behind me. I just wish GoPro would make a Windows compatible editor like they had in the old days.