GoPro - MAX2

Lol, scratched if you look at it, funny. Yeah and another thing is I’m still going to use my 11 and to have all the footage in the same place will be so convenient. Lastly, people that for some reason or another really don’t wanna like the max two, that are very high on the 360 and Osmo are acting like the gap is huge. Not leaving the ecosystem is an easier choice.

That’s what I think for low light I can work around it

I hear you, but I feel like all three are essentially equal and the max keeps me in the GoPro ecosystem. I’m game!

Max 2 sold out ?

Absolutely, if you mount it on the back you’d see more of the rear and front more your son. Just more detailed

Don’t scratch it lol I looked at it hard but waited

Insta360 X5 4k@120fps vs Max 2 4k@100fps / 72mp still camera vs 29mp still camera / Both sensors on the X5 are almost double the size of Max2 / Deeper water resistance / Bigger battery / Longer battery life / Removed lenses / Better software...

Before I do, I'm not just listing off specs. I'm giving a true representation of both units. You just lied about saying some software features don't exist, even though they do, you just don't know how to use them. You then listed off your opinion with 1 spec that doesn't actually affect any outcome of use. Well your software points is completely null and void. You think the GoPro software is good because it's so old and crap, that's not what most video editors want. Saying a software is better because it's featureless and old makes you sound old and out of touch with current tech. Regarding this nonsensical 'true 8k' marketing... If you understood cameras, you understand that it's null and void. Given then your packing that small amount of extra 'true (LOL) 8K' into tiny sensors. Both insta360 sensors are almost double the size making the actual real world results way better.

Upgrading from GoPro Max 😅

Got tired of GoPro and bought x5 with discount with Dell via Amex. Yes, the camera looks good, menu and screen (with the 360 preview) are definitely better than GoPro. In addition, while owning Max 1, I really envy the software and editing tools of Insta360. However, my concern is that the color of x5 looks unrealistic even with the normal color profile. When GoPro released Max 2, I was a bit skeptical but for the most part, I really like the video quality output. I don't see myself shooting 8k but with the log video that I can color grade, I was sold. Sold the x5 for $20 less vs brand new (because Amex had offers with Dell before). Yes, Max 2 performs poorly at night time. But honestly, do most people shoot 360 videos at night time? I suppose most people would take a 360 camera to shoot at night in bright places (eg Times Square, Shibuya crossing).

Because in non low light situations the colour and quality of the max 2 is a lot better. So if you don’t need low light capabilities then the max 2 is the way to go

Yep, that's not an issue. Most of these shots are pretty zoomed out, but even at a more normal 100% or 90% zoom, the quality is great and should mix with H13 nicely Here's some more "normal" footage (just made the file Public) for you to review: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CTfYfUU-PE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CTfYfUU-PE) Note: this is with an earlier prototype model that didn't have final video / audio tuning, including for wind noise

I can only speak for myself, but personally, yes, I won’t ever be able to use my Max1s after seeing the quality improvements with Max2. Completely different levels of quality

This footage is with an early hardware model that didn't have audio tuning. So, these clips are more examples of the image quality, not the audio quality. What low light tests are you referring to? My low light shots look great https://preview.redd.it/bjtyt9d24xqf1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7a5b3f6f1fa925d72329527bb60d17422c07ff47

Max2 is higher native resolution, 10-bit color, 300 mbps, has log profiles, is a smaller size, is less expensive, has removable lenses, better daylight image quality, unlimited cloud storage… pretty obvious choice if you’re not filming in low light

I regularly record for longer than 30 minutes with my Max2 and have never encountered overheating. But then again, my activities all have lots of airflow (motorcycles, paragliding, etc), and I always keep the front heatsink facing into the wind. If you do the same, you'll be fine

What settings are you shooting in? Have you made adjustments beyond the default resolution / bitrate / sharpening / ISO? I’m very impressed by the quality, because I adjust the setting to my environment to get maximum performance from the camera

On what budget and for what application? You can always spend ~$15,000 for an Insta360 Titan if you’re mounting it on a tripod. For action cameras in this form-factor and price range, Max2 is the latest & greatest.  Osmo360 has larger sensors, but the lenses aren’t replaceable, which is a bit of a non-starter for action environments

Don’t forget you can also shoot in a Log profile and color grade your footage (if you’re into that). This will give you the highest possible quality. 8K, 30fps, high bitrate, 10-bit color, GP-Log, low sharpening, low denoise, max ISO 400… from there, soon you can use GoPro Labs firmware to crank the bitrate to 300 mbps, use the GoPro Rec 709 LUT to convert the color space, grade the footage however you like, and so-forth. But even today, I find the quality quite good. But I’m not viewing in VR applications

Yep fair. The Labs FW for Max2 hasn’t been made public yet, but GoPro has talked about it extensively and it’s expected in the next week or so. I’m also eager to test. But I’ve tested the same 300 mbps on the Hero13, which uses the same processor as Max2, and it’s been stable, without glitches, and with great quality (at least with a quality Samsung SD card) - so, I’m confident the Max2’s Labs FW will deliver as well.

Any camera with a curved lens, like Max2, will produce blurry footage underwater unless you use a dive case with an air gap

That sure isn’t the verdict I remember from DC Rainmakers review

Basically that it’s a really good camera, except in low light iirc. There’s more nuance than that though, one of the big things he did criticise was Go Pros desktop software. I’d recommend OP just watch his (and as many others as possible) review.

The x5 doesn't shoot in real 8k,though, and isn't much better than the Max in video quality in the end result. So I've stayed with my max. But hope a max2 might move the needle.

Different use cases, I guess. I've never used an action cam indoors, and also never recorded voices / needed a mic. So for me those drawbacks are small.

Thanks. The footage looks good, but its hard to tell if it's any better than what the X5 or Osmo360 would've captured. When I say the gopro doesn't look as good, Im referring to comparison videos I've seen. I've even seen the creator say "its clear the max2 is better", yet I'm looking at it and thinking the complete opposite. This isnt about preference either. During a comparison, I can read words on a sign, but I can't read them from the Max2. Maybe I'll warm up to it like I did with the osmo360. I think the osmo360 is the best of the 3 at the moment.

I just watched Hugh's comparison video again. In good lighting, the osmo360 looks best out of the box. It's a little bit artificially sharpened to make it look clearer, which I dont mind. When you add sharpening in post, the Max2 does look better than the osmo360.  It doesn't make up for the small sensor though. I dont think I've ever filmed a 360 video at night, but a larger sensor does make a difference in daytime situations. The osmo360 is so much better than the max2 and the X5 in those situations. As I said before, if the insta360 would upgrade to 10 bit, they win. If gopro would upgrade to a larger sensor, they win. If DJI would add replaceable lenses, they win. The DJI and Gopro editing softwares need to improve also.

You have to read between the lines here and for fans of GoPro it is pretty scary... 1. the company is badly, badly bleeding money. 2. major sources like Bloomberg and others say bankruptcy in less than 12 months is likely (and they said that months ago already). 3. large layoffs have occurred multiple times over the last several years including earlier this year. the company is far and away the smallest now making action cameras like this and has a vastly smaller R&D budget compared to DJI and Insta360. 4. Max 2 is arriving 6 years after Max 1 and more than a year later than promised by GoPro initially yet lacks a sensor that delivers better low light performance and dynamic range that their competitors have had for multiple years now. It arrives with the smallest screen, no OLED, and lack of critical obviously needed accessories like a dive case. This isn't because they don't know how important those features are or that they wanted to keep the camera small (like their PR is trying to spin it) but because they can't afford to release a camera with better specs. 5. The new mobile software for editing Max 2 footage is decent but still lacks many, many of the features provided by similar software provided by Insta360 and GoPro has NOT updated the desktop software at all which continues to lack such basic features as auto keying of subjects in 360 footage. It's a mess. Why is this? They simply don't have the R&D personnel and budget to develop both mobile and desktop software at the same time. 6. The lack of a new flagship Hero 14 is because they 1) can't afford to release a new one right now on their shoestring finances and lack of R&D and 2) they know they can't continue to release "flagship" cameras with tiny sensors and try to pretend they are competent competing with the likes of the DJI Action 6 Pro or Insta360 Ace Pro 3 coming soon. I wish GoPro the best, but not only is there no flagship Hero this year... I'm genuinely concerned there will never be another flagship Hero again.

I've had almost every GoPro since the GP4. Just got the Max2, but in all honesty, I think my favorite is the 13 black.