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Whether you’re scuba diving in Fiji or mountain biking in the Smoky Mountains, GoPro’s got you. The brand is a longtime industry leader in videography and there’s much more to the camera that meets the eye. With the biggest update in recent memory, the brand launched the new GoPro Hero13 Black in September with new features that will give your next vacation a cinematic experience. Even better, it’s currently 25% off — the lowest price it’s been on Amazon since its launch, according to one of our price trackers. That knocks a full $100 off the suggested retail price.
The Hero13 Black unlocks new creative possibilities with a suite of new lenses for capturing ultra-wide shots or extreme closeups. The new “Enduro” 1900-milliampere-hour battery has an improved lifespan when compared to the previous model, and is designed to offer more power regardless of temperature conditions. Additional features include GPS and data overlay and Wi-Fi 6 for enhanced connectivity. The best part? You don’t have to be a professional videographer to capture epic content.
I recently tested out the new camera and features in the Smoky Mountains in extreme style — mountain biking, zip-lining, riding an alpine coaster, and off-roading in a Ford Bronco while capturing the beauty of peak fall foliage.
The camera’s interface aims to be as functional as possible, complete with voice commands and a touch screen when you don’t have an extra hand to capture the perfect moment.
Using GoPro’s Quik app, I was able to mount my camera on the exterior of the Bronco and use the app on my phone to control the camera. If the camera is too far away, I can connect it to my Apple AirPods to give the voice command, “GoPro, take photo”.
The versatile range of interchangeable lenses allows you to quickly customize your camera for various shots. The Hero13 Black automatically detects attached lenses or filters and adjusts its settings for optimal performance so you don’t have to worry about constantly programming the camera. Additional lenses are sold separately from the camera, and we’ve included details about each of them in the slideshow ahead.
No matter where the next adventure takes you, your GoPro Hero13 Black will inspire you to try something outside of your comfort zone while capturing the moment.
GoPro’s ultra wide lens mod takes your image further, capturing 36% more width and 48% more height than a standard lens, for a 177-degree field of view. The image stabilization is unmatched, so cruising on a boat or zip-lining 400 feet above the ground is a breeze. 4K60 video resolution ensures that images are bright, crisp and lifelike.
It can be used for most activities, whenever you want some extra scene of the frame in your shot. What’s great about grabbing more of the shot is that you can crop it vertical or horizontal without losing context of the video.
To capture the complete opposite of the previous lens, the macro lens mod allows GoPro users for the first time to capture up to four times more detail than the standard lens. Slide the ring to change focus between the portrait and landscape option depending on what you’re filming. This lens is a great solution for professional-style vlogging.
The main purpose of an ND filter is to create motion blur. The Hero13 camera will suggest the best filter to use (the set includes ND4, ND8, ND16 and ND32, each of which is intended for a different lighting scenario) for the shot by sensing the surrounding exposure. Once attached, the device also can automatically detect which filter is attached so you don’t have to constantly update the settings.
Use the ND filters anytime you want to emphasize the motion in a shot, in situations ranging from off-roading to gymnastics.
The Star Trails feature is out of this world! It’s arguably the coolest feature on the GoPro Hero13 Black and setting up the shot isn’t as difficult as you’d think.
Setting up your camera on a stable tripod allows Star Trails to capture time-lapse video of the sky. The feature is so advanced that you can select if you want the stars in your shot to be short, medium or long exposures.
No matter what activity, GoPro makes sure that you can capture the moment hands-free. The Hero13 model is compatible with magnetic latch mounts which makes it seamless to quickly attach and detach your GoPro from one accessory to the next.
A personal favorite is the Chesty performance chest mount, which allows you to wear your camera completely hands-free – perfect for mountain biking, running a race or simply exploring a new city. (The Amazon Basics brand also makes a compatible harness for under $20 if you’re looking to spend a little less.)