GoPro occasionally shares valuable insights along with their pricing information. The prospect of a refined Log video assist is particularly appealing for those who excel at finessing color grades within post-production software suites. The log profile on this motion digital camera is truly exceptional, boasting a level of precision and nuance I’ve rarely encountered. The Hero 13 Black boasts an innovative slow-motion burst mode that captures stunning 5.3K footage at 120 frames per second. It excels at braking in under 5 seconds, rendering it ideal for swift situations such as your child dismounting their bike from a jump or leaping into a pool – rapid moments requiring immediate slowing.
One significant video enhancement is the addition of High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, featuring advanced technologies like Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) for capturing and playing back vivid, lifelike imagery with enhanced contrast and color accuracy. Although the Hero 12’s HDR assist wasn’t impressive, it’s worth noting that HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) HDR is an open-source format offering significantly improved compatibility with non-WCG displays, making it a more practical choice for many users. The video quality noticeably surpasses that of its predecessor.
While the Hero 13 may appear to share a similar measurement with other models on the surface, this superficial similarity belies significant differences that exist beneath the exterior. It appears that I found this phenomenon to generally hold merit. While capturing a 4K video with the Hero 13, I successfully recorded footage for approximately one hour and 45 minutes, occasionally extending the duration to around 1 hour 50 minutes when favorable air circulation conditions were present, such as using a motorcycle.
The alternative was additionally true. Captured via the window of an automobile, with essentially zero airflow, we observed that the recording time dwindled to approximately one hour. While I haven’t tested it in cold weather myself, GoPro boasts of its performance in such conditions as well. Compared to my typical usage of around 15-20 minutes per charge on the Hero 12, this general model is noticeably longer-lasting, but still lags behind the new brand, which effortlessly managed over two hours and 30 minutes in our 4K test. Despite its superior features, the Hero’s battery life remains woefully inadequate compared to other motion cameras on the market. The newly introduced battery does provide some improvements, but it also renders all previous batteries obsolete, adding significant expense to those seeking an upgrade.
The Hero13 Black’s most striking battery-related innovation is the introduction of a novel magnetic charging port, dubbed by GoPro. This innovative USB-C pass-through door features a magnetic charger on the surface, allowing for seamless power delivery to your GoPro while keeping the original battery door intact. While waterproof USB-C pass-through connectors have long been available from third-party vendors, this appears to be the only one I’m aware of, making it a unique offering that protects against water damage – a vital consideration for outdoor enthusiasts who might accidentally submerge their GoPro in water.
