Hero 11 or meh?

[R-Rated]

I was looking at the 11 Black specs and did not see anything that jumped out as being something useful for motovloggers that we do not already have on previous cameras or software for editing -

Namely significantly longer record times per battery.

Also would be a 3.5 port.

Sure 5.xK res - some of us go with lower res for recording more on a battery and storage then upscale when editing

Stabilization - well even with a Hero that had no stabilization we can stabilize footage on post

8 billion colors - nice but how many devices will our audience use that actually carry all that

So should we strap on boots to ride down and buy one or empty my wallet now or make due with the gear we have that does just fine?

I say if a channel has the disposable income then go for it. Otherwise, hold out for a battery that last a lot more than 30 minutes at 4k60.

 

[Hippo-Drones]

I'll be sticking with my Hero 10, the footage is amazing and so far had no reliability issues

 

[Drakhen99]

Man oh man, I've spent all day [ok, at least an hour or two] hemming and hawing over the damned thing. I watched release videos, looked at specs, watched some stuff on the remarkably-similar-but-much-cheaper DJI Action 3 or whatever it's called. At the end of the day, I just don't think I'll upgrade yet.

I have an 8, 9, 10, and a Max. All work just fine, and the stabilization is already bananas on the 9 and 10. I already own all the stuff, and like you said, the 11 just doesn't push the bar much higher. Maybe a little better battery life, much of which is owed to the Enduro battery. 10-bit color? I already don't color grade much, and YT squishes the files bad enough that a little banding never hurt as it was.

If it goes on sale over the winter, I may pick one up.

TBH, the biggest thing keeping me from buying the new DJI camera is that I use the Remote religiously [actually, more than just Sundays], and there's no cross-brand remote that I know of, so it would add to my workload instead of making it easier.

-John

 

[rudeboy]

I wanted to like this one and may still but I just don't see any of the current crop of gopros enough of an upgrade over my 8 black, the DJI action 3 does interest me though with its cheaper price and long battery life, If they bring out a mic adaptor so a lav type mic can be fitted then I'll probably pull the trigger on one but at the moment it looks like its more geared towards DJI's wireless mic system.

 

[Drakhen99]

I wanted to like this one and may still but I just don't see any of the current crop of gopros enough of an upgrade over my 8 black, the DJI action 3 does interest me though with its cheaper price and long battery life, If they bring out a mic adaptor so a lav type mic can be fitted then I'll probably pull the trigger on one but at the moment it looks like its more geared towards DJI's wireless mic system.

The best improvements in the 9/10 were the front screen and better stabilization. If you do off-bike stuff, being able to have a preview facing you was such a big thing for me - it negated the need for the flip up screen mod thing they sell. Oh, and the Max Lens Mod, if that's of any interest. The 8 is a rock-solid camera though, for sure.

-John

 

[Skipshift]

I've yet to completely decide for or against the 11.
I'm leaning more toward an Insta360 X2 or X3 for my next purchase though. The Hero 11 just didn't have much extra for our forte' as motovloggers over the 9 or 10 I already own.

 

[GIZZ]

The 11 is like the 10 to the 9. Not enough to make anyone want to upgrade. The DJI 3 invisible selfie stick is a cool addition, too bad gopro didnt add that. If I can confirm the DJI osmo 3 can record wired stereo external audio I'm getting one.

 

[Drakhen99]

The 11 is like the 10 to the 9. Not enough to make anyone want to upgrade. The DJI 3 invisible selfie stick is a cool addition, too bad gopro didnt add that. If I can confirm the DJI osmo 3 can record wired stereo external audio I'm getting one.

Agreed!

FWIW, I'll be digging into this in a video, hopefully posted tomorrow on my channel - why I [and others] won't upgrade to the 11 - at least not right away.

-John

 

[Moto Mengy]

Nothing about the Hero 11 interests me enough to buy a new camera. I'm very happy with my three current cameras (Hero 8, Hero 7, and Insta360 OBE X2).

There are two types of potential new cameras which could get me to shell out some money for them:

1) A new 360° camera which filmed in VERY hi-res, like double the res of the current crop of 360° cams.
2) A brand new Hero Session style camera (small form factor), like a Hero 11 Session or something.

Short of those two things, I'll likely be keeping my three current cameras for a very long time.

 

[Hippo-Drones]

1) A new 360° camera which filmed in VERY hi-res, like double the res of the current crop of 360° cams.
2) A brand new Hero Session style camera (small form factor), like a Hero 11 Session or something.

There is a smaller form factor Hero 11 as well as the Hero 11 Black, but it isn't anywhere close on as small as the previous Session cameras sadly.

 

[Drakhen99]

Nothing about the Hero 11 interests me enough to buy a new camera. I'm very happy with my three current cameras (Hero 8, Hero 7, and Insta360 OBE X2).

There are two types of potential new cameras which could get me to shell out some money for them:

1) A new 360° camera which filmed in VERY hi-res, like double the res of the current crop of 360° cams.
2) A brand new Hero Session style camera (small form factor), like a Hero 11 Session or something.

Short of those two things, I'll likely be keeping my three current cameras for a very long time.

Guess you should keep your eyes peeled - the Hero 11 is going to spawn a Session-style version soon - I think it goes on sale in a couple of weeks.

I'm with you though - I'd LOVE a 360 camera that shoots in 2x the resolution of the current crop of options, but I doubt it'll happen for < $1,000... which prices me out of it.

-John

EDIT: Sniped by the one and only @HippoDrone .

 

[Moto Mengy]

I'm with you though - I'd LOVE a 360 camera that shoots in 2x the resolution of the current crop of options, but I doubt it'll happen for < $1,000... which prices me out of it.

Honestly, I just might be willing to pay $1K for a One X2 with twice the resolution.....

 

[Hippo-Drones]

Honestly, I just might be willing to pay $1K for a One X2 with twice the resolution.....

The X3 has a bigger sensor I believe so although same resolution, it probably has a higher bitrate which will add quality.

 

[Theodor]

There is a smaller form factor Hero 11 ...

I did eye the mini version, for a bit, when this started popping up in my feed. Thinking maybe I'll migrate the camera on to my helmet (I currently have it on my chest), for the coming season. Then I remembered what the gopro mic adapters are like...
To be fair, for putting something on my helmet, I'd rather have something in the size of insta360 go2, just with a 3.5mm (or 2.5mm) external mic socket.

 

[Moto Mengy]

The X3 has a bigger sensor I believe so although same resolution, it probably has a higher bitrate which will add quality.

It does, but only by a little bit. From the reviews I've seen it's a very miniscule increase in pic quality, and it doesn't help much at all with zoomed in shots.

 

[Edu_BR]

I'm curious about the 11 mini...I don't like how gopros are getting bigger and heavier.

 

[Moto Mengy]

So the new Hero 11 Mini comes out in a few weeks now, mid November. Anyone going to buy one?

I know @Drakhen99 collects cameras as a hobby, looking forward to hearing his opinions on it!

 

[Hippo-Drones]

I would if I was me a few years ago... but I am not, and have learned that what I have currently is plenty good enough and works perfectly well.

 

[Drakhen99]

So the new Hero 11 Mini comes out in a few weeks now, mid November. Anyone going to buy one?

I know @Drakhen99 collects cameras as a hobby, looking forward to hearing his opinions on it!

I will not be buying one. I don't have a use case for it. I've had a specific want/need for every camera I've bought so far - and the 8 does what the 11 mini would do for me... if the 8 breaks, maybe I'll look at it. Basically, it would be put into precarious situations... and my 8 is perfect for that

I would if I was me a few years ago... but I am not, and have learned that what I have currently is plenty good enough and works perfectly well.

This sums up my POV at this time. If I won the lottery, I'd probably upgrade to all 11s or something, but I don't want to rock the boat, so to speak. Heck, I've skipped at least one firmware upgrade on the 10 because mine has [knock on wood] been rock solid for the last several months.

-John

 

[PhilTonic]

The 11 is like the 10 to the 9. Not enough to make anyone want to upgrade. The DJI 3 invisible selfie stick is a cool addition, too bad gopro didnt add that. If I can confirm the DJI osmo 3 can record wired stereo external audio I'm getting one.

You can use any kind of USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter, as long as it has a DAC chip. My mic records only mono, so not sure about external audio stereo recording.

But be wary, I've ordered an Action 3 a few days ago and did some testing regarding picture quality. I read about the focus issues but gave it a try anyway. Mine was definitely not as sharp, blows out highlights and is generally a lot smudgier than my old Hero 7. I'm sending it back. Shame, because I like many other bits about the camera.

I don't see the point in upgrading from Hero 7 to Hero 11 either. It does the job.