As a full-time creative, I’m always looking for unique perspectives and fresh new ways to capture content. So when Adorama reached out to ask if I’d be interested in testing out the all-new GoPro HERO11 Black, I jumped at the opportunity. With just one day with the HERO11, I was able to put it to the test in a variety of situations ranging from city skating and photography to underwater filming at the beach.
Top Features of the GoPro HERO11
- 5.3K60, 4K120, 2.7K240, and more
- Horizon Lock keeps your footage steady even if your camera rotates a full 360 degrees
- New image sensor captures more of each scene and delivers stunning footage
- 10-bit color delivers enhanced color depth, smoother gradations, and more realism to your videos
- HyperSmooth 5.0 with AutoBoost for maximum stabilization with minimal cropping
- Long-lasting battery for 38 percent more recording time than the GoPro HERO10
New Horizon Lock
The new feature I’m most excited about is HERO11’s Horizon Lock. In order to get this feature on previous versions, you’d have to purchase the Max Lens Mod for an additional $99. While the lens is great in many ways, there were a few downsides including added bulk to the camera and only allowing for 2.7K recording while in use. Horizon Lock allows for the full 5.3K recording for truly stunning footage. The combination of its new Horizon Lock and Hypersmooth 5.0 is a game changer.
Photo Mode
With 27MB, full camera controls, and the ability to shoot RAW, I was impressed with the images I was able to capture from this device. Taking them into Lightroom the next day, I had more flexibility than I anticipated. It’s Photo Mode is more than capable of capturing stunning images in all sorts of lighting conditions. The Burst Mode was able to take 30 frames in just one second — more than enough to make sure you nail any action shot.
Timelapse Mode
I love that the GoPro HERO11 Black comes with several different pre-installed Timelapse Modes, while also giving you the ability to create your own custom presets. I tested out the 5.3K Timelapse Mode with my own custom settings for a beautiful timelapse of downtown Los Angeles with both traffic and cloud movement. The final shot turned out great and the setup was super easy. Additional modes include:
- 5.3K TimeWarp Video
- Star Trails
- Light Painting
- Vehicle Light Trails
- 5.3K Time Lapse Video
- Time Lapse Photo
- 5.3K Night Lapse Video
- Night Lapse Photo
Testing Out the HERO11
We started off the day in downtown Los Angeles. The first thing I noticed about the HERO11 was that it looks and feels similar to the previous few GoPro devices. Don’t let that fool you though — just about everything has been upgraded internally.
The first test I had for the HERO11 was to see how it handled capturing B-roll footage while skating around Los Angeles’s not-so-forgiving streets. It provides extremely smooth handheld footage. Even more impressive, it also did the same when mounted to the board itself without anything to help dampen the road vibrations.
As a photographer, capturing behind-the-scenes footage is crucial in today’s social media landscape. In my opinion, the GoPro HERO11 Black is currently the best BTS camera on the market. Being able to mount it to a necklace or camera while locking in the horizon allows you to flip between vertical and horizontal shooting without disorienting the viewer. Combine that with the new HyperView digital lens and the options are endless!
No GoPro test would be complete without some underwater footage. For the second half of the day, we brought the HERO11 to the beach. Even in low light, the camera did a great job of capturing underwater 4x and 8x slow-motion footage with little to no grain. Another welcomed feature is the camera’s new water-repelling lens cover. This helps to eliminate lens flare to make your videos even more stunning. To top it all off, the HERO11 can dive to an impressive 33 feet deep.
Final Thoughts
GoPro has taken the camera you know and love, and made everything about it better. Whether you are an action sports junkie, a creative looking to improve the quality of your work, or just want to capture your kids as they grow up, the GoPro HERO11 Black is an incredible camera that won’t disappoint.
