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GoPro has taken the wraps off a trio of new cameras offering fast frame rates for slow-motion footage, a larger image sensor and interchangeable lenses. Called the Mission 1 series (the company has dropped the “Hero” name to differentiate them), the entry-level and midrange models can be preordered and will be available globally on May 28. The top-end Mission 1 Pro ILS — with interchangeable lenses — is scheduled to arrive in Q3. The base Mission 1 is $600 (£530, AU$950), while the Mission 1 Pro and Pro ILS are $700 (£600, AU$1,100). Existing GoPro cloud service subscribers get a $100 discount, plus the preorders include a point-and-shoot grip that would otherwise be $100 extra.
As a video producer, perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s the top ILS model that’s got me the most fired up. It’s the camera that’s responsible for shooting the incredibly stunning footage that got the internet wetting its collective pants in excitement back in March. The footage featured a lot of shallow depth of field and hugely zoomed-in moon shots, none of which would have been possible on the company’s usual wide-angle Hero action cameras.
With its Micro Four Thirds lens mount, the Mission 1 Pro ILS is the model I’m most excited about.
But the ILS model includes a Micro Four Thirds lens mount, allowing you to use actual photographic lenses from a huge variety of companies that have supported the format over the years. It’s a great move, as there’s such a wide choice of lenses and adapter options for this mount, from ultra-wide angle models to standard primes with wide apertures to long telephoto zooms.
At its heart, the camera uses a 1-inch sensor paired with the company’s new GP3 image processor. GoPro promises enhanced dynamic range (which we saw in the teaser footage), improved night shooting and 10-bit Log codecs. Then there are the wild specs: 8K shooting at 60 frames per second, 4K video at 240 frames per second and even 960 frames per second at 1080p. That’s the kind of high-speed shooting you’d usually expect from dedicated slow-motion cameras — so having it in an action camera is really exciting.
The middle model — the Mission 1 Pro — packs the same sensor and processor and offers the same high-speed capabilities as the ILS version, but with a fixed wide-angle lens. It’s essentially like a regular GoPro Hero camera, but with a major boost in performance. The entry-level model — the Mission 1 — includes the larger sensor but doesn’t support high-speed shooting.
GoPro says this was shot on one of the new models, which are all able to take still images at 50 megapixels.
I’m genuinely excited about the new models, as it’s been a while since it felt like GoPro truly innovated for video professionals. With rivals like DJI and, increasingly, Insta360 dominating social media feeds with high-spec models and broader product offerings (like the DJI Osmo Pocket 3), GoPro needed to make a splash and do more than iterate on its existing lineup, especially with plans to cut over 20% of its workforce this year.
While the entry-level Mission 1 feels like an iteration (based on specs, at least), the high-speed capture of the Mission 1 Pro gives a real reason to choose it over its rivals. More importantly, it’s the interchangeable-lens model that stands out here, positioning GoPro as a viable option for higher-end cinematic producers who don’t just want POV footage of a mountain biker barreling downhill.
I still have my reservations about the camera. The lens mount means it’s not fully waterproof (unlike almost all GoPros launched in the last decade), and the 1-inch sensor results in a significant crop of the focal length, turning even a 10mm wide-angle into a 30mm-equivalent view (though the demo we saw of the electronic image stabilization at longer focal lengths was impressive). I’m also a bit disappointed not to see GoPro go even bigger with its image sensor for the top model — a Micro Four Thirds sensor would allow for even better image quality and would natively fit its lens mount.
Still, it’s a camera that promises a hell of a lot from such a small body, which could make it ideal for attaching to vehicles or bikes. Its size makes it a compelling option for FPV drones too, although the camera doesn’t support autofocus so you’ll need to set the focus manually before taking to the air.
Another example image. The low-light performance and dynamic range certainly look unlike anything we’ve seen from GoPro before.
GoPro promises improved battery life and faster charging times, too, to give you more time to stay out and keep shooting. There’ll also be a range of accessories for the cameras, including camera grips, lens hoods and media mods.
I’ll be testing the new lineup over the coming weeks, and I’m really looking forward to seeing just how much the new sensor and processor actually improve my video footage.
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