- GoPro unveils its Mission 1 series of action cameras with three new models
- They all have a new 1-inch 50 MP sensor, GP3 processor and record 8K video
- An ‘ILS’ model has a Micro Four Thirds lens mount
GoPro’s stock has dwindled recently, especially with increased competition from DJI and Insta360, but the OG action cam maker is back with a bang with its new Mission 1 series of action cams.
This is the biggest GoPro shake-up since it went digital 20 years ago, with three ‘professional’ models to choose from; Mission 1, Mission 1 Pro and the curious Mission 1 Pro ILS – the latter has a Micro Four Thirds lens mount and is directly compatible with hundreds and hundreds of lenses.
Alongside the cameras, GoPro will launch new accessories, including its first wireless microphone set. And in case you missed it, GoPro recently unveiled its own gimbal, so its range of accessories is still growing.
The article continues below
I spoke with GoPro ahead of the announcement, and its spokesperson articulated how the brand has looked to address many of the perceived shortcomings of its current action cameras, previously led by the Hero 13 Black.
Through a new GP3 processor, GoPro says the Mission 1 series of cameras will have industry-leading battery life and thermal performance – yes, they won’t overheat even when static in a hot room – while a new 1-inch sensor is much larger than the one used in Hero Black models and will undoubtedly improve image quality, especially in low light.
Pre-orders for each model will begin on May 21st and they will be fully available from May 28th with prices TBC. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s take a look at the key features and what to expect.
Mission 1 / Mission 1 Pro
Picture 1 of 2
First of all the Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro models. They’re pretty much the same, except the Pro version (above with lens hood) has a few extra options that I’ll get into.
Both cameras feature the new GP3 processor, a 1-inch 4:3 sensor and shoot 50MP stills and 8K 30fps / 4K 120fps open gate video (the ‘Pro’ version shoots 8K up to 60fps).
Previous GoPro action cameras have offered great image quality in good light, but this new series looks to improve things in low light with what GoPro says is 14 stops of dynamic range.
The larger sensor and new processor also combine with higher 240Mbps bitrates, HLG-HDR and GP-Log 2 color profiles, plus 10-bit color depth for what should be the best quality footage from a GoPro to date.
Picture 1 of 2
With a new Enduro 2 battery (which is backwards compatible with the Hero 13 Black), video recording time is said to be at least five hours at 1080p 30fps and three hours plus for 4K 30fps. They’re also GoPro’s toughest action cameras to date, with 65ft / 20m waterproofing and a bright 2.59-inch OLED screen on the back.
It’s slow-motion recording where the Pro version really stands out, thanks to its stunning 960fps slo-mo video mode. This is available for 1080p recording, while the regular Mission 1 is limited to 240fps. At 4K resolution, the Mission 1 Pro can shoot down to 240 fps, while the Mission 1 is limited to 120 fps.
Audio recording also looks impressive; there are four internal microphones and internal 32-bit float audio recording – these are very professional features. And Bluetooth 5.3 lets you connect to compatible microphones for clear audio, including GoPro’s new wireless microphone kit.
What you don’t get with any of the models that the Hero 13 Black offers is the auto-detect lens mod setup – instead, you just get the redesigned 159-degree field-of-view lens with a hydrophobic coating to keep water droplets away.
Mission 1 Pro ILS
Picture 1 of 2
Moving on to the ILS version – it packs the same photo and video prowess as the Mission 1 Pro, the main difference being that it has a Micro Four Thirds lens mount and as such is only weather resistant and not fully waterproof like the fixed lens Mission 1 Pro is.
This odd design means that the ILS is more of a compact cinema camera than an action camera, even though it has a similar form factor to the other models.
Now I say ‘curious’ because there is a discrepancy between sensor size and lens mount format. The 1-inch sensor is smaller than the Micro Four Thirds sensor that the mount is designed for. A 1-inch sensor has a 2.7x crop factor, while Micro Four Thirds is 2x.
I don’t think I’ve ever used a camera with a 1-inch sensor and Micro Four Thirds lens mount — I’m particularly intrigued by the ILS model and can’t wait to give it a go. The extra crop factor will limit the lens choice for fans of a super wide angle perspective, but on the flip side telephoto range will be improved.
Maybe it would have made sense to make the ILS body a little bigger and mount it with a Micro Four Thirds sensor, but there can be various advantages to this setup, and at least there are hundreds of lenses already available.
I asked GoPro if it plans to make its own lenses from the Mission 1 Pro ILS, but it predictably declined to comment.
There will be various Mission 1 series bundles on release, including a Grip Edition, Creator Edition and Ultimate Creator Edition, with more details to come at launch.
GoPro has just come down to earth from its NASA adventures aboard Artemis II – and now with its biggest product upgrades in decades, it feels very much like GoPro is back in the frame against DJI and Insta360. What do you think of GoPro’s Mission 1 series? Be sure to vote in the poll below and let me know what you think!
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, video unboxings, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
