The latest line from GoPro always pushes innovators to push the boundaries of action cameras. Long trusted as the benchmark manufacturer for POV video capture needs in adventure, GoPro’s new three-model Mission 1 series pushes it into a new category of professional-grade cinematography. Absolutely, mission 1 cameras Still boasting the strong, any-conditions reliability (and wearability) of their predecessors.
While these feature-packed cameras boast capabilities for professional filmmakers, cinema quality in a portable, quest-ready package equips any visual storyteller with the means to push their creative limits. What GoPro’s new high-end cameras mean for the active outdoor user.
triple Threat
There are three Mission 1 cameras. The base model is pitched as a compact cinema camera for serious creators, with a retail price of $599. For an extra $100, the Mission 1 Pro adds 8K60 and a nearly 1000fps slo-mo mode for pro-level captures, and the Mission 1 Pro ILS, pictured below, offers interchangeable Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens compatibility.
low light performance
The Mission 1 Series’ technological leap starts with the digital equivalent of its eye and brain – that is, its 1-inch sensor and GoPro’s proprietary GP3 processor, which enables longer exposure times and adds AI-enhanced algorithms that optimize settings for different shooting scenarios.
With a 50MP sensor with approximately 1.45 times the surface area of GoPro’s current action camera flagship HERO13 Black, the Mission 1 Series notably improves low-light performance, extending the shooting window beyond golden hour and into dusk and dawn.
GoPro’s Director of Photography, Brian Towne, needed time to adjust to his mindset of shooting with a 1-inch sensor after getting the new cameras.
“We had to reset our brains,” Towns said. “When our light starts to fade, we don’t have to stop shooting. The new sensors have so much dynamic range that we can capture details from shadows even after dark. It’s crazy.”
Shoot once, reap later
Take full advantage of that size’s sensor in Open Gate mode, capturing a long 4:3 frame using the entire sensor’s image area. Maximum visual real estate means greater output flexibility: You can crop the same video horizontally (16:9) or vertically (9:16) at the native 4K resolution.
And open gate recording at massive 4K/120fps, or even 8K/30fps (on Pro and Pro ILS versions), gives content creators more freedom to experiment with formatting possibilities on the fly.
incredible slow motion
To see is to believe the Mission 1 camera’s class-leading resolution and frame rates. In the camera series’ intro reel (below), you’ll immediately see how water droplets form and flame tips flicker. Credit the Mission 1 Series’ 4K resolution at 240 fps for ultra-slow, buttery-smooth playback of fast-action moments.
If you want to stop time, 10-second bursts at 1080p/960fps let you capture tiny details of dynamic, high-impact sequences. And if you want the best high-resolution and slow-motion flexibility, you can shoot up to 8K60.
tall, strong
mission 1 series A new, higher capacity Enduro 2 battery with fast-charging capability is introduced, powering the longest continuous runtime and most reliable thermal performance of any GoPro to date. At 2150mAh, the improved battery delivers over 5 hours of continuous recording at 1080p/30 in efficiency-focused Endurance mode. It offers over 3 hours of playtime at 4K/30, as well as supports fast charging that goes from 0 to 80% in about 20 minutes.
Longtime GoPro users will be pleased to know that the Enduro 2 batteries are backward-compatible with the HERO13 Black, plus you can use the HERO13 Black Enduro batteries as a Mission 1 Series backup in a pinch (though without the same runtime or charging speeds).
The touring reliability and outdoor benefits of this new series are right in the title: It’s ready for a mission. Out of the box, the base and Pro version cameras can dive to 66 feet (20 m) without additional dive housing (although the Pro ILS is only weatherproof due to its interchangeable lens system).
The “Balance” button has been redesigned to prevent salt water from sticking and to make operation easier with heavy gloves. And to make it one of the easiest-to-use GoPros yet, there’s a new, larger OLED screen on the back of the camera.
“It feels like the next thing,” said the directors. Step StudioCalifornia-based creative and production agency, “A compact cinema camera that lets you take it fast, mount it anywhere, and put real professional glass on it. GoPro has created something completely new here.”
This article is sponsored go pro.
