GoPro HERO7 Black Underwater Camera Review

Robin Dodd goes over the GoPro HERO7 Black and all the new updates you need to know to take it underwater. GoPro is out with the latest in its HERO line, the GoPro HERO7 Black. Below is everything you need to know when taking this powerful little action camera underwater. So what’s new and exciting about GoPro HERO7 Black? The biggest new features are the Hypersmooth image stabilization, overall improved image quality, and some tweaks to their performance tiers, specifically the GoPro HERO7 Black, GoPro HERO7 Silver, and GoPro HERO7 White editions of the HERO7 camera. Hypersmooth—Pro Level Gimble Like Image Stabilization Hypersmooth Image Stabilization is the driving feature of the new Black camera. It’s definitely been the most talked about, and it’s safe to say that you can believe most of the hype. The new stabilization is really noticeable and instantly provides a very welcome boost to the smoothness of video clips. Backscatter's Pro Team Members Robin Dodd, Dylan Silver and Thomas Anderson take the GoPro HERO7 Black cameras on their first dives in Monterey, CA. Hypersmooth is a bit more obvious topside when encountering bumpy terrain or even just handheld shakiness, but we saw the benefit underwater as well. It adds that extra little layer of polish that grants a cinematic-style and grace to your shots. With a firmware update, Hypersmooth is available at all resolutions. Originally, the new stabilization was only available up to a maximum resolution and frame rate of 2.7K at 60 frames a second. Improved Color, Contrast, & Clarity For image quality, when we compared to clips from the GoPro HERO6 and GoPro HERO7 Black side-by-side, we can see an immediate improvement to the color, contrast, and clarity coming right out of the camera. The blues are more blue, shadows are darker and blacks richer, while highlights are also capturing more detail. It’s not a major difference, but the overall color saturation, contrast detail, and image clarity is a noticeable improvement in our opinion. It just looks a little bit better. Backscatter Pro Team Member Robin Dodd shooting the GoPro HERO7 Black and GoPro HERO6 side by side to get test footage of how these cameras compare against eachother in Monterey, CA. We always say that the two most important aspects of underwater video are color and stability, and the GoPro HERO7 Black has shown us that GoPro has stepped up their game in each of these departments. When you consider this is also one of the most economical and easy ways to get into shooting 4k 60p content underwater, it’s pretty easy to see why we’re calling this the Best GoPro yet. Only One HERO7 for Scuba With the GoPro HERO7 Black, GoPro has discontinued the 5 and 6 models, and instead now offers three different performance tiers of the 7 with the GoPro HERO7 Black, GoPro HERO7 Silver, and GoPro HERO7 White editions. The GoPro HERO7 Black Edition is the only model that is compatible with the Super Suit dive housing. The issue with the Silver and White editions is the inability to remove the protective lens cover, which is required for the camera to fit in the Super Suit. This is the same Super Suit that GoPro HERO5 Black and GoPro HERO6 used, so if you are upgrading camera models, you will not need to purchase a new housing. Even though the camera itself is waterproof, you need the Super Suit housing to take the camera past its 33 feet or 10-meter depth rating. The Super Suit is rated to 196 ft or 60 meters. Another benefit of the GoPro Super Suit housing is it enables the use of FLIP Filters to get the best underwater color that we possibly can from this camera. Even More Features GoPro added a couple more camera features that are worth mentioning. The TimeWarp video feature is a stabilized time-lapse video mode. It can still do 1080 Full HD 240p frames per second video for ultra slow motion. That’s up to 8x slowed down. The touchscreen feels crisp and responsive. They’ve updated the layout a bit, but the fundamentals are about the same as the 5 and 6. Settings can be accessed via the menus in the touchscreen. Limited Macro Control There is one camera function that’s disappointing. GoPro still has not implemented a way to change the field of view to NARROW without using the touchscreen. Divers can change from wide to linear, but do not have the ability to zoom when the camera is in the Super Suit housing. Macro shooters are going to feel the pain on this one, as they have with the GoPro HERO6. Users can set this field of view before putting the camera in the housing. But if you change a mode and change back, it resets, making it impossible to switch back-and-forth between macro and wide on the same dive. There are some workarounds, like shooting in 4K Wide and just cropping in post, or setting the camera up and disabling any sleep modes or screensavers that would reset the FOV. Neither of these are as seamless as just being able to have a way to set the FOV to narrow using the settings menu. Conclusion Overall, it’s easy to say that the GoPro HERO7 Black is the best GoPro yet. Hypersmooth gives clips buttery stability. The image quality packs solid contrast, clarity, and color, especially when paired with FLIP Filters. It’s got some creative features and modes to use for creating stories and compelling shots. Whether it’s your first underwater camera system or just a component of something larger, it’s worth packing for your next dive. ProsPro level gimble like image stabilization in video using HyperSmoothBetter color, contrast and clarity underwaterNew creative tools, including TimeWarp and 1080 at 240fpsConsLimited adjustment of field of view when sealed in Super Suit dive housingBackscatter Pro Team Member Dylan Silver shooting the GoPro HERO7 Black and FLIP6 Three Filter Kit with the GREENWATER filter to test the new color range of the GoPro HERO7 Black in Monterey, CA.Flip6 Is Compatible with HERO7 Black Right Out of the Box Backscatter has been making underwater accessories for GoPro since way back to the HERO 1, and now we're very proud to have the most backward-compatible GoPro filter and lens system ever with the FLIP6. FLIP6 is fully compatible with HERO 3, 3+, 4, 5, 6, and of course now the GoPro HERO7 Black. The idea behind the Flip Filters system is that you can run any two filters, lenses, or combination of the two. Just pick whatever works best for your dive profile or the shot you are after. Choose from any of the 3 different depth-rated blue water color correction filters, SHALLOW filter for between 5-20 feet, DIVE filter for 20 to 50 feet, and DEEP filter for 50 feet and below, or the +15 MACROMATE MINI lens which is the sharpest macro lens available for GoPro underwater. We've developed these filters after literally hundreds of hours of test dives and we're confident that this color formula is what the narrow white balance range of the GoPro needs to unlock the best possible color underwater. The FLIP7 is a complete filter system to cover all of your GoPro shooting needs. In addition to the blue water filters, we also have filters for green water, fluorescence, topside polarizing and ND filters, and powerful macro lenses like the Macromate Mini and the +10 Close-Up Lens when your subject is not quite macro, but still, requires a tighter shot.HERO 5, HERO 6 & HERO 7 Share the Same Super Suit Housing Because the bodies are the same, they'll use the same exact Super Suit housing as well. This also means that the FLIP7 system will be a change in title only from the FLIP Filter system, they will be exactly the same thing save for the name just to keep it current and consistent. Remember, you'll need to remove the protective lens on the GoPro prior to it going in the SuperSuit. We developed and include in every FLIP7 kit this little Lens Removal Tool to make this a bit easier. Just slide it in and rotate and it will safely pop right off of there. Now just slide the camera in and latch up the housing. Why buy direct from Backscatter?Free lifetime tech support with every purchase. We will beat any advertised price. Free shipping to USA and Canada and low cost international shipping. SHOP NOW! GOPRO HERO7 CAMERAS & THE ULTIMATE FLIP FILTER SYSTEM: The New GoPro HERO7 CamerasGoPro HERO7 Black Camera $399.99 GoPro Super Suit Dive Housing $49.99Isotta GoPro 7 Housing $400.00Recsea WHG-HERO5 Housing $599.00Subal GO5 Housing $528.94Outfit Your GoPro With Our Popular PackagesFLIP7 One Filter Kit Color Correction System with DIVE Filter $59.00FLIP7 Three Filter Kit with SHALLOW, DIVE, and DEEP Color Correction Filters $99.00FLIP7 Pro Package with SHALLOW, DIVE, and DEEP Filters and +15 MACROMATE Mini $199.00FLIP Wide Angle Blue Water Package $169.00FLIP Wide and Macro Package $299.00FLIP Macro and Green Water Wide Package $319.00FLIP Macro Addict Package $349.00FLIP Color Corrections Filters FLIP SHALLOW filter Bluewater Color Correction Red Filter $19.95 FLIP DIVE filter Bluewater Color Correction Red Filter $19.95 FLIP DEEP filter Bluewater Color Correction Red Filter $19.95 FLIP GREENWATER Color Correction Magenta Filter $19.95 FLIP NIGHTSEA Fluorescence Filter $19.95FLIP5 55MM Threaded SHALLOW Color Correction Filter $24.95FLIP5 55MM Threaded DIVE Color Correction Filter $24.95FLIP5 55MM Threaded DEEP Color Correction Filter $24.95FLIP5 55MM Threaded GREENWATER Color Correction Filter $24.95Close Focus and Macro Correction Lenses FLIP 55MM +10 Close-Up Lens $19.95 +15 MACROMATE MINI Macro Lens & FLIP 55mm Adaptor $119.00FLIP Filters & Accessories FLIP 55MM Filter Holder $19.95FLIP FILTERS Neoprene Protective Pouch $5.99FLIP FILTERS Neoprene Protective Wallet for Filters $9.95 FLIP FILTERS Lens Removal Tool for GoPro HERO5, HERO6 & HERO7 $6.95

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