However, GoPro has some tricks up its sleeve here that are worth mentioning. As someone who enjoys handling color grading in post-production software, the new, improved Log video support is very welcome. I would go so far as to say that this is the best Log profile I have ever seen on an action camera. The Hero 13 Black also has a new slow-motion burst mode that can capture 5.3K footage at 120 frames per second. However, it only works for five seconds, so this feature is best used for situations like your child jumping on the bike or diving in the pool—quick moments where you want to slow down later. there.
Another big video improvement is support for HDR and hybrid log-gamma (HLG) HDR video. The Hero 12’s HDR support isn’t great, but HLG HDR is a widely used open source HDR format that offers much better compatibility with non-wide color gamut displays. The footage also looks much better than the previous version.
I said above that the Hero 13 is the same size, which is true on the outside, but not so on the inside. GoPro has expanded the battery compartment to accommodate a larger battery that the company claims will last 10% longer than the Hero 12’s battery. I found this to be mostly true. Shooting 4K video with the Hero 13, I continuously recorded video for about an hour and 45 minutes, sometimes exceeding the 1:50 mark if there was more ventilation (cycling, for example).
The opposite is also true. For example, shooting through the window of a car, with virtually no ventilation, reduces recording time to about an hour. I haven’t had a chance to test it in cold weather, but GoPro claims to have improvements there as well. Overall, the overall duration is about 15 to 20 minutes longer than what I usually get with the Hero 12, which is great, but it’s far behind the new version DJI Action 5 Prohad no trouble running well over 2 hours and 30 minutes in the 4K test. The Hero still has the worst battery life on the action camera market and the new battery, while improved, also means your old battery won’t work, adding quite a bit of expense to those looking to upgrade.
An interesting battery-related addition to the Hero 13 Black is the new magnetic charging door, which GoPro calls Contact. It’s a USB-C pass-through with a magnetic charger on the outside, allowing you to power your GoPro with an external battery without removing the battery door. Third-party sellers have long had USB-C pass-through doors available, but this is the only one I know of that is waterproof, which means if you forget to bring it and jump in the ocean, you’ll win’ Don’t fry your GoPro.
