INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightGoProImage caption
The Hero 8 Black can be easily connected to add-on kit known as Mods
GoPro's new flagship action camera is designed to connect to a new range of hardware add-ons targeted at vloggers.But experts suggest that
other improvements are relatively minor, meaning the Hero 8 Black may be a tough sell.GoPro remains the bestselling action cam brand in much
of the world.But the firm posted a loss in its last two quarters and is facing competition from China's DJI, which entered the market with
a rival product in May.Last year's GoPro launch - the Hero 7 Black - delivered a vast improvement to in-body stabilisation, leading its
chief executive to claim it was a "gimbal killer "- a reference to the fact it did not require add-on equipment to produce smooth footage
Reviewers recognised this to be a significant upgrade, and the company reported the model had achieved its strongest-ever first month sales
One analyst warned it could face further problems if consumers do not consider the latest features to be a compelling enough leap
forward."If retailers were unable to work through their existing inventory prior to GoPro's new product launch, its new product launch may
be cannibalised by a substantially discounted Hero 7 Black at holiday," Alicia Reese from Wedbush Securities told the
TheIndianSubcontinent."GoPro must continually launch products compelling enough for users to want to buy a GoPro in addition to a
smartphone."[But in its favour], GoPro has greater mind-share when it comes to action cameras than other brands, and the company has a
growing presence in the travel space."Add-on ModsThe Hero 8 Black's standout feature is that users can now bolt on three optional
They are:a shotgun microphone for improved audioa small light to help in dim conditionsa flip-up screen, allowing self-shooters to frame
themselvesThe camera body has also been redesigned to incorporate fold-out "finger" connectors - allowing it to be bolted to a mount without
having to first be put in a case.Image copyrightGoProImage caption
The camera include built-in mount connectors that are
magnetic, so they stay folded away when not in use
In addition, the firm says it has further improved in-body video
stabilisation, which is now available for all video frame rates and resolutions
And it has added a new feature to its Timewarp mode - which creates smooth sped-up footage - to automatically adjust the footage's speed
dependant on the rate of the camera's motion and the lighting conditions.Furthermore, users can shoot video at up to 100 megabits per
second - up from 78 Mb/s previously - which should deliver higher-quality images.One of the problems the firm faces, however, is that
smartphones are making significant strides forward of their own, including multiple lenses, the ability to blur the backgrounds of photos
and sometimes videos, and the use of machine learning algorithms that vastly improve low-light shots."In terms of quality, it's now
difficult for action cams to offer anything that a smartphone can't do," commented Mark Wilson from the Trusted Reviews news site."And
smartphones have gained waterproofing, which has helped encourage people to use them in situations that they might have previously have
turned to a GoPro."Some people will still want a camera for situations they don't want to risk damaging their phone."But it feels a bit like
GoPro has reached the limitations of the hardware it has created, and has now moved on to accessories as the motivation to convince people
Whether that's enough remains to be seen."Image copyrightGoProImage caption
Some consumers may be unwilling to risk a
vloggersThe new camera will be marketed in part to social media creators.However, in doing this, the firm will compete against not just
against DJI's Osmo Action camera - which features a selfie screen on its front - but also a variety of new "mirrorless" cameras with
interchangeable lenses, which are targeting the same market.Image copyrightDJIImage caption
DJI's rival Osmo Action
has a screen on both its front and rear
"YouTube has been massive driver for GoPro sales, and there's a degree of
one-upmanship on the platform where users need to create something ever more more spectacular to stand out," commented Mr Wilson."So that
will help, but action cams are still a niche part of the vlogging market."GoPro has also announced a new dual-lensed 360-degree camera
called the Max, which marks an upgrade to its earlier Fusion.The firm says the new model has a wider field-of-view and should be easier to
operate than before.Such cameras have the ability to create interactive footage for use in virtual reality or that can be played back in
software that allows viewers to shift perspective
But they also allow owners to create standard videos, in which they can make adjustments to the view during their edit.Demand for such
products has been more limited than some had forecast, in part because VR headset sales have also been weaker than expected.Image
copyrightGoProImage caption
The GoPro Max features a camera on both sides of its body
But Ms Reese said
there should still enough demand for the GoPro Max to justify its existence from a group of professional and enthusiast film-makers."I don't
think these were ever expected to be mainstream products [and they] were never mass-produced," she commented.But she added that there was an
"expectation that the new camera will be well-received by this niche market".
