Here’s your complete GoPro Hero 13 Black Beginners Guide. In this I cover virtually everything you need to know about the GoPro Hero 13 Black, starting with what’s in the base box, up to how to select resolutions and frames per second, as well as digital lenses. I eventually get into all the nuances of the new accessories, namely the Macro Lens, ND Filters, and UltraWide lens. Plus of course, a gazillion other tidbits.
As usual with any of my beginner’s guides, it’s not so much a review, as more a tutorial on how to use the products, after using it a ton myself. In this case, if you want the the full GoPro Hero 13 Black In-Depth Review, you’ll find the video here (and, I’ve almost finished the written review).
Everything has YouTube chapters, so you can easily skip around to learn about the sections you’re most interested in:
0:00 Quick Intro
0:50 Hardware Basics & Mounts
5:38 Pairing & Initial App Updating
7:23 Camera Basics: Resolutions, Digital Lenses, Frame Rates
13:41 Camera Settings, display settings
20:04 Video Presets & Customization (Pro Controls)
23:58 New Burst Slow-Mo
25:56 Timewarp and Timelapse Explained
28:17 Night Effects (Vehicle Lights/Star Trails/Light Painting)
29:49 Hero 13 Photo Modes/Burst Photos
32:06 Avoiding Overheating Shutdowns
34:15 Contacto Magnetic Charging Door
36:25 Charging Times/Batteries
37:24 Macro Lens Explained (New)
41:19 UltraWide Lens Mod (New)
43:11 ND Filter Set (New)
44:22 My Fav/Top Accessories
48:05 GoPro Media Mod/Volta/Creator Bundle
49:18 Bluetooth Mics (DJI Mic 2, AirPods etc…)
51:13 GoPro Quik App Top Features
56:08 Wrap-Up
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With that, thanks for watching!!!
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Whish i could afford it… the heat management is especially interesting, but I also like the battery life and the new mount. Not so sad about the sensor, though a new one would have been nice, especially for low light scenarios. Seems like this might be the peak model for this sensor and they wanted to improve and test other things before launching a model with a new one. Probably not a bad idea, but that is just my own humble opinion.
Also the direction to a more versatile cam (not only for sports or other “action” scenarios) is inevitable, I guess.
One question, is the new magnetic mount compatible with a Hero 9?
Thanks for the guide. One question: would you recommend the Volta or the shorty stick + magnetic charging door and a battery pack (could you recommend a waterproofed battery pack). I think it may depend on the kind of use, but with the magnetic charging door (and the different cables) one might be more flexible, if you have the camera attached to a backpack.
Have you said in the video, because of rain and wetness you already killed two Voltas (or have I miss understood that)?
Indeed, I’ve killed two via rain. Admittedly, it’s not designed for rain, but each time it just took one day of hard and/or constant rain to kill it (both while hiking). The camera was unharmed in both, but it refused to charge the cameras anymore.
That said, I find the Volta a good middle-ground for giving long battery life to a GoPro in the least clumsy way possible. Meaning, a battery bank+magnet is great, but the problem is how you hold/etc it while doing that. To that extent it depends a bit on the use case. For example, if it’s in a car/whatever and you don’t need to hold it, then a battery+magnet is perfect. Whereas if it’s being held (like I would do on hikes), then that ends up being a bit clumsy with cabling flopping around everywhere and getting caught up on hiking poles or such.
Of course, all kinda depends on exactly how it’s implemented. Just wish GoPro batteries would charge faster, cause that would sorta solve the problem indirectly if they charged to 80% in 20 mins like DJI.
Thanks. So thats why they write weather resistant (what ever that means for them) instead of water resitsant!? Did you complain about the Voltas and get them replaced?
Hey DCR.
People listen to you. Tell GoPro that calling a product “GoPro Hero” is pretty much unsearchable with the history of over a decade’s worth of products called “GoPro Hero” + something else.
Many thanks.
Totally agree. It looks like a compelling product, but I don’t at all understand the naming thinking there from a search/etc standpoint.
(I know obviously Apple does that for certain product lines, but even they have largely shifted away from that in recent years, and started to be more clear on adding year identifiers afterwards.)
Is this available in Australia?
Is this available in Australia?
On Amazon?
Ray – are you going to do any type of “review” for the mini?
Yup! That one has a bit later release date, so closer to that. Cheers!
Great to hear. I really wish GoPro would morph the mini back into a more Session form factor
Do you plan on making a comparison video between dji osmo action and gopro? I see so much praise online for osmo action but they all seem like paid content. The internet would benefit from an objective review.
Yup, I’ll be doing something once the new Action 5 comes out.
But you are correct, the overwhelming vast majority of DJI content is paid now. DJI is now requiring that virtually all reviewers submit their videos ahead of time to DJI for approval, as well as strongly pressing creators to agree to an exclusivity period to only review DJI Action Cams & Drones through the end of November.
DJI also even provides an explicit list of video titles, video tags, etc… that creators are supposed to lean heavily on to use in their videos. Virtually none of the creators are declaring the sponsored nature of these videos, nor the fact that they have to send their stuff to DJI for approval. Sigh.
Obviously, I’m not agreeing to any of that stuff. Thus, I just go out and buy it on my own. It means I’m a few days behind or so (action cams/drones are easier to test than watches in that regard), but, at least my content isn’t sponsored.
Thank you. Looking forward to reading / watching it before I spend my 400-500 euros for a new cam
The new design against overheating seems not to work properly. In a test report I have read:
“GoPro hasn’t really solved the heat problem with Generation 13. At 5.3K resolution (60 fps), the camera switched off after about half an hour because the operating temperature was too high. However, this value is highly dependent on the ambient temperature, and with a cooling wind, the camera should last significantly longer or not overheat at all.” (Tester: Chip Magazine (German), link to chip.de ).
Their summery:
Advantages :
Professional video features
Video resolution up to 5.3K
Plus practical magnetic mount
Again with GPS
Disadvantages:
Heat problem at high resolutions
And yes, I know you have mentioned that in your guide. I was just a little bit astonished that they have changed the design to avoid overheating and it still happens nevertheless…
They should release a small mini fan as an accessory.